The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-05-15

river only four miles in extent there lies tn.
wrecks OF thirty-six steamers, dammipg ~
the wy, and that it is appropriately called
Crave Yard Bend. He says not only th,
West and South are interested in removin,
the distractions from and deepening tb,
channels Of the Mississippi river and it,
tributaries, but the whole county and foreign
natione; for the cheap transit of the product,
of the Mississippi Valley has and must al.
ways have q great influence on the market Of
the world. He also cites the fact that in
co, sequence Of the high rates of freight
to the seaboard many farmers have actually
burned their corn because it could not be
marketed without bringing them in debt
In view of these and various other draw.
backs TO the trade and business of the West,
be appeals to ConRressmen to consider the
situation and accord that aid which will re
move the trouble.
Gov. WoOdson was then introduced and
gave the members a warm and fraternzl
welcome on behalf of the people of the State.
He sl-o referred to the reports which have
gained circulation to the effect that this
meeting had some political significance OF
purpose. This he denied in toto, stating
that no one had any such desire, and saying
that the strongest desire and the highest
ambition of the people of this city is to see
all parts of this great country united in fra
.ernal bonds. bound by common interests,
and sectional feelings ard animosilies put
ABIDE forever.
After giving detailed statement of the
IL Il
referring TO cheaper and more means Of tran.
ait for the productions of the Mississippi
Valley, the Governor touched upon the rail-
road system of the country and spoke rather
severely against the present plan Of msnag'
ing railways. He was not opposed to rail.
Dads, on the contrary, he desired them in.
creased, but he wanted them to be servants,
not masters OF the people. 1t was impracti-
cable to control the railroads, especially
trunk lines by State action, but he thought
Congress should do something to
prevent the abuses which have crep'
into the management of the roads,
and made them subserve the interests OF the
people rather than the profits of their officers
and directors. He dwelt quite strongly upon
the evil of the high salaries paid to railroad
officials, saying that the money expended in
this manner, over and above fair remuner-
alton for services, would 90 far towards rem.
edying the evil of high freights. He also
referred to the necessity Of cheap water
routes TO the sea board, and urged the mem
bers Of CONGRESS to give the matter thei'
serious consideration.
Hon Henry T. Blow then delivered an
address on the general objects of the Confer
ence, he begged the Congressman to believe
We are national in our feelings and aims,
and would scorn to receive at your hands a
single favor that would burden uniustly
any part Of the country. We therefore
address you as representatives of the country,
a. Statesmen bound by no narrow lines, as
honest men regarding it as your highest duty
as we'll as your supreme pleasure to investi-
gate the coddition and claims of the feeble
and strong alike, and to mete out equal and
exact justice to all.
The Speaker then referred to the neces-
sity of q return to specie payments and urged
Congress to effect this at M early day ss
practicable. Referaing to rsilroads, mining
and manufactures, he said cheap transpOr-
ta,ion was the great thing reeded; the coun-
try is threaded with railroads, over which
passengers and freight can be transported
in all directions, but a feeling has grown up
in this Valley as we'll as in other parts Of the
country that there are existing and
extending combinations on the part Of these
corporations against the interests of the pro-
ducing classes. He then paid glowing trib-
ute to the railroad system of the county as
the proudezt monument Of progress ever
reared by mortal hands, and is to-day the
glory of Republic enthroned in the mids,
of its created wealth. He urged the gener-
ous treatment Of these great representatives
of capital, labor and enterprise, and said, he
Who would unduly impede their progress
will soon learn that the march of American
enterprise cannot be arrested BY prejudice or
ignorance. and that our plishtful faith can
never be disturbed BY seDseless repudiations
or schemes of narrow demagoeues. Az a
remedy for these real or supposed combina-
nations he proposed competition, and to
carry out competition, he asked Congress. to
give the country a national water system,
equal to our nation railroad system; the re-
suit of which he said would be the admira-
ton of the world. lie then refer
red to the products and resources of
the Mississippi Valley, and said St. Louis
was destined to become the centre of the
iron trade of the world, and that within
twenty years Texas will produce more cotton
annually than Is now exported from The
whole country.
don. E. o. S:anard, member elect to
Congress from the first diftrict, of this city,
was then introduced and spoke on behalf OF
the Merchants Exchange, Of St. Louis, and
81 II snAo ~ Ia
Valley. His speech was quite lengthy, and
abounded in statistical information bearing
upon the prodactiveness of the country, and
the great demand for increased and cheaper
facilities for transportation. He said that
the central plain of this continent has q
greater capacity for cereal productions than
any equal area on the globe. Seventy five
to eighty thousand miles Of railroad il now
employed moving the productions and com.
merce of the country, yet there is a
great and pressing need for increased
facilities and cheapen transportation. Mil
lions of tons of breadstuffs are wasted in the
western wilds or consumed for full, while
multitudes in the eastern cities and foreign
lands suffer for food. The western farmer
ob,aines but abou. Is cents per bu-hel for
corn, while the consumer in the east has to
pay IS cents for it. The farmer is not reem-
tursed the actual cost of production, while
the cost of living to the consumer is exces-
ave and burdensome. all the profits Of
productions. and more too, are demanded
for transportation. The producer ia i'm
poverished, commerce languishss and bank
ruptcy threatens the entire country, and
must remain 30 unless relief is afforded from
the exactions Of the monied monopolies. A
system of canals scuth of the freezing line
would sford great relief, both in certainty
of transit and cheapness, and would hold
railrods to lower rate of charges. The james
River and Kanavha, the Atlantic and Great
Western and Fort St. Phillips canals should
be completed without delay; but notwith-
standing their completion would he almost
equivalent to . duplication of the present
tonnage capacity Of I'll the trunk railroads,
sill the necessities of the couutry's rapidly
increasing commerce would not be met, and
the demand for more ard cheaper facilities
would still exist. He showed BY statistics
that BY far the greatest increase in popula-
ton, agricultural snd manufactured pro.
ducts. during the past decade, occurred in
the West, and that the present and future
demand for increased transportation facili-
ties is and would be in the Mississippi VAL
ley. He then entered into q comparison
If the coat of railrnsd canal sea