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THE NECESSITY OP A SHIP-CANAL BETWEEN THE EAST AND THE WEST. 
 
 ^// 
 
 JR E I> O R T 
 
 OF T H K 
 
 COMMITTEE ON STATISTICS, 
 
 FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO, 
 
 BCBMITTKD TO THE 
 
 NATIONAL CONVENTION. 
 
 1B81MBLBD 
 
 AT CHICAGO, JUNE 2, 1863. 
 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 
 TRIBUNE COMPANY'S BOOK AND JOB PRINTING OFFTCK, 61 CLARK STREET. 
 
 186?. 
 
\\ 
 
 It 
 
 
S>! 
 
 NECESSITY or A SHIP-CANAL BETWEEN THE 
 
 EAST AND WEST. 
 
 The Congress shall have power to levy taxes, duties, imposts and excises— to 
 provide for the COMMON DEFENSE, and promote the GENERAL WELFARE 
 of the United States." — Constitution. 
 
 The Committee, npj)omted to collect statistics as to the importance 
 of uniting the icatcrs of the 3Iississippi with those of the Atlantic 
 by a Ship- Canal, have dis'harged the duties im2)osed vpon them, 
 and submit the following 
 
 KEPOET. 
 
 Two schemos for the accomplishment of this object have been 
 brought prominently before the country, and failed, only by a few 
 votes, to receive the sanction of the Thirty-Seventh Congress. 
 
 1. To make a slack-water navigation of the Illinois and Des 
 Plaines rivers, and to enlarge the present Illinois and 3Iichigan 
 canal to such dimensions as shall admit of th(; passage of gun- 
 boats, and of the largest class of Mississijjpi steamers, to the Lakes. 
 
 2. To enlarge the locks of the Erie and Oswego canals of New 
 York, to such dimensions as shall pass an iron-clad gun-boat 25 
 feet wide and 200 feet long, and drawing not less than 6 feet and 
 6 inches water. 
 
 The cost of construction of the first will be about !jil3,.500,000, 
 and that of the second, $3,500,000;— detailed estimates of which 
 will be presented to the Convention. 
 
 In devising an extensive system of internal conununication, it is 
 of the highest importance to inquire into the resources of the 
 region which it shall traverse ; its topography, soil and climate; its 
 population, products of industry and internal commerce; and its 
 past and prospective growth ;— all are elements to be taken into 
 consideration to enable us to form an intelligible opinion as to the 
 necessity of oxorMiting such work?, and the scale of inngnitudc 
 which they should be projected. 
 
 on 
 
VA 
 
 PHYSICAL CHARACTER OP THK MISSISSIPPI BASIX. 
 
 The Valley of the Mississippi, bounded on the one hand bv the 
 Rocky mountains, and on tlie other by the Alleghanies, embraces 
 a drainage area of 1,244,000 square miles, which i. more than 
 one-half of the entire area of the United States. The Upper 
 Mississippi Valley is composed of three subordinate basins, whose 
 respective dimensions are as follows : 
 
 The Ohio bnsin 911 maa 
 
 wu^ TT «• • . . ■^l*,' "00 square mi es. 
 
 The Upper Mississippi i^.^^^O - u 
 
 ^'^"^'™" 618,000 " .. 
 
 Making a total of 901^000 «« 
 
 Its navigable rivers are as follows : 
 
 Missouri, to near the Great FalN q 1 ka -i 
 
 y,. . . „ ... •1,150 miles. 
 
 Missouri, above Great Falls to Three Forks 150 " 
 
 Osage, to Osceola ', „ 
 
 JvansHs 
 
 Big Sioux 
 
 ^" 'jg <i 
 
 Yellow-stone 
 
 Upper Mississippi, to St. Paul g-g u 
 
 St. Anthony, to Sauk Rapids /[ g^ „ 
 
 Above Little Falls, to Pokegima Fails . .'. ' * .' .' " .' '." * * * 2m «' 
 
 Minnesota, to Patterson's Ri.pids 295 «' 
 
 St. Croix, to St. Croix Falls '.'..'.'.'..'.'. 60 " 
 
 Illinois, to La Salle 220 " 
 
 Ohio, to Pittsburgh 975 <» 
 
 Monongahela, to Geneva (slack-water, 4 looks,) ...... 91 u 
 
 Muskingum, to Dresden «' 8 " ., '** loo " 
 
 Green River, to Bowling Green *' 6 " .'.'..".'.' ]8fi «' 
 
 Kentucky, to Brooklyn " 5 <» .., , n^ <c 
 
 Kanawha, to Gauley Bridge [[ i,jq .. 
 
 Wabash, to Lafayette 335 •< 
 
 Srtit, to S!iepherdsville „,> „ 
 
 Sandy, to L'luisa ' *" „ „ 
 
 T.nnessee, to Muscle Shoals .'.'.*.'.... . .'.'.' oo <• 
 
 Cumberland, to Bmkes'7ille 370 " 
 
 Total navigation "sTJv? " 
 
 It would thus appear that the internal navigation of the Upper 
 Mississippi Valley i.s about 9,000 miles in extent; but, during 
 
the stiraraer months, even through the main channels, it becomes 
 precarious, and at times is practically suspended. 
 
 The Mississippi Valley, viewed as a whole, may be regarded as 
 one great plain between two diverging coast ranges, elevated from 
 400 to 800 feet above the sea. St. Paul, the head of the navigation 
 ot the Mississippi, is 800 feet above the ocean ; Pittsburgh, ^at the 
 junction of the Monongahela and Alleghany, forming the Ohio 
 699 feet ; Lake Superior on the north, 627 feet ; but the water-shed 
 on the west, at South Pass, rises to nearly 7,500 feet. 
 
 It is traversed by no mountain ranges, but the surf\ice swells into 
 hills and ridges, and is diversified by forest and prairie. Leavin<r 
 out the sterile portions west of the Missouri, the soil is almos't 
 uniformly fertile, easily cultivated, and yields an abundant, return. 
 The climate is healthy and invigorating, and altogether the region 
 18 the most attractive for immigration of any portion of the earth. 
 
 PHYSICAL CHARACTER OF THE ST. LAWRENCE. 
 
 The sources of the Mississippi on the east interlock with those 
 of the St. Lawrence, which, with its associated lakes and rivers, 
 presents a system of water-comniunicatiou of nearly equal extent 
 and grandeur. 
 
 TABLE SHOWING THE DIMENSIONS OF THE FIVE UKEAT AMERICAN LAKES. 
 
 •C^r 
 
 The entire area drained by these lakes is estimated at 33;j,.515 
 square miles, and their shore lines are nearly 5,000 miles in extent, 
 while those of the Atlantic are but 3,500. 
 
 These rivers are as diverse in character as in direction. The 
 
 — ,. — _ __ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 LAKES. 
 
 Greatest 
 Itngth. 
 
 Greatest 
 breadth. 
 
 Height 
 above Sea. 
 
 Area In 
 pquare miles. 
 
 Superior 
 
 
 MILGH. 
 
 355 
 320 
 260 
 240 
 180 
 
 MILRS. 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 160 
 
 80 
 
 35 
 
 FKKT. 
 
 627 
 578 
 578 
 505 
 232 
 
 32,000 
 22,000 
 20,400 
 
 Michigan 
 
 Huron 
 
 Erie 
 
 Ontario 
 
 ll,6G0 
 
 
 6,300 
 
 Total 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 
 90,300 1 
 
 i 
 
Mississippi is the longer, but the St. Lawrence dischargees the 
 greater volume of water; the one abounds in difficult rapids, the 
 
 of the on? T ^r-7T '";^"''' ""^"^>'^"^ ^--'5 the waters 
 of he one are turbid, those of the other possess an ahnost crystal 
 
 punty ; the one affords few lake-like expansions, the oth sw 
 
 into vast inland seas. Both have become the great highways of 
 
 commerce, enriching the regions through whic^ they flow Td 
 
 supplying the inhabitants with the varied products of distant 
 
 cl.mes. (Mster and Whitney^s Report on Lahe Superior ) 
 
 $450 O00,000_more than twice the external commerce of the whole 
 dasseZC '■'"'""'^ """ ^^ "" ^''' ^^ ^'^^^ ^"''^'^'^«' «*■ ^^'^' following 
 
 Steamers f?; ''°"3' '''''"•'• 
 
 Propellers ' f/^ ^2,190..00 
 
 BuL ^'*'^^'^ 3,573,300 
 
 Bri.rs "^^ '^^'203 982,900 
 
 Sloops ••• ''' ' '-^'^^^ «.«W.50 
 
 Barges .V; 'l ''^ ^W 
 
 ° 3 3,719 17.000 
 
 '^*''^'' •• •• 1.643 413,026 |i^I^ 
 
 The following are the distances of some of the commercial 
 routes, taking Chicago as the initial point : 
 
 Chicago to Fond du Lac Superior nr^n -, 
 
 Georgian Bay .. 
 
 " " Buffalo ^.' 
 
 " " Gulf of St. Lawrence .'*.'.' *.'.'.'.*.'.'.'.'.*.".'.*.*.'." j 950 ." 
 PROGRESS OP DEVELOPMENT. 
 
 The first oolo^ of EnglisI, cxlr.otion, planted in the territory 
 of the U, per M.ss.ss.pp,, was in 1788-just seventyfive years 
 ago-at Marietta, within the present limits of Ohio. This was the 
 or,g,n of that spirit of t^ljpnkation, whieh, within the lifetime of 
 many lu.ng men has peopled "this region with nine n,illions of 
 human bemgs ; has subdued and brought under eultivntion, an 
 area grea er than that of all the cultivated lands of the Bri ish 
 Kmp,re; has conneeted the principal commercial points with a 
 net-work o railways more than eleven thousand miles in CKtent 
 and has bmlt up a domestic industry, the value of whose anl^'i 
 
product ,s ,„ excels of three hundred and fifty ,„illio„s „f dollar,. 
 Out of th.8 tevr.tory have been cawed not less than nine States, 
 which are ,nd,ssoIubly linked tog..the,. by a sinularity of condition^ 
 .n sod a^d elimate, and by the geographical featu.x-s of the co,„,try. 
 Ihey have already received the aj.pellation of the "Food- 
 PRODUcixr." States-a„ appellation which they arc destined to 
 1 etain for all time. 
 
 The rivers and the lakes, which water this region, offer the most 
 magnificent system of internal communication to be foun.l on the 
 surface of the earth. No mountain barriers interpose to divide the 
 people into hostile clans, or divert the great currents of trade in 
 their flow to the markets of the world. With a soil sufficiently 
 rich in organic matter for fifty su<,cessive crops ; with almost bound- 
 less fields of coal, stored away for future use ; with vast deposits 
 of the useful ores, and the precious metals, on the rim of the .n-eat 
 basin ; and with a climate most fltvorable to the development of 
 human energy, it is impossible for the mind, even in its most darin^r 
 speculations, to assign limits to the growth of the North- West" 
 When all of these elements of wealth, now in a crude state, shall 
 have been fully developed, there will be an exhibition of human 
 power and greatness such as no other people ever attained 
 
 The subjoined table (A.), compiled from the Census returns of 
 the United States, exhibits the progress of population, as well as 
 of cultivation in these States, from 1800 to 1860; and it will be 
 perceived that, during this period, in both these respects, the 
 increase has been each decade about two-fold. 
 
 The appended table (B.), also compiled from the Census 
 returns, shows that the increase in agricultural products and in 
 domestic animals has been in about the same proportions. Com- 
 paring the whole superficial contents of these States with the 
 portions cultivated, it will be seen that only about 15.^ percent 
 of the surface has been subdued; and, if population and cultiva^ 
 tion increase in the same ratio in the future as thev have in the past 
 before the lap^e of another decade there will be collected annuallv' 
 on the borders of the Great Lakes, more than 200,000,000 bushels 
 of cereals for exportation, giving employment to a fieet of more 
 than 3,000 vessels, and requiring avenues of more than twice the 
 capacity of existing ones. 
 
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 Here is a gross sum of more than 650,000,000 busliels of cereals, 
 the product of the eight Food-producing States for the year 1859^ 
 based on a crop which was nearly one-third deficient, as contrasted 
 with those of 1860 and 1861. 
 
 To convey an adequate idea of the motive power required to 
 distribute this prodigious mass, in its crude state, it may be stated 
 that it would employ more than 64,400 locomotives, each haulin.cr 
 8,500 busliels ; and, if required to deposit their freight at a given 
 depot, a train must arrive oftener than once in seven minutes, by 
 day and by night, throughout every working day of the year/ 
 
 After feeding the existing population of those States, there 
 remains a surplus of more than 500,000,000 of bushels, to be used 
 as seed for future crops, as food for tho doraestio animals, and for 
 exportation, either in a crude state, or in a concentrated form, as 
 •beef, pork, lard, oil, whisky, etc., etc. 
 
