Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-01-20

oAfUpDAYy GyEussv.. 20.
,-mnS,u 2IVER lya1ROvE.
MENT9. ets'@
h p.spaS slohs the valley Of Rock river
~ - eS6ntry cchteguous, m beecmsng
,s,;ltly srooscd to the necessity ofextensive
inptovemsnts in the style Of that stream,
tAas il may be made TO serve their interests
N carrying freights.
!, -Oaths 18th instant monster mass meet
Ing Of faFnsss, mechanics, producers and
baaisses men interested In cheap trasporta-
don and opposed 70 railroad, elevator, coal
end other monopolies, assembled and ex-
pressed the same in forcible manner. The
nsin object to Be secured was cheap and
easy passage for produce either to an East
srn or Southern market Resolutions were
a46pted, calling upon Congress for nppro
priations for the removal Of distractions TO
navigation in the Mississippi river, for the
Improvement Of Rock river, and the con-
oGruotion of canal to connect the waters Of
the Mississippi with Lake Michigan.
Resolutions censuring and condemnng
ths present practices Of Railroad companies
and other monopliss were passed, and 9TH
srs touching upon the interests ofthe in
habitauts Of that locality. Mr.. Van Epps
said:
Ibelieve our interests arc connected with
the improvement Of the Rock River and the
Fox river in Wisconsin. The Rock River
Improvement 10 paramount to all others. -
Gentlemen think we cannot wait, but
will ask how they are going to get increased
transit facilities quickest. Instead Of dc
nouncing railroads, would rather help to
double or treble them. believe tlere is a
law TO restrain them, and if there is not let
IN make such law; but, VIC need more
railroads, and their competition will regulate
tho matter Of transportation. In the i'm
provement of Rock river believe every dol
lar spent for it will be returned almost im~
mediately. This river, when properly i'm
proved, will afford check to the cxtraor-
binary charges Of railroad companies. We
do not want circuitous canal by way Of
La Sale to Chicago, when we can go To
Green bay by an Improvement Of the Rock
river in northeastern direct line. Ifthesc
railroads do not do right, let us make them
do right You can send just such men
- you choose to the legislature, who will
make the laws that you want. What VIC
need is more facilities for transportation
The trouble is that the railroads are glutted
with the produce Of the farmers. Let us
then direct our attention to the improve
ment Of Rock river, which will 30 direct
benefit to US, rather than build . canal for
somebody else.
A committee was appointed to secnre q
survey Of Rock river, and also n survey Of
the most feasible route for a canal from the
Mississippi river to Chicago.
Mr.. Terrell said:
"lf We secure proper survey of Rock
river, and find it nav;gablc, shall have done
great deal toward relieving this whole re-
gion OF country from the terrible oppression
under which all classes Of producers are Ia
boring. Our attention should not be drawn
from this to other matters, such as the Gen
eseO canal
1t is very fine to talk about canal $50
feet up in the AIR, but when you consider
that corn is worth but ten cents per bush
81, and wheat worth but forty cents, and
when you see how much must be paid the
tax gathcrers, the idcs Of spending millions
Of dollars for canals that won't run up hill
il q nice thing to talk about, but it takes a
heap Of money.
IA voicc-Thcy do it in England
"Well, they do great many things in
England we would not do here They send
out pirate vessels, for instance. Laughter
and applause. My idea is this That the
counties along Rock river should combine
and get q thorough survey Of Rock river
With very few dams believe this river
could ue made navigablc its entire lcrgth.
The dam at Dixon sets back 80 that the
river 10 navigable for six miles above it
The dam at Sterling is six or seven feet
high, and lift were three or four feet high
or it would enable steamboats, to pass over
the rapids. Perhaps Ave dams would be
sufficient, aud | believe five dams would
more than pay for themselves in the next
five years. What money we have got let
usput into Rock river, and we shall accom-
plish something. In the meantime, let US
give our undivided attention to the next
legislature.
Mr.. Gale moved that that portion Of the
report be stricken out which follows the
survey Of Rock river lie said he male this
motion because he thought the convention
should limit themselves to one thing at a
time. lf~egct Rock river navigablc, trade
will pass down the river, and Chicago will
be interested in the matter, perhaps SO
much IS to build the canal. Besides, am
in favor of q committee, to be appointed by
tho counties along Rock river, who shall
make survey Of the river from its mouth
to its source. This committee to ascertain
just wha. the cost Of the improvement will
be to make the river thoroughly navigablc.
Mr.. Joseph Utlcy addressed the meeting
- follows:
When think Of the wonderful fertility
Of the soil, and the prosperity of the state
Of Illinois; When think that the state is
capable ofsustaining population Of 10, 0O0,-
600, 1t strikes me that all your commercial
advantages should be thoroughly developed.
On the west, the 400 miles Of water COM
munication; on the east, the Ohio and
Wabash rivers. and Lake Michigan, with a
river like Rock, running diagonally across
the state, and through the richest agricultu
raj region in the world, We have CONNER
cial advantages which, being properly i'm.
proved, together with your net work Of rail-
ways, you have the means of compelling
railroad corporations to be just in their
charges. But see great advantages in
making Rock river navigable by dams and
locks. At the north end Of this river ar,
vast lumber regions, and 1t its mouth arc
the coal fields Of the south. 1t is our duty
to take measures to favor the interchange OF
these productions in the cheapest manner
possible. Nature has made channel which
needs but little improvement to make il
navigable. Hundreds Of millions Of feet Of
lumber are annually consumed in the valley
Of Rock river. This is startling state
ment, but if these gentlemen will take 4
little pains to see how much is sold in thei,
own towns, they will see that hundreds o.
millions are annually consumed in the Rock
river valley. II is fact that cannot be dc
uted that lumber can be bought at Oshkosh
and brought down tho Rock v;var