Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-12-18
2sr:as ~ cheap transportation OF Western
F.2sEc:s.

WASHINGTON, December ia
meeting was held in the hall of the
House of Representatives to night to
compare views on the subject of rapid
and cheap transportation. Represen
tative :Duunell, OF Minnesota, presided
There were fifty or sixty members OF
the House PRESENT, together with sena
tors Alcorn, Of Mississippi, and Steven
son, of Kentucky. ::
Representative Sypher, Of Louisiana,
spoke at length, advocating the adyau
tagges OF the Mississippi route for the
transportations. of Western products
seeking Eastern and European markets.
as opposed to the st: Lawrence aud the
Hudson routes, Both Of which, ne said
were ice-bound Eve months out Of
twelve, while the Mississippi was prac
ticable the entire year 6
Representative Harris, of Virginia,
spoke Of the Improvement of the James
River and kanawha canal, which
would connect the James river with
the Ohio river, affording the great
West an outlet to the sea. This work
he said, was favored by many who
framed our government, including
General Washington, himselfa practic-
al engineer. A survey had been made
by order OF the government and all the
engineers reported as to its feasibility:
1t would not cost over S47, 0O0,0 900 o,
$50, 700, 900, and this sum is not large
as compared with benefit which would
result from it. Water communication,
though slow and tedious, was the only
cheap transportation. Liverpool was
nearer by 1000 miles by way of Nor
folk than by way of New Orleans. He
was prepared to go into an examina
ton of all the Improvement projects,
and to give such of them as were pro
per his cordial support. They were
great national questions, and must not
be treated as alone Of interest to the
Mississippi valley, but as of advantage
to common country and common
destiny.
Representative Cobb, of Kansas,
said he should like to know whether
this was caucus to consider the inter
ests of the Mississippi valley section
and not the merits Of the James River
| and kanawha canal.
! MIR. Harris replied he did not wish
to intrude OH the caucus, and imagined
that he was at liberty to speak of one
OF the great means OF transportation, as
he was not aware the call was exclusive
in It's character.
Dir. Sypher here interposed, saying
to his friend from Virginia and all 9th
egs that the cali did not exclusively ap
ply to the interests of the Mississippi
Valley. This question was national,
and could not be made sectional.
Representative Binchard, of Illinois.
did not suppose the object was to argue
upon any particular plan, but that eve
~ one was at liberty to express his
views and that, he would acquire know
ledge for future consideration, with a
view to act ginteligently on such
measures as might be brought before
| the Etonse. He,should be happy to
hear more fully, the views of the gentle
| men present.
Representative Crittenden, of Mis-
souri,, felt gratifed in SEEING so many
OF all parties meeting together for the
common elevation Of our country He
was here to operate with anybody,
provided they could 80 act as to carry
their project. He thought it was time
for those living in the Mississippi Val
ley applysto Congress for such assistance
as would deyelope the great resources
Of the West. Il, !:
Representative Loughbridge was
glad to see SO many members present
from the Mississippi Valley. No one
question interested them so much as
cheap transportation. They were too
apt, however, to forget there was any
other section than their own. He wished
to take in the whole country, and OBJ
tain such improvement as would be of
national benefit. The cost vas nothing
in this matter.
Representative Stanard, of Missouri,
said there We're two subjects which
commanded more attention than any
others, viz finance ana the transporta-
ton interests of the country, and these
were closely united. The country had
grown beyond the transportation facil
tiles, which have not increased in the
past ten years as the productions have
increased. The railroad lines have had
monopoly for years and charged their
own price. lie proceeded to show that
the object in view could be effected in
no better way than by the Improvement
of the Mississippi river He said it
was the duty of the government to do
this no matter what it cost.
Representative Clarke, of Kansas,
said the time had come when the West
would demonstrate that there is West.
| He was in favor of the James River