Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-13
COMMERCIAL.
National Board of Trade-Free RiV-
ers and Free Bridges Wanted.

ers and Free Bridges Wanted.
BUFFALO, Dec, 12.-The National
Board of Trade Convention met at 8
O'Clock this morning. The matter of in
land and water communication, after de-
bate, was referred to the Executive Com
mittee, with instructions to report at the
next meeting Of the Board.
The committee &c whom were referred
! the propositions on the official programme
Numbered %, % and "a, submit for
the action of the Board the following:
Whereas, The free and unrestricted
navigation of The rivers Of this country
| is the right of all citizens and is iHdi. pen
sible to the cheap transportation of its
varied produce, therefore,
Resolved, That Congress be again re-
quested to inake such appropriations as
may be necessary for the early compile
ton of the work now in progress under
the direction and supervision of the
! United States engineers at the Des M0ins
and Rock Island Rapids, at the falls of
| the Ohio and at the mouth of the Missis-
sippi river and for the maintenance Of
! snag boats owned by the Government and
employed on the Western ard Southern
rivers.
Resolved, That Congress be requested
! 10 enact such laws as will effectualiy pre-
vent individuals or corporations from I'M
necessarily obstructing or endangering the
navigation of these rivers by bridging for
railroads, or other bridges, if built over
| these rivers, shall be constructed with g
proper regard for the interests and neces-
| stiles of the navigation thereof, and that
/ the Piers of all such bridges shall be 10
| Gated under the direction and supervision
/ of United States engineers or corps of
/ engineers to be selected by the Secretary
/ of War.
Resolved, That all railroad bridges
| across navigable waters should be regard
! ed and treated in legislation as public
! highways for railway transit; that each
! end of them be made to accommodate the
/ cars and transportation machinery of all
| railroads or navigation companies that
( msy desire to use them, on the payment
/ of fair and reasonable tolls, and thai fu-
! ture grants of charters for the cOnstTuC-
( ton of such bridges, and existing chart
tiers for those already built, or to be
built, should, by requisite legislation,
! both State and national, embody pTovis-
ions to secure the object above set forth.
Resolved, That the Executive Council
of the National Board of Trade be d.
rected TO take such steps as may be neCes-
sary to make effective the principles en-
bodied in these propositions.
Postal Susidies.
A preamble and resolution were adopt
| ed looking to the abolition of the present
system of subsidies to steam lines, and
suggesting that the matter be regulated by
general law, opening the field Of Compe-
tition to all ports of the United States,
and thereby encouraging maritime en-
terprise.
Pacific Railroad Subsidies.
A proposition relative to the subsidies
( Of the Pacific railroads, submitted by the
! ST. Louis Board of Trade. was considered,
and after debate referred to the Executive
Council with instructions to memorabilia
/ Congress to grant liberal subsidies anC
! other needed legisl alton as will secure the
Carliest construction of the National Cen.
trail Pacific Railroad to California. Adopt
ed by the Board by an Overwhelming
vote.
Tariff Revision.
The following proposition was sub
mitted by the Cincinnati Board of Trade
in reference to the revision of the tariff
l. The desirableness of efforts to secure
such a revision of the existing tariff laws
of the United States az shall result il
making then more simple ard more
uniform
,. In making them productive of The
largest revenue.
3. In making them the least burden
some to the whole people.
4. Ia making such protection as may
result in yearly incomes without discrim
nations in favor of any interest.
After referring other matter, which
were not considered, to the next meeting
of the Board. the National Board ad
iOumed sine die.