Practical papers—Co-operation. 
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to 80 cents on the dollar, wheat would be worth 50 cents per 
bushel more than at present; pork would sell for two dollars per 
100 pounds higher, and every product of the farm would be in¬ 
creased in price in the same ratio. That is not all. The benefit 
would be very great to the debtor, enabling him to sell his lands 
more readily, and for a much higher price than at present. 
What is the remedy for all these wrongs? That is the question 
that the farmers of Illinois have been trying to solve in the large 
convention that has been held lately in that state. Various reme¬ 
dies were proposed, and discussed with much ability by some of 
the leading men and farmers of that state, and, as might be ex¬ 
pected, with much diversity of opinion. 1 have mentioned the 
railroads, the price of and manner of selling agricultural imple¬ 
ments, and the attempt to force our currency down to a specie 
basis. I will now give what I conceive to be the best remedy for 
these evils. 
1st. I would have Uncle Sam take the money that is proposed 
to be used in buying the telegraph lines, and, if necessary, the 
money that is proposed to be given agricultural colleges, and if 
need be, a portion of the land proposed to be given to soldiers, 
and build a double-track railroad from New York to Chicago, for 
freight alone. I would have such road built and operated by the 
government, and have freights reduced to what would be neces¬ 
sary to pay expenses of operating the road and keeping it in repair. 
I would also favor improvement of the water communications to 
the seaboard, either by the St. Lawrence river or the Erie Canal. 
But we should unite all our strength in favor of one improvement 
first. I believe that such a railroad would be of far more benefit 
to the west than any improvement of the St. Lawrence river, or 
Erie Canal, as they are frozen up from five to six months each 
year, and at the time of year when the farmer in the northwest 
desires to market his produce. A double-track railroad, with 
steel rails, could be built by the government cheaper than by a 
company. They would be able to pay cash for labor and iron, 
and other materials. It has plenty of engineers, that at present 
have but little to do, that could be employed in surveying and 
locating such a road. There would be no watered stock to the 
amount of $79,000 per mile, for the shipper to pay interest on, as 
