north america-1-第49章
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e of statistics ponder that。 For them who are not I can only give this advice： Let them go to Buffalo next October； and look for themselves。 In regarding the above figures； and the increase shown between the years 1860 and 1861； it must of course be borne in mind that； during the latter autumn； no corn or wheat was carried into the Southern States； and that none was exported from New Orleans or the mouth of the Mississippi。 The States of Mississippi； Alabama； and Louisiana have for some time past received much of their supplies from the Northwestern lands； and the cutting off of this current of consumption has tended to swell the amount of grain which has been forced into the narrow channel of Buffalo。 There has been no Southern exit allowed； and the Southern appetite has been deprived of its food。 But taking this item for all that it is worthor taking it； as it generally will be taken； for much more than it can be worththe result left will be materially the same。 The grand markets to which the Western States look and have looked are those of New England； New York； and Europe。 Already corn and wheat are not the common crops of New England。 Boston； and Hartford； and Lowell are fed from the great Western States。 The State of New York； which； thirty years ago； was famous chiefly for its cereal produce； is now fed from these States。 New York City would be starved if it depended on its own State； and it will soon be as true that England would be starved if it depended on itself。 It was but the other day that we were talking of free trade in corn as a thing desirable； but as yet doubtfulbut the other day that Lord Derby； who may be Prime Minister to…morrow； and Mr。 Disraeli； who may be Chancellor of the Exchequer to…morrow； were stoutly of opinion that the corn laws might be and should be maintainedbut the other day that the same opinion was held with confidence by Sir Robert Peel； who； however； when the day for the change came； was not ashamed to become the instrument used by the people for their repeal。 Events in these days march so quickly that they leave men behind； and our dear old Protectionists at home will have grown sleek upon American flour before they have realized the fact that they are no longer fed from their own furrows。 I have given figures merely as regards the trade of Buffalo； but it must not be presumed that Buffalo is the only outlet from the great corn…lands of Northern America。 In the first place； no grain of the produce of Canada finds its way to Buffalo。 Its exit is by the St。 Lawrence or by the Grand Trunk Railway as I have stated when speaking of Canada。 And then there is the passage for large vessels from the upper lakesLake Michigan； Lake Huron； and Lake Eriethrough the Welland Canal； into Lake Ontario； and out by the St。 Lawrence。 There is also the direct communication from Lake Erie； by the New York and Erie Railway to New York。 I have more especially alluded to the trade of Buffalo； because I have been enabled to obtain a reliable return of the quantity of grain and flour which passes through that town； and because Buffalo and Chicago are the two spots which are becoming most famous in the cereal history of the Western States。 Everybody has a map of North America。 A reference to such a map will show the peculiar position of Chicago。 It is at the south or head of Lake Michigan； and to it converge railways from Wisconsin； Iowa； Illinois； and Indiana。 At Chicago is found the nearest water carriage which can be obtained for the produce of a large portion of these States。 From Chicago there is direct water conveyance round through the lakes to Buffalo； at the foot of Lake Erie。 At Milwaukee； higher up on the lake； certain lines of railway come in； joining the lake to the Upper Mississippi； and to the wheat…lands of Minnesota。 Thence the passage is round by Detroit； which is the port for the produce of the greatest part of Michigan； and still it all goes on toward Buffalo。 Then on Lake Erie there are the ports of Toledo； Cleveland； and Erie。 At the bottom of Lake Erie there is this city of corn； at which the grain and flour are transhipped into the canal…boats and into the railway cars for New York； and there is also the Welland Canal； through which large vessels pass from the upper lakes without transhipment of their cargo。 I have said above that cornmeaning maize or Indian…cornwas to be bought at Bloomington； in Illinois； for ten cents （or five pence） a bushel。 I found this also to be the case at Dixon； and also that corn of inferior quality might be bought for four pence； but I found also that it was not worth the farmer's while to shell it and sell it at such prices。 I was assured that farmers were burning their Indian…corn in some places； finding it more available to them as fuel than it was for the market。 The labor of detaching a bushel of corn from the hulls or cobs is considerable； as is also the task of carrying it to market。 I have known potatoes in Ireland so cheap that they would not pay for digging and carrying away for purposes of sale。 There was then a glut of potatoes in Ireland； and in the same way there was； in the autumn of 1861； a glut of corn in the Western States。 The best qualities would fetch a price； though still a low price； but corn that was not of the best quality was all but worthless。 It did for fuel； and was burned。 The fact was that the produce had re…created itself quicker than mankind had multiplied。 The ingenuity of man had not worked quick enough for its disposal。 The earth had given forth her increase so abundantly that the lap of created humanity could not stretch itself to hold it。 At Dixon； in 1861； corn cost four pence a bushel。 In Ireland； in 1848； it was sold for a penny a pound； a pound being accounted sufficient to sustain life for a day； and we all felt that at that price food was brought into the country cheaper than it had ever been brought before。 Dixon is not a town of much apparent prosperity。 It is one of those places at which great beginnings have been made； but as to which the deities presiding over new towns have not been propitious。 Much of it has been burned down； and more of it has never been built up。 It had a straggling； ill…conditioned； uncommercial aspect； very different from the look of Detroit； Milwaukee； or St。 Paul。 There was； however； a great hotel there； as usual； and a grand bridge over the Rock River； a tributary of the Mississippi； which runs by or through the town。 I found that life might be maintained on very cheap terms at Dixon。 To me； as a passing traveler； the charges at the hotel were； I take it； the same as elsewhere。 But I learned from an inmate there that he； with his wife and horse； were fed and cared for and attended； for two dollars （or eight shillings and four pence） a day。 This included a private sitting…room； coals； light； and all the wants of lifeas my informant told meexcept tobacco and whisky。 Feeding at such a house means a succession of promiscuous hot meals； as often as the digestion of the patient can face them。 Now I do not know any locality where a man can keep himself and his wife； with all material comforts and the luxury of a horse and carriage； on cheaper terms than that。 Whether or no it might be worth a man's while to live at all at such a place as Dixon； is altogether another question。 We went there because it is surrounded by the prairie； and out into the prairie we had ourselves driven。 We found some difficulty in getting away from the corn； though we had selected this spot as one at which the open rolling prairie was specially attainable。 As long as I could see a corn…field or a tree I was not satisfied。 Nor； indeed； was I satisfied at last。 To have been thoroughly on the prairie； and in the prairie； I should have been a day's journey from tilled land。 But I doubt whether that could now be done in the State of Illinois。 I got out into various patches and brought away specimens of cornears bearing sixteen rows of grain； with forty grains in each row； each ear bearing a meal for a hungry man。 At last we did find ourselves on the prairie； amid the waving grass； with the land rolling on before us in a succession of gentle sweeps； never rising so as to impede the
