The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-11-25
The Convention mt Morris.

- The Ship Canal Convention at Morris on
Wednesday was less imposing in view of the
number in attendance than Of the character
of the chief participants in its proceedings.
Among other distinguished personages pres
ent were such men as Hon. Jas. f. JOY, of
Detroit; Hon. C. C. Washburn, and Hon. b.
G. Cook, of Illinois Ray Paddock, of the
Detroit Board of Trade; Hon. Charles
Walker, of Chicago; &c, &c.
Speeches were made by Mr.. Washburne, {
Gen. Burney, Mr.. Cook, o. B. Ga!ushs, |
Charles Walker and others, and long and |
very interesting letter was read from the
Hon. Joseph Aspinwall, President of the
Detroit Board of Trade.
The object of the meeting, Us our readers
are aware, was to take into consideration
some plan for providing a cheaper means of
transporting the vast products of the West
to Eastern and European markets.
The necessity for additional facilities of
this kind wa. ILLUSTRATED By the simple fact,
presented by various speakers, that, at the
present rates of freight, it takes four bushels
is worth % 20 25 cts. in Illinois, and so to
90 cts. IN New York.
/ Although various plans were suggested
for remedying this evil, such as opening q
ship canal from the lakes to the Mississippi
| river, enlarging the Erie canal, &C., the con-
veation, alter due deliberation, deciled that
for the present it was wisest to agitate only
for the con struetion Of ship canal around
Niagara Falls, as the first and most impor-
tant step to be taken in bringing relief to the
West. The convention, therefore, adopted
the following preamble and resolutions:
WHEREAS the food producing states OF the
Northwest have already demonstrated
periori;y OF production equal to any possible
/ demand Of domestic and foreign markets
tina, may be accessible to them and
Whereas the cost Of transportation Of our
grain and other bulky products TO An eastern
or foreign market greatly exceeds the cost
of production, the. legitimate profit of the
farmer going into the hands of freight
agents and shippers, and the grain being so
loaded with charges and so long DELAYED on
the road generally to exclude it from the
markets of the world, a state of things from
which there is no relief SO long as our pro-
duce must pass to the sea board through a
canal $50 miles long, subject to the delays
incident 20 IL loekages, and to the charges
of transpOrters who have no competitor 10
restrain them and
Whereas our immense and rapidly growing
commerce demands quicker and cheaper
route to the East than the Erie canal, which,
OWING to its great length and numerous lock
ages, mus, always be tedious and expen-
; sive one, no matter how improved and
enlarged and
3 JEtereas lS2 miles Of canal navigation
between The upper lake. and New York can
be avoided by the construction OF the ship
canal around the Falls of Niagara an
i'm, rovement viii, b. at the cost Of less than
s7,0O0,000, according 10 the estimate OF the
; latest surveys, would unite he waters of Erie
Ontario, and brin. the wires Of ire upper
lakes into close commerci..l connection with
Oswego a9d the St. Lawrence, ehea pening
transportation several million dollars annual
!, y; and
Whsreqs nature. in making the s.. Law
! renee the claLnel by which the waters of the
Northwest flow TO the ocean, has pointed it
out as the futare grand highway of our com
merce to the markets of the Old world ;
therefore
; ReS1Lred, !. That the construction of the
, Niagara ship canal is a national work, and
that the 100, 100000 people directly Interests
ed in lake commerce should demand of con
gress prompt and adequate measures for its
r construction a. the EARLIEST practicable
period.
.. That o canal less than eight miles long,
fifteen feet deep, with locks seven fee, wide,
) and within ourown Doan,io-io., i. better than
one % miles long. 10 feet deep, with locks
2b5 feet wide and within the bnundarle. of
foreign power.
3. That the tolls on this great national
, work should not be more than sufficient to
raise a revenue to keep it in repair and pay
the expenses of superintendent
4. That the proposed enlargement of the
St. Lawrence canals by the British provinces
will greatly increase the commerce between
the two countries, and that the clearing out
of the channel of the upper St. Lawrence, so
as TO permit laden vessels to descend the
rapids, is fitting sequel to the enlargement
OF the canals and an enterprise worthy Of
great nation
.. That it is the duty of the United States
government to secure to our citizens the full
and free enjoyment CT their natural rights 10
use the ST. Lawrence river as commerclal
highway to the ocean; and that, in the event
of the negotiation of treaty of reciprocity
between the United States aud British Prov
Inces, we trust that Government will
|, secure this right, together with the naviga>
ton on equal terms of the St. Lawrence
canals, and a guarantee of a sufficient depth
OF water to enable ocean steamers of 900
tons cargo carrying capacity to pass from
Underwater to Lake Ontario.
6. That nnobstrdcted communication of
the Northwest with ocean navigation ria the
st. Lawrence river, would give great = iii
ties to European emigration, and would so
increase our foreign commerce that the
duties on the return cargoes would soon
reimburse the Government Tor the cost of the
Niagara ship canal.
= That while we fully appreciate the value
of numerous other public Improvements de-
manded by interests more or less national,
we think it expedent to obtain those first
whose national importance is admitted by
all, and that are opposed by none nut local
interests, and narrow, sectional j-alou.ies
A committee was also appointed to prepare
an address to the farmers of the Northwest
on the = Subject.
| EncOura %inS Account from tho