Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-02-22
The Mississippi River Improvement
Convention.

The Mississippi River Improvement
Convention.
The Convention, called at Dubuque
on the l4th inst, to take action in re-
gard to the Improvement of the Mis-
sissippi river, was attended by about
five hundred delegates. Besides
members of the Legislature and other
citizens Of Iowa, there were deiega.
tions from Missouri. Illinois, Wiscon
sin and Minnesota.
The delegates were formally received
on Wednesday morning by the Du.
buque Produce Exchange. The recep'
ton speech was made by NJ. Kingman,
President Of the Exchange. Respon.
ses were delivered by Mr. Stubs on
behalf Of the Iowa Senate, and by Mr..
Hale on behalf of the House Of Repre-
sentativcs by E. o. Stanard, on be-
hehalf of the Merchants Union Elk.
change, Of St. Louis by John P. Man.
ny, of Rockford, Mr.. Estes, of Galena.
and other gentlemen in behalf Of diff
ferent delegations.
The Western train did not come in
on account Of the storm. Consequent.
ly. a large delegation from the interi.
or of the State failed TO arrive.
At 8 o'clock in the afternoon the
Convention was called to order by NJ.
Kingman, President of the Dubuque
Produce Exchange.
A committee of ten was appointed
to report permanent organization.
During the absence of the commit.
tee the Convention was addressed by
Mr.. Stanard, of St Louis, who said
that during the past Eve years St.
Louis, on account of the war, has not
been a competitor for the trade of the
Mississippi river; but, now that the
war is over, she intends to make an
effort for that trade. and felt assured
that she could present advantages
that would divert that trade from Chi.
cago. where it has hitherto gone. To
secure this trade, however. an appro.
priation by Congress was necessary
to improve the navigation Of the riv-
er. Millions Of dollars worth Of prop.
erty and many lives have been lost
by impcdiments to navigation. Two
hundred million bushels of grain are
raised in the valley Of The Mississippi
IS per cent. Of which is yet in the
hands of producers Lines OF tow-boats
are about being established to run be.
tween st. Louis and New Orleans
capable OF carrying all the grain OF
the valley. Lines of boats have been
opened from New York, Liverpool and
other markets. by which means freight
can be carried cheaper than by any
other means.
| Mr.. Kingman read letter from
General vandever. in which be stated
that bill had been introduced !,
Congress making appropriations 70
the Improvement of the river. tn
bill provides that the Secretary of wa
shall forthwith cause careful survey
to be made Of the upper and lower rap
pids of the Mississippi river, assisted
by men skilled in navigation, aud ht
shall thereupon determine plan fo
improving the same. 1t provides TO
issuing 100000 in bonds Of tn
United States, bearing 6 per cent. in
tcrest, to be applied to making thi
Improvement.
The Committee on Permanent Or
ganization reported as officers: Pres;
J dent, E. o. Stanard, of st. Louis, AM
long list of Vice Presidents and Sec
retaries.
; A letter was read from Governo
Stone, warmly indorsing the object o
the Convention. The people must b
relieved from the extortions of railroa,
monopolies, and he was ready to sanC
tion any measure that would facilitate
the Improvement Of Mississippi navi
cation.
Letters favoring the objects of tn
Convention were also read from Lien
tenant Governor Cue and cx-Governo
Kirkwood.
] A Committee on Resolutions wa,
appointed. consisting OLA. w. Fagin
of st. Louis B. B. Richards, q. C
Gilman. of Dubuque ; 7. II. Bowen. II
C. Henderson, Of Iowa and John P
Nanny, Of Rockford. III.
During the absence of the commit
tee, Hon. p. Robb. Chairman Of tn
Committee of the Dubuque Produce
Exchange. addressed the Convention
He showed by carefully prepared an
elaborate statisties. the wealth ant
! productiveness of the Northwestern
States, and the imperative necessit.
Of cheaper and more adequate mean
Of conveying surplus products to mar
ket. This can only be attained b.
. the Improvement of the navigation
Of the Mississippi. The difference be
tween the cost Of transporting bushe
Of wheat to New York by rail an
water is 81 cents in favor Of water
I making a saving of $l2,soo.ooo anua
" to tho States OF the Upper MississiI
pi Valley. Compared with this annua
saving. the appropriation 10 improv
the river would be merely nominal.
= ~