The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-09-30
Rirhnt1o:'ua Dispattll.
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 80, 1s71.

THE CIRCULATION OF THE DISPATCH
IS LARGER THAN THE COMBINED CIR,
CULATION OF ALL THE OTHER DAILY;
NEWSPAPERS OF THE CITY. =. =
National Commercial Conventten--
D Wednesday. -. -
A report on narrow.gat1ge railroads was
adopted, but it contains nothing except
that stale cid Welsh story; no information
whatever. ....,.,. -. -
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
Resolued, That this Convention recon-
meud to railroad transportation companies
to 80 reduce local rates of freight and pass
aye as to give them nearer proportion to
through rates. 70"
| TIE JAMES RIVER AND KAEAwHA CANAL AND
THE OHIO RIVER. !
MIR. Kennard submitted the following
report in reference to the completion OF The
James River and Kanawha canal, and inn
proyement of the navigation Of the Ohio
river. 1t was adopted:
| Whereas the Southern Commercial Com
vention, held at Louisville October, 1869,
adopted series of resolutions In favor of a
| comprehensive system of water-line COM
| muuication between the Mississippi and
| the scaboard, in connection with the proper
Improvement Of the navigation OF the Mis-
| sisSippi and It's tributaries, comprising
| 1st. A connection of Lake Michigan with
the Upper Mississippi by way of the Wis.
conSin and Fox rivers Improvement, and
| also the opening of continuous water line
through the State of Illinois, from Lake
Michigan to the Illinois river, thereby eN-
| tending the water liue from New York by
way of the Erie canal and lakes TO the Mis-
! sissippi river.
| 2d. The completion OF the central water
line from the mouth of the Ohio to the sea-
board by proper Improvement OF the Ohio
and kanaWha rivers, and the completion of
| the James River and Kaaawha canal on a
| scale commensurate with the great objects
to be accomplished by it.
Sd. The removal, as far as practicable, Of
all distractions to an easy and cheap out
let into the Gulf by way of the Mississippi
river; and -
Whereas a committee was appointed by
said Convention to memorialiZe Congress
| for aid in completing the great water-line
referred to in said resolutions, which me-
mortal was prepm ed by the chairman of
said committee in accordance with said res
Oluiions, and reported to the said Southern
Commercial Convention, held at Cincin.
| natl on the - day of October, 1871 and
Whereas the said last-named Convention
did, by resolution, direct that the said me-
mortal should be presented to Congress ut
an early day in the name and on behalf OF
said Cincinnati Convention, and in the
event OF favorable report Of the engineer
| in charge OF Il survey directed by Congress
| to ascertain the Feasibility and practicable.
ity Of the construction OF said James River
and Eauawha cal,al, to ask the completion
OF the same by Congress, and under Its d-
| rection to be made a'publc highway, under
the control OF the Government. and free for
the use Of all, subject only to such toll as
| may keep the same in repair and
Whereas since the action Of said last
named Convention survey and examina-
I tion has been made under said act of Con-
Gress of the said James River and Kanawha
| canal. under the direction of the Secretary
OF War, and 4 highly favorable report has
| been made to Congress, both Of the feaS-
bllity and practicability Of said work, and
| also showing its great Importance and ben
| cit to the whole country: Therefore
Resolued, That this the National Com
mercial Convention cordially endorse aud
| approve the proceedings and memorial of
. the two preceding conventions referred to
| in The prcamble thereto, and again respect-
! fully but urgently ask from Congress the
|
possible.
! Nlr. ThOs. NJ. Monroe. Of Iowa, made a
lengthy speech liz favor of the adoption of
: the report, giving d history of the western
rivers for the past hundred and fifty years.
An EDglishman had predicted one hundred
and twenty years ago that great trade
| from the Pacific would reach the Atlantic
by the way Of the western rivers. Fifty
years afterwards Gen. Washington made IL
survey from the head-waters Of the james
to the kanawba, and came home and wrote
u letter 10 then Governor of Virginia in
reference to its being the best and cheapest
route from the valley OF the Mississippi to
the Atlantic. Then everything west of the
Allcghanies, and even ON this side, was
either dense forest or prairie. Iowa
Was now In the centre Of that wild waving
prairic-her virgin lips smiling with prairie
flowers aud kissed by the sun. Her entire
limits were filed with intelligent American
citizens, who, on looking out for an outlet
for their immense crops, have recognized
this great avenue. 1t was Work national
in character, which had been endorsed by
the Louisville Convention, composed of
delegates from thirty States. Without con-
cludlug, Mr. Monroe gave away to motion
tor recess for fifteen minutes IN order to
partake Of lunch. =.
REASSEABLING.
On the Convention being again called to
order, Mr.. Monroe resumed and concluded
his remarks, urging Wis views in clear and
distinct manner. -..
MIR. W. w. Walker. of Virginia. was in
troduced as the modern Patrick Henry of
the Old Dominion, and made n speech
The reporter does not say how well be
played his part.
A paper was presented from Mr. Law
renee Myers, Of Philadelphia, covering a
plan for clothing the sides of the banks of
canals with one eighth inch sheet iron Sc
curely fastened and suspended equi.distant
above and below the>water line, thus pre-
Ynntin p m 6amope Eefarred