Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-19
BETTER FARMERS RATES.
A Muscaune County Agricuituralist
Advocates the Construction Of In.
nepin Canal.


Advocates the Construction of In.
land Waterways such as the Hen
nepin Canal.
A Muscatine correspondent sign
ing himself Samuel Sinnet, has writ
ten the Chicago Herald COM
munication on the benefits of inland
waterway routes as cheapening the
costs of transportation to farmers.
The farmers ideas are right, but he does
not show thorough conception of the
relative importance of projects by plac-
ing the Hennepin as of secondary
consideration to any measure of similar
nature now in contemplation. Here is
the communication:
MUscATINE, Iowa. April 10. -EDIToR
OF THE Herdld:-One of the most i'm
portant demands of the time by the
farmers of the west is cheap transports-
ton. The amount of produce raised on
the fertile prairies of the west is of but
little value if it cannot find market in
the great commercial marts of the world.
The railroads afford speedy transfer to
the principal shipping ports, but the
freights exacted are so high that much of
the valuable produce of the soil is lost, as
the price realized is not sufficient to pay
the cost of transportation. Here is where
the importance of cheap transportation is
felt. Now. it is a conceded fact that wa-
ter transportation does not cost over 80
per cent of what the railroads exact
That ha railrAoHc ba 10,
should is generally conceded. but they
have the inside track, and the only way
to offset their exactions is in opening up
some great national waterway, where all
shippers can have an equal right to carry
at what price they see proper to charge.
This great national waterway is already
provided by kind providence; all that is
needed is Improvement of channel
from Chicago to New Orleans. In this
progressive sge this work does
not present the difficulties that
first appeared when the idea was
started over half century ago. One
of the first ana most important points in
this great national enterprise is already
provided for in the opening of sewage
canal from Chicago to the Illinois river
The next is what is known rs the Henne-
pin canal. that opens a passage to the
Mississippi river near the Rock Island
rapids. This chain of rock. together with
the lower rapids, is the principal obstacle
to overcome, as a channel ia the river
can easily be secured by combining
mel the channel and making the current
keep the channel open. Some will ask
Is there sufficient water in the river to
command a pavigable channel during low
wateri This can be met by making
Lake Michigan and Lake Superior feeders
during low water, for, let this waterway
be once decided upon, and it would no
be long till there woald be direct watel
communication between the two lakes
Another consideration here enters Thi.
great national waterway would unite Can
ada with us, and would do more-bnd al
parts of the North American continent.
Only give US free trade free commercial
intercOurse-and we will become one oil
the greatest nations that ever existed
The first grand object is to secure and
build this national waterway; but how
are we TO secure action at the present time
| would suggest that all farmers and
labor organizations discuss this ques.
ton, and, if deemed consonsnt with the
best interests both of agriculture and la
Dor, send petitions to congress requesting
prompt and definite action. We want
more money in circulation to keep bust.
ness active; this will secure it. And now
is the time to act. For over fifty years
this enterprise has been described and
urged and pronounced By some of the
ablest men of the nation to be of the ut
most Importance to the development of
our fertile and rich country There is
not valley in the world that will cons
pare with the Mississippi with its varied
climate and unrivaled soil. The very
idea of vessel taking in cargo at Buff
falo. Detroit, Duluth or Chicago for Liy-
erpOOl or Havana without breaking bulk
Is almost Incredible, yet that 1t will be
done Is as certain as water runs down
stream. Now here is where the public
press can make itself felt by constantly
urging this grand enterprise and keeping
the interest up. This is a great national
enterprise. Not merely an old fashioned
canal like so many of those that have
been dry and abandoned, but this will be
the safety valve against high pressure
railroad eXtortion, and will do more to
stimulate agriculture and the various en- =
terprises of the day than any other work
that can be suggested. Let us show the
foreigners that come to see our world g
fair what the energy of the American cit-
liens is capable of.
A Cnmmnn Rama Pamadv