58 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



why are not all the surplus products of our soil adjacent to the 

 great water routes shipped by water? We can answer this by 

 stating that these routes are not at all seasons available, on 

 account of low water, and obstructions in the channel, which 

 could, with very small expense, be all removed. The rapids in 

 the river at Keokuk and the rapids at Rock Island, are both 

 very great obstructions. The rapids at Keokuk are now being 

 improved by cutting a canal around them. The people of the 

 valley are looking forward to the completion of this work with 

 much interest, and hope to be much benefited thereby. The 

 amount necessary to complete this work, we understand, is 

 about $400,000. This amount we earnestly hope will be appro- 

 priated this session of Congress. 



And there are other reasons. The tug monopoly at the 

 mouth of the river has become a drawback, and should either 

 be broken up, or in some way restricted by law. This monopoly 

 has become a burthensome tax on the commerce of this valley,, 

 and is one of the causes that is driving commerce from its 

 natural channels. This monopoly owns the telegraph lines, 

 and the only one from New Orleans to the mouth is worked 

 solely in the interest of this company. The charges for the 

 service of their tugs are $1.72 per ton, according to the tonnage 

 of the vessel. It has been shown that if the government would 

 build two tugs, costing, in all, $75,000, which could be worked 

 at a cost not exceeding $150 per day at the most, and do the 

 work, it would reduce the tax at least one-half, and then pay a 

 large interest to the government on the investment. 



This tug monopoly, owned, as it is, principally by Eastern 

 men, would se**m to be working more to drive, or rather, divert 

 the commerce frouj its legitimate channels than anything else, 

 may be working in the interest of great railroad combinations, 

 who seem to leave nothing undone to carry things their own 

 way. Who knows but this emanates from the same sources of 

 power that are constantly at work educating the public mind to 

 advance their own selfish views? 



We are told that grain shipped via New Orleans to market, 

 would reach there in damaged condition, on account of the 

 humidity of the climate through which it passes. This alarm 

 has been raised since the completion of our trunk lines, and the 

 machinery in working order to compete for the trade. '' Hu- 

 midity of climate " does not appear to damage grain shipped 

 from California, from Egypt^ from Chili, and from Burmah, 

 some of it two weeks in the tropics, passing through both 

 tropics, and passing the equator twice, 3"et arriving in good 

 marketable condition, and commanding a high price. 



Your committee are of the opinion that no time should be 

 lost in the adoption of some plan looking to the removal of 