 As an evidence of the increase of agricultural products since 
 1859, consequent on improved crops, a.id an enlarged area of cul- 
 tivation, your Committee would direct attention to the provision- 
 trade of Cliicago for the last four years. 
 
 TABLE. SHOWING THE RECEIPTS AT CHICAGO OF THE ARTICLES NAMED FOR THE 
 
 YEARS l«J-62. '^x,ry,a iuj£ 
 
 ARTICLES. 
 
 1859. 
 
 Flour, barrels. . . 
 Wheat, bushels. 
 Corn, " 
 
 Oats, " . 
 
 Rye, " 
 
 Barley, " 
 HogH .......... 
 
 Cattle 
 
 726,821 
 
 8,0«n,'7t)6 
 
 r),4()1.870 
 
 l,7r)7,fi96 
 
 2K1,5U 
 
 652,6aB 
 
 271,204 
 
 111,694 
 
 1860. 
 
 713,-348 
 
 14,427,(183 
 
 1 5,262, :i()4 
 
 2,11)8,889 
 
 818,976 
 
 617,619 
 
 392,864 
 
 177,101 
 
 1861. 
 
 1,479,284 
 
 17,385,0112 
 
 26,369,989 
 
 2,067,018 
 
 49(t,9H9 
 
 4. ■.7.589 
 
 675,902 
 
 204,679 
 
 1863. 
 
 1,666,391 
 
 13,978,116 
 
 29,574,328 
 
 4,688,722 
 
 1,038,825 
 
 872,053 
 
 1,348,890 
 
 209.665 
 
 Thus, the increase in cereals has been 106 per cent.; in hogs 
 400 JUT cetit.; and in cattle, 87 per cent. ' 
 
 Results equally marked are shown by the returns of the other 
 ilnke-[)orts. 
 
 BLOCKADE OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 It may be said that this is the result of the blockade of the Mis- 
 sissippi, and that, so soon as that blocka.le is raised, a considerable 
 portion of these products will seek an outlet through th.at channel 
 This IS a mistaken idea, which a brief reference to the st.ati.stins of 
 trade will entirely dispel. 
 
u 
 
 .•ep»:, ::;"'"" "' "" ^""^''■^'' ^'-"■'^ »f ^,...0, l., a ..ece„t 
 
 " In the early settlement of the West tho Af : .: • • 
 ».d of not los, tl,.„ li.,. „„„k „i|^,„,, b,,„„™ .h!; ^,°"' ;"^ Canadian cana.,, 
 
 c.poir.^tHo:*':,".!; :::::; r;' ^---r '"■-"•' -.-e,. „r 
 
 .-o yea. an., a .o.„,. i,:', t / ^ 'I V.-T^:*"""- '''" ":'°''" °"''"" "' 
 markets of the worl.! th,..n •, ''^''' •^•^"^^' ""!«^8 in a direct line to the 
 
 ^Hvertt^egre^Z^ ::;n^::;^- '"7 ^'^T ^^=«^^'-^'^ PoweHu, to 
 to 1860, the West found 1^^ ^/'""^ ^'■'"" "^' ^'^""' ^° ^''« *:««^- ^^P 
 bread-st;«. and rl^i: n e ^::!\ : Jl^ '^"^'^^^ ^^-'^ «^ "- 
 the amount whieh was exnort > fro ^^'v O "''' ""^^ ^ 
 exceedi„gtwon.,.ionsof don Jper ::'::" ''"' ""^'"'^^"' "''^^'^' 
 
 The annual report of the Secretary of the Tren.n.-v f .1 
 
 endino-AiKTusf -ii ispo i . ^^ "^ ^"^ ^ '^'^^'"T* f'>i' the year 
 
 _ "n^-, August 31, 1800, shows the amount of hread-stufFs and nm 
 
 visions exported to foreign countries fron. .Vew Orlea s an N w 
 
 \ ork respectively, as follows : ^""^^ 
 
 From From 
 
 Wheat, bushels '"^ *^"'''"'- ^''''^ ^o^k. 
 
 Wheat Flour, barrels. *.'.* ^'^ i,m\iH^S 
 
 Indi.n Corn, bushel. ". ". Z't\ ^'^^^'"" 
 
 Indian Meal, barrels. ... ^^"^^- l,58(.,OI4 
 
 Pork, barrels ^"^ 8<'-^'''^^ 
 
 Hams and Bacon,;;.* id;.:;;;;;: ,J'!tl' ,. '''•'^' 
 
 ^'.'0,280 16,161,741) 
 
 The total receipts of grain of all kinds -t fl.nf rw...f • • , 
 
 year exceeded 14,500,000 bushels, e Uu^ t^,^ r " "' '"'^'^ 
 s.anption in the interior, which arJ al ! Mh: ^^" T U. ^'"'' 
 kee, or Toledo. In 1350-00, the receipts ...^l^Z::.:''''^'- 
 
 FLOUR. WlfEAT. ooRV 
 
 *''''• """ks a.Kl bbl.s. sacks ami l.hi, , ^'^'^^- 
 
 The.e facts show conclusively that, with the navigation of the 
 Mi.s.ss.pp, unohstructe<l, the great tuass of Western exr.orfs J m 
 flow through other channels. ^'"'^' ""'^"'^ 
 
 MlODUcrr OP nUKAO-STUFFS FOR EXPOKTATIOV. 
 
 The an.ount of cereals, which, in 1802, flowed out of the Fpner 
 
 M.ss.ss.pp. Valley ar.d the region of the L.kes, .. .v .^! f!,.' 
 
 ea- board, was, ac-ording to the Buffalo Trade 1 ep.ut 1 ' , 540 
 
 l'i'sh,.ls, which were respectively forwmh. 1 . ''•'".^' ''^^'j -•^S*'^ 
 
 points: ^ ^ luiHcUUed ivum tiie loilowing 
 
 /// 
 
\\\ 
 
 12 
 
 STATEMENT SHOWING THE SHIPMENT OP CERE*LS FOR 1SC2, 
 
 PLACES. 
 
 FLOUR. 
 
 JSBLH. 
 
 W. Terminus B. & 0. R. R.*. . . 
 " Pennsylvania Central 
 
 Dunkirk .... 
 
 SupptMision Bridge* 
 
 Buffalo 
 
 Oswego 
 
 Cape Vincent 
 
 Ogdensburg 
 
 Montreal 
 
 Rochester* 
 
 * Estimated. 
 
 690.000 
 
 890,696 
 1,0»5,:^6.'> 
 
 875,000 
 2,846,022 
 
 235,:i82 
 48,.^7^< 
 
 576,394 
 
 1,101,475 
 
 1,000 
 
 WHEAT. 
 
 B(J3B. 
 
 112,061 
 
 30,435,83*1 
 
 10,982,132 
 
 316,403 
 
 689,930 
 
 8,012,773 
 
 150,000 
 
 Totals 
 
 8,359,910 
 
 50,699,130 
 
 CORN. 
 
 BUSH. 
 
 149,654 
 
 24,288,627 
 
 4,528,962 
 
 249,369 
 
 1,120,176 
 
 2,649,136 
 
 32,985,923 
 
 OTHER 
 GRAIN. 
 
 BUSH. 
 
 550,000 
 
 1,622,893 
 
 10,173 
 
 2,750,000 
 
 3,849,620 
 
 1,467,82.3 
 
 49,047 
 
 18,865 
 
 519,896 
 
 6,622 
 
 10,814,939 
 
 Grand Total, (Flour reduced to bushels) 186 329 642 
 
 SHIPMENTS OF CEREALS FROM FOUR LAKE PORTS, IN 1862. 
 
 PLACES. 
 
 Chicago. . . 
 Milwaukee 
 Toledo* . . 
 Detroitf . 
 
 Totals 
 
 FLOUR. 
 
 BDL.'^. 
 
 1,739,849 
 711,405 
 
 1,261,291 
 998,535 
 
 4,711,080 
 
 WHEAT. 
 
 BUSH. 
 
 13,808,898 
 
 14,915,680 
 
 9,314,491 
 
 3,278,033 
 
 CORN. 
 
 BUSH 
 
 29,452,610 
 
 9,489 
 
 3,781,634 
 
 310,618 
 
 41,317,102 33,554,351 
 
 OTHER 
 GRAIN. 
 
 BUSU. 
 
 4,516,35*7 
 
 250,292 
 
 122,109 
 
 4,888,758 
 
 Grand Total, (Flour reduced to bushels) .103315611 
 
 * Amount received from Chicago diducted. 
 
 J- Amiunt recelveil from Chicago and Milwaukee deducted. 
 
 Tlio iiiiniiig po|>nI:ition of Liiko Su])t'rior iibsorb not less Uum 
 150,000 bushels of cereals, which do not ajtpear in the above 
 tables, an<l wliicli will aeeoimt for the diserepancies between the 
 amounts shipped from the initial points, and the amounts forwarded 
 from theseeondary \ )ints. These tables are illustrative, as showing 
 that, in this ,i,M-eat grain-movement, the four lake ports furnish more 
 than lift} per cent, of all the Hour, inore than eighty per cent, of 
 all the wheal, and more than seventy-Hve per eent. of tlie cereals 
 of all kinds ; while Chicago and Toledo together furnidi more 
 corn thai: iinds its way e;istward through all these avenues, and 
 Cliieago nlone eontribule.s more than f.rty per cent, of the whole 
 
 gross pro 
 
 luet. 
 
13 
 
 These etatistios .how to what gigantic proportions the grain-trade 
 of the N„rth-West_the growth of less than a q„ arter of ^cent, vy- 
 
 by one of this Comm.ttee in 18.1S; but the earliest bill of lartin,' 
 preserved bears date Oct. 8, 1M9, and calls for 1,078 bushes of 
 wheat, to be delivered at Black Koek. 
 
 PBOVISION TRABE. 
 
 The provision trade has assumed dimensions equally important 
 The fo lowing returns of the pork-paeking in the Nor U. West are 
 aken from the Cincinnati Price Current, showing the number of 
 hogs slaughtered, as well as forwarded : 
 
 Ohio r''-''- ^8«2-3. 
 
 Indiana ;:::; iiyzi '''^''' 
 
 Illinois «tff '"'"''' 
 
 Iowa ^"^'^'^^^ 1,484,834 
 
 «. ■". 205,188 403,899 
 
 Missouri .,„ „„. ' 
 
 Wi. ■ 1S8,766 284,011 
 
 Wisconsin ia,, ^k^. , 
 
 100,556 196,745 
 
 „ '^"^'^^^ 2,566,788 8,938 7(i0 
 
 Excess over preceding year 3^1012 
 
 Aggregate weight in lbs 606,788.684 854,6l7;900 
 
 The number of hogs forwarded by the 
 
 M xr . iSiU2. 1862-8. 
 
 New Yorlt and Erie Railroad 124,792 136 <i07 
 
 Peimsylvauia Railroad 205,103 i7i,'49o 
 
 829,875 807^ 
 
 No returns of the number sent througli Canada, or delivered at 
 liuttjjo, have as yet been received. 
 
 The Connriittee have not complete returns of the extent of 
 beet-packmg m the North-West. The shipments of entile throuc.h 
 one avenue alone-Detroit-amounted last year to 7:>,9G4. 
 
 COUN CROP. 
 
 Hut tlu. great crop of the North-West is that of nnii.e, or Indian 
 corn, he yearly pro.luct of wi.ieh i. now not loss than 500,000,000 
 M.shels. It .s easily cultivated, and yiel.ls an ahnost unfailing 
 return. It ,s the cheapest food for domestic anbnals, and in a 
 concentrated f^>rm, like beef; pork, lard, aleolu,), and whisky, will 
 '>^'a'- transportation to every quarter of the world. I„ a crude 
 
 /// 
 

 '.'II 
 
 h 
 
 14 
 
 state, it is a commodity so bulky and perishable that, loaded with 
 TrZZ ^IT "' ^'-^"^P-'^^^^i^"' ^h- P'-airie farmer often finds 
 
 60 L ^^""Y)''^: '' ^^^^'^^^ to the New England operative at 
 bein^ ' 7 ''"".^'f^T '' ''" ^"^^ ^^"" ^ ^^*"^^~the difference 
 ttat onTv ^"^"/"^^' '"^ commissions. The consequence is, 
 
 ea h!s n K : ''' ''"'• ""' ''^' '''-'''' '^ its crude state 
 
 reaches the sea-board. 
 
