Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-20
By a STAFF Correspondent.


We have before alluded to the inducement
offered by high rates of transportation from
the Mississippi, to foreign enterprise and capi-
tal to enter the field of competition with our
own lines engaged in the trade. That this may
come more fully home to the understanding
of the American people, let it be considered
that Canada. backed by the British Govern
ment, has fully completed her great water
route, the Welan dCanal, connecting the lakes
with the st. Lawrence river, which, indeed.
may now be regarded as a foregone conclu-
sion. They did not undertake that work.
and expend ffty-four millions of dollars
upon it for amusement. They knew
the capacity of the mighty valley south and
west of the lakes, and they saw millions Of
people teeming into it from all parts of the
world. They knew that the great river Of the
valley was decreasing in its capacity for trans
portation, and that the American railways
would prove totally inadequate, even If their
rates of freight were cheap enough, to meet
the annually increasing demand for transpor-
tation. They therefore resolved upon canal
that would place them in effe9tual competi-
tion with the American lines, and they have
constructed one that nothing can now prevent
from dividing all transportation profits
The danger thus threatened to American
transportation, internal as well as external
may Oe better estimated bY consideration of
the fact that British steamships of two thoI-
sand tons burden are expected TO enter tkA
lakes through the Welland canal, and carry
grain from Chicago directly TO Europe Once
in the lakes a mighty field of American in
dustry is open TO British enterprise. Having
already the carrying trade of the American
seas she is thus about to capture that OF the
American lakes. and the entire southern and
western shores of the lakes will have the AL
vantage of cheap British transportation
Abiding to the geographical fact that Mont
real is two hundred and fifty miles nearer than
New York to European markets, 6eneraI
Gilmore says in his report, that while the
average cost per bushe for carrying wheat
from Chicago to New York is g. l5c British
vessels, through the Welland canal canaffo to
carry it to Montreal for six cents per bushei
This indicates great tumble infreights along
the lake shore route when John Bull gets fair.
ly into the circle of our interior trade OF this
we don't complain. If she can carry 10 cheaner
she has a perfect right to do So and ali en-
lightened people will glory in her energy and
enterprise in cheapening the necessaries of
life throughout the world.
What we complain of is, that boastipe Ameri
ca has been so absorbed IN the selfish greed of
rings and speculations as to afford her oppor-
tunlty Erie, with the great lakes and a dozen
subsidized railways from the very heart of the
West, could not bring down freights low
enough to prevent Canada and England from
spending tTtyJOuT millions Of dollars to enter
An old adage says: IAN ounce of prevention
is worth pound of cure " So our NorthaT,1
railway kings are likely to discover within the
the next two or three years But it Ia nov toc
late to prevent. and the next best thinp, In do
is to set about qUarantining the disease thatit
may spread no further. British competition
may De sad TO be already in possession Of the
great lakes, and the question now is shall It
spread to the great valley or the Missssippip
Neglect of the advantages OF that great stream
by sectional one sided partisan administra.
arFQT ant rsnNAT
the prevailing high rates of TRANSPORTATION
from the West, and Great Britain's invitation
to advance upOn the base OF American sup
plies. Wholly absorbed in the pgiDtoTy
duty Of dividing out the spois among
their hungry adherents. successive
administrations passed away oblivious OF the
fact that indignant Nature was slowly buk
surely withdrawing her great unappreciated
advantages, and driving the floating palaces of
perverted civilization from bhe bosom of her
ideal stream Henceforth her favor must be
conquered. not received as 8 gratutv. and
maintained at the cost OF untold millions
guarded with sleepless vigilance and activity.
But the work can be done and the former
depth restored to the obstructed river il that
be necessary for interior trade; nevertheless
that great outlay can be avoided by the use az
less expensive TRANSPORTS than the former cost
ly palaces, as already shown by the introduc-
tion of barge transportation. This alone it
seems, is capable of roscuing the carrying
trs De OF the valley from the British steamships
on the lakes. Figures already quoted shovg
that grain can be carried down the WieSissi,9,,i
to New Orleans an3 thence by the barge canal
to ports on the Atlantic cheaper than bv rail to
New YORK or by water to Montreal, and if we
take into consideration that both English and
Northern American lines viii be closed nv
snow and ice for five months in the year fhera
can be no question about their failure to com
pete with a barge line from the 6fississinni
across the peninsula OF Florida, Bv this line
the sea route between New York and New
Orleans is shortened 571 miles the dangers of
from sailing around the cane ~
Florida avoided, and che wasted niIIionss in In
surance to escape those dangers saved to the
capital and enterprise of the country.
And why should Congress or the people have
TO be persuaded of the truth and necessity of
THESE thlngsg They are patent to every intal-
lgent man who will give the least consi6era-
ton tothe subject. For fifty years the neces.
slty has been felt for a canal across tha Florida
peninsula. as shown by act of Congress- and
surveys ordered and executed at differenf
times; and yet, while millions have been sunk
IN eXtravagant perishabie railroads this corn
paratively cheap and iRlperIsbdbIe work half
enclrcling an empire of fifty millions OF peo-
pie, sun remains untouched, with Congress
hesitatfng to enfranchse capital pleading for
the privilege OF developing the country.
If it Were aifOTeig4s institution seeking to en-
graft itself as an incubus upon the future in
dustr1aS or the country, its motives might well
be distrusted but the franchises sought are fo-
native born citizens--men identified witt, fhe
country and animated by the same ardor and
genius which have made America The, boast of
all free people. They seek to deve,oD a vast ra
gIon or country which, thouga at the very
threshold Of civilization, an& in the very path
way or immigration, is sincost unknown save
to the periodical visits OF the hunter and the
restless wanderings oe the pioneer
Ihey ask no government subsidies and pro
pose nc grand monopoiies OF trade: thew ask
Simply to be permitted to bring the mouth of
the great Mississippi river TO commodious
roads and harbors on the Atlantic, that America
may enjoy the profit of her industries, and an
the world be opened 70 the grand possibilities
of her interior trade.
This is certainly no unreasonable rearest-
no threatening invasion OF the rights or de-
traction from the interests of otners The
Atlantic and Mississippi Barge canal win he
content to stand or fall upon is merits and If
it shell add twelve hundreSi thousand acres Of
try, bring the delta of the great Nissiseinoi
sIx hundred miles pearer to New York and to
Europe, and Heat far beyond the dangers of
1he , floI 1da reefs the commerce OF twenty five
millions of people, we do not see how any sane
American can object to its speedy Inaugural
'ion' l. c. 3.