The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-02-15
THE Mym CONVENTION.


thing material uttered in the Convention, |
during the first two days Of its session.
A permanent organization was effected by
the selection of W. NJ. McPHERsoS, of ST.
Louis as President Of the Convenepa, with
Vice President from each of the States
represented, as follows:
Hon. l.. P. Weaiherby, of Wisconsin.
K. O. Stanard, of Missouri.
Geo. L. Johmun. Of Ohio.
Jesse Mcintyre, OF Minnesota.
". C. Mccarthy, of Pennsylvania
J, l.. Davis, of Iowa
e. B. Briggs, of louisiana
Daniel Hard, of Illinois.
J. Z. Montgomery, OF Tennessee.
Jas. Pearce, of Indiana.
j. f. Joy, Of Michigan.
R. Voolfolk, Of Kentucky.
Mr.. Mcpherson, on taking the Chair, made
the following address:
SPEECH OF Nh. MCPHERSON.
can but feel grateful at this unexpected
compliment and accept it, net SO much IS
an honor to myself, a. TO this city, Of which
have the honor to be citizen. take it
as such and appreciate it the more, because
j, comes to ST. Louis. know not with what
ability can discharge the duties, but will
do the best know how, trusting to your in
telhgence and assistance in the questions
that may arise during the elaboration of this
body,
Gentlemen, this is an important meeting,
If a proper use is made Of it. The object is
one entitled, not only TO the consideration Of
citizens and delegates here assembled, but to
the consideration of the law making power
Of the nation. Its aquestion that every one
may ask himself with propriety, why has
this great question slept SO long? Why has
the nation been permitted to sleep on in leth.
argy and indifference towards this important
subject--one that cannot or should not be
overlooked in the development of this vast
fcountry-the opening and improvement Of =
great artery of the inland commerce of this
contipent n We can get no satsfactory an
swer to il. Railroad corporations, good
in themselves, have seemed 70 be the
paramount consideration of the coun-
try. Great schemes, where corpora.
lions were to be fostered-perhspe
laudabe in themselves-seem to absorb the
public mind, while this freight canal and
channel of navigation, that costs nothing but
slight improvement In the rapids above
here, has been left to work its way as best it
could, and insurance companies aud boatmen
have had to struggle as best they could with
the obstacles thrown in the way. Gentlemen,
II is not q question of promoting the interests
of St. Louis, New Orleans keokuk, or Du-
buque, or any OF these growing towns or cities
along the banks of this stream; not a ques-
ton of contest las sometimes foolish editors
make it between Chicago and st. Louis,
about the ascendency, but it is question Of
what shall be done for the great agricultural
interests of this great and mighty valley.
Applause Whether the Agricultural in
terests shall be taxed beyond endurance, and
with it the cutivators of the soil themselves
impoverished. Applause, Because it takes
bat little arithmetic TO satisfy any man that
bushel of wheat or bushel of corn can only
bear so much transportation before it is
swallowed up in the cost. Therefore the
question arises whether the farmers of this
valley, which in a few years, will be capable
Of feeding the whole world, shall have
cheap transportation of products TO market, or
whether they will be swallowed up by long
transportation by railroads. That is the
simple question. II matters little when we
look to the future of this valley, whether the
trade comes to ST. Louis or New Orleans, or
goes to Chicago. If the farming interests
prosper, and the farmers and agrculturalists
are wealthy, then if we have anything to sell
in ST. Louis, we have chance to get a part
OF their money, and vice versa. And so in
Chicago. if they have anything to sell, they
have chance TO get the money which the
agriculturalists have received in the sale of
their crops, and so at las, the mighty question
IS, what rs to be the power and wealth of
this valley? We have mineral resources
here, and resources for manufacturing pur-
poses that we can we'll boast of, but the great
source of our wealth, if We are to prosper in
the future, is dependent on our rich soil and
agricultural products. 1t takes no philosophy
or argument to see that it is the correct pusi.
ton. Look at the products now and the
shipmens from this great valley, which is still
IN Its infancy, where there is scarcely one
acre IN i've yet cultivated; and with popula.
tion coming in and the extending Of the
cultivated land, the increase of these pro
ducts must be such that it becomes serious
question about the cost Of getting them to
market Now, gentlemen, the rails
roads are an excellent thing. do not speak
lightly nor would not disparage them for
anything. ! have given some of the best
years OF my life TO try to get some of the
railroads of this State forwarded. have
done, probably, my share with regard 10 that
without Boosting of it, and, therefore, Ispeak
not lightly of them. They are necessary as
ordinary arteries. But when you come to
grain, and carry it on the railroad, there is
the point at which you nave to stop or the
value OF it is destroyed. How is it? You
can carry grain perhaps two hundred and tif.
~ miles Tor twenty cents a busheI that. |
believe, Is as low as any of the farmers find
it. believe most of the roads charge ten
cents bushels for every hundred miles, and
twenty for two hundred and fifty, but for that
twenty cents we can carry that grain TO New
Orleans, nearly thousand miles, and there
put 1t on shipboard, where it can be taken TO
2 foreign market at light cost These are
facls that railroads cannot contradict II Is
great mistake to suppose that with the
growth OF this country in the future that the
railroads can remove products of the valley
TO the seaooard. 1t then becomes a question
OF interest with US whether we shall have
water transportation, which will be cheap.
and winch cannot be checked or blocked :
wnere there are no rails 70 break or ties to be
repaired; where free channel is given to n
without cost, and where all you have 20, to
90 Is to put vessel on it and float il With
thousands OF tons Of freight to market, That
we must look to. Then We have the right
Us we representatives OF the agricultural in.
terests OF the West (becaase there il wha.a
our great interests restl, to call upon Conorss.
TO clean out these slight distractions IN the
rver, so that the railroads can carry freight
directly to tho stream, and then let it have a
cheap way to market-to call upon them 10
clean out or canal the lower rapids. and IN
clean out the upper ones and il will he In,
small tsx--onc that one cent per bushel ON
the products OF this valley would almost nav
Oh, ana one tLat would save several cent? per
pushei TO ever aeTiculturist who had the Ar
ticle to SELL 'Ao ~
Had expee'. his honor, would like To
have presented s,-t's,ics showing the diner
ence betwesn transportation by river and nil.
road, but AN nnA lie to do SO 1t present.
The great .9uesiiaa is, how are the ohstruc.
tions 10 the Mississippi to be remoyed9 I,
is not expected thnt private capital viii do
il. Tits too big = % for private indiyidu.
els. and it can only be carried ont bv The
Government, that has, with commendahls
liberality, which approve, agreed to ammo.
pirate one hundred millions OF dollar, tp IN :,
railroads across this continent to Californ;.
Government winch can do that can Ger.
sainly be justified in spending one or two
millions In improving the NAVIGATION. an a.
TO make change in the cost Of TRANSPORTS
ton for every article that the citizens IN ;,s
banks in this valley shall want 10 tr,n.nort
hereahos.
Capt James D. Eads, on behalf of III.
Chamber Of Commerce Of St, Louis, address,
ed the Convention At considerable length.
ADDREss Or CAPT. KAps.