 Estimating the future by the past, it is impossible to assign 
 hm ts to the productive power of the North-West. That power 
 will keep pace with the world's demand for cheap bread_a demand 
 a ways craving but never satisfied. Hostile legislation may under- 
 take to confine Its passage to particular channels, and interested 
 parties to levy extortionate charges on its transit; but the recip- 
 rocal mterest of producer and consumer will be sufficiently powerftd 
 to sweep away all such obstacles. The universal sentiment of 
 mankind, as well as the dictates of a sound political economy 
 demands that products of such vital necessity to the race shall be 
 mcumbered with the least possible restraints. 
 
 MINERAL RESOURCES -LAKE SUPERIOR MINING REGION. 
 
 Prior to 1845, Lake Superior was regarded almost as a mare 
 claasum;-ouoor t^^o vessels in the employment of the British 
 and Amencan Fur Companion being the only ones whose canvas 
 whitened those magnificent waters. The trade of that region, now 
 estimated at $22,000,000 per annum, requires about 200 vesse s for 
 its transaction. 
 
 Tlie copper-mimng of this region 1ms become one of tl.e -.vat 
 .miustnal „„ore«ts of the country, giving c.nployn.ent to ynohMy 
 10,000 „„„,..,, and y,el,ln,g .„ annnal pvo-luct wind, goL far to 
 '^m'b "e want, for l.on.c co„s«n,|,tion. The native n.etal-for 
 nndcr tlu,s for.., it is almost exclnsivoly f,H.,..]-yiel,Is a co,n,cr- 
 
 ntlnng, w,„o|,, for ,,nrity and le..acity, is far s..|,erior to 'a.,y 
 
 The c,.|,rifero„s belt extends, o., the sonther.. sl.ore of that lake 
 fro.., .be hea,l of Keweenaw Point to bcyornl the Onto„a„on_tl,e 
 
 'ly following statement sl.ows tl.e ann..al vield in ton, (2,240 lb« ) 
 of the .n.nes, fro.n the com,ne.,ee...ent of ,.,ini.,g operations «n to 
 
aded with 
 ften finds 
 3 the sea- 
 irative at 
 difference 
 [uence is, 
 ide state, 
 
 lo assicrn 
 It power 
 I demand 
 ly under- 
 iterosted 
 he recip- 
 povverful 
 ment of 
 Bonomy, 
 shall be 
 
 5N. 
 
 a mare 
 
 British 
 
 canvas 
 
 on, now 
 
 Jsois for 
 
 e great 
 I'ohahly 
 ^ far to 
 al—for 
 5opper- 
 to any 
 
 it lake, 
 n— the 
 m 2 to 
 
 mibs.) 
 I up to 
 
 15 
 
 AQGREGATE SHIPMENTS OF COPPER FRnw t k^^ 
 
 u* COPPER FROM LAKE SUPERIOR. FROM 18 45 TO 186?. 
 
 Shipments in 1845... ^'""' 
 
 //;f' 
 
 tl 
 
 1846 
 
 •i 
 
 1847 
 
 <t 
 
 1S48 
 
 «t 
 
 1849 
 
 M 
 
 1850 
 
 (« 
 
 1851 
 
 <4 
 
 1852 
 
 l« 
 
 185:^ 
 
 (1 
 
 1854 
 
 M 
 
 1855 
 
 « 
 
 1856 
 
 <l 
 
 1857 
 
 •1 
 
 1858 
 
 it 
 
 1859 
 
 t< 
 
 1860 
 
 <« 
 
 1861 
 
 «t 
 
 1862 
 
 lbs. 
 .1300 
 
 29. 
 
 239. 
 
 616. 
 
 750. 
 
 640. 
 
 872. 
 
 887. 
 1,452. 
 2,300. 
 3,196. 
 5,726. 
 5,759. 
 5,896. 
 6,041. 
 8,614. 
 10,337. 
 10,000. 
 
 IROX ORES. 
 
 Value. 
 
 $•190 
 
 2,619 
 107,550 
 206,400 
 301,200 
 266,000 
 848,800 
 800,450 
 508,200 
 805,000 
 1,437,000 
 2,400,100 
 2,015,650 
 1,610,000 
 1,932,000 
 2,520.000 
 3,180,000 
 4,000,000 
 
 The 
 
 ores occur in mountain masses, sufficient to furnish an 
 n m,ted quantity of the purest iron for all time. They 1;: 
 
 pa.allcl of Chocolate r.ver 160 miles west, into Wisconsin 
 
 i^ soutr'T r'""' '' "''^^ ^'^^^^ ores approa'ch Lak s~ 
 IS south ot Marquette, distant twelve miles A railroid hJ? 
 const te,,,,^^„ -'- in 1-gth, so as to i'ntete V: tht:: 
 
 g.ea deposits, and the amount of ore brought down eac l year ^ 
 argely on the increase, as is shown in th. following re nlLin 
 the Marquette Journal, of January IG, 1863 • 
 
 THE IRON PRODUCT OF THE LAKE SUPERIOR-SHIPMENTS OF IRON ORE 
 
 Year. imn*'^?'''"'"" , Clevebn.l Lake Superior 
 
 1 o . : ^'°" Company. Iron Co.npany. Iron Company 
 
 1,447 
 
 ^^^^ 4,497 
 
 ^^•^■^ 13,912 
 
 18'^S 11,104 
 
 ^^^^ 10,602 
 
 '^'"^ 41,286 
 
 '^''1 12,919 
 
 1802........ _. ^2,1Q1 
 
 Totiil amount sliippod to date. 
 
 7,100 
 12,272 
 19,931 
 30,344 
 42,698 
 
 7,311 
 35,244 
 
 24,668 
 33,016 
 25,200 
 
 87,710 
 
 Total 
 Oro89 tons. 
 
 1,447 
 
 11,597 
 
 26,184 
 
 31,035 
 
 65,679 
 
 110,998 
 45,430 
 
 lir,72l 
 
 414,0»l 
 
V 
 
 \\\ 
 
 16 
 
 These ores are the peroxide, or specular variety often nearl. 
 
 m,n,ng ,, required, fo,- the o,c l,i„g i„ g.-eafkLb o , Xs l! 
 worked in an oiien qnarry. These ores are in o-re,, 1 \ ■ 
 western Pennsylvania and nor,l,er„ Ohio ,vlere til n" '." 
 with the carbonates of the rn,i m 1 ^ "'" ""^<^'' 
 
 the quality of tht ii:: i:'':aS;'i,jreT' "^ "'""■ ""'"''™"°" 
 
 flte^dT," "" T'"" °^*''" N--tl'-West whieh will be more bene- 
 
 ^^S"^r:;::;:™— :;;rrr '7 ^--^^ 
 
 sea-board, or wherever chei,, fuel obta s T.T" ' 'n' '" ""•' 
 per cent, of pnre iron in the 'work .J,; wm h .^f J', T '' 
 
 ■ate river of Lale Superior, t,:1;t::; ' in^.-"! h.:' t'iT" 
 an .mportant link in internal eo,„m„n,cation • tirst' ^flLl " 
 additional outlet for these ores ; seeond, as Ihon::.-^ t t' 1" 
 
 ;^fi^irea^-™^-i:~^ 
 
 SALT-BASIM op MICHIGAN. 
 
 onlli! H "" ' ■''' '■'■■Jf ^ "■""•^•'''-' "»"-"»■-> •'- •'"■n devel- 
 oped tn the region of Saginaw Valley, in the Lower Peninsula of 
 
 twenrttrvriii!!::: ::r: ••r:::'^^^^^^^^ 
 
 hundred, whose pro.luet for the pn;!e t " i " , ' ,°"" 
 4,000,000 bushelH whieh „iii „"- ''.'"•"\J''ai 19 emulated at 
 
 Wester, S,,7\., ' "' P"""'!"! •na.-ket in the 
 
 Hcstein States. 'Ihe pr,„l„„t of the OnondiL.a S.,lt « 
 
 whieh last year reached 9,OM,ooo bushel^, X- ' •"*"' 
 largely absorbed by tile North-vVes,, havln b ^ , : tslivni: 
 and even Leavenworth ; while not less than I WO 000 Ish 
 sh.i.ped to Chicago and .Milwaukee. ' '"'' *""" 
 
 f 
 
17 
 
 -n nearly 
 ' of sili- 
 3sphorii8, 
 •on. No 
 dges, are 
 inand in 
 e mixed 
 ibination 
 
 re bene- 
 ^\2;ion of 
 It to the 
 
 over 50 
 'i trans- 
 le head 
 
 Choco- 
 
 This is 
 ding an 
 voyage 
 naviga- 
 
 water- 
 ^8 ; and 
 rcourse 
 
 devel- 
 iula of 
 xtent. 
 3ult of 
 It one 
 ed at 
 n the 
 rings, 
 
 been 
 hville 
 
 were 
 
 GOLD DEPOSITS OF THB EOCKT MOCNTAnvS. 
 
 Recent geological explorations wonld seem to indicate that the 
 north, and from longitude 102° to fha p •« ' 
 
 breadth of 1 Too r^M , ' ''"'"'"'" ^^^-''^^^^ «^' ^^^^tude, or a 
 square miles 17!!^' "''''^'"f /" ^^'^^ «* "^o^e than 1,000,000 
 
 lateral spurs, crossed and h^o!, 1',"""*'; ":"""'"*"-'"y ""d i« 
 
 In adkio; to goiitviinXr M:^ir i:™! '■ 'T 
 
 In .he Sahnon river district, the yi idof ' oM ft H " ' 
 year is estin.ated at $20,000,000; ^^.^^ ^:,rTZ 
 regjon ,s e3t,„,ated by the Co.nn.issioner at $,00,0 ,oVo " 
 
 These figures seem startling, when it is considered tha «rior ,. 
 
 must he e„,ployed to p,„„p, to lift, to cr„ i? t^w^h an To 'T"" 
 avastvnriety of processes w,deh;,nn,anln:r,:r,^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 a cheap water-communication. It is a n,at ter of .leep n «t t^ 
 
 ^j^^X:::^'' "^ ^"-^-^^--^ *-;:«:: 
 
 inS .^^^^^^^^^^^ «'«■•'""« l'™P""'-s. and is^^lam:' 
 
 2 
 
 /// 
 
\V\ 
 
 18 
 
 COST OP TKANSPORTATION-. 
 
 This subject has been elaborately investigated by McAlpine 
 while State Engineer of New York, with the following results 7 
 
 Mlllg per ton 
 
 Ocean, long voyage /"""'"• 
 
 " Bhort " '.'.'.'.'.'.'..'. 2 
 
 Lakes, long «« ° 
 
 " short " . . „ 
 
 TT , . 8 to 4 
 
 Hudson river 
 
 Mississippi and St. Lawrence 3 
 
 Erie Canal, enlarged \ 
 
 Ordinary canals 
 
 Railroads, ordinary grades /' 1 2i to 1 3i 
 
 Assuming these rates as being substantially correct, it will be seen 
 hat the rela .ve cost of transportation by rail, as ompa red w2 
 the other modes of conveyance, is as follows : 
 
 By Rail, over Ocean Transportation . . ^" °*"*: ^'•**''- 
 
 •' GreatLakes «• ... lUi 
 
 « „ w „ ' 526 
 
 Mississippi and St. Lawrence Transportation . . . .316.6 
 Hudson „ 
 
 II w Til- • T • • • t^OO-O 
 
 Illinois Improvement u „.^ , 
 
 <l <i 1? • I I * • ■ .^ol.i 
 
 i!<rie canal enlarged u oiKrt 
 
 Ordinary canal x , ,^ ^ 
 
 • • • . loU.O 
 
 These are the elements, from which any one interested in this 
 subject, can compute the practical effects upon the productive in 
 dustry of the country, and the enlarged area it will give ocX 
 vauon the result of increased avenues of communication between 
 the M,ss,ss,pp. and the sea-board. The producer will haveTw 
 n.ot.ves to multiply his crops, while to the consumlr I , bl hell 
 .«ut the prospect of cheap bread. Viewed in its true light, the 
 Ra Iroad interest can interpose no valid objection. With if,d„s rv 
 active and remunerative, travel will incr/ase, as well as the tZ 
 sump ion of those articles which require a rapid transit, and for 
 which this mode of conveyance is specially adapted. The re 
 sources devetopod along the lines of communication will more than 
 compensate for any loss of through traffic, and the cp.mbrtm 
 
 'tartir'n^"" ^"""""^ '■'"''' "-<"- *•- -~ 
 
19 
 
 aaAvs iNxioKv 
 
 /^/ 
 
 00 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 »- 
 
 91 
 
 5 
 
 ■^ 
 g 
 
 
 246.6 
 
 
 
 
 ■ — 
 
 o 
 u 
 
 V 
 
 •«« 
 "O 
 
 tJ 
 
 9 
 
1 ■! 
 
