The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-28

the subject the undersigned feel at liberty to
respond in their behalf so far as to request
that the farmers of the state will assemble at
the time and place, and for the purpose above
specified,
In January, 1868, the board acted In this
matter, directing the society to propose the
memorial of which the following 10 copy:
To the Honorable the Senate and House of
Representatives in Congress assembled:
Your memoralists, the executive board Of
the Illinois State Agricultural Society, beg to
call the attention of your honorable body to
the following subjects having close relation
to the important interests of the farmers OF
the Northwest, and to ask for the same your
careful consideration and action, go far as it
may properly be had. 1t is not designed to
make lengthy argument, but merely and
very briefly to state facts, leaving to your en-
lightened craftsmanship and patriotism to
apply the necessary remedy.
The people of this state, together with
those of the states lying north and northwest
of us, are, aud for a long time have been,
suffering from the impossibility of bringing
to the markets of the world very large pro-
portion of their surplus agricultural produc-
lions. No avenue of transit now open to
them has one half the capacity to afford the
necessary transportation.
There are three things, any of which, if
accomplished, would in the opinion of your
memorialists afford some degree of relief, and
which conformity, and as one national meas
ure, would, In its execution, add immensely
to the national wealth, and relieve the PEG.
| pie of the valley .ot the Mississippi river and
| it's tributaries of some of the burdens they
are now compelled to bear. We state them
in the order of their Importance to the region
of country alluded to:
lst. The opening up and continued free
and safe navigation of the Mississippi river.
! This highway, with its navigable tributsr-
lee, extending itself into every portion of the
northwest, is the only natural avenue upon
| which to freight our surplus products to the
ocean and every hour it remains closed to
| the safe conduct of commerce infiicts seri-
/ Gus In Jury upon the producing interests
ID. The connecting by chip canal of the
Mississippi river with the waters of Lake
Michigan.
! The importance of this, both in an ecOnom-
icai and military point of view, need not be
| more than adverted to.
/ Sd. With the two first accomplished the
construction Of national canal from Lake
Erie to the Hudson river at tide water, by
| enlargement of the Erie canal, would COM
plete, as your memOrislists believe, the lines
of transportation and communication, of
, which the northwest, and, indeed, the United
States so much stand in need.
Circumstances have SO far changed as to
leave the mitigation of the Mississippi river
free aud safe south of Cairo; but north of
Warsaw the same natural distractions still
remain, while eastward little progress has
been made toward the much needed enlarge
ment OF the channels OF communication.
The general scope and direction given to
the discussion and resolutions passed by the
mass meeting in the sixth congressional dis
trict, seems to require US to accompany this
call with the distinct avowal that it is no
part Of the purpose or wish or authority of
the undersigned TO place the state agricuItur-
al society. such. in position to seem. by
. any possible implication, to be party 10
I any controversy with the management of the
internal line of railroads In Illinois
As individuals we may entertain whatever
opinions we may from, and. as citizens,
deeply interested in the prosperity of every
branch of industry, we NAV do as we like,
! on this, on all other subjects. but with our
consent, OF by our fundamentally the hsr-
nonious relations. always heretofore existing
between the railroad companies and the soci-
ETY. will never be disturbed.
J \. B. MCoNNELL
President H., State Agricultural Society.
JOHN W. BUM,
Treasurer.
JOHN p. REYNOLDS.
| Secretary