Year: 1873

The Great Transportation Question.


Unquestionably one of the most impor-
tant questions of public interest now pres
sing for solution and it will press stead
lily and with increasing Importance until 1t
is answered satisfactorily that Of in
creased facilities and improved methods of
transportation, to meet the demands of
trade and commerce and the wants of the
world that lie behind and that create those
demands That the present facilities for
moving the vast products Of the interior
Of this country to the seaboard, and the
merchandise gathered from all quarters
from our seaports inland, are now made
quate is known to all That the tariffs Of
railroads on freight are too high is also
known. and this is not Of itself evidence
that the railroads are really exacting more
than is necessary for them, if they are to
make the freighting business pay. But
the people demand better and greater and
cheaper means Of transportation than Is
now afforded. Congress recognized this
demand, and has a committee now IN ses-
sion considering the subject and listening
to suggestions and arguments from
various parties Of greater or less ex-
perience and eminence in the commercial
and scientific world Much interesting
and valuable information has already been
elected, and much more, doubtless, will
be. This transportation problem must be
solved, and all that fairly tends to that
result is interesting, and in degree valu-
able. We have been particularly impressed
with the weight of the views Of Mr.. HOr-
ace H. Day, whose name and energy and
enterprise are well enough known, as pre-
sented to the committee. Few men in this
country are better entitled to a hearing
than Mr.. Day, on such a subject, for he
has given to it years of careful study and
much thought, and has expended on it no
small amount Of money. He has for more
than fifteen years been q persistent and
earnest advocate OF the construction of a
ship canal Of large capacity around the
Falls of Niagara, for the purpose of making
available for the commerce concentrating
at New York the great water ways of the
northern and western chain of lakes, the
river st. Lawrence, Lake Champlain and
the Hudson River. We copy here from a
report of his remarks made before the
Senatorial Committee, and invite special
attention to the views presented. Mr.. Day
said


1t is known to this committee that
have for a long time identified myself with
efforts to promote the Niagara Ship Canal
and may say have in various ways ex-
pended more time and money than per
haps any other person in the country.
have long fOreseen that there was no other
way by which to meet the just demands
Of both East and West, and entirely agree
with our present Chief Magistrate, whose
repeated recommendations in respect to
this and other great water ways will stand
the test Of time, and If he can carry them
through during his present term he will place
the nation under even greater obligationsfor
arresting greater calamities than was in
the contest which overthrew Southern
slavery. 1t is settled beyond all manner
of doubt that water conveyances are
the cheapest All else has been tried III
vain. The war drew the country tOgeth-
er, but to-day sectional interests are again
rising, and placing the nation in far great
er danger than it was from the old systems
and institutions of the South. Monopo.
lies and anarchies are the same while the



the former is wider spread power, and fal
more to be feared. 1t may be regarded
as contagious building up hatred, engen
dering malice and spite, which has already
and will more effectually resort to politica
strategy, to build up and extend its blight
ing influence far and wide, bearing down
depressing and impoverlshing one part o.
the country, while it fosters and protects
through its injustice another shutting out
mankind from his fellow man, turning
back the rushing tide of Gods great ocear
of commerce, placing the iron band of in
| Justice ON the mouths of the poor, anC
robbing the laborer of his hard earned
bread, compelling idleness to revsl in the
waste which monopoly creates, and obsti
macy end tyrrany hold, for the sel6shnes,
Of the few who close the rings anG
make the "corners upon, and il
which the nations best interests are sacri
feed, dd tibitWm, as thev our lords anc
masters iciU. All else had been tried
Cotton was not and could not be king, anC
usurp the power in One-half the nation
sugar, rice and tobacco claimed their par
and portion in the channel of commerce
and all found place and way to reacl
us. Then came the louder call from al
the world for bread, for corn and othe
food products, and what was the answer


The politicians and monopolists saw tha
all the world must have what they asket
for, and their opportunity was in the de
mand for bread How have these monop
olists and politicians expressed themselves
Their late actions and the result speal
palmer than can l. Credit Mobile
and numerous others-lesser in the singh
yet greater in the aggregate -certainl,
speaks for itself. All of these things, al
though passed away, have become tn
landmarks and foundation to enable us t.
make more certain cord to bind US to
gether as a anation-humane, wise and lust
and, necessarily, prosperous. These grea
waterways, to make cheap transportation
sure, beyond the power Of avarice TO con
troll, point the only safe way. At leas
three great avenues from the sea 10 tn
Mississippi Valley should be undertakes
now, one through the -Rorthern lakes, th
st. Lawrence and Champlain to New York
one through Virginia and one still furths
south. The double-tra<k railroad, to b
built and owned by the 8overnment, an,
used by all who might wish 10 rum thsi
cars upon it, would, of courss, be desirs
BILE, but ten such roads wonld fail Of on
great object steady fofViRn market 70
our surplus productS II this nation n