 \\\ 
 
 20 
 
 To illustrate the immense saving to be effected on the cost of 
 transportation by the opening of these two enlarged avenues 
 between the Mississippi and the sea-board, the Committee have 
 compiled with great care, the preceding table, which shows the 
 ordinary freights by water, and by rail; and what would be the 
 actual cost, with a commodious water-communication. The result 
 IS, as compared with the summer-rates, a saving of one-half- 
 and, as compared with the winter-rates, a saving^f two-thirds.' 
 rhese rates amount to a virtual prohibition, in ordinary times, on 
 the shipment of corn, a hundred miles west of Lake Michigan. 
 It will thus be seen that the actual cost of transporting a bushel 
 
 of corn from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, would be 13-=- cts 
 lo which add two elevator charges, - . . j '" 
 Tolls, say 1^ cts. on each improvement, - . 3 
 
 
 17-2- cts 
 In the Chicago market in 1861, between June and December- 
 he most active period of navigation-the price of corn vibrated 
 between 20c and 24c. The cost of transportation from the utZ 
 sip,3i to Chicago was 16 cents; while the cost of gathering, shellinc. 
 and hauling to a station, would exceed the difference between the 
 rate for transportation and the Chicago price ; so tliat if a 
 person had been gratuitously offered a given amount of corn! to be 
 gathei-ed west of the Mississippi, on condition that he sent it to 
 the Chicago market, he could not have afforded to accept the 
 
 f on Inl ^7': '^' ^'"'^^'" P'^^ ^y ""^ corporation on more than 
 ,500,000 bushels were 15,VV cents from Chicago to Buffalo, and 
 
 biis^l ^"^ ^""^ ^'''^' "'^^^"^'' ^" ^"» ^2 -^ ^^'"t« a 
 
 The subjoined statement shows the distances from some of the 
 principal commercial points, to the mouth of the Illinois river • also 
 the cost of transporting a bushel of corn, via the improved water- 
 communication : 
 
 PLACES. 
 
 Ft. Union... 
 St. Jos"ph , . 
 I'ittsburgh . . 
 St. Paul . . . . 
 Davenport . . 
 New Orleans 
 Memphis.. . . 
 •St. Louis. . . . 
 
 Distance. *"'■<'''?*'' *" Illi- 
 nois river. 
 
 HILBS. 
 
 1,9(10 
 
 608 
 
 1193 
 
 634 
 
 319 
 
 1,320 
 
 448 
 
 60 
 
 Freight 
 to New York. 
 
 
 CBNTa. 
 
 15 8-10 
 
 4 2-10 
 10 2-10 
 
 5 4-10 
 
 2 7-10 
 12 
 
 3 8-10 
 4-10 
 
 CKNT.S. 
 
 32 6-10 
 
 21 4-10 
 27 4-10 
 
 22 6-10 
 19 910 
 29 2-10 
 21 
 
 17 6-10 
 
 t 
 P 
 
21 
 
 keo are at this time tJ ' "' ^'"""So i"'I Milwau- 
 
 -ttlemontint e ro;utvofa''r'"',"r" "" ''"'"''' ^■•-"•^'« o*' 
 as remunerative a, do f„f ^h r '^ J" "'"• "'" "'"^ '"» ^•'o)" 
 the Lakes. " '"'""'^ '^*™«"- " '""'J'-«=d miles from 
 
 settlement, eh TlasToTr"'""',,?'"''"' *° "Srieultnre and 
 of this regioT P"'"""'"'^ "™ '» ""> P»«' '"^tory 
 
 NECESSITY OF ADDITIONAL OUTLETS. 
 
 The testimony of commercial men is concurrent that .1,„ „ • .■ 
 avenues of communication between the Lakes and thl TT'^ 
 
 navigation, ^^f:^^^^:^:;^:^^ -- ^f 
 
 of the New Ynrt . •^"'' ^'' ''^'^"''^^ 5 a"^^ the locks 
 
 passt;f^^::roV:o:i;r;rtr;i:^^^^^^^^ 
 
 THE NEW YORK CANALS. 
 
 ofTl";: NttltwL': '^-P^cipaloutlet through which the cereals 
 are 70 feet wilr;;:^. ^ 1^ ^^rwiaf antrn 
 
 yor;ctZirstrvett,utrt'''r"°" """"^''^'^ --^' 
 
 The total tonnage, its value, and the tolls collected on the canals 
 during 1862, were as follows : ^'' 
 
 /^/ 
 
 Tons. 
 6,598,785 
 
 Value. 
 $208,234,831 
 
 Tolls. 
 1(6,188,943. 
 
 pti cent, within the past four years. 
 
' i 3 
 
 m 
 
 \'<\ 
 
 22 
 
 STATEMENT SHOWmo THE EASTWARD-BOUND TRAFFIC OF THE ERIE AND THAM 
 PLAIN CANALS FOR FOUR YEARS ENoiNG 1^1 ^ "^ ''^'''^' 
 
 
 YEARS. 
 
 1859. 
 
 ISttO. 
 
 1861. 
 
 1862. 
 
 Tons 
 
 2,121,672 
 $53,175,312 
 
 2,854,877 
 I'78,798,617 
 
 2,980,144 
 181,332,759 
 
 __ 
 
 Value . 
 
 3,402,709 
 
 __ 
 
 $111,176,568 
 
 The proportion between Wa^ and Through traffic was about 1 8 
 Turning to wheat, it will be found that less than one-tenth was 
 
 nrll ^tr^^r '^'" '""^-^^^^^^ were drawn from the granaries 
 ot the North- West. 
 
 STATEMENT SHOWING THE MOVEMENT OF FLOUR THROUGH THE NEW YORK 
 CANALS TO TIDE-WATER FOR FOUR YEARS ENDING m 
 ( Wheat reduced to Flour.) 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 Bbls. West. 
 
 Bbls. N. York. 
 
 737,321 
 747,822 
 
 Ubls. arriving 
 at tide-water. 
 
 1859 
 
 2,210,620 
 4,344,387 
 6,712,233 
 7,516,397 
 
 
 1860 
 
 81,925,402 
 
 1861 
 
 5,081,708 
 
 1862 
 
 7,457,225 
 
 
 843,685 
 
 8,360,082 
 
 The following is a statement of the total receipts of flour" and 
 corn-wheat being reduced to flour-at tide-water at New York 
 for 1862: ' 
 
 . ... 
 
 Flour, barrels. 
 
 Com, bushels. 
 
 ByCanal 
 
 8,360,082 
 2,617,923 
 
 
 By Rail 
 
 32,670,000 
 
 
 450,000 
 
 Totals 
 
 10,978,005 
 
 
 
 88,120 000 
 
 In 1855, Mr. Jarvis, a distinguished engineer of Now York pre- 
 dicted that, in fifteen years, there would be an eastward movement 
 of five millions of tons, the surplus produ of the North-West 
 His prediction has been verified ri seven years, or within one-half 
 the time assigned. 
 
 i 
 
 ■■1 
 
28 
 
 SfS 
 
 COST OP MOVING THE CROPS. 
 
 The amount of eastward-bound tonnage, including rtour, con- 
 veyed over the three principal trunk lines of railway, in 1862, is 
 shown in the following o"*, i» 
 
 STATEMENT FROM OFFICIAL REPORTS. 
 
 New York Central Railroad '^""\ ,';.'"';:"'• 
 
 New York and Erie Railroad .'!,'.*.*.*." 471314 
 
 Pennsylvania Railroad !.!!..!.!!! .')()2 884 
 
 To which add by Erie and Champlain Canals S,'402,'709 
 
 '^^^^'' ToT^ 
 
 Now, if all of these Western commodities were reduced to as 
 compact a form as flour in barrels, and we were to suppose that 
 thirty per cent., as in the case of the cereals, came from the west 
 of Lake Michigan, and thirty per cent, from east of that lake, and 
 that the freights charged were in proportion to those on flour, dur- 
 ing the past season, they would amount to more than S56,4U0 000 
 as the cost of transferring the annual products of the Xorth-West 
 
 in nnrnnn'^'l:- J'V^'' '^""^^ ^' ""'^^^^ ^'^^^ froi<^hts on about 
 $11,000,000, which found their way through Canada. With 
 
 improved facilities, such as have been proposed, costing not to 
 
 exceed $17,000,000, the saving in the movement of a single crop 
 
 would amount to $30,000,000. 
 
 CAPACITY OP EXISTING OUTLETS. 
 
 It must be borne in mind that these great thoroughfares are fiist 
 approaching their full capacity for transportation. The capacity 
 of the enlarged Erie canal was rated by McAlpine at sevon million 
 tons; but this was on the supposition that the enlaro-od locks 
 would expeditiously pass the boats. Already the tonna-e of the 
 mam hue and its affluents has reached five and one-half "millions 
 and the voyage, which ought to be performed in nine days, is pro- 
 tracted to fourteen, and even twenty. 
 
 To show that these views are not exaggerated, your Committee 
 beg leave to refer to the statement of a highly respectable body of 
 gentlemen, representing the Corn Exchange of New York, and the 
 Board of Trade of Bufi-alo, submitted to "the joint Committee on 
 
\\\ 
 
 24 
 
 Canals, o the New York Legislature, in April last, in which it 
 
 8 shown that the capacity of the locks has been reached the past 
 
 season at 900,000 tons, and that there is an improbability of 
 
 ^creasing the movement of tonnage by increasing L number ^f 
 
 the'It Ca^ J7 It '''' '"'"^ --iderable portions of the pa,t three years, 
 lain trunk bL; ?," *'"' *^ '*^ "*'"°«' ^^P^'^^' -' from defieienc/in it 
 that whn t'h! h , ; ;-P"«-bility of passing more boats through its lock 
 
 hundrpH ! ^'''T" "^ *''' '^""'^'^ ""^ «"'«^'«"* *- be navigated by boats of s x 
 tonst y I lL";h'\'""? '-''' '''''' '^'' boatsof'about'two hun red 
 were b[9.t ';;,."" '' ''' ""^'^ '" '^"^^^'^^ ^'^ ^^ ^^ '7. ^^e locks 
 In of tonnat f ' J ""'''^ '''"^ '^^^'^ '^^"''^ ""' -<=--« *he transporta- 
 
 tVatwhlTnT^ ; ^/^"«°" ^^'^ 'i™t of lockage had been already reached • 
 that wh. the channel of the Erie and Oswego canals (with resources .t ommand) 
 
 the ca 1 : v.: ""'' '" *'^ transportation of twenty millions of tuns nZ y' 
 the^capacty of the present locks had been reached the present season at 2,900 000 
 
 boats in usp in isftn\ „„* *u , , .ncreose ot 1,469 over the number of 
 
 With singular exemption from break., were brought ud to » 1 1 7 n«<i I !u 
 
 period-an increase unon 1 fifth .f i ««o , "^"^ "P *° '^^^ ^'-^^SS during the same 
 
 number of bo trriTl sh n d a \ ■ "''' "'^'^""'^^ '^^'^' *'" '"^^^"^^ 
 
 .» late as wm tl.atof le«l „r is T f ""'""' "'""'"""PW by ice 
 
 the „,„„b«r of trip, ,„.de W b„„„ ,l„ri ! ,h ,hro„ ,„o„ , '*"' "'"■""" 
 
 therefore, tho dilTerenees beuee,, the „„„,ber If 71 7T l """"■"""I™! 
 
 the „„,„ber„f b„.,, „„,p|,y„<, „,, l,^ J, ,°' r'?" *'" P'"!'"'"™"" '" 
 
 l>jy~u, LuiiipareU Wltll those of IHHO iniiltlnll.>.l K„ *J 
 
 average tonnage of ea-.al boats, unmistakably represent ihll If ^ " 
 
 canals during that period. represent Ihf loss of tonnage to the 
 
 •' The Inadequacy of the locks to the present channel of the canals was further 
 
25 
 
 iHustrated by the many miles of boats constantly accumulated at Rochester, v^.lU 
 
 la!* nf tK " . "^'*'" '"''' ^° ^^"^^' *"^ '^' Syracuse, at the firs; lock 
 
 ITLI *^«^.f "f 0" «f the Oswego canal, showing that while these boats had 
 pas ed read.ly along the levels, they suffered detention only at the locks ; thus, 
 whUe ten to twelve days should be ample time to run a loaded boat from Buffalo to 
 
 of LrL ;• 'f !r" *' *"^"*-^-*^« "« °°- required, consequently, a loss in time 
 01 nearly thirty-three per cent." 
 
 MULTIPT/xCa.T:OIf OP RAILROADS AN INADEQUATE RELIEF. 
 
