Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1864-04-21
Charles City, Iowa, April 81, 1864
IHF NUM- INV ESI EKN
SHIP CANAL CONVENTION.


Before the adjournment of the low.
Legislature, the following resolution
was adopted by the House of Repre-
sentatives:
RESOLVED. By the House of Repre-
senta,ives of the State of Iowa That
w. |. Gilchrist, a member Of this
House, be directed to proceed to Madi
son, the capital of Wisconsin, and ex.
tend to the Honorable Legislature
Of said State the invitation of the
Committee appointed for that purpose
at a meeting Of the citizens at Des
Moines, and portion of the members
of the General Assembly, to attend
the North Western Ship Canal Conven.
tion, to meet at the city of Dubuque,
on the first Wednesday of May next,
the object of which is to induce Con.
gress to take measures to remove the
obstruction Of, or build a Canal around
the upper and lower rapids of the Mis-
sissippi River and also, to construct
a Ship Canal from some point oppo.
site the Eastern border of Iowa to con.
meet the Mississippi River with Lake
Michigan, and that an engrossed copy
of this resolution be made. signed 10y
the Hon. Speaker of this House, for
presentation to the Legislature of
Wisconsin. Adopted.
Mr.. Gilchrist accordingly visited
the Wisconsin Legislature and ten.
dered the invitation, in response to
which the following resolutions were
adopted by the Wisconsin State Sen
ate and also by the House
WHEREAS. The House of Representa-
tives of the State of Iowa, by reso-
luton duly authenticated under the
seal Of said State, through the Hon.
w. |. Gilchrist, one of its members,
has transmitted to the Legislature of
Wisconsin an invitation to attend the
Northwestern Ship Canal Convention,
appointed to meet at Dubuque on the
first Wednesday Of May next and,
WHEREAS, The object of said Con-
vention, in our estimation, is one Of
not only vital Importance to the great
commercial, agricultural and other
industrial interests of our State, and
an imperious necessity to speedy
and full development of the vast re-
sources Of our sister State Of Iowa and
Of the entire Northwest in times of
peace, but one in which in times of
war, may be developed into a speedy,
cheap and sure means of defence to
populous cities and thousands of miles
Of now almost defenccless frontier
therefore
Resolrcd. The Assembly concurring,
that we hail with much qualification
so vigorous a manifestation in behalf
Of so worthy and patriotic an object
by our sister State, and hereby rec
ommend that as many of the members
Of this Legislature as conveniently can.
as well as other citizens throughout
the State, attend said convention, and
we hereby pledge our sympathy and
hearts cooperation in all that can
to secure success to the re-
suit Of it's enlightened deliberations.
Resotred, That we tender to the
House of Representatives, of Iowa, and
the friends of this movement, our
thanks for the privilege of thus par
in the promotion of an in
terest of such stupendous magnitude
and of such vital and enduring inter-
est to our own State, the Northwest
and our common county.
ResOlred. That the clerk of the Sem
ate be directed to transmit to the
Hon. w Il. Gilchrist, at McGregor,
Iowa, an engrossed copy of the forego-
ing preamble and resolutions, duly
by tho Secretary of
State, to be by him presented to the
House of Representatives and to the
said canal convention if he shall deem
it advisable. .. - laa
The Milwaukee Sentinel, comment
ing on the above, says:
We published on Saturday the Legis.
lative Resolutions in relation TO the
Ship Canal Convention, to be held at
Dubuque on the first Wednesday of
May next, which endorsed the object
Of the Convention as I" one of not only
vital importance to the great CONNER
cial, agricultural and other industrial
of our State, and an ilnperi-
Gus necessity to speedy development
of the vast resources Of our sister State
of Iowa, and of the entire Northwest
in times of peace, but one which in
time Of war may be developed into
speedy, cheap aud sure means Of de-
fence to popplous cities and thousands
OF miles of now almost dcfcnceless
frontier" We are glad that our Leg
islature has thus heartily responded
to the action of the people of Northern
Iowa, whose interests in this matter
are entirely identical with those of
our own State, and we trust that Wis.
consin will be fully represented at the
Convention. Whatever may be our
views as to the abstract question Of
asking the General Government to
build canals within the limits of sin.
gle States there can be no question as
to the duty and interest Of the Repre-
sentatives of Wisconsin, Northern
Iowa and Minnesota in this matter. If
there is disposition in Congress
to favor such enterprises, the claims
OF the cheapest and best canal route
between the Lakes aud the Mississip-
pi should be earnestly and faithfully
represented. The Illinois route will
cost anywhere from twenty to fifty
millions, while tho Wisconsin route
will not cost over four millions at the
utmost This fact shnul1 ba onl.rraa