Year: 1878

the west have been treated by the
leading railroad lines and their des-
potic conduct and exorbitant charges
have disgusted those through whose
friendly acts they were fostered into
existence. The great producing
classes are looking for relief by build
ing competing lines, but they overlook
the fact that these lines will be COB
bled up as soon as built and the case
remain as bad as ever. But in open
ing up and improving the navigation
of the Mississippi and its tributaries,
there is sure preventive to any COM
bination for the future. as the remedy
is ample and the navigation free to
all. With this view of the case ac-
tiOn becomes imperative. If we de-
sire to call attention to the necessity
of securing effective national aid to
this great enterprise now is the time
to act, whilst public attention is turn
ed to this subject. A united effort
would secure and command attention
that a mere sectional movement
would not. All along the Ohio river,
from Pittsburg down, and along the
Mississippi river from st. Paul to
New Orleans, the merchants, traders
and farmers are waking up to it's ne


cessity and acting to secure some re-
cOgnition of its Importance from con-
gress.


a retrospective view of the action
of congress in this direction would
not be out of place in the present ar
ticle: Since the organization of our
government the total sum of money
expended on this important river
amounts to only $18, 100000 counting
the interest) which is only One-fifth
what congress donated to the Pacific
railroads in the shape of bonds. Ac-
cOrding to the bureau of statistics the
amount of bonds, with interest ac-
cumulated to the first of the present
year, was SOL 1897 ,92S. which, with
l87,785, $50 acres of land, makes up
magnificent Gfnot extravagant) grant
to a lot Of private corporations who
claim exemption from taxation, and
the right to regulate their own tariffs.


Now, half the amount of the mod
est grant asked by Thomas Scott to-
wards the southern Pacific railroad
would prove of immense Importance
in opening up the navigation OF. the
Mississippi; and that would be free to
all and no grasping corporation to
using it. The single state of New
York expended over 1854 ,O00, 900 in ca.
nails alone, but here is system of i'm
prOvements that will directly benefit
18 states, and territories, which has
only received from the general gov
ernment SIS, 900, whilst the state
Of New York alone received for the
improvement of it's rivers and har-
bors the sum of 81, ,894,803.


Now, this is a question that inter-
ests every producer in the west. A
large portion Of our surplus produce.
crosses the Atlantic, but before it
reaches the sea coast the fees for
transportation double the cost. (see
the price Of beef. pork and grain in
Rock Island and compare them with
the prices Of the same articles in New
York; Here is where is the cheap
navigation Of the Mississippi river
comes to the rescue Of the producer.
Wheat can be carried from Rock Is
land to New Orleans for lower figure
than is charged from Chicago to Buf
falo, and yet wheat has been carried
between these points for cents per
bushel, corn l-2 cent. But it is in
our meat trade that the great saving
will be experienced. Cattle can be
placed on barges and fiat boats and,
with the aid of steam tugs, taken
alongside of ocean steamers in New
Orleans for a fifth Of what it costs
now--and the best feature will be,
the cattle will improve all the time
they are on the way. This will d.
vert this trade from New York and
Montreal and we will control it our
selves. Here is a mine Of wealth il
we only have manhood enough to
work it. Meetings should be called
and petitions sent forward to congress
to secure liberal grant to this truly
national enterprise. Every city and
town along the Mississippi should
hold meetings and urge upon congress
the importance Of this great enter
prise. Next to the financial question
this is by far the most important one
before the great Industrial classes Of
the M; ;ssissippi valley. Give us only
free access to all the markets Of the
world. free trade and cheap money.
and we will defy competition, let it
come from what source it may. a
bright future is dawning before us il
we only have the manhood to secure
it. Only let the government supply
us with sound national currency in
sufficient volume to transact the busi-
ness of the nation, stop granting aid
to private enterprises, stop fostering
monopolies that are in direct antag0-
nism with our republican institutions,
and the future Of the Mississippi val
ley will be the grandest the pen Of the