Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-15
seST.sLOUIS.
The Congressional Conference.
Its Work Crystalized into Resolutions
Ways and Means of Cheap Trans:
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Ways and Means of Cheap Trans.
portatiGn.
eulasBoz s--=- nes5Es Hvss.sa1sA
some OF the Absurdaties of "Pro-
1sf IA e. tection.'-r .f-s hefff-s
+ B ST.L LOUIS, May 14--The Congressional
Conference was called to order shortly af-
ter eleven o'clock Mayor Brown in the
chair. Two OF three Trains which were
delayed yesterday arrived last night bring
ing several more members Of Congress who
took seats in the Conference this morning.
I A letter from President Grant was read,
re urning thanks for an Invitation and re.
GREETING that other engagements prevent
his attendance. Letters were also received
from Charles Sumner and several other
distinguished gentlemen regretting their in
ability TO be present.
Capt. Jas. B. Fades representing st.
Louis Merchants Exchange was intro
duced and read series of resolutions ex~
pressive of the views of merchants and
business men. They were in substance as
follows.
The Delta. ssnE as ri
The first declares that the deepening of
the mouths of the Mississippi river is of
the very first importance to the interests of
the entire valley of the Mississippi, and of
great moment 10 the whole country. The
solution of this problem, we believe, will
be achieved by closing up all the inferior
outlets of the river and condensing its
waters by system Of fills to one chan
mel. BY this means depth of at least 20
to % feet may be obtained in the Southwest
Pass. atsoan outlay insignificant when COM
pared with the many millions that will be
annually saved by the work when accom-
plished. Small annual appropriations wi
suffice to N lintain the required depth for
ever after.
Clearing Channels.
The second urges It, in addition to the
removal of snags, wrecks and other OBJ
structons from the channel, a eomprehen-
sive system of Improvements, looking di-
rectly to permanent location and deepen
ing of the channel through the shosl places,
below St. Louis, be at once matured aud
inaugurated, and that depth OF eight feet
be determined as the maximum, to be
accomplished at first by the proposed works.
| This will involve the establishment OF
| probably not more than thirty bars or shoal
places between this city and New Orleans,
and the removal of few dangerous rocks
| above Cairo, and would result in saving
| thousand fold greater than the original cost.
The third declares this plan suited for the
| Improvement of the Missouri, Illinois,
Arkansas, Red, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumber-
land, and many other Important streams n
this valley, Oh elch Of which it should be
applied on scale commensurate with the
volume of the river and the demands Of its
commerce.
The fourth declares that the improve
ment of the upper d lower rapids of the
| Mississip2i should be vigorously prosecuted
until the navigation of those parts of that
river are made safe and convenient, and that
| the improvements already commenced on
all other rivers of this valley should be en-
ergetically prosecuted to completion.
Canals.
The fifth directs that every practicable
water route to the gulf, to the Atlantic
ocean, ard the great lakes, which can be
! opened and made safe and convenient at
reasonable cost, when compared with the
| benefits from the results lessening the ex
pense of transporting the products of this
valley TO their various markets, should meet
with favor from the general government,
and receive the unanimous support of every
representative of this valley in Congress.
| The Height and Strength of Bridges.
Z. That the vast commerce depending
upon the Mississippi river for cheap trans
pOrtation demands that no artificial obst NC
ton be permitted in its channel, except up
on the most urgent necessity, and no
bridges should be authorized across it be-
low st. Louis having spans over the stream
Of less width than 500 feet, and clear
height of IS feet above high water mark
should be preserved under the centre of the
channel spans of such bridge.
The Sth suggests that in consequence Of
the breaking down of several iron bridges
within tie past few ye rs, involving much
loss of life, all bridges hereafter built on
important railroads should be examined in
to by q competent commission, whose du-
ties and powers should be defined by Con-
gress, and without whose examination and
approval, no plans for such proposed
bridges should be adopted.
9th asks that navigation over the great
water highway should be relieved Of the
dangers to which it is subjected by bridges
on the upper Mississippi by requiring them
to be so modified as to lessen the number
of accidents constantly occurring to river
craft by the negligence with their piers, and
that general bridge law be passed by Con-
eress which shall define the length and
height of their spans, and generally control
the location ard construction of such
bridges in a manner to prevent unneces-
sary injury TO the navigation of said rivers.
BaTges.
IL. The interests OF this valley impera-
| lively demand the most economical means
| of transportation to and from the foreign
markets of the world, and the safest and
most durable class of steamers, barges,
etc., for it's inland water service and that
it should be the duty of each representative
of this valley in Congress to labor for the.
removal of every artificial imped iment
which interferes with such cheap ocean
transportation or prevents the adoption OF
such safe and durable vessels for its inland
navigation.
Common Sense VS.. Pennsylvania MO.
nOpOIy.
10. That we emphatically declare that
the revenue laws should be go amended as
to permit ship-masters to purchase ship:
wherever they can be most chesply pro-
cured.
Absurdity of the Registry Law.
a. We emphaticslly declare that the
revenue law which forbids registry to the
ship of an American citizen simply be-
cause she was built in foreign land, and
thus compels him to place the flag of an
other patton above bis property, is a bur
densome imposition upon the people o
this valley, and is policy only worthy Of
past age.
Iron Bottoms.
The fifteenth resolution refers to the fact
that every civilized nation except ours use:
iron hulls for vessels, and asks Congress to
ascertain the cause of this and apply th'
remedy.
AGIOry that Has Passed Away.
The sixteenth asks that tie laws be 81
amended as to restore the prestige OF tbs
American Commercial Marine, and enable