Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-02-16

thing to sell. Who can tell what is TO be
the wealth aud power Of this Valley. We
have mineral resources here, resources ior
manufacturing purposes, but the gree
sources Il our wealth in The future Is de-
pendant on its ,ich soil and agricultural
products. Il takes no philosophy or arg:
ment TO establish that as proposition, and
that 1t Is increasing at ap immense RATIO
Look Of the products now. and the ships
nents of millions Ct bushels Of gran 10
Chicago. Yet this Valley il still in lis in
fancy. There 10 scarcely one acre in five
that is cultivated. With the population IN.
crossing By constant. immigration with the
extending of the cultivated land, the in>
crease OF the products must be such that it
becomes . serious question rbout the coat
of getting them TO market. Now, gentle
men, the railroads are an excellent ipstitu>
ton. l do not speak lightly Of them, and
would not disparage them for any thing. l
have given some Of the best years Of my life
to forwarding the interests Of the railroads
Of this State, and have done, probably, my
share in regard to them, without Boosting
1t. They are necessary, As being among
tho great arteries Of our country, for the dis
tribution Of its wealth, but there is point
in railroad transportation, at which you
must stop or the best interests of the valley
are destroyed. You can carry corn on the
railroads for two hundred and fifty miles at
twenty cents bushel. believe that
il the lowest figure Some roads charge
ten cents for one hundred miles and twenty
cents for two hundred miles. But il the
distance is extended TO twelve hundred and
fifty miles the whole of the corn will be
| swallowed up by the cost Of transpol alton.
These ere facts, well known facts. 1t is q
great mistake to suppose that with the
growth OF the country and its future great
ness, railroads will suffice 10 do the business
| Of transportation, even with double tracks.
| The time will come when they cannot eyen
remove the produce of the interior sections
| Of the country TO the eastern sea-board.-
| Then it will be paramount necessity that
wc have water transportation transporta
ton that will bo cheap, that cannot be
checked, save only when the river is ice.
bound in winter, . contingency for which
We are all prepared. There will be no rails
to break, no ties to repair, but there will be
free channel without cost. All that is
necessary to be done will bs, to load our
vessels and to float them to market Then,
gentlemen, We have q right to advance the
agricultural interests Of the West, because
here the great interests Of the whole coun-
try rest. We have right TO call upon
Congress to free the navigation Of the great
Mississippi river, by clearing out the lower
distractions also, in tho manner science
may demonstrate as the best way. To
clear out the upper obstacles would entail
but slight expense. 1t will be soon paid,
| L. e A.. k,,A
bushel carried Yet that small tax would
accomplish the saving Of several cents per
bushel TO every farmer ,r agriculturist who
has an article to sell.
Had received any notice Of my being
chosen President Of this Convention.
would have been prepared 10 present TO GU
statistics, which would have shown the ad-
vantages Of river transportation over that
Of railroads. River navigation. il these OBJ
structions were removed, would never fail
for nine months in eacn year. Private cap
ital cannot remove those distractions. II ID
too extensive an undertaking Tor private in.
dividne's to agree upon and carry out but
tho Government, with the same lberality
that has appropriated more than hundred
millions OF dollars FIR running a railroad
across the continent TO California, can ap.
propriate one or two millions 10 improve the
navigation If the great artery Of the Yves.
the Mississippi river. (Appause,)
Gentemcn, | made an allusion little
while ago to contest between various edit
ors in relation 10 the rivalry between ST.
Louis and Chicago. do no, like to speak
against editors. because they have papers
and have none But |, for one, protest
against such contests of rivalres. We are
two hundred and eighty.oae miles apart
There is room enough mere 20 build two
Concluded on tie third pdge)