ANNUAL REPORT—COMMERCE. 
gress as to what they shoulddointlie premises. Action may be 
unwisely delayed; but the claim of the petitioners is one that 
must continue to grow stronger and stronger. 
BY WHOM SHOULD THE WORK BE DONE ? 
t 
Not by Wisconsin. For although the proposed work is to 
be wholly confined to her territory, she cannot constitutionally 
undertake it. Besides, which, she will only share with the 
other northwestern states in the benefit. 
Not by lovva, or Minnesota; for the same reason. 
Not by these three states combined. For, although, at 
present, more largely and immediately interested in its early 
completion, the great states of the future which lie just be¬ 
yond are also interested, and, before many years have passed,- 
will have quite as much at stake in it as any of those first 
named. 
Not by the entire northwest, even were that vast area this 
moment occupied by states fully organized and constitutional¬ 
ly authorized to make the necessary appropriations. For it 
concerns not the food-producing states alone. The food-con¬ 
suming states and the manufacturing states, whose exports 
will make the proposed canal the channel of their westward 
shipments, have also great interests involved. 
Not by the northwestern and the eastern states combined. 
For its advantages will not be confined to these. Nor yet by 
some powerful corporation authorized to collect tolls in large 
• amount and so make it a great source of revenue, as it certain¬ 
ly would be. Not by any corporation whatever. For to 
make the improvement what it ought to be, it must be a free 
highway of the nation for the transit of its commerce in time of 
peace and of its military stores and munitions in time of .war. 
Nothing less than this will satisfy the people of the eastern, 
middle and western states. Nothing less should satisfy the 
government of the United States. 
I do not say the work should not be done at all unless 
done by the general government. That is quite another pror. 
position. Somehow it must be done and that without much 
Ag. Tb.—7. 
