The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-10-05

'ttis6eriiAy afterh0on. Tho occasion hat
been one Of great interest, socially and
indassrially. 10 suppose, however, that
the former has been it's Chief character.
'stio would be:4 great mistake. We can.
uYe eoneeive that leading representative
iinmeroial men, from ali localities Of q
great country like this. can meet to-
gatherand, Interchange views, upon COM
meroialand other material interests. with
out saying and doing something Of prac,
tical Importance. Such men cannot pos
sibly come together without collecting
facts and suggesting arguments of the
gr"atest value to the country, and which
no mere politicians could possibly pro-
pose. It would be as idle to say that q
convention ofrexperts in any other pro.
,fession could be held, who would saw
,othing which would enlighten the pub
liz; in regard to that which. they' have
mnde$ their special study, No one can
rei.d the proceedings Of the convention
hich.hasi just adj iourned without being
.hntlshed that it was q practical, business
body sand without being struck with
AnrprtEeSaE the range and comprehan.
siveness of Its subjects, as we'll as its
truly American spirit. Whatever con-
Germs the needs Of commerce and inter-
,pai comlphhicdtion, the general material
condition, the amelioratioh Of burdens
and the removnl, Of obstacles from the
enterprise Of the people, have been OBJ
viousiy familiar subjects OF study to
many Of the able men Of this assembly.
While various strong speeches have been
made during the session, little or no
Stlme has been consumed in debate. The
business has been we'll laid out, and pro-
3ceeded with systematically. ~ \,
Many Important subjects have been
3Poted ,npon, with the view OF bringing
Rhem to the attention of; Congress, the
4 G61tSaates, and the people. The report of
Rhe committee on railroads, after an in
8eresting debate relative to the approx
Jnations OF local, and through freights,
#Rvas adopted, The committee expressed
$he opinion that a very decided diminu-
|flon OF the disproportion between the
local and through freights could be ef-
fected without Injury to the interests of
.|fal'roads. while it would greatly promote
&he general convenience. The report OF
Fhe committee also recommends liberal
#pirlt between States in granting reoi.
qorooal rights OF way; tile desirability OF
Pc airline from Cincinnati to Chatta-
the Atlantic to the Pacifio, wing entirelv
South of the Central Pacific. With re-
ference to narrow-Ranee railroads. the
COMMITTEE felt .reluotant to express de-
cided opinion for dr against system
whose merits or demerits do not as vet
seem. in their ,judgment, to be nscer.
tained by the only ipfallible test of prao-
tlcal use. at tie same time, the commit
tee consider that enbhgh is known of the
working OF narrow.gauge railroads in
Wales, Switzerland, md other countries,
to justify the statement TINT their dimi-
nished cost Of construction and operat-
ing, and Increased facility of overcoming
heavy grades ana accomplishing sharper
curves. offer TO- many sections OF our
country great Inducements for construc.
tion. especially for the convenience of
local traffic and the bringing into rail
road connection sections of the country
where the physical geography renders
wide gauge impracticable.
The Convention took important action
hlso on the subject Of inferior lines of
water communication, among which is q
great project which nearly concerns Bal
4imore. ship canal between the Ohesa
Peake and Delaware Bays, ia length
Ahirty-two miles, Including some ten
miles OF river, which will reduce the dis.
''annce to European ports 1873 miles. A
81 sE!Pemorlai to Congress-, requesting sur
l4aey, and, If found valuable to the inte-
sa3ests OF the country, that the canal shall
ne constructed, was recommended. In
addition, at the instance of Western
Saelegate, a preamble and resolution were
saopted in favor of the appropriation.
3ay Congress-, of a sum sufficiently liberal
UP complete the improvements of the
aarbor Of baltimore and the ship chan
SAeI to the Chesapeake Bay. Reports
&dere also adopted favorable to the james
liver and Kanawha Canal, the improve
dent OF the channels Of the James. Ap-
bmattox and Rappahannock Rivers, in
rginia, through moderate appropria-
and also the st. John's River. in
z orida; the Fort ST. Philip Canal, to
3s nnect the waters! of the Mississippi
YER and the Gulfrof Mexico, and the
Amoval of obstructions from the mouth
$ the Mississippi; the completion Of
Ne Wisconsin and Fox Rivers improve
connecting the waters of the Up
r Mississippi with Lake Michigan; the
lnessee River and Atlantic Canal, and
cttnal aud river improvements
otinationnl Importance.
An interesting report on immigration
s also adopted, in. swhichit was de-
red to be the duty Of the General Go
nment to protect; all immigrants upon
S voyage, at the port of landing and
aring theirtransit thence to.their place