Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-07-09
.aHoUNss REPORT Upon IN
4 ERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

1fs. l.HOUNsS REPORT UPON In
i EIsNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. CALHoUS takes the ground and makes
it the foundation Of bis Report, that there is
power under the Constitution TO prosecute
, works Of Internal improvement. This power
re derives from The provision anihorising in
Congress to s.reguiate Commerce. The ssgen-
; eraI welfare, power he defines as having ref
, erence 10 the common defence Of the country
and as having no direct allusion to peace mea-
sures.
He supposes that with the assent OF Con-
: gress any Two States may enter into compact
Tor the completion Of any public work, but as
the Constitution fofbids compact between
more than two States he admits the power Of
Congress, and defends il, of making appropri-
ations for any work Of Internal Improvement,
/ which may be regarded necessary.
The Government for example is bound to
improve the Mississippi River, because that
river passes by or through more than two
States, and only two States make compact.
The distinctions In the river are distractions
to the commerce OF the country. If it would
be constitutional 10 put light house where
there are alags, it could remove the snag, but
this could only be done according to the argu-
ment OF the Senator, where the river runs
through more than three States.
NSoli1iScS COutu iIIiplONt Ntit iuUutiiS VI NV
lers, BY the erection of Light Houses, but Har-
bors could not be improved except that Con-
lgreSs could give It's assent to the States to i'm
pose local tax upon commerce for the pur-
pose of improving the commerce of the State.
The Memphis Convention met in Novem-
Der last, and adopted twenty resolutions
There were $50 Delegates from the Western
and South Western States, from l6 States, and
one territory. The improvement OF the navi-
CATION of the Mississippi was the great object
of the Convention but other subjects were also
proposed.
Mr. CALHOUN, therefore, confines himself
mainly to this branch of the Report. What
was 60 years ago vast region of forest and
prairie, over which few hundred thousand
savage wandered, has now become country
covered with population Of nine millions of
people. This Of the Valley of the Mississippi.
According to the census OF 1890, the country
drained by the Mississippi, didnot exceed200,-
600. In 1900, there We're SOC, 000,--in 1910,
$40 600, in 1920, $3.50 900, in 1880, A.
10000, in 1910. $4,000, and in 1876, s.
$4,000. in 1856 would be 20,000,000 in the
valley of the Mississippi. He believed that in
: the next twenty years, the population would
be at least 25 100000, forty millions in the
next forty years, and sixty in the next sixty
years.
As late as in 1917, the whole commerce
fiom New Orleans 10 the upper country, was
| transported in about 90 barges, of 100 tons
each and making one trip year. The num-
Der of keel boats could not have exceeded $50,
of so tons each. About three trips were then
made between Pittsburg and Louisville in a
year, and these trips took three months each.
The tonnage of all then ascending the lower
: Mississippi did not then exceed $500. In
! 1913, there were four hundred and fifty steam
boats on the Mississippi, and its tributaries, of
the average tonnage of 200 tons each. Their
: aggregate value was 81 100000 and the ex-
penses ncdentto their navigation Sl2 ,2S0, 900.
Besides this there were 1000 fleet boats, and
10000 persons employed at cost of 81 $780,
600. The amount Of freight on these boats
p was $4,000, 600 and the annual value of the
| products $l20,000,000. That from other por
tons of the union was 800, 100000 and thus
making $4,000 900 per annum in l843.
BY the report of the Secretary of the Treasu-
ry for 1915, the steamboat tonnage on the riv-
ers was 1878. ll9 steamboats, Were built
in the year, of 1880 tons. Mr.. CALHOUN
suppoSes there are now 600 boats and l6l ,7S7
OF tonnage.
The value Of the commerce of the Missssip-
ri he supposed now TO be 100000 ,000.--
The valley contained 100000 square miles,
in the temperate zone, and occupying posi-
ton midway beteen the Atlantic and Pacific
1t had a continuous navigation Of more than
; 10000 miles. with coast including river
= banks of twice the space. MIR. CALHOUN then
passes on To discuss the character of the OBJ.
structions in the river. The loss he supposes at
the best data 10 be had, II IL per cent,--by
snags alone z per cent,-snags. rocks and
logs per CT. One million and one third he
le,,r.&oeoe To 10 tho annual loco crop, tho N
structions in the river.
The losses By insurance are also estimated
TO be very heavy. Fhe tax for insurance is at
least 81 100000, and this in consequence of
distractions. and all could be saved at COM
paratively small expense by an act OF Congress.
The rates of insurance upon the best boats are
from IL to Is per cent, and the insurers are
said TO lose money at even these enormous
rates. The loss of life as well as property is
also very serious. The scheme OF removing
the snags from the Mississippi river and its
tributaries is regarded as entirely PRACTICAL
If there is power to remove it from snags, there
is also power TO remove it from logs.
The question of whose power and whose
duty it is TO remove these distractions is next
= considered. 1t is not the duty of individual.
; because it is beyond their power. The Con-
stitution prohibits the united action of the l6
States and 2 territories, because the Constitu-
ton forbids any State TO enter into any treaty,
alliance or confederation.
The fact that the Federal Government has
exercised the power of Improvement, whether
il possessed il or not, is dwelt upon with great
force. Congress, however, may not expend
money except TO carry into effect, specifically
delegated powers. In the power 10 regulate
commerce among the States, is found the pow
er TO improve the large rivers.
The graduating Of the price of public lands
, is, finally. stated and defended. The report
covers 6S pages of manuscript, and upon
t some other occasion, when Congress has ad-
journed, the subjects discussed will be worthy
of more extended remark.