New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-06-22
The late Railroad Convention In Illinois.
May 1919


Nay, ls'g
The late Railroad Convention In Illinois.
The procsediDzs of toe Mess Convention Of the
People Of Illinois hold ~ Salem. Marion CO. On the 4'n
and 5th Of tue present month, marx most important
and interesting even, IN the History Of the West The
oircurnstspce. briefly thcse The General Assembly
Of Illinois NEE, benniay. The population u altered
the representation limited means Of difusing inN'I
gence neither abundant nor W. regulaed-hfnce care
les. legisation has been the order Of the day After
submitting thirty years, the people demanded ne"
Consultation In order % guard against certain obvious
abuses The fret General Assembly which was organ.
lied under The New Constitution, IN January last
openly violated an press mandate Of that instrument
and In this emergency portion Of the legislative body
,,bo.e condiments were more Immediately aggriered
before leaving the Seat Of Government appealed 70 the
p,ope Of Illinois and the time called this Con
vsnton The particular question ia dispute was %"
Rsht Of Way through Illinois for the MssissPpi ana
Atlantic and the Nississipp and OHIO Railroads h
other words whether not the progress Of Railroads
into the Valley Of the Mssissyp shall be finally arrest
cd Al the borders Of Illinois thereby cutung OIL me
communication Of the Atlantic cities with - LOUIS
Here 10 where the People and the Illinois Assembly
differ.
The sALyn CoNvENrIoS met the morning 81
Monday June 4 when delegates from twenty two coun.
ties numbering 1913 took their seats With an audience
of over (,r loa.aud 10 attend upon their deliberations
Among the prominent men on the ground were '1'.
French Gen Shields. GOV Casey Gov Reynolds ana
Hon John X McCleriuud The presiding officer oi me
Convention was Hon /ADoK CASEY OF Jehcfson
assisted by nineteen NiccPfesldcnts and seven Sccro
tsres Gov rcnch was invited 10 a scat ln me Ton
venton also. Gen Shields and Mr. McCicrnand ana
on the conclusion Of the hrst day business these gen
uemen with others, addressed large Mass Meeting g"
the eli zens-On 1ue-dAy jth. Mr. w. Wat, CHAR
man Of the Committee appointed 10 prepare an Ap
To he lie pf
tons expressive of the OF the Convention ON me
subject Tor which il had been called presented long
and able Address of three columns, win the appropH
etc Resolutions
The Address opens with plain statement OF facts
setting forth that during the late Session OF the Gene
raj Assembly charters applied for by the Missis
sppi and Atlantic Railroad Company and by the ONO
and Mississippi Railroad Company. each for Railroads
across the State. The fret to commence near Icrr'
Hsute Ind the Wabash. and terminate at inosto"n
ON the Mississippi opposite ~ Louis the last 10
mence near Vincennes ON the Wabash. and terminate
also at lllnoistown. the Mississippi opposite 80
Louis These charters were both denied A general
Law under which railroads might Boz constructed Wa.
proposed aud also rejected The denial of char
ters these instances was more remarkable because
special charters incorporating Railroad and other com
panies freely granted TO other sections OF the
State The letter OF the Constitution on this point u
courage internal improvements by passing liberal gen
sral laws Of incorporation for that purpose Yet 100
the face its provisions says the Address the special
act for which applied, and a liberal general law
both denied and 10y the omission u pass WcH"
scts nearly hundred and hty thousand of the honest
farmers OF Illinois denied the means OF conveying
their produce to market
Tho Address farther exhibits the great extent OF kal
roads now constructed in the United states their pro
ducuveness TO the propuctors. their great oeneh 10
the public AS means OF transportation, aud Their un
form effect increasing the value OF lands IN Their
vicinity Ia twenty four States, there are In success
full operation 1903 miles OF Railroad, $40 OF which
completed during the last year. In Europe there
mill Dtg1 At an
cost OF 500 600 per mile But IN no part OF the world
10 the progress of this great modern improvement 90
In the United States-and says the Address DO
portion OF the United states affords greater l"cu's
Tor toe construction of Railroads than the Mississippi
Valley, nor does any need them more.
