Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-15
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.
Meeting OF Representatives aad Senators
at Washington TO Compare
Notes.
All the Routes, North and South, Thor
oughly Discussed-The Missls-
tG sIppi Valley.
A Permanent Organization Of Repre-.
sentatiVes for Cheap and Rapid
Transportation, Etc.
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.

WAsHINGToN, December B.-The meeting
called for this evening in the hall OF the
house of Representatives TO com pare
views on the subject OF rapid and cheap
TRANSPORTATION was presided over by Repre-
sentative Darnell Mini. Representatives
Clements I'LL and Stone MOL were chosen
secretary. Fifty or sixty representatives were
present. Among them were Senators Alcorn
and stevenson. Representative Sypher read
a call for meeting which was signed by over
one hundred members. This meeting, ne re-
marked, was not for the purpose OF commit
ting any Individual to any partlcu-
lar project. The east was interested
west and south, The improvement OF natural
channels was the first question TO which they
should address themselves; these would Sc
cure the end sought TO greater degree ana
at less expense than any other project Of arti-
fetal means which could be devised. AFTER
speaking of the vast products OF the Mlssls-
sfppi valley, showing an excess Of western
products seeking eastern and European mar
kets, being in amount over one-tenth OF the
gross yield, he said these cereals were
transported by the three great water
routes namely: the st. Lawrence, Hud-
son and Mississippi rivers. The average freight
ra ties per bushel, and time OF transit are as
follows: By the st. Lawrence route from
Chicago to Liverpool, fOrty-hve cents per
busheI and ffty-three days time; by the II I'D
sOute, forty-ntne cents per busnel ana hIty-
eight days time; by the Mississippi route
from st. Louis, thirtY-seven cents per busheI
and thirty days time. The st. Lawrence and
Hudson river routes were 1ce-bound nVe
months out of the twelve, whereas the Mtssts-
sippi route was practicable the entire year.
While he was an advocate and pressed the
advantages of the Mississippi route, he desired
1t to be distinctly understood that he did not
antagonize with other projects. OF the Fort
st. Philip canal he spoke strongly, showing
its advantages not only to the hlssiss ppi
valley, but TO the entire country.
Representative Harris spoke OF the i'm
provement of the James river and Kanawha
canal, which would afford the great west s-.,I an
seven or fifty million dollars sum not large
compared with the benefits which would ac-
crue. Liverpool was thousand miles nearer
by way of Norfolk than by New Orleans. He
was prepared, however, 70 give proper I'M
provement projects cordial support.
Representative Cobb Kansas said he
should like to know if this was not caucus
OF the members residing in the Mississippi
valley to consider the fnterestOf that section,
anu not the merits OF the James river and
Representative Barchard said he represented
a constituency deeply interested in the trans
portation question, and he did not suppose
the object was to agree upon any particular
REPRESENTATIVE Crittenden said he was ready
to cooperate with any, provided they could
carry their projects. Congress had given mil
lions to railroad companies, and while he dld
not make war upon them, he thought, now
was the time for those living in the Mtssis-
sippi valley, to spply to congress to give them
such assurance as would develop great reSOur-
ces of the west, from where the Mississippi
takes its rise TO where ii finds It's outlet, and
removing obStIuctiOns at the mouth OF that
river. He hoped they would agree, before they
left Washington, upon some plan.
Representative Loughridge said the west had
power to obtain redress If her representatives
would but unite. He wished to take in the
whole country and obtain such improvement 5
rs would be of national benent. Cost was
nothing. His constituents were farmers and,
therefore, must have an outlet for their sur
plus produce.
for transportation have not increased with
the productions. There was not larger num-
Der of through-lines now from the east to the
west than at the close of the war. These rail-
road lines have had a monopoly for years, es-
pecially during the winter months wnen
the lake navigation was closed ans
the river navigation partly closed, and charged
their cwn prices.
Representative Clark LKs.l wanted TO offer
resolution declaring the meeting was OF the
government for improving the mouth OF the
Mississippi either by tBe construction OF
the fort st. Philip canal or otherwise as COM
petent engineers deem feasible, at the earliest
practicable moment, as the first great work
of internal Improvement.
Representative BarchaId said the meeting
had no right to bind members to any plan
Representative Stanard expressed the hope
that no resolution would be offered, and
proceeded to show that the object in view
could be expected in no better way than By
the improvement of the Mississippi river.
Representative Clark [kapsasl said that
the time had come when the west would
demonstrate that there is west. he was in
favor of the James river and kanaWha canal
in favor of the st. Lawrence route and the
Atlantic and Great Western canal, and he
| favored the improvement of the hsrbor OF
Galveston, and now he asked his eastern
friends 70 open up the Mississippi river 70 the
people of that valley. He then offered thS
resolution alluded to already.
After q brief debate the chair declared II
out of order, also the resolution of RepTeSen
tative Fort Ills, providing for the appoint
ment OF committee TO collect Information
/ as to the facilities and cost of transportation
| by the various proposed ways Of communica
ton.
Mr. Fort said he had supposed the object
of the meeting was TO put matters in sucf
shape as would produce unity of action and
| thus secure the results.
Representative McNulty [lll.l said he hac
attended the cheap transportation convention
in Missouri without results, and now he haC
been invited hither 10 hear speeches and tS
compare views. 1t struck him IL were best tC
Quit talking and do something. He was nov
ready to commence the fight and continue 1t
| If the gentlemen of the east shall, as intimat
ed. attempt 70 control Ieglslatlon, the ives
the performance Of right, let 1t be said tbs
west and south have as much power as tbs
east, and will use 1t.
Representative Mclean Texas OuereC
| the following resolution:
Resolved, by the meeting, That the mem
| bers of the house OF representatives, whose
constituents are interested in cheap trans
| portation, will direct their efforts to brins
about unity of feeling, on the part of SAID
/ members, in the legislation of congress.
| Representative Holman alluded 70 the fac
| that the committee of river and harbor inn
| provements had been largely controlled by
| western members, and that appropriation
made for the Mississippi river, Including tn,
| Intervening lines of communication, haC
been in fair proportion to appropriations fo
| such purposes.
1 Mr. Wilson IIowaI said the east was a
much interested as the west in such i'm
/ prOyements, and he was satisfied that thi
| western members were unit, and must sup
port those measures which would benefit tn
| agricultural interest. The question was no
how much money should be spent, but how
/ far congress should go.
| Objection was raised to Representative Nc
Leans resolution, but the chair decided tina
Representative Purinan [Fla.], afte
| saving that the south had Inter
ests in common with the west, remarke'
| that II he came from the Mtssis
| sippi valley, he would, in company witt
| others, demand the improvement of tina
| river, and organize caucus and make tina
caucus power behind them, and wout'
| carry the measure irrespective of none.
Representative McLeans resolution wa
Representative McNulta offered a reso
luton that when the meeting ad
| journed il adjourn to meet thre
| weeks from tonight, when 1T will tax
permanent organization in the forty-fourtl
1 congress in favor of cheap transportation
and will take measures for It's accomplish
ment. Pending the resolution a motion wa
made and carried TO adjourn. Il is under
stood that a future meeting Will be held a
the call of the chair.
Remember, you have only two day
| In which 10 secure yOur registration pa
pers, without which yOu cannot vote Ol
| the first OF January.
DIED.