 It is not to be supposed that the trunk lines of railway can accom- 
 modate this growing commerce, for the reasons, first, that it will 
 not bear this expensive transit; and second, that with their large 
 passenger-business, and fast freight-lines, for the conveyance of 
 merchandise and perishable articles, such as fresh meats, vegeta- 
 bles etc, constituting the daily food of the great cities, they 
 combined could not convey eastward an additional million of tons. 
 Ihe four great American outlets, then, (the New York canals, 
 the New York Central, Erie, and Pennsylvania railways) 
 have a capacity, at the highest estimate, to accommodate only 
 about two and one-half additional millions of tons ; and that, too, 
 m view of an eastward-bound commerce through those channels 
 whose increase will at an early day reach theVuU limits of their 
 capacity. 
 
 These facts demonstrate the absolute necessity of additional 
 outlets— cheap, commodious and expeditious-for Western com- 
 modities, or production, up to the point already attained, must 
 cease. 
 
 To relievo the existing glut in transportation, it has been pro- 
 posed to construct additional railways. 
 
 When railroads were first introduced, it was supposed by many 
 that they would supersede canals ; and that expe<litiou8 transport, 
 though at an increased cost, would counterbalance the cheapness 
 of water-communication. Experience, however, ha« shown that 
 this supposition was fallacious, and the relative advantages of 
 those two mo-Jes of transport are now fully un.k'rstood ; and per- 
 haps, there is no more striking example of this than in the State of 
 New York, where the Central railroa<l and the Erie canal stretch 
 coterminous through that State. The one is employed for the 
 expeditious transportation of passengers, of perishable articles 
 "■i a 5,m..vaiai.c (.^unsuiupuon, and or xhuHti to which an en- 
 
 /^/» 
 
 , II--- -^ \>'J >f IIIVII 
 
 hanced value has been communicated by the industry of 
 
 man 
 
•\^\ 
 
 26 
 
 the other for those crude and bulky articles, which, in the absence 
 of canals, would yield little or no return. In the one case, time 
 becomes an element of value, for which the consumer is content to 
 pay; m the other, it is a matter of slight importance 
 
 The Committee have already shown that, under the existing rates 
 of transportation, the export of corn is bounded by the western 
 shoreof Michigan; but with an improved water-communication" 
 It would be extended to the farthest confines of settlement. Now 
 If the corn of the Western farmer, when charged with freights' 
 through a water-communication, of twenty-five cents a bushel 
 between Chicago and New York, yields him no profit; if his 
 wheat charged also, with twenty-seven cents a bushel, is excluded 
 
 what relief IS It to h.m to construe additional modes of convey- 
 ance on which the charges are 100 per cent, higher than by the 
 existing routes ? f J' ""« 
 
 EASTERN DEPENDENCE ON WESTERN BREAD-STUFFS. 
 
 The cereals of the North-West having found their way to New 
 rork, It IS proper to trace their distribution ;-to show how much is 
 required to feed the inhabitants of the sea-board, and how much 
 remains to form the basis of our foreign commerce 
 
 By the census returns of i860, it appears that New England 
 raises wheat barely sufficient to feed her population throe w^eks; 
 
 wlX ni '•'I'; "'""''''' Pennsylvania is about self-sustaining; 
 while Olno yields a surplus of less than 3,000,000 bushels. In these 
 States dunng the last decade, there was a falling off in the amount 
 
 in the North-West exceeded 55,000,000 bushels. 
 
 FOREIGN EXPORTATION. 
 
 Nnt?w "r';'^'"^"^ '^'" deficiencies of the sea-board States, the 
 North-^^ est has a surplus of bread-stuffs and provisions for export- 
 ation, which, in four years has increase<l in value from 
 $38,300,000 to ^,22,050,000, which is^exelusive of specle-nearly 
 
 $11,100,04., largely gram, which went out through Cana<la, 
 making the aggregate over $133,750,000. . This is shown by the 
 annexed statement taken from the reports of the Secretary of the 
 1 ruasury. 
 
! absence 
 ase, time 
 ontent to 
 
 ing rates 
 western 
 nication, 
 ■ Now, 
 freights, 
 bushel, 
 ' ; if his 
 xcluded 
 famine, 
 convey- 
 by the 
 
 New 
 nuch is 
 T much 
 
 ngland 
 vceks ; 
 lining ; 
 
 1 these 
 imount 
 icrease 
 
 !8, the 
 xi)ort- 
 from 
 nearly 
 luhled 
 mad a, 
 »y the 
 )f the 
 
 f 
 
 27 
 
 /^/ 
 
 STATEMENT SnOWIXO THE VALUE OP THE DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF THE UVITFD 
 STATES, EXCLUDING SPECIE, FOR THE LAST FOUR Y^.rs 
 
 ARTICLES. 
 
 Total Exports 
 
 Bread-stuflTs and Provisions . 
 
 Domestic Exports to Canada 
 (largely grain) 
 
 Foreign Exi)orts. 
 
 YEAR ENDING JUNE 80. 
 
 1859. 
 
 $278,392,080 
 88,805,991 
 
 21,769,627 
 6,384,547 
 
 1860. 
 
 $816,242,428 
 46,271,850 
 
 11,264,590 
 2,918,524 
 
 1861. 
 
 $204,166,299 
 94,866,786 
 
 11,016,664 
 2,606,786 
 
 1803. 
 
 $181,876,988 
 122,650,043 
 
 11,100,069 
 
 These .statistics show that the export of bread-stuffn and pro- 
 visions m two years increased nearly 180 per cent, in value, and in 
 three years, 220 per cent. 
 
 MATERIAL PROSPERITY OF NEW YORK. 
 
 This vast mass of vegetable and animal food, moving from the 
 West to the East, with all the regularity of an ocean-current, has 
 enriched the region along its route. It has been the main source 
 of revenue to the New York canals and railways. It is the prin- 
 cipal mine, from which New York city has derived her opulence 
 and commercial greatness. The highlands of the Hudson are the 
 gateways of a commerce, such as Venice, in her palmiest days 
 never dreamed of. She, not simply by her geographical position, 
 but by the extended system of internal improvements, constructed 
 by the State and public corporations, has been enabled to exact 
 tribute upon nearly every article, whether produced or consumed 
 by the North- West; upon the raw material, as well as tlie manu- 
 lactured fabric ; upon the proceeds of the outward voya-e. 
 as well as the return cargo. She has made herself the connectiTicr 
 link between two continents ; the centre to which converge all 
 the great Iiucn of trade ; the mart to receive and distribute the 
 miports and exports of a continent. 
 
 The Committee might go further, and show how much more 
 iuti u.>t: I., ^,cw loiK-nas buen her commerce in corn, than in 
 cotton ; how the one, from the time it started from the hanks of 
 
^^\ 
 
 28 
 
 the Mississippi, until it arrived at the sea-board, scattered riches in 
 Its path ; how the other, leaving a Gulf port, simply touched at 
 New York, and then departed for some English mart, leaving 
 behind no substantial benefit. The one is like a noble river, 
 fertilizing the region through which it flows; the other as barren 
 as the ocean on which it floats. 
 
 In view of these facts, public sentiment requires, and has a 
 right to demand, that the State of New York shall hold this great 
 thoroughfare-this connecting link between the East and the West- 
 not for local aggrandizement, or State revenue, but as the trustee 
 ot the nation ; and impose only such tolls on commerce as shall be 
 required to preserve the integrity of the work, and ultimately pay 
 the cost of construction. ^ 
 
 FOREIGN DEMAND FOR THE SURPLUS OP THE NORTH-WEST. 
 
 The question of demand and supply remains to be considered • 
 whether the European nations will require Western bread-stuff's and 
 provisions only to a limited extent, and that, therefore, production 
 up to that point, must cease ; or whether they will absorb our surl 
 plus, however great In reply, it may be stated as a general truth, 
 that there is not an instance in human history, so closely does popu- 
 lation press on the means of sustenance, of a vast accumulation of 
 lood, beyond the wants of consumers. 
 
 28Jonn'nnn'"?^?"^''^'" '^ '^'' ^"'"P^'*" ^'^''' ''' '"'^^^'^^ ^t- 
 280,000,000, of whom 150,000,000 are consumers of cereals to the 
 
 amount of nearly 1,000,000,000 of bushels. The means to further 
 production are limited by the obstacles interposed by nature 
 against which it is in vain for man to contend,-inlLpitable' 
 mountains, barren wastes, and irreclaimable marshes. The most 
 serious obstacle, therefore, to the increase of population will be 
 the limits placed on the production of human food ; but, through 
 «ie equalizing effects of commerce, it is safe to presume that there 
 Wll^ at all times, exist an active demand for our surplus bread- 
 8 uff-s, in exchange for the peculiar products of their soil, climate, 
 and industry ; and this demand will keep pace with the density of 
 their population. Speculations, therefore, as to the probability of 
 glutting the foreign market seem idle and misplaced. 
 
 The dependence of Great Britain upon foreign supplies each 
 year becomes more apparent. In 1855, it amounted to 60.02 per 
 cent., and ui 1860, it rose to 88 per cent. 
 
29 
 
 STATEMENT, FROM OFFICIAL SOURCES, SHOWING THE AMOUNT OF WHEAT AND 
 OTHER GRAIM, AND FLOUR, IMPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER 
 COUNTRIES INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN FOR FOUR YEARS 
 
 S99 
 
 WHEAT, 
 
 
 1808. 
 
 Qri. 
 
 594,644 
 
 8,647,076 
 
 1809. 
 
 I860. 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 1,499,886 
 4,881,678 
 6,880,963 
 
 1861. 
 
 United States 
 
 Qn. 
 
 86,906 
 8,964,016 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 Other Countries 
 
 2,607,744 
 
 
 4,406,071 
 
 
 4,241,719 
 
 4,000,922 
 
 6,912,816 
 
 GRAIN— OTHER KINDS. 
 
 United States. . 
 
 Other Countries. 
 
 Total 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 899,807 
 6,646,739 
 
 6,946,646 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 9,948 
 6,307,818 
 5,817,76r 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 475,173 
 6,649,484 
 7,125,662 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 1,779,652 
 6,58fi,5S7 
 7,360,289 
 
 GRAIN-ALL KINDS. 
 
 United States... 
 Other Countries, 
 
 Total Cwt. . 
 
 In Quarters. 
 
 Owt. 
 
 1,764,796 
 2,091,832 
 8,856,127 
 1,101,750 
 
 Cwt. 
 
 216,462 
 8,111,862 
 8,828,824 
 
 »60,949 
 
 FLOUR. 
 
 Cwt. 
 
 Cwt. 
 
 2,254,288 
 
 8,795,866 
 
 2,881,983 
 6,086,220 
 
 2,863,073 
 6,152,988 
 
 1,453,206 
 
 1,767,982 
 
 United States 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 1,098,871 
 4,244,608 
 6,348,469 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 98,762 
 4,868,119 
 4,961,871 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 2,143,461 
 6,190,718 
 7,834,164 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 Other Countries 
 
 8,591,991 
 
 Total 
 
 6,078,806 
 
 
 8,670,797 
 
 GRAIN AND MEAL 
 
 United States 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 1,600,481 
 9,793,224 
 
 Qrs. 
 109,276 
 10,161,499 
 10,270,774 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 2,624,006 
 11,873 971 
 i4,4vT,a70 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 Other Countries 
 
 6,39S,170 
 
 Grand Total 
 
 10,«!W,788 
 
 16,094,014 
 
1 J :| 
 
 ■ A 
 
 
 % 
 
 '^\ 30 
 
 Wheat, Quarf era 
 
 Indian Corn, Quarters. .....'.".' 9,542,369 
 
 Flour, Cwt... 2,751,261 
 
 7,314,331 
 
 CONTINENTAL SOURCES OF SUPPLY. 
 
 Baltic The wheat ,8 raised in Galicia and Poland, from five to 
 seven hundred miles inland, and brought to the sea-board inflat 
 bottomed boats suited to the navigation of rivers usually hoa 
 and abounding m rapids,-a mode of conveyance both tedious and 
 , expensive, costing from 0,. ed. ($1.66), to I U. (te.20 per „uar 
 
 / ter to place ,t at Da„t.io. These rates would be from 16 cents 
 
 " ippi an^d'i it";ri'^^''?'r" ""'" '"^ -^^^^ -^^'-^ ^^^^- 
 
 sippi and the Atlantic, with an improved navigation 
 
 Dn1:w „^T '""'■'" "'' '"PP'y '' ""> ^^-^^ Sea ports. The 
 Dneistor the Dneiper, the Don and Volga are navigable but 
 abound in shoals and rapids. Wheat is sent to Odes a and 
 
 waZnX teTf "'"T ' """ "^ "'"■^' " '' •^^-«'>' '» -■"«"» 
 waggons, often from a distance of many hundred miles. 
 
