88 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
provement. The motive power upon the Erie canal is horse¬ 
power and upon the river steam ; and the movement upon the 
river is at least four times as great as upon the canal. It is 
believed that in the matter of transportation, the proposed im¬ 
provement approximates more nearly to an ordinary river im' 
provement than to a canal. If so, it is safe to say that the 
cost of transportation and receipts per ton per mile will be less 
than one-fourth of the same by rail; and will be still less if 
the governm^ent shall collect tolls only sufficient to pay the 
cost of repairs and management.” 
From the foregoing facts, sustained by a reference to the 
accompanying map, it will appeaar how vast are the areas to 
to be affected and the interests to be promoted by this im¬ 
provement of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers. Indeed it is 
doubtful whether the most sanguine friends of the enterprise 
themselves fully realize the bearing it would have upon the 
development of the far northwest, much less how imporant 
a link it is destined to be in the commerce of the two hemis- 
phers. 
OF THE FEASIBILITY OF ECONOMICAL CONSTRUCTION 
There is no longer any question with those who have care¬ 
fully investigated the matter. Under this head I again quote 
from the memorial above referred to: 
“ The Wisconsin river having its rise in the northern part of 
the state of Wisconsin, runs southerU until it approaches the 
Fox river, turns abruptly southwesterly and, running in that 
course one hundred and eighteen miles, empties into the Mis¬ 
sissippi at Prairie du Chien. The Fox river having its rise in 
the southern part of Wisconsin, runs northwesterly until it 
approaches the Wisconsin river, turns abruptly northeasterly, 
and running in that course one hundred and sixty miles, 
empties into lake Michigan at Green Bay. 
“The course of these two rivers below the portage, the point 
of nearest approach, is surprisingly straight and nearlj'’ upon 
