The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-08
TRANs-CoNTlyEyTAL RAILWAY CONVENTION.

TRANS-CONTINENTAL RAILWAY CONVENTION.
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Election Of ORcers-C0mmunications from
General Sherman, Commissioner Wilson,
Treasurer Spinner and Others--Advantasc s
Of a Northern Pacific Railroad.
OswEGo, Oct. 7, 1869.
The Convention met at half-past ten O'Clock, with
prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Boute
Mr.. CALVERT CoMsToCK from the Committee on
Permanent Organization, reported for President ].
F. briggs, of Saginaw, Mich. number OF vice
presidents and secretaries were also reported. The
report Of the committee was adopted, notwithstand-
ing Mr.. briggs requested to be excused and he was
conducted to the chair. On taking the chair MIR.
briggs briefly addressed the Convention.
The following are the vice presidents:--John A.
Poor, OF Portland, Me-; 0. F. Fowler Of Bristol,
N. H.; John B. Purge Of Rutland, VT. Edwin f.
Johnson. Of Middletown, CT; r. T. Hough, or
Lewis county, N. y. William A. Thomson, OF
Queenstown, Canada; A. 8. Paget. OF oswego;
Colonel william Phelps, OF Detroit, Mich. ana Muir.
ray Nelson, or Chicago.
The following are the secretaries Henry l..
DAVIS OF oswego; Eugene Pringle, OF Jackson,
Mich; Henry P. Dean, Of Portland, Me-; Charles
Sheldon, or Rutland, Vt.
On motion OF Mr.. AMEs committee OF seven was
appointed to arrange business for the Convention TO
act upon.
very long communication on the general subject
Of opening communications, received from Joseph
L. Wilson, Commissioner OF the Land ONCE, was
read. Speaking OF the Central and Union Pacific
road ne said that was compromise line, sacrificing
general TO the local interests, while the proposed
Northern Pacific line was more direct one easier
Of construction and 500 miles shorter He aiso
ern PaciHc, and regarded that as the line for great
transcontnental railway.
communication on the subject OF the Mississippi
j.. s. Ip-
picted the great natural advantages OF those loca
es IKE heer err 70 me proposed route ne adY9eaed
would prove more advantageous than to run IL by
way or Detroit.
reported IN favor OF committee OF thirteen ON re-
solutions, that the convention adjourned until two
O'Clock, ana that the following resolution be referred
TO the Committee on Resolutlon5:-
Resolved That direct railroad communication
on the shortest line across the continent with the
Eastern terminus at Portland, on the Atlantic, and
western terminus at the mouth Of the Columbia
or at Puget Sound, on the Pacific, is demanded a.
great commercial highway, not alone by the en-.
tire intermediate territory directly involved but by
both the continents OF Asia and Europe. The re-
port was adopted, and the Convention took recess
until two O'Clock +. A.
Afternoon Session.
The Portland me J delegation after stormy pas
sage, arrived to-day.
The Convention reassemoled at quarter past
Boute.
The CHAIR announced the Committee on Resolu.
tons as rollows:-John A. Poor or Portland Me-
II. G. Libby, OF Portland. Me-; Charles sheldon or
BANKS OF ossppee, N IT,; l.. s. RldlOw, OF Parsons
field Me-; Edwin +. Johnson, OF Middetown, Conn
oswego; George j. past, OF Fairhayen, u. Y: MI.
lam a. thompson OF Queenstown Canada; J. b.
Baltimore, Mich; Gerret Smith, OF peierboro
Mr. POOR, OF tue Portland delegation stated that
there was great interest in Maine TO make Portland
the twin sister OF 0swego In this great route. Some
forty men sisnned their intention OF attending this
Convention, but the storm-the most fearful on
record-had scattered them. lie briefly defailed
their experiences, ana said nothing else would nave
prevented prompt ana lull attendance OF the dele
CATION for their hearts were fully In the enter
PRISE. The committee viii be allowed time to.mOr.
row morning TO make tier report.
. EDxfs +. JOHNSON, Engineer in Chief OF the
NORTHERN Pacinc hairoad, read an essay on our rail-
way system. IN describing the three routes 10 the
Pacific he showed that the Northern one was the
mosi advantageous az regards altitude. climate and
settlement. il was not as cod as the central was;
less liable 10 distractions by SHOWS, ana was some
i've hundred miles nearer TO Chiua Japan aud the
RUSSIAN POSSESSIONS lie spoke very fayorably OF
the southern route, and said that IL would give TO
san Francisco what it mas not yet got, and vii! not
get without it-and that was reliable connection
with the oulnern valley OF the Mississippi. SPEAK
ing OF all these routes he said their construction VIII
save TO the government at least SIS 900 900 Annually
IA transportation expenses. Referring to the abun.
daat production OF gold IN Montana he made the
point that the construction OF those roads would
have the certain effect OF Fastening the resumption
OF specie payments as the roads would afford the
transportation facilities the miners now greatly need
proposed Pacific railroads.
Mr. MARcELLUs MASSEY, Vice President OF the
Rome, Watertown and 0gdensOurg Railroad, read
an essay upon the advantages OF and demand for
railways aud transcontinental railways IN particu.
la-f
Mr: s.1s, PRESIDENT Ql US. Poara Of Trade q 9s
Weso TeaI an essay written ny Avn D.vnsvn wnO
hah been sixty years engaged In the trade OF the
lakes on the subject OF the lakes. Mr.. Bronson,
who . over eighty years OF age. was present and
sfaled mat though his paper Was mostly devoted to
we SUBJECT OF axe commerce get he had referred TO
tue great basins and valleys OF the Vest which
drained BY the axes and the products oil which seek
me cheapest ana most expeditions transit TO market
me essay AFTER referring 70 the routea TO the Pacific
and speaking 10 approval Of the Northern one calls
attention " Tue ya.ue " interna, improvements
which pay Tor themselves over and over again and
contrasts the wisdom ot investments In them with
tnose devoted 10 expensive buildings &C.
paper written oy Mr. X. u. H0agh OF Lewis
county was read on the subject OF the route between
Whtenall ana oswego, the Typography or when he
infinitely described
Letters were read from General W. T. Sherman,
who urged concentration OF effort to complete TO
perfection tbs Central Pacific with a double track
WIN branches spreading out on both Sides from
GovernoI Baidwn, Of Michigan, speaking IN ap-
proval OF the object OF the Convention: from r. b.
Spinner, United states Treasurer advocating the
most northern route 70 the Pacific; from Comptroller
| Allen, Edward crane, OF Boston: senator Sumner
j. @. Blame, OF Maine; the Governors OF ohio, Wis
! cousin and Iowa, and J. W. Foster OF Chicago.
JOHN NEAL OF Portland made brief address to
SNOW tae Vaue OF time, which was regarded al
money ana called attention to steam ocean naviga.
| ton and the shortening OF land communication In
| time and space, by the construction OF railways
Men now with $4,000 capital we're able to do the
business OF those few years ago who were obliged
| to have double that amount. As 10 the proposed
route there was not the least objection 20 H. IL was
entirely practicable and ought 10 be built and would
| be built.
The Convention then adjourned TIL tomorrow
morning a. ten O'clock,