The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-29
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.
Third Days notwithstanding Report and
Debate on the Subject of Railroad Manage
m,nt-value of Narrow Gauge Roads
Removal Of DISTINCTIONS at the
Mouth Of the Mississippi

BALTIMORE Sept. %, 1871.
The National Commercial Convention assembled
at ten O'Clock this morning. President Bishop In the
chair. The opening prayer was made by Rev. DR..
Smith, OF the Presbyterian Church.
Resolutions were offered relative to making Pitts
burg port of entry and establishing bonded ware
houses; relative TO the necessity OF the speedy
pletion OF the Washington and OHIO Railroad, from
Washington city to the ONO River, which was re-
ferred.
Mr.. HOWARD, Of Missouri, onered q resolution
calling the attention OF Congress to the increasing
power OF the great railroad corporations Ot the
country; their absorption or all other lines OF road;
the necessity OF restricting their powers and the
establishment OF national tarln of fare and freight
which was referred to the Committee Oh Railroads.
Ex-Governor STANDARD. OF Missouri, submitted
the report OF the C0mmlttee on Railroads. embodied
In the following resoiuti0ns:-
Resolved, That this Convention recommend to rail-
road transportation TO reduce local rates of
freight and passage as to give them nearer proportion to
sond- That a liberal commercial spirit should prevail
way ACROSS their territory 70 all railroads. and that an air
the general welfare especially 70 that the south hi.
5 % 90 s
Yhrd-That this Convention s fully persuaded OF the
ton a. practicable and necessary portion Of truly ma
tonai railroad system.
! subcommittee on the subject OF narrow gauge rail-.
roads as fOll0wS:-
This class OF railroads has ont recently been brought
.' ss' sA sou Ds0s si
wild seaa!ons likely arise enterprises
S o isi 70 Ss %
'a % Of sna oSsr
countries to justify your committee In stating
road: being ss@aisd 4! from half . xo;sd; q ,Is
the tine %
The greatly dmnishea cost Of oPera,ns point TO such
country, great tor their CONSTITUENCIES
freehs yet he convenience Of local ac ana ths
s " 9 o wGS @
in ~Si S pess g. ss1osss
report, roads sO%m nit have
s q &c
roads are being built while many projected and
Of l' '1s, unss,
Cairo beside. other. distance and minor
q The great Importance Of ths subject the
special com%es Of i've to the next
The foregoing report OF the subcommittee was
| presented to the Convention as the report OF the
| tlnued:-
In addition to this report the committee der. to
sa%ss would b: sm,nsn co1duoys
Sasinsss Of the sSu4y %asS a. %ss
as existing % s
: o Of W. railroad a
'sSptS s%'
sa .'nIs' would e .
promote the genera! convenience and would specially
| iereat roads, and promote that general sympathy OF
wss''T
Tor essnsns through S%srsnt
the a: the deeaey OF ssrsa sss amy
~hh % ss sSSs Dc w
10 the 81 IT., "a G. al e
ssesas 's e G1 S
They accordingly recommend the adoption OF reso.
Yow coa%ltse are also Of the opinion hata so" Re
as from 70 entirely
With as fair promise OF success has at
trail rseIae k.rSad; ana believing ihst South
raosd svs,em and believing ,Sat he 60"
dorsement OF such an enterprise by ths National Conycn
the promotion Of and cordial spirit Of common
! upon thai subject aud submitted VITA this report.
| The report and resolutions excited considerable
debate.
MIR. KIRK of Philadelphia said when the report
was adopted the committee not full aud 1t did
not express the opinion OF the entire committee He
United In the report In reference to local
aud through rates OF freight. and offered
against local and In favor OF through freighls and
| passengers Is great public evil from which the
entire commercial, agricultural and manufacturing
interests OF rhc Continent suffer- ana providing Tor
the appointment or special committee TO take
charge OF the subject and 10 confer aud demonstrate
| with railroad companies, collect Information anu
| report at he next Convention.
Mr.. Kirk advocated ms substitute at some length,
| and was replied to by Mr.. StaDard, who defended
ms report baslng his argument on the general prop
| OsiiOn that competition must regulate the matter.
They might as well attempt to regulate the price Of
wheat, cOrn gold any other article The rates OF
freight by common carriers.
The debate was further continued by Mr.. Kirk and
General Neglcy, OF iniiadelpnia; Mr. Bocock OF vir
glnia and Mr.. Kirkland, Of Maryland the latter two
advocating the report Of the committee! Finally
substitute was withdrawn and the report adopted
| the order OF business was suspended to allow
resolution to be offered by Judge Hammond,
Of Georgia on the subject OF education, to
| The effect that the states and localities IN
tpis government which have not already
earnestly recommended by this Convention
TO 90 20 AZ once; as the best possible method Of
! the people. ana the only method by which the Whole
masses can be educated at an expense not exceed
ing the amount heretofore expended In cdnca-
ton OF few. The resolution was adopted.
MI. KENsARD OF Lou isiana, from the Committee
sn Interior Lines OF Water Communication, submit
te, report which states that owing 10 the number
anayariety OF the subjects referred to the commit
zee, ard TO avoi0 confusion necessary to sub.
nit sepa ait reports ON the several subjects 10 De
acted upon IN the order of report.
Fnst-fort o Philip Canal and the distractions
at the mouth OF t.e Mississippi River. On TINS sub.
Ject the report sa.s:-A careful review or the eyi.
dence Obtained iros exhaustive experiments In
the Mississippi Rive, saIsnes the c"mmt,'
tee that Dredging az the hest only
the Mississippi River WITH ne ocean s a nat,onsi
commercial necessity; tint ne proposed Fort
ST. Phiip Canal, winch shj, VIM froro a
point on lhe left bank NJ the M,ssssinn,
near Fort ST. Philip, ana enter sseiqlf Oh Mexico
entirely feasible and should be csuS.uiss 81 mi -
maintained at the national cost free S,s: con- con-
cldding with resolution That Congress, at "a nav,
session. should appropriate 81 600. 900 for lle rnrs
and providing FOR q special committee y, VOC,
| this Recommendation on Congress.
On the subjects oil the James River ana Kallawhh
Canal and Improvement OF the navigation Of the
ono River The report eDd0rses the action Of tie