 The route between Odessa and Liverpool is circnitous and con 
 
 snmes as much time as is required to cross the Atlantic It is 
 
 necessary that the voyage be performed in the wk r e 'son in 
 
 consequence of the heated waters of the Mediter nean f"; t 
 
 often happens that cargoes of wheat arriving in summei haU to be 
 
 removed with the pick-axe. The price on b^oard at Od sLclnsid 
 
 In 180 1, England imported grain of all kinds— 
 From Southern Russia. . . 
 From the Baltic... 1,282,127 qra. 
 
 Fi^m British Americ;; V 'e;;^s;d:r;b,e p^ni;,^' of ^Hi^h 'w^s ''"'''''' " 
 derived from the United States 
 
 From the United States 1,188,839 •♦ 
 
 5,3'J8,176 " 
 
 From no other country did she derive a tnillion <|„arters. 
 
 ABILITY TO OOMPETK WITH FOBEION MAKKETS. 
 
 The average English price of wheat for the last quarter of . 
 century, has been 54. U. per imperial quarter of TJl'birwhicb 
 
Gazette^ 
 
 ,359 
 ,261 
 ,331 
 
 'i on the 
 [1 five to 
 i in flat- 
 ly shoal, 
 ious and 
 »er quar- 
 16 cents 
 3 Missis- 
 
 s. The 
 ble, but 
 ssa and 
 arket in 
 
 nd con- 
 . It is 
 ison, in 
 1 for it 
 ^•e to be 
 consid- 
 rtiug is 
 
 iT qrs. 
 
 3 " 
 
 9 " 
 
 6 '« 
 
 r of a 
 which 
 
 31 
 
 would be equivalent to $1.42 for an American bushel. The conti- 
 nent.! pnce IS 6. 6^. less, that being the cost of transportation to 
 England per quarter, which, on an American bushel, would equal 
 •I'^yy cents. 
 
 Now, with an improved water-communication, the cost of 
 shipping a bushel of wheat from the Mississippi to New York 
 and thence to Liverpool, would be— ' 
 
 By Canala, Lakes and Rivera .... ^*"''- 
 
 Tolls, say "* ^"^'^ 
 
 Three Elevator-charges .......*.*.. ^ ^ 
 
 Insurance and Commissions ,,,, "'' 
 
 Ocean, 3,160 miles, at $5 per ton. ...\..\ ,\\ 
 
 15.0 
 
 Cost to Liverpool ~~_ — 
 
 Where it would be worth , /** 
 
 142.0 
 
 Netting to the Shipper "■ — 
 
 To which add Premium on Exchange !!!....!]!'..'*'] .' .' .""."" ^l*o ? 
 
 Making 
 
 ^ 11.17.3 
 
 Which would be a discrimination of only 8 cents against the 
 American producer, as compared with the continental i,rice, and 
 would make the average price of wheat $1.06 on the banks of 
 the Mississippi ; $1.00 at St. Paul; and 80 cents at Fort Union ^ 
 When we consider the character of the wheat-growing region 
 of the North- West, the cheapness of the lands, the lertility of the 
 soil, and the facility with which it is cultivated, -that all of the 
 processes of sowing, reaping, harvesting, binding, threshing and 
 wmnowing, are done expeditiously by machinery, the American 
 farmer may successfully enter the lists of European competition 
 and contend for a monopoly of the provision-market of the world' 
 He need not depend on any accidental deficiency in the crops of 
 i^urope, but rely on a nearly unvarying market for all his surplus 
 crops abroad. This traffic in h.iman food will prove a greater 
 power than ever cotton was, and give us a strength, and position 
 atTdn^^d ^''^'''"' ^'''' ^^'^^' ^''' above what we have already 
 
 The Committee have thus imperfectly sketched the great features 
 of this commerce; but, in traversing a field so vast, have been 
 compelled to leave out many subordinate details. The facts ad- 
 duced .how how essential the construction of these works is to the 
 tuture prosperity of the North-West, and to the whole country. 
 
 4^/ 
 
\^v 
 
 32 
 
 I 
 
 !'■ 
 I* 
 if 
 
 IMPORTANCE OF A SHIP-CANAL. 
 
 The Comnnttee have thus adverted to the magnitude of the 
 products of the North- West, the burdens to which they are sub- 
 jected in their passage to the sea-board, and the extent to which 
 they enter into our external commerce, and contribute to the 
 national wealth. While almost every other industrial interest of 
 the country,_the coal and iron of Pennsylvania, the manufactur- 
 ing of New England, and the salt of New York,-is protected by 
 discriminating duties of thirty per cent., we search the statute- 
 book in vain for any legislation, which tends directly in aid of 
 agriculture— the main-spring of all our prosperity. 
 
 It is proposed to consider this question in three aspects, viz. ; 
 
 I. NATIONAL, 
 
 As tending to bind together different parts of the Union and 
 umtmg the people by the ties of mutual interests and social con- 
 nections ; and as developing the resources of distant regions and 
 thereby contributing to the national greatness. 
 
 II. COMMERCIAL, 
 
 As affording a cheap and expeditious communication between 
 regions widdy separated, and as admitting of a free interchange 
 ot the products of different climes, and of different industries 
 giving activity to labor, and a profitable return to capital. 
 
 in. MILITARY, 
 
 As connected with the defense of the country, using such a commu- 
 nication as a means of transferring gun-boats from one system of 
 waters to another, and of rapidly concentrating them at points 
 widely asunder, thus making a small armament as efficient as a 
 large one. 
 
33 
 
 4^S 
 
 NATIONAL ASPECTS. 
 
 C0.VST1TBT10NAL POWEE OF C0NGKES8. 
 
 Welfaue. I'iFEssE, and to promote the Genkbai 
 
 Mr. Jefferson, in 1801, on assuming the duties oftl,„P •, 
 announced as among the leading ol.i:ets of he r^f, r! ^'■'' '"''^' 
 encouragement of a<mculturo and !f Constitution-" the 
 
 Mr. Madison, the°Fathe of the r°T'"'''"'' '" handmaid." 
 ealled to the ame exalted - V ^""^*"»"»". "• 1809, when 
 tion,_",o promote bvtthori!,"' """'■.•"* " ^""''*^ ''»<"»^a- 
 to agriculture, trma'n, Itur s a^d"::' ™r"7-"^ '■'endly 
 commerce;" and in 181« h» n ", . "'"""''■ """^ '"<«««' 
 to the imp'ortanc; of d luin. a on ^ ''"'""'"' °' ^°"^-- 
 and canals, " such as shtlh ve the eZf If'T" "'"■"" "'' ™"''' 
 together, every part in the^Z "'"^"f "^ '''""""g "'ore closely 
 
 As far'back Jmr 1 be t Garar'" "' r''°'"' P-P-ity-" 
 and sagacious of our^tllet r^:^^^^ 
 submitted an elaborate report to the IZTl thl ;'"""''^' 
 
 oonstrncting roads and canik hv .1. n importance of 
 
 affording speedy and ea ; c mmu L^i:: W^ " ^ ""■"'■' °^ 
 of the country, to facilitat'e ^oZ:^^Z2ZZ-rT ""'' 
 and to nnite the people by a still ,no„ P'"»on.>I intercourse, 
 interests. In that repon he state "Zoh"'',' ''-'m™"nity of 
 ernment can more effectually tend , ^°°""='- "^'-'S'^Powerof goy. 
 that nnion, which slcureelrn^? " i '''""" f'"^ "'"' P^l'ofate 
 and internLl liberty." '"-J^'endonce, domestic peace. 
 
 There has, from the adoption of the Constitution existed , ., 
 of men who yiewed with extreme distrust eyerre^S 'f „ ''' 
 
 :;-t''^i;fs:rertrcmr'- '^^ ^'-^^^^^^^ 
 territories, to remT; i:::^:::^:^^;^::^'^ "^'-^^ 
 
 or to deyelop particular branches of dC^^e l""""""' 
 nounced unconstitutional; while on ,h„ „m ^,' , ^'-'™ P™" 
 to fortify the the approach'esTotlrt; o," t: ^^^^Cr^ 
 an efficient navy, and to maintain a weli-d hcinl i, d n, T'^ 
 been denounced as a wasteful expenditure f„;''l,'2'cv "7 
 of the Last two years have t„„„i,f ... „ ,.. .:.. ^ Jl'it the events 
 
 Pl1t«q I 
 
 i^^ijc JD iiuL an 
 
 ' years have taught us a far different I 
 
 ;-rrr:/i":'' '''r--^. »'• "'- nations ".hrhr: 
 
 esson; and that 
 
 preserved their integrity only by the stron 
 
 arm of power. 
 
34 
 
 " To govern an extended empire," using the words of Gibbon, 
 with a, slight alteration, " requires a refined system of policy ; in 
 the centre, a strong power, prompt in action and rich in resources; 
 a swift and easy communication with the extreme parts ; fortifica- 
 tions to check the first effort of rebellion ; a regular administration 
 to protect and punish ; and a well-disciplined army to inspire fear, 
 without producing discontent and despair." 
 
 '% 
 
 THIS POWER REPEATEDLY EXERCISED. 
 
 This power has been repeatedly exercised by Congress ; — for 
 example, in the construction of the National Road, which was the 
 first commodious channel of communication between the Valley of 
 the Mississippi and the sea-board ; in subscriptions to various canals, 
 — the Louisville and Portland, the Delaware and Chesapeake, the 
 Potomac and Ohio, and the Dismal Swamp canals ; and more 
 recently in the munificent grant of bonds and lands in aid of the 
 construction of the Pacific railroad; — a measure called for by every 
 consideration of national unity, internal commerce, and military 
 defense. 
 
 NATIONALITY OF THIS COMMERCE. 
 
 The commerce which floats upon a river like the Mississippi, 
 draining half a continent ; or upon the Great Lakes, whose shore- 
 lines are longer than those of the sea-board States; or is poured 
 through an artificial channel like the New York canal, is as much 
 national as that which is wafted over the Atlantic. When it is 
 shown that eight-ninths of the cereals are derived, not from a 
 single State, but from a group of States; and are moving, not to a 
 local market, but to the markets of the world ; furnishing to the 
 navigating interest the outward-bound freight as well as the return 
 cargo, and conferring a direct benefit on the national finances; 
 and when the proceeds of these products are traced through all the 
 ramifications of trade, it is evident that it is not simply the citizen 
 of one State, but the Western producer, the consumer at home and 
 abroad, the navigator, the importer, the consumer of foreign fabrics, 
 and the Government itself, all have a direct interest in the result. 
 
 It is a measure whose benefits are not to be circumscribed by 
 State lines, but one which connects three distinct systems of navi- 
 gation, and renders them available for external and internal com- 
 merce, for national unity, and military defense. 
 
 Every one is aware how largely the topographical features of a 
 country influence its inhabitants in their social habits, their modes 
 
sr, 
 
 4^/' 
 
 m 
 
 of thought, and business pursuits. The words of r. 
 
 a fund of political philosophy : ""^ ^^'"P"' "^"^'-^^^ 
 
 " Lands intersected by a narro«r frith 
 Abhor each other. Mountains interposed 
 Make enemies of nations, who had else 
 Like kindred drops, been mingled into one." 
 
 ties !f a comW:,:LT:h:h' tT '"V""'"^ "" '""P'^ •'^ "- 
 
 under the ,noat pre^sfngll'.^. ''"^ "'" """'""' '" '-^ -% 
 
 HOW TO CONDUCT A LONG WAR. 
 
 *5S:oo7or;o:':t.?r;e''t^'"""' '''-'"' "»' -^ •- 
 
 is the price which muTh? Z T "'" ""''"""^ '"""^'-o'- I* 
 unity. "^ Taxes a e ^s eLed ■■" i ?"'<="»'■"" »f ""r national 
 utes to the wante or the .^ ^ """'^ "'''''" ">•■" """'"b" 
 
 mnltifarious r'taxthed^r"r"' "'"'•■ "^""''^ ' """' ■">-=-- 
 eoureesalone -the wa!ef f', k" '■'"'""" '' ''""^-i f'""' t'^o 
 The ability oVthcpeorfL^l:' ""' "" '•«-^«"'»' capital, 
 given to labor, a„7hT;rofitabL T'"" '"P™'^ "" ""^ '-"'<• 
 therefore, that' the nufraTtSr^I^r/cr';!:^'' '"' ""''' 
 extent, for the purpose of sustainin^the wa " fa fromr-"' "" 
 
 srrthT:;rjrf"T 4 '"^ -^^-"^ »^ '~ — 
 must be ma:;r rs::!:":;:;:'' '""^ ^"^-^ '^ --''■ ^'- ->• 
 
 ity'onr No.r ani'^r: ■" 'r """'^^^ '^ "■» «•=--' P-Por. 
 
 one section, commerce i ft""' .T'^'" "' "■" «»"*• J" "'« 
 
 almost unexampled nroBertv?"' ' \" ''""''"'^' ""'' *^g«^ "■■-= 
 
 migration has not fal'len „ff ^ is constantly advancing i„ value, i.n- 
 
 tivts in every b a" h nf • ^7'! '"" '' '""'•""""»• ^^'"'^ "'« »1 "■■-- 
 mining-a;:'Lt:i?o':^r^^^^^^^^^^ ■7"f-- and 
 
 exhibits a forlorn asnect ° P'"': , "" "«^ »"«''• hand, the South 
 
 tion reigns supreme wither™ "'.t JT""' "''"■"'"■> '^-"l- 
 the Mifsissip^ r^rSss Z "the r/""' """°'""^' "™'' 
 principal ports blockaded' the 7^ .Is c,^ JT' .', ''""' ""^" 
 of the world Their ^nt,„ I • " ''°'" ""= markets 
 
\^^ 
 
 36 
 
 capital crying aloud for bread. Villages are depopulated, refugees 
 flock to the lines of the army demanding protection, and food 
 commands almost fabulous prices. 
 
