The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-06-12
The Chicago Canal Convention.


The proceedings of this body, which assem-
bled in Chicago on the % of June, occupy
nearly dozen columns in the papers OF that
city, but the actual business transacted may
be recorded in quite a moderate space. We
propose to give the reader the benefit of a
succinct account of the origin, design and ac-
ton of this Convention, representing as it did
the great business interests and the wealth of
the nation.
THE ORIGIN.
The Convention originated in a call issued
at Was hington, March 2, 1868, which was as
follows:
Regarding the enlargement of the canals between
the Valley of the Mississippi and the Atlantic of
great National, Commercial and Military import
ance, and as tending TO promote the development,
prosperity and unity of our whole country, we in
yite meeting of all those interested in the subject,
in Chicago on the first Tuesday in June next.
We especially ask the cooperation and aid of the
Boards of Trade, Chambers of Commerce, Agricul-
tural Societies, and business associations of the
country.
This call was signed by Attorney Gen.
Bates, fourteen US. Senators, eighty men,
beers of the House of Representatives, and
several other influential citizens.
THE DESIGN
The commerce of the Northern Lakes, now
constantly increasing, has already attained an
am cunt nearly if not quite double that of the
entire foreign commerce of the nation, and
this commerce is left entirely unprotected,
and in the event of a rupture with Great Bril-
tain would inevitably be swept from the
la kes With her Welland canal, and her ca
mails around the rapids of the ST. Lawrence,
England ould bring into the lakes fleet of
formidable gunboats with no appreciable de-
lay, while we should be compelled to suffer
their spoliations until we could build fleet
to meet them. We have no line of water COM
munication by which vessel larger than a
canal boat can be thrown into the lakes from
the Atlantic or Mississippi; there are no
naval or military depots; nothing but single
steamer of 100 tons burden, mounting single
1s-pounder for aggressive or defensive pur-
poses nor can the number, under the treaty
stipulations of 1917, be increased beyond one
mo re on the upper lakes, and one on Lake
Ontario.
1t is asked that by series of dams and
locks on the Illinois and Des PLANES
rivers, and an enlargement of the IL
linois and Michigan canals, communication
may be opened for the passage of gunboats
nd of the largest class of Mississippi steam
ers, from the Mississippi to the lakes, and by
the enlargement of the locks of the Erie and
Oswego canals of New York. that iron-clad
gunboats 25 feet wide, 200 feet long, and draw
ing not less than feet and inches of wa
Tor ha ~ No
Bay into Lakes Ontario and Erie.
By careful surveys and estimates made by
competent engineers, it is ascertained that
this entire improvement may be made for ST.
100000, to pay the interest of which and to
create sinking fund for the extinguishment
of the debt, it is proposed to impose moderate
tolls upon the commerce which would find an
outlet through these increased channels of
communication with the ocean. 1t is claimed
that that provision of the Constitution which
authorizes Congress, "to provide for the COM
MON DEFENSE" is broad enough to justify
such legislation as is called for, while the
right of Congress to promote the GENERAL
WELFARE" might, If necessary, be appealed to
in justification OF a liberal outlay to enable
the great grain growing regions of the coun-
try to pour their abundance into the lap of
commerce.
The present means of communication are
not adequate to the existing wants of the
West, full one half of last years crop having
gone to waste through sheer inability to force
it through the restricted channels of commu-
nication into the great markets of the world
The people of the Northwest have cheerfully,
through their representatives, voted appro-
priations for the Atlantic coast to protect
Ocean commerce, and now they think they
have a right to demand, as a matter of JUS
tice, that appropriations shall be made for
Lake commerce, -" a commerce waited on
waters whose shore-lines far exceed those of
the Atlantic and whose value far exceeds that
of the external commerce of the country.
They fail to perceive why one is sectional and
the other national why one shore, laved by
dotted with forts, and the other. laved by
fresh water, should be left defenseless.' The
West has confidence that the East, when ac-
quainted with all the facts, will acknowledge
the fairness and the justice of her demand,
and cheerfully vote the appropriations de-
sired.
ACTION OF THE CONVENTION.
An immense gathering, from nearly every
loyal state, assembled in Chicago, pursuant
to the call, on the I'd instant The meetings
were held under a pavilion--an immense tent
from Boston, the same used at the Popham
celebration last year-which was erected on
the green between Michigan Avenue and the
Lake. DIR. Daniel Brainard of Chicago, in
behalf of the Board of Trade of that city,
called the Convention to order, and on his
motion Hon. Chaunccy Filley, Mayor OF st.
Louis, was chosen temporary chairman. Mr..
Filley, after brief, appropriate speech, in
troduced Bishop Simpson of the NJ E. Church,
who invoked the Divine blessing. Temporary
Secretaries were appointed, after which DIR.
Braward made very appropriate address of
welcome, which was SO rich in thought and
so felicitous in expression that we propose TO
give it entire in a future number. COM
mittee of two from each state was chosen on
permanent organization, and the Convention
adjourned till afternoon. The members of