The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-02-16
Special to tho Chicago Times.
BANQUET AT THE LINpELL HOTEL.

1T LOUIS, 4 EB Ii F.
BANQUET AT THE LINDELL HOTEL.
The river improvement convention ad-
journed yesterday afternoon TO reassemble at
| the Lindell Hotel. at 3 p. NJ, where ban
quet had been provided by the Union Mer
chants Exchange, for convivial intes-
change of sentiments of good fellowship. and
in honor and hospitality towards the mem
bers of the convention. heinvitations were
| cordially and universally accepted by the
delegates. The guests were in the best of
humor consequent upon the harmonious and
successful completion of the work which had
brought them to St. Louis. Gathered in the
| reception saloon, Between and 9 o'clock p.
NJ, and after pleasant season spent in mu-
| tuat congratulations and in perfecting happy
acquaintance, they gaily fell into line and
marched into the grand dining hal; filing
of the Merchants Union Exchange, presided
Among the regular toasts we're
"The federal government Responded to
by D. B. Richards, of Dubuque.
Commerce" Responded to by Hon
| Theodore Cook, of Ohio.
Minnesota" Judge d. E. Flandreau be.
ing called responded in rich vein of humor
eliciting frequent and hearty plaudits He
insisted on first reminding the delegates
from all along the Mississippi that their oh =
cations were to Minnesota. They owed Min
nesota a great debt. If it were asked what.
he would answer that there's where the Mis-.
issippi comes from. (Great laughter II
it had not been for Minnesota they couldn't
have any Mississippi river to improve upon.
For WISCONSIN" Judge J. 2. Wetherbv
happily responded. He eloquently spoke OF
the hard-ups and trials of the lumbermen az
that region, and of their trials at the rapid>
in vindication of himself and colleagues, =
secure tlIe improvement of theupper MissisE
ipplaud tributaries
For Iowa, Mr. Starr, of Burlington spoke
effectively He said that thirty years ago he
came TO live upon the banks of the Mississ-
ippi, visited St. Louis, which then had from
1000 to 10000 inhahtants. He was then
like spoiled child. He had been in Gin
cinnati, and thought st. Louis too small
He Went to Burlington, the sea- of govern
meut of the vast and growing territory of
Iowa, and found that he thought it eclipsed
st. Louis. St. Louis was nowhere. and Bur-
lington was blooming and bursting with big
ness. He settled there, and was there yet
lie had learned something. So long as they
had to look to St. Louis for everything. the
faces of the st. Louis merchants grew rs ia
mllar as household gods, but in an evil hour
| the lowans transferred their affections to
Chicago; but had discovered their mistake
and were coming back to the river centre
the natural mart of trade He made some
fine hits, and was received with loud APP
plause. sa7 -
illinois was eloquently and with marked
| ability responded to by Hon. Mr.. Dougherty.
who claimed il as her highest glory and
pride that she is one of the states of the
American republic. Her central situation
| made her especially interested in whatever
river improvement the west adopted, and she
would gladly share the EXPENSE and the prof
it.
Mr.. Goshorn responded for "Ohio." He
regarded the Mississippi river as the greatest
river IN the world. He did not come so
much to attend the convention as he did to
see the river. He had seen the river though
ne had not seen the rapids. He was willing
to take his friends word for it, who hailed
from keokuk,-that such rapids did exist
and needed fixing. His, speech was full of
ed. = -
Among the volunteer toasts, was sLouis-
iana, to which JEFF Thompson responded,
ana was greeted with uproarious cheers
General jeff made very humorous speech.
stating that rs far as he was concerned, he
had very sad experience on the river known
as the Mississippi. He saw MANY faces
around the table which he had seen in bat
tie, and he preferred to see them always
around table. He. had fought up and
down the Mississippi, from Cairo to New Or
leans, on horse back, on foot. and on deck,
and he was willing to own that he never got
what he expected. He continued at some
length, and was vociferously cheered through
out. ETzAes ssH. essssfs-.s -es-. -
A toast was offered for Dubuque" by c.
c. Gilman, of that city, after which the Star
.Spangied Banner was sung-all standing
with spirit, after which the banquet adjourn
ed with three cheers for the perpetuation of
the Union forever. - 3. -