To show how m founded Is that jealousy which would
oppose the building of these railroads IN Illinois u If
only necessary CONTINUES the Address) TO advert 10 The
demands OF Commerce and OF general intercourse that
would seek this direction IL HfHmlai"cL that io1
great railroad and steamboat routes are IN operation
between the Cities of New FORK aud Boston the average
dividends of which known TO excess six per cent
per snnun Each OF these cities have foreign com
inerce aud domestic trade which render them inde
penden of each other and the of each would
Be well sustained. the other struck out OF exist
Yet the intercourse between the two cities Wnose
united population does not exceed oOOoo sustans four
distinct lines Of railroad and steamboat communication
and Is demanding more, although enjoying an unn'cr
rupied Intercourse by navigation cosst~lse IT, under
such circumstances four railroad lines are required 60
supply the demands of commerce and OF travel by h
population OF less than 6O0OOO what might be deemed
fair estimate OF the number which could ne pf0haoN
employed 10 accomplish and sustain the intercourse re-
qui ed between the Atlantic states aud the valley OF
the Mississippi, by population OF OpoOOO0 That are
almost solely dependent upon each other Tor the whole
material OF commerce
The success that would attend such investment is
perfectly demonstrated by the experiment OF oui neigh
hors IN Indiana The Madison and Indianapolis Rail
road WAS completed two ycsrs since, commencing Hi
Madison on the Ohio River and ending AZ indianapolis
ON the line OF the Cumberland Roads sustained
wholly hy the local business OF the district o ludai
oh ID
per and NJ the last public sale OF i's stock bore
premium Of 29i per cent
In rel.ton TO the projected line Of communication be
tween the Atlantic and Pschc the Address gives full
ered, to the enlarged view and wise forecast of Col
BENTON and nuts forth the opinion that the plan will he
accomplished at future dsy perhaps not tsr Dis
tsnL This magnificent prise al continues whi'n
viii connect the Commerce of the world must give
f-esh impulse TO every effort that tends 70 promote
hafoad enterprise IN Illinois. We are lA uc very
throat Of the grand line OF communication which mat
enterprise Is To accomplish. 10 would se
al act OF tyranny evident nor oppressive 90
deny the farmer the right 90 raise crop than 10 deny
him the means OF taking IL O. market In fact 20 deny
one Is 20 deny the sther Al least two thirds OF TIE
farmers OF Illinois situated IN regions remote
from MARKET that without the facility of railroads tlc
bulk OF their products and The whole Of the grca, siap
Of the West which Is lndsn Corn, De consumes
upon the soul which produces n
Tits a serious calamity that the greatest improvement
of the age should bee thus shut cat from borders
Ii the Constitution Is no guide % the Legislature II i
people OF Illinois aid in procuring the redress 81
these wrongs We appeal % them ss brethren ana
friends whose rights are sustained under the same
charter and who have common interest IN preserving
and maintaining them inviolsc.
The address having been read, Gov. RENNoLDs SUI
ge.,ed whether il would not be better TO strike from
few references to the OF the Legislature Other
gentlemen thought differently and the Report wa'
hnally adopted entire, amid immense applause The
Resolutions (nneleen IN number offered by Nj W at
express the views Of the Address in definite and com
pest form Sd in accordance with Of them, con-
nnttee OF ave appointed to upon the Governor
with request that he w.u call Extra Ses
sion Of the General Assembly, lin order that time ana
opportunity ss be Afforded to do the people justice
In eoasornliy With the acknowledged requirements o.
the Constitution
The Convention ten adjourned stes Gi@
FIRg..-A, Concord, about O'Clock this morn
Ing the Court House aud the dwelling Of hon. John
5 kryes we're both destroyed BY an ineendary nFe,
which WAS set in The Courthouse. Mr. heyes had IN