The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-09-25

| presented on that subject for years
come. We therefore prefer the pres
| ent law to remain In force rather tina
any substitute, differing maeriall
from the bill prepared and adopte
by the other association last Octobe
at Cincinnati.
ResQlUed, That we fully pledge on
selves individually, and as ember
of our respective associations, to bea
our proper proportions of any expense
that may be necessary to secure tht
passage of the law in question.
ResOLUed, That the thanks of tht
Union Association be rendered tt
Mr.. NJ. A. Bryson, Capt VIM. A
New, and Gen. VIM. A. Pile. Mem
Der ct Congress, for their efforts t.
advance its introduction and passage
through Congress.
All of which is respectfully sub
mitted.
z...,.-...- r. II. VOOLFOLK,
r [Signed:] 4. A. SHEBLE,
4. w. GOULD.
r The report was adopted. The Chair
then called for the report of the Res
taurant Committee. The Committee
appointed to consider the restaurant
system, made the following report:
WHEREAS, Several of the packet
companies ofSt. Louis and elsewhere
have recently adopted what is called
the restaurant system on their boats,
charging lower rate for passage and
charging for meals, to be had at all
hours; and, t...s
WHEREAS, As this system has
proved, In practice, complete sue
cess, in saving the leaks common to a
passenger steamer, in the saving of
the general expenses of the cabin,
and In profit to the stewards, and
not the least in the disapprobation of
the Rtsaaa RtTagsljng RRPbt RPbi0 therefore;
ers of the steamers navigating our
Western rivers to make trial of this
system, on their respective boats.
lSigned:l n. RANNEY.
ED. CALLAHAN,
r. I'll. VOOLFOLK.
This report was not taken up for
discussion, but was laid over until
af. er dinner, as was also the follow
ing report of the Committee to de-
wise some. plan to prevent railroad
companies In further obstructing nav
igation;
Report Of the Committee upon the best
means 10 preUent Roilroad Conip1-
q1ieS and other p1rtieS from unaec-
essar1ty o6StructlRQ nGvtgabLe a0dter
courses. laa-- bio ee
Your committee report that the mo-
mentous weight and influence per-
tanning to the subject of improperly
bridging and otherwise obstruct-
ing the free navigation of current
waters, has by them been carefully in
vestigated, weighing the evil and the
benefit alike to arise in bridging
or placing permanent objects eff
an obstructive nature in nav;gl-
bic waters; that a bridge over
an unfordable stream is, In a meas
ure, public benefit, must be con-
ceded as a selfevident fact, yet, pos
sibly, 1t may, from a faulty plan of
construction, location, one or all
prove Infinitely greater evil than
-heneft ta-Eho- pablo Though bridges
are obstructive IN Character, are and
should be thrown over navigabIe
waters, yet builders should be forced
to construct them so as to ipjure nav
lSdtAOu AZ tlC lCdSb pUSSfDiC II.
Poverty and lack Of means must not
be taken into consideration, particu-
larly so as an injury to navigation
bears onerously hard on the agricul-
turist, the miner, the artizan and the
products of the whole country.
Cheap, bulky commodities are the
basis on which all our prosperity rests.
Take from them the heaven sent boon
Of water carriage, particularly where
towing barges Is practiced. aud you
take from them not only their hum
bic luxurieS, but also the hard-earned
comforts of their wives and little ones.
On the waters of the Mississippi and
its larger tributaries the following
conditions are indispensably requisite
to cheap water carriage; that from
300 to 500 feet water passage, the same
varying with the width, depth, and
rapidity of the water course, such
space embracing the main channel,
should exist between the main piers.
1t is to be located where the cur
rent is Stacker than the average rapid
ity of the water course bridged or to
be bridged, and where the current is
straight aud uniform during all sea-
sons of the year, and that all other
spans be of or near two-thirds of the
same ratio; and also, for the safety of
passengers, crew, vessel and COM
modities thereon, the pilot and stear-
ing devices have due and approv-
ed altitude, that be may safely
control the vessel under his charge,
which a distance of fifty feet from
the bottom chord of the chan
mel span to high water mark,
is indispensibly requisite: also that
all these dams or piers infringing
or endangering the navigation of eth
er boat or barge in the channel, such
as the shore pier between Stubs
Eddy and Rock Island bridge, be
promptly abated removed at the
owners expense. The loss of life,
damage to property. hazard to yes
sells and continuous delay to steam
ers, barges, RATS, and commerce
generally, heaps up undeniable and
unanswerable proof of the unneces-
sary damage inflicted on steamers,
and the community at large. No
such wanton damage is permitted to
exist in Europe or the Atlantic
States. We trust Congress will real
ize that the West has some rights
which wealthy and powerful corpo-
rations are bound to respect; that the
decreased cost of our breadstuffs and
crude cheap commodities in the
Atlantic States, superinduced by Il q
| cheapness of carriage to market mus.
be of incalculable value and an ines
timable blessing 10 the toiling masses
in the East. In the various modes of
crossing navigable waters, by tunnel
ing or bridging, either by suspension