The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-08-05

We commend to the consideration |
of the Texas State Grange the great
and important question of Isthmian
transit. There Is no other question
of as great import to the farmers of
Texas and the other Cotton States.
The requirements Of the commerce
of the world and of the agricultural
interests Of this country will compel
the solution of this question, either
by-the construction of a Ship Rail
way, as projected by Capt. Eads, or
a Canal. Whichever plan is adop-
ted, must necessarily secure aid from
our National Government, and the
selection of either for Government
aid will be determined in a great
degree by public sentiment during
the next few months.
In every view of the subject, the
Ship Railway presents so many ad-
vantages over a Canal that we be-
lieve the people need only to be in
formed of those advantages to speak
out strongly and earnestly in favor
of the former. The Ship Railway
I@will be so much cheaper in its con-
struction and operation than the
Canal, and the terms upon which it
| asks aid from the Government are
| SO much more just and favorable to
Utr people, that there is every reason
to believe that it will be preferred
by Congress, unless the bill grant
ing the aid is defeated by the pow
erful influence Of the railway lobby.
We have frequently shown in our
columns the immense and direct ad-
vantages which Isthmian transit
would confer upon the farmers OF
the Cotton States. It would give
the South direct and cheap commu-
nication with China, Japan, and
other countries in Asia, where there
is an immense trade in cotton goods,
particularly of the coarser qualities.
and this trade is now controlled by
the manufacturers of England by
reason of their transportation ad-
vantages. With the Ship Railway
Completed, our ships will be trans
ported over the Isthmus at half the
cost of those of other countries, and
this, with the great advantage of
decreased distance, would soon
transfer commercial supremacy in
Eastern Asia from England to this
country. 1t will not only give our
manufacturers control of those mar
kets, but by cheapening transporta-
ton enable our manufacturers to
sell at lower prices, which will in
crease immensely the demand for
cotton goods.
The Ship Railway will revolu-
tionize the carrying trade of the
Cotton States far more effectually
than the Jetties have that of the
Mississippi Valley. Now cotton is
shipped in the raw form by rail to
the East and to England and there
manufactured. That is an unnatural
.'hannel for the transportation OF
cotton, and very expensive and bur-
densome to the producer. The prof.
its realized by the railroads from
transporting cotton are immense
and those monopolies are naturally
opposed to the opening of any com.
peting routes, especially like the
Ship Railway which will so com.
pletely divert the carrying trade Of
the Cotton States from the East
The farmers of the Cotton State.
will save many millions of dollars
annually by the cheapening o.
transportation that will be effected
by the Ship Railway, but they will
gain immensely more by the impe
tus which will be given to the man
ufacture of cotton in the South
Any one can readily see that will
all these changes and improvement,
going on, the farmers themselve
would catch the spirit of progress
and turn their attention to adding
another industry to their farms
putting up and operating Clemen
Attachment factories-and secur,
their rightful share of the rich prof
its of the cotton trade.
The farmers should speak out i,
strong language in demanding o
Congress to pass the Ship Railroad
bill, a measure in which they are S,
deeply interested. Will not thu
Texas State Grange speak out OF
this great question with the empha
sis that the National Grange di,
in 1874 in support of the Mississippi
Jetties?
1 49,