The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-02-02

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The American railway system is-not
withstandiDg all errors-one OF the creates
works Of human hands. And every uu,
patriot and lover Of his country, Of human
ity and Of God, should desire To see thos,
errors wisely and. Justly iessened OF evil re
suits, On this the future Of our country
must greatly depend
An army commanded by twenty bdga
dier generals, and Without any commanders
in-chief, would be sure to Tall into couiu
sion and danger, especially II they disre-
garded the geography TYPOGRAPHY and
natural Resources OF the country which
they are expected to defend. Europe Care
fully avails herself OF her inland naviga
ton, while We foolishly and Crlnlnaliy are
permitting its obstruction, The great bust
ness of raiiroading In our country SHOULD
be considered with view 10 the mos. adj
vantageUus results to all concerned IN The
great and vital matter of INLAND trauspOrta-
ton 10 this end all legislation should
have kept IN view the natural features OF
the country, anu especially the splendid
and wonderful arrangement tor inlaAd
navigation prepared by Tue Great Archi-
teCt through natures hAndIWurk during
-.
sesses such navigation as that offered by
the Great Lake aud Mississippi systems
when rightly cleared and connected Its
full value our people have never known,
and never can know, or enjoy, until the
rivers are at least kept cleared OF snags and
wrecks, and rightly connected with the
Great Lakes by the line OF the Lower Miss
issippi, Lake Michigan, the Illinois and
the Calumet. The line from the Straits OF
of Mackinaw TO the Cult OF Mexico, when
this simple work Is done, and 1t is known
that its maintainance can be depended On
rs il would be In Europe, Will soon DIS
close the great function Tor which it Is
perfectly adapted. Its parallel is not found
anywhere But the economy Of lrelghtage
upon 1t will exceed that of the seas On the
north of Europe, or even those on tue south
of that great sea of the worlds civilization,
wealth and power.
The Illinois coal field through which II
passes, is not yet appreciated AS II factor
In the destiny OF nations" nor even as in
dispensible to the best welfare OF the
country around Lakes Michigan and Supe'
rior, and the whole line OF the Mississippi.
Its quality, &c, is still for Il time, perhaps,
TO continue the subject of much unfavora-
BILE criticism, and the importance of the
most economic movement, combination,
aud use Of the mineral and forest products
near the lakes and rivers, of which this
CENTRAL TRUNK WATERWAY Is the key,
will not, 1t seems, be admitted by the rail-
road brigadiers, until the sovereign people
unite and insist that the work shalt be
done and maintained Tnen the RAILWAYS
will perforce find their great INTERIOR
BASE just as they could not help finding
their ATLANTIC BASE, aud their Pacific
BASE, On those oceans. Then, too, 1t will be
found that these central mineral beds will
become or we are truly liberal and wise,)
the most important on the whole globe
Soon the railways would find their passen'
ger trade and valuable freights doubled.
The line Of transportation for mineral and
forest products will be the most important
In the western hemisphere; the powerful,
enduring, productive, and helping friend
OF the railways, and the only thing that
will save most of them from bankruptcy
and absolute ruin. Our whole country Ia
In danger also, and needs more business.
The work of De Lesseps at Darien will
enable US to trade with eight hundred mil
lion OF people, on better terms for them
and for US, than has ever been possible. 1t |
Is needed by the whole world. But we
need the best economy practicable 10 our
inland transportation, and TO this end both
navigation and railways are required, each
to help the other, and hold the other level,
as some think, and all to advance on the
high, true and honorable pathway of true
ChriEtian civilization, In the wise paths of
peace and good will.
Thus only can Columbia fulfil her mis-
sion. and escape an advancing tide of evils