The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-11-12
PRAIRIE DU CHEN CONVENTION.
Fox and Wisconsin River Improve
ments
THE WORK DEMANDED.

PRAIRIE DU CHEN, Nov. lO.-Ihe CON
ventiou called by the governors OF Wiscon.
sin, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota, to adopt
measures to secure aid from congress to i'm
prove the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. met to-
day. The attendance was large and demon
strated that very great interest is felt in
the opening Of channel of water cOmmunl.
cation by these rivers, between the lakes
and the Mississippi. Many prominent gen
tlemen from the states mentioned were pres.
ent, including Gov. Fairchild, of Wisconsin,
Gov. Merrill, Of Iowa, and several members
of congress- Gen. Atwood, of Madison, was
temporary, and Gov. Merrill of Iowa, per.
manent president, The report Of Gen. War
rem, who has, under authority Of congress-
made surcvy of the Wisconsin, is entirely
favorable to the practieabIity of the improve
ment. Resolutions were adopted declaring
that
WHEREAS, The report Of Gen. G. X. War.
ran, engineer in charge, shows that nav
igable water channel Of any depth between
the Mississippi and Lake Michigan by way
Of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, can be
made at a moderate cost; therefore,
Res0lrcd, That the immediate opening of
Of the country that the work Is one Of nation
al Importance, and as a measure OF defense
in case Of war that senators and represen.
tatives in congress from the several states,
be requested to urge the government to un.
dertake and complete the improvement at
an early day; that memorial be prepared,
setting forth the character of the proposed
improvements, and statistics pertaining to it,
to be presented to the President of the Unit.
ed States, heads Of departments, and mem.
bers Of congress and that the governors Of
Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Nebras
ka and Wisconsin are requested to unite in
forwarding the same to the governors Of the
other states, asking them to concur in such
memorial, and lay it before their respective
legislatures, with the request that they adopt
practical measures to effect the object de.
sired that the president of this convention,
at his discretion, may appoint commissioners
| to visit Washington and urge the subject of
the improvement upon the attention Of con.
gress,
The above Geographic report of the meet,
ing looks as well as it could be made to look
considering the small number of persons
present. 1t seems that about the only pla
ces that interested themselves in the affair
F.. were Dubuque and McGregor, and the
Herald, of the former city, relates the expe
rience Of its delegation as follows:
THE Fox and Wisconsin river improvement
= is a great enterprise. There is no doubt of tn,
fact It ia sufficiently realized by half doze1
+ gentlemen of this city, members of the Dubuqu,
H. .E Ir,.ln tall. ~.
q to the convention which was appointed to NEE
at Prairie du Chen, on the 10th inst. May b.
the convention was held as appointed. Ike Du
buque delegates were not present. They starte,
J early Monday evening. Late on Tuesday morn
i ing, they might have been seen returning, nor
t than ever impressed with the Importance Of thi
g great national work, but slightly perplexed owe
O the question, injudiciousy propounded by one o
" them as to which end should witness the com
mcnccment Of the work Of improving navigation
The majority favored the Dubuque end.
Meantime our citizens will be pleased to learl
that the Fox and Wisconsin, rivers must he i'm
proved. Ask some of the returned delegation
abont 1t If something vehement is desired il
= response
The fact was, the delegation sat up al
night waiting for a steamboat, which had t
lay to for repairs when it did arrive. The
disgusted delegates then went to their home
with the exception of three "who obsti
nately clung to the steamboat, and will b,
in Prairie du Chen in time for the conven
ton next year
Evidently the improvement of the Fo,
and Wisconsin rivers is no great shakes,
, even with the people up the river. Before
many years the people of the Mississippi
states will demand the proposed enlargement
of the canal to La Sale, aud;the extension
Of the same to the Mississippi at or neal