The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-03-18

so many years in the matter OF appro-
priations by the Federal Congress to-
ward developing other interests OF the
country. Does il know that the Con-
gress just adjourned appropriated one
hundred aud ninety one millions OF
dollars to all purposes, and but ten
millions of this goes to the rivers and
harbors of the country. (and perhaps
not more than i've millions to the
rivers). Ten million dollars is vast
sum to the average ss;7ass citizen, but
when we think of the Vast advantages
and necessities eF our ri--ers, compared
70 the ops hundred aud ninety one
millions appropriated by the same
Congress for other purposes, it seems
Hike a magni6cently small pro rata.
Does the Times know that every Con-
gress which assemblies appropriates its
millions aggregating something like
the present? Does it know that the
smallest aggregate appropriation made
by auy Congress since the war footed
up one hundred and forty Eve millions?
And that throughout all these years,
and millions, the grand Mississippi
never got a dollar really for its i'm
provement until the past session? Does
il know that the country of France, not
so large in territory as the State Of
Texas, appropriates annually over ten
million dollars to her rivers, and that
under this "wholesale robbery" as the
Times calls it, the French people are
the most prosperous and France the
richest country in the world? There
fore, if France, not so large as one Of
our States, can so prosper under ten
million appropriation for such purpo-
sss, why, 10 this country of 50 States
and the grandest rivers in the world,
does the same size appropriation seem
so enormous? Again, does the Times
realize the fact that the thirty millions
of toiing farmers of this great country
are engaged in an "irrepressible con-
flict" with the great railroad monopo-
lies, and that these railroads annually
levy upon these thirty million farmers
a tax in the shape Of freight charges
on the products of their fields the
enormous aggregate of which would
sink the Federal az 49, to the
rivers into insignifcahSz Does it
know that the opening OF the rivers
operate as checks or regulators" 10
these excessive railroad charges, and
thereby protect the farmers of the
whole country from these railrOad ex
actions or taxation? The Mississippi
river does more to day toward protect.
ing the farmers of this great Valley
from excessive railroad charges than
all the competing lines Of railway in
this Valley. Let the Mississippi be
blocked for one mouth, and see how
quick the railroads seize the opportus
nifty to advance rates upon the mer-
chant, the trader and the farmer. What
is true of the Mississippi is true Of all
other navigable streams. It is nar>
row view to think that the improve
ment of the Mississippi is chiaAy ben
eicial to the towns aud landings upon
it's banks, because, as a matter of fact,
they measurably enjoy its grand infu
euce as a "regulator" of railroad charg
es, but the people and farmers of the
interior are the ones who most suffer
for the want of such influences. The
rivers are free; they are not decided to
any corporation like railroads; they
are the property of the people and can
never be olcaed By a monopoly. This
being the fact, and the exclusive right
of way on tbs rivers being impossible
to monopoly, the great mOaied kings
of the country have concentrated their
power in railroad corporations, and
wherever they strike section or com.
muuity announcement TO naVigable river.
they make the toiliDg farmers aud
traders of that section pay dearly fol
that Inconvenience Hence, the toll
ing masses, as these Congressman cal
the people, as they come to understand
the real facts of this great question
are demanding of the Government L
Improve the riuers-the peoples high
ways-as a protection to the peopl
: from the great railroad mouopoies, an
> because they know that capital ha
grown so strong and arrogant that tn
Government is the only power stroni
: enough TO afford them such protection
Again, does the Times weigh the fac
e that out of the millions Kentucky an
nualiy pays into the Federal treasury
that she never has received but fe'
paltry thousand out Of it? Does it kno'
that this is, relatively. true of all tn
: Southern and some of the Western
D States2 Does it know that annual,
J and regularly to Northern and Easter
, rivers and harbors all these million
e go, aud our people are permitted
, share only whatever burden" Their
may be in paying for the same? w
. . ask, therefore, where is the great wroni
in our section demanding share o
. the benefits as they bear share of tn
| burdens2
!, The COURIER may not be accused o
. any factious opposition to Turner. |