Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-17

the arteries we build, to the markets Of |
the world. We stand at this gateway to |
toll its wealth. We are but in the early |
morning of this exciting drama. What |
q flood Of golden wealth, in q few brief
years, is to pour out from those interim
nable regionsi What prolific power in
this cereal empirel 1t will augment the
Importance of our commonwealth; it
will swell the Golfers of our merchant
princes; it will build fabulous mills; and
Minnesota IS the appointed gateway
through which it must pass to the mark
cts of the world.
Is there to be no competition with rail-
ways in moving this vast mass of produc-
tionf We dare not contemplate such
monopoly. Not only the whole nation,
but the civilized world is interested in
the problem Of this Northwestern trans
portatlon. Crops are to be marketed
from an area 80 much larger than that
which built Chicago, that we are dazed
by the extent of the empire. How is this
vast production to be gathered up and
set upon its grand march to the sea? 1t
is problem demanding the broadcast con-
sheraton. Here are water-stretches,
piercing to the very center of the conti-
nent. Will not skill and money utilize
that which nature has so layishly pro-
vided?
ALSO AN INTERNATIONAL PROJECT.
While this project is national in the
sense that it will subserve vital interest
of every portion of the union, it is also
international in the sense that it will
draw into the currents of its line, the
cereal belts Of Manitoba. Observe upon
the map the grand sweep and range of
this design. Through the Red River of
the North, connecting first with Lake
Winnipeg, 300 miles in length, it finds
its way into the great Saskatchewan
river, with its 500 miles of navigation,
gathering products from fertile belt, so
vast that we can only compare it to our
own Mississippi. Out. Of this same Lake
Winnipeg we also find an outlet, through
Nelson river, to Hudsen's Bay. Second
ly, the Assiniboine river and all its tribu-
taries will swell the products to be car
ried. From this river we also reach the
great lake, Manitoba, which, with its en-
circling tributaries is q granary itself.
The possibilities opened up beyond the
international line, are of such command
ing importance as to fill the mind with
the grandeur of the results to be obtained
by this water line.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT TO BE EDUCATED TO
IT'S IMPORTANCE.
Public sentiment must be first educated
to the Importance of this proposed canal
if success is to be expected. Its POSSIBLE
ity, nay Its practicability, must be pointed
out. Its necessity must be urged. 1t
must be built as complete regulator of
che commerce of the bread stuffs of the
great wheat zone. Congress must be i'm
portuned to place this enterprise upon
its list Of meritOrious and national pro-
iects. We are told that our government
possesses the wealth to prosecute similar
enterprises. Congress must be petitioned
to place this scheme on footing of
equality with projects of even less merit
and less probability of practical results.
It the general government may provide
means for cheapening transportation,
here it may most usefully and profitably
find employment for its surplus revenues,
in securing cheaper bread for the people
and larger profits to production. Years
age the general government gave 4, AGO.
600 acres of land to aid in local canals in
OHIO, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.
Recently it has given, in sing lie session
of congress, S18, 900, 900 in cash, for SINH
lar enterprises. If the public was prop
erly enlightened as to the real merits of
this great national and international wa
ter way, it would be placed at the head
Of the list of those worthy of the national
aid. So rs
MINNEsOTA's RELATION TO THIs PROJECT.
The relation of our own state to this
great project must be carefully consid-
cred. What we want in Minnesota is a
full, rounded development of the whole
state, in all its parts. No local jealous
les should be permitted to thwart so grand
an outline. The true principle is that
what helps one part of the state helps
all parts; and what is truly for the bene-
fit of one is for the benefit of all. This
water line, by whichever route built, will
penetrete region Of our state unde-
veloped, and liable to remain wilderness
of Obscurity unless rescued by such
project as this. 1t will not only, therefore
be highway for commerce, but settle
ments will spring up along the line, i'm
mense quantities of timber, otherwise
useless, will find market at period
when it will be greatly wanted, and our
whole system of land-locked lakes be
brought into the forefront of usefulness,
adding new recources and wealth to the
state, out of that which has heretofore
been accounted worthless. Aside there
fore, from its great national importance,
weare interested in it as home project. 1t
will also enable us to fully and fairly con-
troll the grain carrying trade of Manitoba.
1t will be the completion of system
with which they cannot compete. 1t will
tend to unity their interests with ours,
and divorce them more and more from
dependence upon Ontario. Every part
of the state should make common cause
in so beneficial a project To this city,
and adjacent water power, it would be Of
unsurpassed value. Every intelligent
up-building of great commercial
1t will interfere with the aspirations of
no other city in the state, for the advan-
tages here are peculiar to the locality.
They are God given and cannot be taken
away Here is a natural gateway of
commerce into which production will
pour, as into a funnel, enriching your
people as it passes to the world beyond.
No Jealousy can suppress this natural
flow, nor ingenious continuance long de-
lay material results from natural causes,
which are vast and potential.
Our senators and members of congress
have given active and efficient aid to
neighboring projects. They should now
give Jealous attention to design of
more commanding importance and more
general utility, lying within their own
domestic domain. If millions Of public
money are to go for these so-called ma
tional Improvements, let us have our
share in promptly testing project,
which, in its far-reaching results is not
unworthy of the highest craftsmanship.
If Clay could stand in the senate of the
United States, eloquently appealing, as
he did for the governmental aid in build
ing turnpike from Cumberland, Md,
on through Ohio and Indiana, to devel-
ope the travel and traffic of the then