Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-11-05
RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
address Adoptc: hy the ccu'rnt
Committee Of tbe River Inn
proyencns lonvcDtioa at shelf
gua. session.


g.use session.
Fs1row CITizKss---We, the testrsl
COMMITTEE, appointed by the River im-
urevernent' Convention, held in the city OF
y. Louis, on the l3sh aud lab q February,
isG7. md representing, as we DO, the
valley states, do hereby take pleasure ~
calling your attention % movement IN
which al are deeply interested, and which,
after candid c1nsileration, We believe you
will agree with us is of vital importance TO
the prosperity Of our land.
Never his there been an era IN the his
tory Of our uatlon wherein economy be-
comes 90 imperative as in the present.
Struggling rs we all are under ths heavy
burden Of taxes imposed to meet the neces-
s,,ies OF the government, and discharge our
national liabilities, while at the same time
-. Ar. laboring under deplorsble hnAoclsl
crisis. We feel assured you will gre your
earnest efforts in behalf Of movement
which insures . Development OF our re-
sources. increased ability to meet tbs
claims Of the government, and isrse de-
crease in our annual expenditures.
The movement 10 which We call your at
tention il the effort to secure the improve
n,et,s Of the na,igabe rivers OF the M'ss't-
.ippi Valley. Perhaps you are aware that
in this grand valley, embracing .io,o oo,-
600 acres Of land. one hundred aud seven
millions under cultivation. possessing the
riches, agricultural resource add boundiess
mi,eral wealth. there are eighteen thous-
snd miles OF nav igsble rivers, the grandest
system Of internal navigation in the world.
To this grand valley the ration must look
I for the great bulk Of expectations, wheat,
corn. beef pork, cotton, tobacco, &c. IL II
can only export. from the abundance Il it's
surplus, and i.s ability to underscll, 1t can
monopollze the markets OF the world, and
not only receive n favorable exchange, but
have a balance on the worlds counter in
our favor TO raise our credit and pay our
debts The question Of ability to produce
is no where doubted A glance at the
| columns Of the estimates OF expectations
from the valley this year will fully settle it.
Our broad prairies, vast grazing slopes
aud luxuriant alluvial bottoms challenge
the world for like ability to produce. W
repeat ii, IL is not the question Of sbitify "a
produce but 1t is the QUESTION Of facility and
ehs1pness Of transportation which must b.
solved before VIC can monopolixe the mar
kets Of the world With our productions
The great problem then 10, how can We Sc
cure the cheapest transportation Z II il
settled beyond dispute that water transpor
tation is from 70 20 300 per cent. cheaper
than by any other means or medium. ID
you ask, then, for a cheap channel to whiel
the superabundance Of the valley may nn'
It's way 20 our eastern ports and foreig q
markets. Let them look to the improve
ment of tho eighteen thousand miles o
navigsbls rivera which drain this garden 0
, the world. There are . few distractions IL
this great highway, which are IN immens
, tax upon the commerce Of the valley, caus
ing delay, danger and sometimes amount
ing TO impossible barriers. They are full
capable Of being overcome. by tho e1pen
diture Of few millions Of dollars they CO.
he removed. Ba, you reply this involve
, expenditure, We admit u, hut only sue
, exp udiur. a. the farmer incurs when h
sexs his wheat. Il expended u il paii
. b.5k ia one ear even i!sc-i,ir Last year
sitli al tha ui-heisan. ,.va VI poor crop
rti ,iaanclal. 9ressafc, eEN Etll0n tons 4
, commerce were fi1aied upon the ONO AZ
VI ss.,s.ipp, alone. Every steamboat osue
anu c4Vis,n Wili assure you thu IS an ave.
sle ten cents ca tire hundred pounds W.
J ht trrj.iniy removed from the cost of trans
tnriatI"n " hen these obstacles ale removed
X fhat 4!iun wound save to the valley in
single yesr-o OF the c0st Of transp0r'atio
So ten saitiiops # dailrrs. Add 20 TIL
b r.e increase Of thls year os r last, and We
may place the estimate safely al TIC nfy III
= ~ 3l9Hs saved.
Bat. sealn, the hundreds Of mldon
sl dollars worth o! groceries which ha
their way 10 the citizens OF the vale,
come from the West Indies, the tiul
States ard South America, by the Gil
cuitous route OF few York. at gres
+ additional expense to the consumer i
J the valley; all on account Of the bar at I'll
! mouth Of the Mississippi. Remove thee
, distractions, and We will export 10 foreie
! markets, hundreds OF millions worth whic
{ now are d.b,rred, and be that much richie
= Remove these, and we can save went, iis
To forty millions in the cost Of transport.
tlen to the valley annually. Remove thel
ami every consumer in tho valley can pr
I curn his groceries cheaper; and what dc,
: II require to d. MI this the psItry suin
: sif millions II dollars. But who must q,
F. pend this sum- Tn. general government
e Sac holds the jurisdiction oi all nav gab
rivers she, AMI not the States, receive q
ia .ir revenues Neither State- nor comp
! mes have the right OF authority to max
e these improvements. We ask then Of II
1 CITIZENS: Shall they lie madei We,
: your representatives., and repr esen,ing Il
e commercial interests Of the valley, demau
+. IL.
2 The National Congress cannot in lusti,
: deny IT. Sixty millions Of dollars are Al
lAepriated toa Pacific Railroad. We rs
trsx million, for a highway which ca
never be monopoil1ed, and which, whs
the Pacific Railroad carries its utmo
pound Will always carry tensold moro
4 cur commerce. We are not the Representa-
c tives Of large corporations seeking to e.
e nance the value of ours; we are rot eve
steambost owners. We are simply citize,
, looking periodically for the welfare Of o,
u country. and..we appeal TO you to make tn
question of vital Importance, and demal
: due recognition Of It at the hands Of 20,
: representatives, under the peualty Of CO,
signment to political graves.
Yes, we appeal to you. men Of the Nortl
E west, who poured your blood aud ueasur
: aud whose noble representatives sleep o
the banks Of these rivers We appeal
/, you in their name, aud by their memory,
demand at the hands Of the government, 4
whom you swept thereof armed obstru
X tions, and preserved them to the natioI
!. that they make this small return: to reno,
the ply steal distractions and make il 70
ever u highway for the commerce Of th
valley and the nation.