280 HISTORY OF THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



rers are turning to the United States as the scene of 

 their future successes. It is rumored in Philadelphia 

 that a prominent English firm engaged in building 

 steamers has resolved to remove with all its capital and 

 labor to the banks of the Delaware. It is not unlikely 

 that Western Virginia and Pennsylvania may soon 

 supply the factories of Europe with fuel, that the great 

 iron- works of the world will follow the line of coal from 

 Pittsburg to the Tennessee; and it seems more than 

 ever the duty of the National Government to prevent 

 this great trade from falling into the hands of monopo- 

 lists. A Government railway penetrating the West 

 from New York to Chicago seems the only means of 

 opening to the world the immense masses of coal that 

 lie every where scattered through the inaccessible 

 country. Our export of fuel and the growth of our iron 

 factories depend upon the cheapness of coal. It seems 

 the duty of the National Government to provide at least 

 economical transportation ; and the best mode of tempt- 

 ing the steam-ship builders from the banks of the Clyde 

 to the Hudson or the Delaware would be to provide a 

 sufficient communication between the mines and the 

 sea. Nor with a Government route would the great 

 monopolies ever be able to prey upon the famishing 

 people." 



But will Congress build such a road? Will that 

 honorable body condescend to consider the rights of the 

 people against the interests of the railroads ? We con- 

 fess we have little hope of it. The Congress of the 

 United States, so far from showing any disposition to 

 check the extortions of the monopolists, has aided the 

 coal monopoly in its robberies of the people by com- 

 pelling the people of the Eastern States to purchase 



