Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-10-17

:. Rapids improvements Canyen.
llOn.''
Wchaye received the proceedings Of this Conven-1
ton, which met at Davenport on the 10th inst.
The Convention was organized by the appointment
OF c. II. PERRY, Of Lee county as President. There
was alargc number Of delegates in attendance, most
Of whom were from the section Of country lying
between the Rapids.
The Convention was ably addressed during its
session by Hon. Charles Mason, David Rorer, Esq
and H. w. starr, Esq, Of Des Moines county, Col.
Curtis and Thonas Espy, Esq, Of Lee county. Col.
Buford, Of Rock island, and Price, Of Davenport.
We have not room to publish the proceedings en-
tire, but insert the most important part of them.
The committee appointed to prepare business for
the Convention made the following Recommendation
and report, which were adopted.
aThe committee recommend the appointment Of
three members to draft and forward memorial
to Congress urging upon that body the imperative
necessity Of making an adequate appropriation to
further the objects Of this convention, said memori
al to cmbody such statistics will tend to convince
Congress Of the ressonableness of such request.
They also recommend the appointment Of
. committee Of three members to collect and pre-
sent statistics to this convention, including those
to be presented TO this body, and also such may
be forwarded to said committee before the first of
November next.
mittee Of three members, whose duty il shall be to
print and circulate petition in accordance with the
memorial to Congress, among the people.
They likewise recommend the appointment Of a
Finance committee OF three members to obtain the
means to defray the printing expenses Of the con.
vention, the Finance committee to attend 10 the
printing.
They also recommend for the consideration of the
convention the following preamble and resolutions
Whereas the object Of this convention composed Of
delegates from the valley of the upper Mississippi
is to procure an appropriation for the removal OF
the distractions to the navigation Of the Rapids
80 as to secure free navigation for steamb ats,
and other water crafts; and whereas the Surveys
and experiments of Lieut. now Maj. Lee, demon
strate the practicabiity of securing this by ex-
cavating and widening the channel Of the Upper
and Lower Rapids; and whereas We believe this
to be q speedy and economical mode Of remoy-
ing those distractions; and whereas an expensive
and thorough survey of the Rapids, having been
already made and money having been appropriated
BY Congress so as to secure the commencement
Of this work, and whereas we believe that large
majority of the people Of the Upper Mississippi
are in favor Of excavating and widening the chan
mel OF the Rapids therefore.
Resolred that our Senators and Representatives
in Congress be requested to use their influence
in obtaining at an early day adequate appropri-
alton to remove the distractions to the navigation
in the Mississippi River, and that they urge upon
that body the imperative necessity of making pro-
vision to secure the completion Of this improve
ment during the next year.
Resolved, that it is the sense of this convention
that the distractions presented the upper and
lower rapids of the Mississippi rive are, the high
degree detrimental to the vital interests Of the
whole country watered by the Upper Mississippi
and its tributaries.
Resolued, that Is the great andholder Of the coun
try lying in this and the adjacent States and Terrific
res the direct benefits to the United States from this
improvement would FAR overbalance the expendi-
lures incurred thereby. =. - ;.
Reso'ped further, that such improvements, are.
works which concern the people of the whole uni
verse and as work of national importance should
be effected at the national expense.
Resoived. that they urge upon Congress the adop-
ton Of the plan already commenced and Indicated
in the report Of Lieut. now Maj. Lee, Of the Corps
of Engineers for the Improvement of the Lower
Rapids Of the Mississippi river, and such other
plan az may hereafter be deemed practicable for
the improvement of the upper rapids OF the said
river, baseIng the amount Of appropriation on the
estimates Of said Lee, with the addition Of the ex
ira expense to be incurred necessarily in the pur.
chase Of such boats and machinery as will be re-
quisite in recommending the work.
Resolued, that with the knowledge he possesses of
the work to be done, and the manner Of doing It,
and in consideration Of the confidence we have in
his ability, our Senator'S, and Representatives
in Congress, are hereby requested to recon mend
the re-appointneat Of Maj Lee, in the prosecution
Of this work.
Resolved, that we view the removal Of these OBJ
structions as national work, acknow lodged TO be
such by all parties, and hereby further request
our Senator'S and Representatives in Congress, to
urge upon that body the reasonab'encss and neces-
sity Of making the appropriation asked for. by
separate and distinct bill, thus placing this desira-
bic Improvement on its own merits.
On the committees contemplated by the sugges-
tions then appointed the following gentlemen.
Finance committee-Messrs. Edwards, Sanders,
Cossett.
Committee on statistics-Messrs. Ewing, Starr.
Mason.
Committee on Petitions-Messrs. johnson. Starr.
Espy, Rorer. Butler.
The >ic: m hi;, OH.
The following account If this gigantic and truly
noble ships trial-trip, take from the New York
Herald: |
This steamship. now the largest that flo is. COM
plete in all her parts, is signal triumph Of Ameri-
can skill and enterprise. Her engines and machin-
cry, vast and complete they are, reflect the high
est credit upon American makers; and show that In
this department Of skill ingenuity and talent are
not surpassed. Perhaps no higher proof Of heir
perfection could be given. than the fact. that not
revolution had been allowed or experiment mode.
until the large mass, starting tie first trial Sa-
turday, moved Oft without the s'ighe interruption.
md tod he ar.