 From the example of Netherlands, in her terrible but successful 
 struggle for nationality, the North can derive a salutary lesson. 
 According to the historian Motley, a war had been raging for a 
 quarter of a century without any interruption, population increased, 
 property rapidly advanced in value, and labor was in active de- 
 mand. Famine was impossible to a State which commanded the 
 ocean. No corn grew in Holland and Zeeland, but their ports 
 were the granary of the world ; and in one month eight-hundred 
 vessels left their havens for Eastern ports alone. While the sea- 
 ports rapidly increased in importance, the interior towns advanced 
 as steadily. The woolen manufacture, the tapestry, the embroi- 
 deries of Gelderland, and Friesland, and Overyssel, became as 
 famous as had been those of Tournay, Ypres, Brussels, and Valen- 
 ciennes. The immigration from other countries was very great ; it 
 was difficult to obtain lodgings in the principal cities ; new houses, 
 new streets, new towns, rose every day ; and when the English 
 embassadors arrived in the Provinces, they were singularly im- 
 pressed by the opulence and magnificence which surrounded them. 
 The single province of Holland furnished regularly for war ex- 
 penses alone, 2,000,000 florins a year, besides other extraordinary 
 grants, which seemed only to make it more elastic. A contempo- 
 rary remarked that " coming generations may see the fortifications 
 erected at that epoch in the cities, the costly and magnificent 
 havens, the docks, the great extension of the cities ; for truly the 
 war has become a great benediction to the inhabitants.''^ 
 
 By the cultivation of such arts,— domestic industry and external 
 commerce,— they were enabled to carry on a war for eighty years 
 and bring it to a triumphant issue. 
 
 In the midst of a desolating war, Louis XIV completed the canal 
 at Languedoc, connecting the Mediterranean with the Atlantic, 
 which reflected more glory on his reign than all his military 
 conquests. 
 
 Napoleon, while combatting with all Europe, devised and execut- 
 ed schemes of national importance, which conferred imperishable 
 benefits on France, and which went far to eiface the efiects of the 
 ravages of war. 
 
37 
 
 4^^ 
 
 COMMERCIAL ASPECTS. 
 
 There is no measure which would so materially benefit our exter- 
 nal and internal commerce, as the creation of a ship-canal between 
 the three great systems of navigation in North America,-the Mis- 
 sissippi, the St. Lawrence, and the Atlantic. The Illinois valley, 
 with a summit-level of only eight feet, and with Lake Michigan 
 as an unfailing reservoir, affords an entirolv feasible and practicable 
 route ; and besides, what is a remarkable fact in the physical ge- 
 ography of the region, its mouth is about the central point of con- 
 vergence of the three great basins of the Upper Mississippi, with 
 a drainage area of 1,244,000 square miles,-the heart of a -reat 
 continental system, of which the navigable and unnavigable rtvers 
 are the arteries and veins. 
 
 Another striking geographical fact is that, taking Memphis and 
 Liverpool as initial points, this route is found to be in a nearly 
 direct line along the great circle of the earth, and is, therefore, the 
 one in which the products of the Great Valley would naturally 
 move to the markets of the world. The New York canal is con- 
 structed through a natural <lepression of the Alleghanies, the moPt 
 feasible to be found throughout their range from Canada to Alaba- 
 ma. Ihe North-West dates its prosperity from the time of the 
 construction of this work, and its enlargement would form an epoch 
 m a new career of prosperity, compared with which, the past would 
 sink into insignificance. 
 
 The facts which have been collated by the Committee show that 
 the products of the North-West feed to a large extent the inhabi- 
 tants of the sea-board States, and at the same time furnish the bulk 
 of cargoes to our commercial marine; that, exclusive of specie 
 they constitute in value about 7o per cent, of all of our domestic' 
 exports, and in that proportion, contribute to the customs-revenue 
 in duty-paymg articles for which they are exchanged ; that, while 
 under the existing tariff, almost every other branch of industry is 
 protected to the extent of 30 per cent., there has been no legisla- 
 tion in aid of bread-stuffs and provisions ; that the connecting of 
 these three systems of navigation, under the constitutional power 
 ot Congress, by a ship-canal, while its cost would not exceed 
 $17,000,000, would result in a saving of $30,000,000 in the move- 
 ment of the yearly crops, to be shared alike by the producer and 
 consumer; that its practical effect would be to bring the lands on 
 the outer verge of settlement 2,ooo miles nearer the sea-board for 
 
'•; ■> •>i' 
 
 38 
 
 all the purposes of market ; that products, like corn, no^- almost 
 worthless for exportation, wonl.l be in active demand ; that under 
 such a stimulus, the value of the public domain would be greatly 
 enhanced, .mm,grat,o„ become active, settlement extended,and our 
 fo,..g„ commerce swollen to an unprecedented extent; ani finally, 
 
 method r ''"*" "'" S™"* '"'"'™'" '■•"*•'. "-'"•<■ «n^y 
 
 method of earrymg on a protracted war is to increase the produc 
 tive industry of the nation. ^ 
 
 MILITARY ASPECTS. 
 
 wlfhT.'^"!""' ''°°"'"':' """ """■""™ P"'-""" of the continent, 
 w h a territory coterminous with our own, stretching from the 
 Atlantic to the Pacific. She has construcied a scries of hort 
 canals aronnd the rapids of <l.e St, Lawrence, with locks 45 fee 
 wide and 200 feet long, and S feet deep ; and has connected lakes 
 tne and Ontario by the WcUand canal, with locks 20 feet wide 
 loo long, .aud 11 feet deep, and capable of ready enlar.^eraent 
 ^he has, also, constructed the Rideau canal, professed^; a 
 military work by an interior route, between Montreal and Kin,.s. 
 ton, wth locks 33 feet wide and 142 long; and although Tie 
 channel is only 5 feet deep, yet it is capable of p.assing a d^an^er! 
 ous vessel, when buoyed up by lighters. ° 
 
 She h,as a formi.lable fortress and depot of military and naval 
 stores ,at Kingston, on Lake Ontario; another at Maiden, .at the 
 mouth of he Detroit river; and a third at Penetanguishene on 
 Georgian JSay ; besides forts more or less impregnable at Toronto, 
 N,agar.a, Port Stanley, Windsor, and Port Sarnhi. Most of these 
 points are intersected by railways, by which a large force can be 
 rapidly concentrated. 
 
 To oppose these formidable preparations, we have a few dis- 
 mantled forts which a half-hour's cannonading with im,lv d 
 ordinance wouM batter down, an,l which, from their we kness 
 won di„v„e, rather than deter att.ack ; no lines of water-comniu- 
 .cation by which a war-vessel, larger than a canal-boat can be 
 hiwn into the lakes ; no naval or military depots ; nothing but a 
 single steamer of 100 tons hnnlen, mourning a single IS^mmder 
 for .aggressive or defensive purposes; nor can the number, under 
 he reaty stipulations of 1817, be increased beyond one nlorc on 
 the Upper Lakes, one on Lake Ontario, and one cm Lake Cham- 
 plain. v.^"aiii 
 
39 
 
 The richly-laden fleets, bearing the commerce of half the 
 country sea-ward, and the populous cities and towns along the 
 borders of the lakes, are at the mercy of the invader. Not a gun 
 18 mounted for their protection, nor is there a harbor of retV^e 
 four miles inland. ° 
 
 ^ It may be a startling fact, but it is nevertheless true, that a 
 single battery planted on the Virginian side of the Ohio river below 
 Pittsburgh, and a single gun-boat anchored near the south shore 
 of Lake Erie, have the power to sever the great arteries of com- 
 naumcation between the East and the West. A slight interruption 
 of the calm regularity in the flow of bread-stuff's eastward, would 
 cause a consternation as great as any disaster to our arms. We 
 may repose in fancied security ; but should such a disaster occur 
 succeedmg generations would not fail to brand as imbecile, the 
 statesmen of this day, who neglected to defend the nation in its 
 most vulnerable point 
 
 4^/ 
 
 POSSIBILITY OF A RUPTURE. 
 
 A year has scarcely elapsed since England, in contemplation of 
 the possibility of a rupture with the United States, began to throw 
 troops and munitions of war into the principal stragetic points ; an 
 extended system of fortifications was projected, the local mi'litia 
 was enrolled and equipped— the whole placed under tlie command 
 of one of the heroes of the Crimean war,— and the aristocratic 
 organ of the nation, the Zondon Times, declared that, with the 
 opening of the navigation of the St. Lawrence, England would 
 throw into the Lakes such a fleet of gun-boats as would give her 
 the command of those waters. 
 
 It will be recollected, too, that Mr. Seward, as Secretary of 
 State, addressed a letter to the Governors of the States bordering 
 on the Lakes, calling upon them, in the interim of Congress, to take 
 8teps to fortify the principal points of api.roaeh ° It 'is tluis 
 apparent, that both governments regarded a rupture as inuninent, 
 and took steps to prepare for it. It is equally evident, that both 
 regarded the Lake-frontier as the theatre of military .)peration8 
 and commenced a concentration of the materiel of war at the' 
 principal strngetio points. 
 
 While the happening of such an event is greatly to be de])Iored 
 still it must bo confessed that thei-e aio yet in-itating (puvstions! 
 which may require to be settled by the arbitrament of war. The 
 
\^ 
 
 \^ 
 
 40 
 
 fitting out in her ports of ves^Pls in ,.. 
 
 the tacit knowledge and ZIohZZ^''" °'" "°"™""^' ^'''^ 
 regarded by us, as it ha. h! k I '^''™'''™™t. cannot but be 
 and i„te,na^onal cimity " '^ ''"' " "»'»"»" "( public faith 
 
 bo;^;':,:r:'r'c:n:r::;fo^^ 
 
 naval stores. ' ^ "^ ^^ ^""P^ent of military and 
 
 LAKE DEFENSES. 
 
 our supremacy over them in Le of tar? '"^'" '" "^'"' 
 
 inlv\;rrir'::di'm:;:-' ^^'^.^'^ ""■' "<^--^-evoi„tion 
 its defenses to :;r„:yXStir " """'^ '^ '^'' "»>■ -»«- 
 
 the m:ripSveT::vttir™r ,r^' ^^^" '^ ^--^^^^^ -''» 
 
 ventthepaifa,eofi?rclaTs an7h 'i^P™''' '"^«'''"""" '" P^-" 
 arc unfitted for aggres:!™ p„;p::t''"'^''^' ^''"'""-y f"«ifications 
 
 bun,::' ;;:;ro7:,ir ^^^^^ =- --esse. , 
 
 -.s, would be incapable ofre^fng': h™r "' "''"' ''''' 
 mittee, they gravely state : ™" overlooked by the Com- 
 
 no. to be h,m. for ooo.n „„f„„, „„ f " Cl 1 ,, ."i' ""'^^ '^'"' ""S'" 
 ■nont ,l„,ll „„ co„„rHi,„d, .l,o„ i|,„ , 1!"', . °" "'° '"''"■ ""'«»' '!>« «ovcr„. 
 
