Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-10-07

her cotton and tobacco? VINO would gain by
her increase of production and wealth? Who
loses By her inertness and distrac Ions? Do
men wish to injure or destroy their own in
vestments Whoever will answer these ques-
tons will know that New York and her people,
from love Of self and love of gain, saying
nothing of other reasons, earnestly long that
the South may be peaceful and prosperous,
and able to pay her share Of taxes and bear
her share Of public burdens. Prolonged sp-
plause.
From the wheat fields Of Minnesota to the
pastures OF Texas, there is not an acre whose
fertility does not benefit New York, nor could
she profit by the misfOrtunes or poverty Of s
hamlet in ali cur borders.
It is not needed TO the argument at this
moment even to relate the causes of the mildew
and sterillty OF the South, sunny, fertile, and
blessed by nature, as she is. We're I speaking
to Southern men, with hope that they would
listen, it would be well indeed to beg them to
reflect upon these causes. When the war was
over, had there been hearty, manly acceptance
OF the most generous, magnanimous terms the
world ever saw accorded by yIctors in any case
hot In any like ease, because there is none
like II IN history; had politics and thirst for
power played less part, wasted less time, ana
done less wrong; had industry, enterprise,
thrift snd humanity ruled the hour; had there
been more mendIDg and building, aud planting
and sowing; had there been less ostracism and
hate 20 repel Northern capital and keep back
and drive back Northern men; had fair days
wages been paid for fair days work; had
there been no persecution or exodus of labor
had Reputation been loathed and stunned and
not embraced-how high in the armament Of
the Union would glitter the constellation of the
South
THE MOTIVES, FITNESS AND STANDING OF tbs
CLAIMANT.
But, as already sad, / deal st this point with
or,1 re
causes. neplOring as we d. and as we should,
whatever o. misfortune falls Oh any section,
wien that section comes forward as claimant
Of control and management Of our general az
fairs, it is right TO loOli-We are bound to look
into the scope and ground of the claim, and
into the motives, method. fitness, situation and
standing of the claimant. Light is thrown
upon these inquiries y the facts already pre-
sented, but much light may be gained from
other facts Of kindred import. One thing for
which we fought was the freedom Of the
Mississippi river. AS some one expressed it,
We were determined the Father OF Waters
should go unmixed to the sea. The building
of jetties at the delta OF this great stream. to
deepen channel in which ses-going ships
might reach New Orleans, has also attracted
wide attention and stimulated the belief that
New Orleans must DO a vast outlet 10 the mar
kets OF the world and port of entry of cCm-
handing Importance.
The rlYer commerce of the Southern Misais-
sippi is regarded as a great lie of interest s.
great safeguard and assurance against pur-
poses sectional or iAimical, and o large foun-
datioR for the claims set up for Southern in
fuence in National affairs. The canvass in
some portions Of the country already blossoms
with literature in this behalf. This theory, as
far it ever was true, belongs to the past. The
tread OF man IN all ages has been On lines OF
latitude, not on lines OF longitude. Rivers
and mountains on this continent run north
and south; men bridge and tunnel them, and
move east and west. This is the ordinance of
q power higher than q South Carolina census
taker. The enterprise which in it's youth and
helplessness tiOsted the way tie water ran, has
changed its course. Trade has veered from
one point OF the compass to another, and per-
manently altered its relations
The construction Of railways has revou-
hOniZed traffic and transp )rtatiOn. Fur
trunk lines Of steel roads, Of which the sea
ends are Boston, New York, Philadelphia
and B fillmore, now carry, each one of them,
moro freight than ever moved on the Missis-
sippi river. The great companion and COM
petltor to this trans-cOntinental movement is
The lakes and the Erie canal. Besides hand
ling vast traffic this water route acts as o.
check on railway freights, keeping them down
by force of competition. To this vast, COM
prehensive modern current Of business, trlbu-
t&ry streams flow il by rail from the North,
sissjppi on bridges above ST. Louis is twelve
fold the tonnage to that city by river. TWen-
ty-fve years ago the commerce of st. Leuis
was all by river; last year, as shown by the
records Of the merchants Exchange, the rail-
way tonnage was 6 948, 794, and the river ton
mage was only L, 1866 lis.
The single bridge at st Louis has a capac-
ity for tenfold the traffic that ever floated on
the Mississippi river. The actual commerce
crossing this one bridge is four times as great
as that of the river b5neath. Traffic, south Of
the Ohio river and Of the State OF Missouri, is
but tributary now to the east and west cur
rent. The st. Louis Merchants Exchange Ie-
ports that last year tne number OF tons moved
TO and from the East by rail was 2, $50, 858;
tons moved to and from the South by river,
692, $50; tons moved to and from the South by
rail, 1 952, 09S. Commerce takes the rail,
even with The river by its side. New Orleans
is $50 miles further from Liverpool than St.
Louis itself is. Baltimore is 920 miles nearer
than st. Louis to Liverpool, making q diffyr-
ence in favor of Baltimore as point of ship
ping to Europe of 1,572 miles as against NgW
Orleans, saying nothing Of the disadvantage
CT carrying products through the tropical eX-
posures and risks OF the Gulf IF Mexico. Phiia-
delphia, New York and Boston are still nearer
than Baltimore to Liverpool.
NORTHERN CITIES CONTROL THE CARRYING
TRADE.
But this is not all, the commercial forces
Of seven great cities have grasped the vast
carrying trade, and hold, propel and direct it.
Boston, New York. Philadelphia and Baltimore
at the East, and st. Louis, Chicago and Gin
cinnati at the West command the machinery
and the outlets and inlets through which the
surplus products OF the United States reach
the markets Of the world, aud through which
the merchandise OF Europe ID brought here
and distributed. Geographical and natural
advantages are favorable, but alone they would
not be decisive; the vital fact is the genius,
energy, enterprise and capital OF merchants,
farmers. manufacturers and railway mana
gers, aided by wholesome adjustments Of
tariff and other laws in the interest of Aneri-
can labor. Could science deepen the mouths
of the Mississippi TIL the Great Eastern could
load at the Wharfs Of the Crescent City, the
achievement would no more arrest or divert
the movement OF commerce and population
Eaet and West than it would control the tides
Of the sea, or change the courses of the stars.
Southern commerce is simple, tardy and Ge-
psndenG. Northern commerce iS complex, in
tenEely active, highly orgaLiZe1 and lndepen-
dent. Northern methods and progression have
constantly increased their fruits Applause !
Th8 reverse is true of Southern methods. Ia
1860 the imports of New Orleans were S22 :
500, 773. Last year they were only SO, $40, 254
They were less last year than IN any year frC m
1866 to 1878. In 1860 exports from New o.
leans were $107, 612, $50. Last year there were
only 800, 249, 874-less than IN 1870 and 1874
The tonnage account varies this statement
apparently, but only apparently, because steam
vessels have been more u.ed of late, and steam
vessels count more rapidly IN tonnage than in
cargoes. Like retrograde and stagnation ap-
pear at other Southern ports. Baltimore is
not treated as a Southern port because it is
the ocean terminus Of a great East and West