Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-02-12

80 sss - . - - - - - vsNe oSe4buVTs
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/ TUESDAY EVENING. FEB. II.
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TsaG GREAT RIVER CONvEN.
T1DN.
The st. Louis RepsJlicoa In speaking Of
tie River Convention, which commences 10
session in that city today. says that this
measure TO secure the prompt improvement
Of the Mississippi River, has attracted more
attention and excited moro general interest
than any previous convention called in the
West. Il has proved the signal for concen-
tra,ing current thoughts aud unexpressed
wishes concerning this object in one grand
channel from many diverse and widely |
separated points. II has made apparent as
never before the earnest belief OF the popu- |
la,ion Of many different cities which have
never acted in common before, that there IL
one common object in which oil are inter- |
csteJ. and upon the accomplishment OF
which the convenience and prosperity Of
millions depend. The responses to the in,
vitations given to send delegates to the Con
vention, exhibit evidences that the intclli
gent gentlemen who represent the commer>
cai interests Of the Great V.lloy thorough
ly appreciate the practical value of Con
vention which proposes to secure free
transit from St. Paul to New Orleans by the
Mississippi River. II makes an appear 10
the pockets Of men who can estimate prop
crly the true sources OF wealth, and who
lave learned by experience that the largest
profits may be most scnsibly diminished, if
not tvcrLalanccd 10y inadequate cheap iacil-
tiles Of communication and transportation.
Many times within the past ten years, It has
been manifest that the grain producing re-
gions Of the West had no amp'e Quiet TO
ward the East. The various railroads time
and again have been 80 choked with
freight and expensive delays have been
experienced, while the railroads, all Of
them, were 40 overwhelmed by the press
Ing food, that competition wA out
Of the question. and freight tariffs ruled
high, and increased from season 10 season.
The Mississippi river for i've or six years
was practically closed. so that the North
vest was excluded from seeking competing
channel Of transportation by water, aud has
been absolutely controlled by railroad com,
binations having no restraint and no motive
but their own common rapacity.
The recent discussion Of the subject in
the Illinois Legislature, and the pro.ractsd
effort to pass q bill regulating the tariff Of
railroads shows how burdensomc the people
find railroad charges on freight. In Mime
sofa legislation has been initiated to secure
relief for the people from the restrictions
upon their prosperity imposed by railroad
corporations.
II is manifest that the snrest and speed
lest relief is to be attained through the water
communication offered by the Mississippi
sibly compete with il. tits realized in Phil-
adclph'a, that the produce in the Northwest
can be carried by that river 10 the ocean
aud landed IN Atlantic ports ut rates far bc>
low present charges by railroad clear out
the rapids aud other distractions aud null
,iply the steamers and nm era Of low ireigh,s
will be inaugura,ed, profitable 10 the farmer
AMI tho shipper. and yielding abundan, in
come 10 the owners Of steamers. Thousands
and millions Of tons Of grain, flour, bacon,
pork, beef, fish, whiskcv will seek
domestic and foreign ports through
the mouth Of the Mississippi river
together with innumcrnblc manufacture cd
articles, which in increasing amounts viii
constitute surplus products in coming
years. Give 20 the West water trnnspor,a =
ton, multiply the steamers and the bsrges,
and that water comm unicaticn will detcrm-
inc absolutely the whole question Of freight
tariffs in favor of the producer and beyond
all hope of control by railroads. The
scasonsblc, for delays in securing unrcstrict
cd navigation of the Mississippi are costly.
The population of the West and Northwest
is increasing annually in II rapid ratio
Farms by the hundred and thousand arc
opening every year The products Of tho
vast ion through which the river flows
are increasing every season. and much
more rapidly than the facilities fr trans
por,ation to the East In Eve years the
p:oiucis Of the West will be so enormous
that all together the railroads cannot carry
them. Already in the State Of New York,
j. is found that the canal cannot perform
half the work required by tho pressure Of
freight. The Mississippi river has become
already IN absolute necessity TO relieve the
pressure Oh the railroads. and afford conve.
nlence to the people. And when once again
We have rc-estahlishcd transportation ON
the grand Father Of Waters, and realized
anew its promptusss and its cheapnsss, W
shall wonder that shrewd, Discerning men
were willing 70 submit to diversion from It
Tor one single year.