 Such a rocon,uu.nd.uio„ ,1. , °" ""■ '^'■«'«'"' «-<ii"g>y." 
 when it is stated ^taZ^f^TT. " """"^ """""«"'. 
 atcd-twenty-five feet « ,, ! ' "'^""^ "''"""'" '"'"'""'■ 
 
 laked,arbor/a„d wo, , be •: , Trf ''".""''"J-' fr"'" every 
 connecting the respe i E"";'/' nT:""'','"™"""' "'^' '"-'' 
 each lake would require its separate Zt'^ P"''c,V were adopted, 
 of oo-operatiou. ".parutt fleet, and would be incapable 
 
41 
 
 But, it has been said that the defense of the Lakes is to be made 
 to tir f ''' «t Lawrence. This plan may be acceptable 
 to those residmg on the se. board, and who have no immediate 
 
 TZ'V 'I ^"' *" '^'''' "°^"Py^"g '^' «i^i^« "PO" the 
 
 the Great Lakes, this plan is far from satisfactory ; they will hardly 
 est secure m trusting to a defense to be made at a'^distance of 
 two thousand miles. The burning of Buffalo and Black Rock has 
 not yet faded from the recollection of our oldest inhabitants. Thev 
 
 interest ''^i 'i^^ ''"'"" ^^ """^^^^« ^"^ '^' magnitude of the 
 interests involved, to require such an armament as shall enable the 
 
 sunrZr' ' ^;,«"^^'-theeventof war,to assert and maintain its 
 supremacy on the Lakes. The representatives of the North-West 
 m Congress have at all times cheerfully voted appropriations 
 for fortifications, for ships, arsenals and naval depits, to pro 
 tect Ocean commerce; and now they have a right to demand, 
 
 tinn^'^f iTi -^"'f ' ^"^ reciprocal good feeling, that appropria- 
 ^ons shall be made for Zake commerce,~a commerce wafted on 
 waters whose shore-lines far exceed those of the Atlantic, and 
 whose value far exceeds that of the external commerce of the 
 XT/V '"^ ?'^ '^ P"'""^^" ^^^y «"^ ^« «^«tional and the 
 
 tith r r ^T^^i^ ''"' '^^'''' ^^^"^ ^y «^^' ^"^^^^' «^^«">d bristle 
 with masts and be dotted with forts ; and the other, laved by fresh 
 water, should be left defenseless. The West has reason to believe 
 that when this question is presented, in all of its proportions, the 
 East will return a cordial and emphatic response. 
 
 The Congress, up to July, 1861, had appropriated for defense 
 against external aggression, more than nineteen and one-half mil- 
 hons of dollars to the New England States ; and more than twentv- 
 mne and one-half millions to the loyal Middle States; while the 
 amount appropriated to the Food-producing States reached a little 
 more than six millions. In the first session of the Thirty-Seventh 
 Congress, 1802, the appropriations for forts, ships, etc., reached fiftv 
 minions, not one million of which was given to the North-West 
 
 l^or the defcise of the Lakes is required an iron-clad fleet to 
 co-operate with stationary fortifications. In what manner shall 
 they be introduced ? The Naval Committee, with Mr. Conklin as 
 their exponent, have suggested two plans : 
 
 1. By constructing a navy-yard on the borders of some one of 
 the inland shoots of water tributary to the lakes. 
 
 2. By constru(^tiiig vessds in parts, and transporting them to 
 the places required ready to be set up. 
 
 <^// 
 
\\ 
 
 lis 
 
 f" 42 
 
 thJ^f Tn"^ '"• *' *'■'' P^PO^ilio" it may be stated, that, while 
 the Naval Committee admit that it would be an infringement of 
 the t,.aty..tip„latio„s of 181? to eonstrnet war-vessel ^ he 1/ 
 gin of the Great Lakes, it is difficnit to comprehend by wha proe^ s 
 
 ilwTr^ ", '"""'"''' "" infringement to eonstrnet them'on an 
 mland sheet of water, direetly communicating with the Lakes, to 
 be sent down whenever their services shall be required. We an- 
 prehend that the British Minister Resident would remonstrate vUb 
 the Secretary of State, long before the first keel was laid. On the 
 other hand ,„ enlarging these canals, we are but exercising a ri<.ht 
 winch has been freely conceded to Great Britain. ° 
 
 Brenare 2^^!^')" T°"^ P^P^'ition, it may be stated that, to 
 prepare the materials for constructing two distinct fleets, one for 
 he Upper Lakes and one for the Lower, to be put up whenever 
 the necessity may arise, and to transport them to these waters from 
 pa s far reino e, would be far more expensive than the cost of 
 usefiZ, ;:. "r""'""^' communication; and besides, the 
 
 1 thM .° T y^ """" ''«-''"'='«'<' -leiy to these waters. 
 
 A thnd plan has been proposed, and th.at is to make use of the 
 en arged cm.als to transfer our iron-clads from one system of navi! 
 
 fincT'setsTfl ■; ""i?""' '"^ ""^ ^^P-"'- of maintaining di - 
 Unct sets of fleets. The Naval Committee, through Mr. P A 
 
 Conkhn maintain that, so far as relates to the enlarged New Yofk 
 canal, ,t is impracticable. We deem the testimon/ of eIcssI 
 
 huriZi''"™"/ 7''°^'';"™"*'- "■'"' have saved us from n.atrna! 
 hum,l,,at „„, and whose fame will live throu-^h the a..es with un- 
 
 S'rr^rir-^"'-- '^- - «".-..e;i:a 
 
 "An impregnable wau-vbsskl op 25 feet wide, and 200 long, 
 
 W T„ A 8H0T-PKO0P TURRET, CARRYINa A GUN OF lo-INC„ CALIBRE 
 W TH A BALL OF 450 POUNDS, AND CAPABLE OF DESTROYING ANY UOS- 
 TILE VESSEL THAT CAN BE PUT ON THE LAKES, WILL DRAW, WITHOUT 
 AMMUNITION, COAL, OR STORES, BUT 6 FEET 6 INCHES OF WATER • 
 AND C0NSEQUE:.TLV, WILL NEED ONLY A CANAL WIDE AND DEEP 
 ENOUGH TO FLOAT A VESSEL OF THOSE DIMENSIONS, WITH LOCKS OF 
 SUFFICIENT SIZE TO PASS IT." 
 
 The cost Of these enlarged communications, according to the 
 estimates of engineers of the highest capacity and integrity will 
 not exceed ^17000,000; and yet the Naval Comn^itroe? tlLgh 
 Mr. FA. Conkhn, witliout furnishing the country with one iota of 
 proof to impeach the correctness of these eslimates, gravely assert 
 
43 ^/^ 
 
 that the cost will e,teeea $4.5,000,000. With a like facility of pen 
 these estmiates might have been s,volle,. to $100,000,000, if the«.' 
 by a purpose were to be subserved ■ . , " tueie 
 
 insure fT 1 ""V^'":'"''" -»' ™--^ ^^^ a generation ; and to 
 cou„rv Ijf "'^■•.»^'""-t'-»'ion of the laws over a portioL of the 
 country, wll require the mainten,ance of a force snfficiont to put 
 down every d,spl.ay of insubordination. It will be necessary for 
 til.e Government ,o control all of the great lines of communication. 
 Jo, this purpose, no means would be so effectual as a class of iron- 
 clad gun-boats drawing from 6 feet to 12 feet of water, and capX 
 of navigatmg our rivers and entering our harbors, k class o the 
 draft last named, by the aid of lighters, conid pass through he m 
 no.s and Michigan canal, from the Mississippi to the Uke ad 
 
 lion, or repel invasion. 
 
 adantTtotr"' '''^' r""^ '"'''P'"^ "> river-navigation are not 
 adapted to lake-navigation ; to this it may be replied that thov are 
 
 pta^ntt: .'" r '"'ri "' ""^ ^'™"' -"'" ' - "■« ™-t i" - 
 ment of A \'' f'^''^'^^- There are, according to the state- 
 
 ment of Aam.ral Porter, not less than 60 vessels in the United 
 S atcs navy capable of passing the proposed locks of the IllinoU 
 and Michigan canal, and others are building of like capacity. 
 
 met of naf d T f •'''"'•'^rfense is, not by the establish- 
 Z!t T\ P",,''^ """"-"'""g of fleets on these w.aters, 
 both whid, would bo construed a., a viol.ation of the treaty 
 
 and foit flcations; but by opening such a line of internal commu- 
 nication that gun-boats may readily be passed from one system of 
 navigation ,o another, and be made available for defense.'ah^e in 
 the harbors of the Atlantic, on the Lakes, and on the naviaab e 
 waters of t . Mississippi. With these t^-o links in the c in ^f 
 communication completed, a vessel could be passed, by an interna 
 rou e, from Nc^ Orleans to Chicago, Buffalo; New Yo^rk, T ei on 
 Philaddphia, Baltimore, Annapolis. Washington. Norfolk. Rich." 
 mond, Newhern, and Beaufort, making a distance of 4,300 nie- 
 besides rendering accessible the whole navigable sys cm of the' 
 MisMssippi and the Lakes. It would, theref,!;., become a matter 
 of little moment, whethcM- a vessel were built at Brooklyn, Aniiap- 
 ohs Washington, or Phihidelphia ; or at Pittsburgh, CiLi.iua.i, or 
 St. Louis; the mechau.cal skill of every section of the coun.ry could 
 
 ^ 
 
 f 
 
 f 
 t 
 f 
 
.^^ 
 
 ^\^ 
 
 44 
 
 "si 
 
 be called into requisition, and th3 vessel completed, with little in- 
 convenience, be transferred to the most distant waters. 
 
 WAYS AND MEANS FOR CONSTRUCTION. 
 
 The bill introduced into the last Congress proposed, for the 
 construction Of the Illinois communication, the appropriation of 
 the bonds of the Government to the extent of about thirteen and 
 one-half millions of dollars, redeemable in twenty years, and 
 bearing six per cent, interest per annum, with the pledge of the 
 tolls for the payment of accruing interest, and the ultimate pay- 
 ment of principal, of which the traffic would afford an ample 
 guaranty. The issue of these bonds, thus secured, would subserve 
 all the purposes of a direct appropriation, and would command the 
 confidence of capitalists at a time, when more than ever before 
 there was redundant capital seeking investment. It would not 
 involve the necessity of raising a dollar by taxation. 
 
 If it be asked, why does not the State of Illinois execute the 
 work, or confide its execution to a chartered company ; it may be 
 said m reply, that the State cannot enter upon the work without 
 first changing her organic law, which would require two or three 
 years to accomplish ; and while she is agreed on the policy of sur- 
 rendering this route to the General Government, to be used as a 
 national highway, it is doubtful whether a like unanimity would 
 prevail with regard to the State taking such action, even if con- 
 stitutional impediments were not in the way. As to the second 
 inquiry, the State, through her Constitutional Convention, has indi- 
 cated her policy, in no event to surrender this work to a chartered 
 company. 
 
 If it be said that, however meritorious this work, the Govern- 
 ment IS not in a condition to incur fresh obligations, it may be 
 replied that no debt is formidable, based on a great improvement 
 whose revenues are ample to meet the accruing interest, and at the 
 Banie time to create a sinking-fund for the ultimate extinguishment 
 of the principal. The railway debt of the United States exceeds 
 eleven-hundred millions of dollars; and yet the only inquiry of the 
 capitalist, dealing in this class of securities, is, what will be the 
 net earnings ? The consolidated debt of Great Britain is so enor- 
 mous that It will never be paid ; yet, based as it is on the opulence 
 of the Empire it is regarded, the world over, as the emblem of 
 nnancial stability. 
 
 So far as rdates to the New York portion of the enterprise, it 
 
little in- 
 
 fer the 
 ation of 
 een and 
 irs, and 
 3 of the 
 ate pay- 
 i ample 
 ubserve 
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 45 4^^ 
 
 may be stated that the Legislature of that State, by an act passed 
 April 22, 1862, authorized the enlargement of one tier of locks on 
 the Erie and Oswego canals, provided the expense thereof was 
 paid by the United States ; in consideration whereof the last named 
 party should have the perpetual right of passage through said 
 canals, " free from toll, or charge, for its vessels of war, boats, 
 gun-boats, transports, troops, supplies, or munitions of war." 
 
 In conclusion, your Committee would state, that this is an enter- 
 prise which, in whatever light it is viewed, ought to commend 
 itself to the favorable consideration of the country. In its lowest 
 sense, as a mere pecuniary investment, the bonds of the United 
 States, based on the tolls of the canal, would command the confi- 
 dence of capitalists. As a commercial scheme, it would enhance 
 the value of the public lands, and communicate a stimulus to 
 agriculture, which would be felt to the farthest verge of cultivation. 
 It would cheapen the price of our daily food, and swell to a vast 
 extent our foreign commerce. As a national measure, it would 
 establish, between the East and the West, closer commercial and 
 political affiliations, and forge a chain which no convulsion could 
 sever; while as a military system, it would prove the cheapest mode 
 of fortifying a long line of frontier, and of controlling an immense 
 inland navigation. In no other way, in the opinion of the Com- 
 mittee, can Congress so effectually, in the language of the Con- 
 stitution, " PROVIDE FOB THK COMMON DEFENSE," Or " PROMOTE 
 THE GENERAL WELFARE." 
 
 J. W. FOSTER, 
 
 Chairman. 
 
 GEO. F. RUMSEY, 
 CHARLES WALKER, 
 WM. McKINDLEY, 
 R. McCHESNEY, 
 WM. BROSS, 
 JOHN B. PRESTON, 
 
 Committee. 
 
 36, It