The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-12-12

Possibly some result might be attained by
asking the Chicago gentemenpresent whether
we Can come to any terms with them in regard
to handling our corn.
Dir. Hosssck would ask the gentlemen how
many elevators we could probably make terms
with, provided we agree to give them the bus
insss OF the canal and river.
! Mr.. Nelson said he could speak only for
himself. 1t would depend upon how 1t came.
We can transfer much more than we can store.
We could probably transfer all that came,
while our storage capacity is limited-not over
400, 900 bushels III =, #a
Mr. Barton wished to know what was the
storage capacity of all the Chicago warehouses
here represented.
Mr.. Lunt was understood to say his elevators
handle as much grain as any Others in the city,
but their storage capacity was not over $685.
900 bushels. sfs ,f}4 ~ "A
Mr. Barton asked whether the Chicago gem
tlemen present were prepared to make propo-
stlons to this convention, in response to which
they replied they were, so far IS touched their
own houses ... ~
lyOn motion Of Mr. Barton a committee of five
consisting of the chairman, of the convention
and Messrs. Brown, Herrick, Blanchard and
Truett was then appointed to confer with the
| 6SueASAASA hoh ShFoSO.
The committee having retired Mr.. Hossack
was invited to take the chair, upon which Mr.
Day suggested that Mr.. Churchill Cohing, who
was present, be invited to address the conven-
ton on the improvement of the Illinois river.
.Agrsed to- -...E a-s
|, Mr, Cofting said his information in reference
to the present status Of the Illinois river i'm,
provement was limited. 1t was rumored that
over memb,r of congress had, at the last ses-
sisn, obtained an appropriation of $4,000 for
that object, but how the money was to be used
whether to make more surveys, or to COM
nence the real work-he was unable to say
There were two ideas prominent. One was
that the state should do the work alone The
river was wholly within the state belonged to
her, &to her appropriately pertained the work
OF its improvement. The other idea was, that
as an outlet from the lakes to the Mississippi,
the work was Of national importance, and
should be done by the general government.
In that view it was, no doubt, that congress
had made the appropriation of So, 900, and
he understood our representative expected to
get an additional appropriation this winter.
Unquestionably it was of immense impor-
tance to the grain men that the improvement
should be made. This importance had long
been felt and appreciated. Ten or 15 years
ago he had been one with Others who had
gone to the legislature and obtained charter
for company to improve the navigation of
the Illinois river, and but for the opposition Of
Peoria and some other points below, the CON-
pany would have been organized and the work
done long ago. A careful survey was then
made by John B. Preston, slHDst cosepetent
engineer, and it was shown that the fall from
La Sale to the Missouri river was but 90 feet.
When the Mississippi is high, the water is
frequently backed up as far as Peru. Three
or dams were all that were needed. at cost
then of less than a million Of dollars. He
doubted whether it need cost much more to-
day. The plan Of the company was to build
brush DAMS stone locks, make and lease water
power, and charge q small tonnage.
The time had come when the products of
the valley Of the Illinois must have other out
lets than through the Chicago elevators and
warehouses. A year ago last spring he had in
his warehouse $4,000 bushels of as good corn
as ever grew He made an arrangement with
the ST. Louis Barge Company for its transpor-
tatlon to New Orleans and shipment thence to
New York. He failed to make the shipment
because his warehouse with its contents was
swept away, but other parties had shipped
corn by that route and be kept track of it.
The corn reached New York in 30 days, at q
cost Of 33 cents bushel, insurance included.
Corn, at the time of its arrival was worth
e1.S311.35 in New York, and S5(GS9c in
Chicago, so that the parties shipping by the
southern route netted $1O0 a bushel for their
corn, when, if they had sent it to Chicago they
would have netted but 75(dS0 cents. 1t seem
cd to him that facts like these should be de
cisiYe of oil questions regarding the improve
ment of this river Would. the General Gov
ernment do iti He thought not. True-they
had given US $4,000. Their way was to fol-
lew up such appropriations by small additions
each year. 1t would take too long. They
might begin with the experiment of building
. dam at the head of Peoria lake, which
would give us s feet of water to La Sale. In
the next two or three years another dam might
be built. The process was too slow--the en,-
ergency too pressing and immenent The
people of the Illinois valley must Join in A
petition to the legislature and insist that they
commence this work at once and in earnest,
or give US liberal charter that company
may undertake it.
On motion of Mr.. Powell, a committee OF
three, consisting of Powell. Coffing and Jack,
was appointed by the chair to draft resolutions
on the subject OF the improvement of the Hi
nois river for the consideration of this conven-
ton.
The committee to confer with the Chicago
i warehousemen present now returning to the
convention, made a verbal report, in substance
that, in their view no satisfactory arrange
ment with the parties in question was feasible
On motion, the report was accepted and com
mittee discharged
Mr.. Bruce said it was plain that the only
way was for this convention to take steps 70,