The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-22
THEGATE CITY.
,KEQHUK, IOWA:
THE FARMERS, CONVENTION.


met at Bloomington, Illinois,
on the 18th inst. The object was to devise
some relief against railroad monopolies. The
subject is one in which Iowa y so directly in.
terested, that we shall give condensed state.
meut of the proceedings.
After the organization of the convention, .
committee on Resolutions, composed Of ono
member from each Congressional District,
was appointed. n Then Mr.. Sanford, of Nor
ris, and Mr.. Van Rpps, Of Dixon, addressed
the convention. The latter was in favor Of
encouraging competing routes for sending our
grain to market. Let rs use every natural
channel, and the laws of supply and
demand will act for our benefit. We have
been neglecting many avenues, but we will do
20 no longer. Steamboats, can navigate Rock
river, by putting in few improvements. We
must 60 by way of Cairo to the ocean. The
Cumberland river opens market to us.
Pork has been shipped TO New York via
Cairo for si75 per barrel, and could be done
again. The way he would fight the railroads
would be to kill them with kindness. He
would charter every. one that asked. He
would give Chicago warning, that if there 10
not something done by railroad managers for
their relief, they would give St. Louis won
derful growth, such as she had not known for
many years. He would develop manufac.
lures, and make our own market among our
selves. Mr.. Van Epps detailed the progress
made in manufacturing in Illinois, Wisconsin
and Iowa. One thing more if the railroads
would elect men in the Board of Directors
who reside on the line of the road, and not
resulting in the Eastern States, who know
nothing about the interests and necessities Of
the West, they must expect to challenge the
hostility of the people. Capitalists sitting in
their parlors at Boston and New York know
nothing of the West. Mr.. Van Epps spoke
at considerable length, with much ability, and
was warmly spplauded.
The following resolutions, preceded by
suitable, but lengthy preamble, we're
adopted
Resolrcd, That it is the duty of Congress to
take ruch immediate action as shall secure
the construction of canal around the Falls
of Niagara IS expedtiously as the work will
allow, OF sufficient capacity to admit the pas
sage of vessels drawing fourteen 141 feet of
water.
Resolrea That we most earnestly urge upon
the President of the United States the i'm
portanee OF securing by negotiations with the
Government of Great Britain, the free use of
tho channel of 81 I H.. 81.
use lat moderate rate of TOLL of the canals
around the rapids of said river, with all the
Improvements thereof which may be made at
any time during the term of the treaty, to-
gether with the use of all other canals or
waterways now existing, or which may be
opened, connecting the waters of the Upper
Lakes With Lake Ontario or the st. Lawrence,
or this River with Lake Cham plain equal
privileges of transit being granted to Ameri-
can and British vessels.
ReSoired, That all appropriations, grants,
or charters, made or bestowed by the general
or State governments, for the purposes Of
commerce or transit, should be so guarded, If
possible, as 10 secure to the industrial classes
who furnish the commerce, the largest share
of the profits derived therefrom.
Resoired, That we petition the General As
sembly of the State of New York to open
highway for western products by the shortest
practicable route from Lake Ontario to the
navigable waters of the Hudson river.
Resolred, That while we regard the works
and objects named in the foregoing resolu-
tons to be of paramount and vital Importance
to the industrial classes of the West, we also
deem 1t to be IN accordance with sound prin-
ciples Of political economy, that measures be
taken, as soon as practicable, to prosecute
other works of internal improvement, which
are obviously destined at no remote period,
to be imperatively demanded for the future
development Of the resources of the great
Northwest, among which are:
l. The deepening of the channel of the
Mississippi river at Rock Island and Des
Moines Rapids.
2. The enlargement of the Illinois canal
70 the capacity of ship canal, with cor
responding improvement in the Illinois river.
3. The construction of ship canal from
Lake Champlsin TO the Hudson river.
4. The improvement of the Fox and Wis.
consin rivers.
8. Improvement in the navigation of Lake
st. Clair.
8. Improvement of the Ohio nver.,
The following additional resolutions were
offered by the committee as second series:
Resolred, That the Legislature of Illinois,
on granting charters to railroad companies
did it with the implied understanding that the
roads when built, would be operated for the
mutual benefit Of the stockholders, and the
people through whose territory they run that
when railroads, by extortion, become the Cd.
pressors of the people, the end for which their
charters were granted is subverted, their fran.
chises forfeited and subject to repeal or such
amendments as will secure the rights of the
people from further violation.
Resoired, That any voluntary reduction of
charges by our railroad companies under a
pressure of public feeling, cannot be taken as
settlement of this question, inasmuch as it
would be no security against future extor.
lions; Tor the further reason that the soye-
reign people cannot without degradation sub
init to the continued existence Ia their midst
OF monopoly at pleasure
Resolred, That it is expedient at this time
to form League of Illinois. with branch no.
sociations throughout the State. whose ob;ec,
IL shaii be, 10y Legislative action, or, if neces.
sary, by constitutional provision, to restrict
railroad, express and warehouse charges with
In reasonable limits. "A
Mr.. Iainsha proceeded to explain and en-.
iorce the resolutions by very able sneecb.
showing that we must look to channels of
communication by water, as the only means
now known to US. which will cheaper transnor-
tation IN such degree as to render oro;n
growing IN the interior of the West nro6tahlo
ana 10 give such encouragement to immora.
ton as will result in bringing under cnlt7va.
ton these vast prairies wb;oL .