National Republican., 1886-03-20
TRANSPORTATION EQUITIES.
THE GREAT PROBLEM OF MOVING CROPS
AND MANUFACTURES.
what an Iowa Man Says of tho Henne-
pin Canal and Its Erect Upon Internal
Commerce The Sections OF the Coun-
try TO be benefited.

A gentleman from iowa, who has taken
great interest In promoting what he terms
equitable transportation rates." was asked
last evening by a NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,
reporter "Why does your state so per-
slstently urge the construction Of the Hen
nepin canal, through It's legislature, boards
of trade, and other. organlzationsp
"Because," he replied, agricultural In
terests are almost paralyzed by the exhorbi-
tant transportation charges TO which we are
subject. Our state is peculiarly situated as
regards waterways. Bounded, as II is, on
the east and west by great navlgable rivers,
leading to the seaboard at New Orleans, II
that city were but contiguous to the ma
tional workshops, so that our exchange OF
products for manufactures could be made
there, Iowa would have all needed advan-
tages for commerce. But New Orleans will
never become manufacturing center what
ever her facilities for foreign commerce
may be, and our wants find supply else
where, in common with those OF the other
northwestern states Let me suggest the
magnitude OF this east and west commerce.
"rhe railroad commissioners OF Iowa re-
port 6,O00,000 tons Of freight as annually
crossing the bridges over the Mississippi
ODlObllb lOMh hlOuts nt HgkTtEhJb CTOsS-
ing this river annually above st. Louis is
estimated at 1900, 600 tons at least. This
vast amount OF freight, that under the In
1uence Of cheap transportation upon the
production OF the northwest may double In
a decade, is all TO be affected by the con-
struction OF the Hennepin canal In cost of
transportation, however much or little II
may actually transport. To show this
beyond possibility OF doubt we cite the
fact that, though all possible elements for
railroad competition have existed for flf-
teen years across this carrying place be-
tween the Mississippi and the lakes, the
rates still remain, between Iowa and Chi
cago, four times as much per ton mile as
they are on the Erie canal on any portion
of the water route between Chicago and
New York.
''The annual corn crop OF our state Of
iowa reaches quarter Of billion bushels.
Grain can be worth no less at home than what
II will bring In the ultimate market, whether
| that be Chicago, New York, or Liverpool,
less the cost Of transportation. Hence, II
a saving of 8 cents a bushel is made In the
cost Of transportation by the construction
OF the Hennepin canal, the annual crop OF
4 corn Of Iowa lsincreased In value $l2 ,500,:
l 900, or enough to build two such canals.
Thus the rental, or income value OF land,
d producing forty bushels Of corn the acre,
A will be Increased 81 per acre. That a
cheapening of cents o bushel is not high
n present Illinois and Michigan canal cheap.
ems freight on grain cents bushel on
N distance Of 100 miles, rs against other
routes, leading into Chicago, Tor the same
distance, but not having water competl-
tion 2n
n "You have shown the effects OF the canal
on Iowa and the northwest, how about its
national importanceW
"The notion is as indivisible In its pros
perity as 1t is politically. The benefits OF
u profitable cotton culture are shared In by
~ every state in the Union, in that It increases
our balance Of trade and volume OF money.
The same result follows large and prohta-
N BILE export of products Of the northwest 1t
a gives the people OF the producing states
money to buy Of the manufacturer and
W jobber. 1t is like injecting water into the
pipes that supply city, or blood into the
body. 1t flows into every channel. will
not dwell on It's vast Importance as mill
tary necessity for the passage Of monitors
and munitions to the lakes"
Cbilr'.
~ think them very good. Sectional jeal-
.ousy is fast disappearing The press seems
to understand Its merits better, and few
are still determined to see lob where one
could not possibly exist. Some few affect
o. TO ridicule 1t, as they think, In the interest
OF railroads, though the great railroad
managers see that canal will be built
~ sooner or later 10 connect the great water
n systems In the interest of general commerce,
5 and believe that railroad business will re-
ceive benefit from increased commercial
n activity. The statesmen Of the northwest,
even those representing districts having
LX least direct interests, have mostly been and
are still loyal. The representatives from the
Pacific slope, with liberal views that do
M them credit, have needed little urging to
~ become It's warm friends.
"The doubts OF the representatives from
laN., lG.,aI
ing appropriations that might otherwise
hurry forward their own improvements
have given way to more liberal policy,
and they have evidently decided to let the
Hennepin move forward with the other i'm
IMPROVEMENTS In the interest OF commerce.
They, too, have trade with the eastern sea
board, on which charges will be reduced on
#Nall water competing routes.
ITO reach her western customers al
cheaper rates, as well as to obtain cheaper
food, and to enable her to compete fol
WXthe trade of the increasing millions OF
customers on the Mississippi and her tribu
Mtares, are sufficient causes for the increasing
flavor OF New England.
'New York has been taught lesson In
cheap transportation, by the results from
connecting the great lake system to the
Hudson by the Erie canal, that shows her
the importance of connecting that still
greater system of the Mississippi by open
ing this short connecting link In an other
wise through route TO her great port 1t Ii
true that some of her old fogies think tina,
, because New York has built her own cana
U& and grown rich by 1t, as well as enriched
} he great lake region), that Illinois or some
, bther state should build the Hennepin
Mrhey forget that this carrying plan of al
M)llTeady vast commerce, though within th(
state OF Illinois, is not to be spanned by {
anal for her benefit, but rather for tht
III benefit of the $4,000, 900 people beyond, and
IN. IL. - tha A A..
0,000 square miles on and west OF th'
=. WIipper Mississippi could afford to build the
utilnal, but IL requires very little thought Il
Z discover the impracticability Of such al
Enterprise; or that, II built by private cor
M boration, 1t would not benefit the people.
|, W "Pennsylvania sees In the northwest in
2 |reasing millions OF consumers OF her an
: n hracite coal, glass and iron products 4
l. ransportation Is cheapened, and she, to
II fetber with other states on the eastern sea
oard who compete, or expect to compete
ior western trade for export, or the furnish
Xbg OF supplies, see that water routes fl
he rates OF transportation, but not th
oute, as railroads Will take II at the re
uced rates to such competing points a
ffer the greatest inducements,
: "There is a daily Diminishing class tina
arp on the objection that II is unconstitu
onal TO dig in dry earth for the benefit o
asst existing commerce or the people
n. hough they will sanction the expenditure
10 millions to remove wet sand where 4
x bstrlcts O trinng commerce.; so to thes
40 e can only repeat the language OF thai
~ reat statesman, the late Horatlo Seymour
N. lat they are fifty years behind the times.
'le "These are simply some of the paten
nd Easons that insure support from the con
nd ituents OF members. The great natlona
ed blue OF needed work In the interest O
: bmmerce, to which the people of vast sec
II, W ons are justly entitled, In the direct lin
nopn nxuhi oh