The Van Buren press., 1873-06-03
Fourth Of July Railroad Convention

We find the following proceedings in the
Fort Smith Herald, of Saturday, of a Railroad
meeting, having in contemplation a grand
convention of railroad interests on the 4th Of
July next. Crawford county has an interest
in the work under consideration and will. no
doubt, be well represented at t!iat time;
According to the previous notice given by
an executive committee appointed at a Mass
meeting held on March 18th last, the citizens
Of Fort smith assembled in Adelaide Hall
lass Tuesday the 9th inst, at4 p.m m.
The mceting-an adjourned one-was called
to order and presided over by Hon. |. w.
Fuller, Mayor Of this city, in his capacity of
chairman of the adjourned meeting. lie ex-
planned the object OF the call of the commit
tee.
Col. j. H. Clendening, chairman of the lat
ter committee, then introduced the following
report:
Your committee would respectfully report,
that sihee their appointment they have been
engaged in working up the railroad question
by correspondence and otherwise. The result
of their correspondence has not been so IA
verabe as could be desired owing no doubt
in part to the absence of many prominent
men to whom they have been writing, from
their homes with the congressional excur-
sions through Texas and other points.
They however have to report good state
of affairs in the way of railroad agitation
looking to several lines all of which promise
to pass through this point on their route. At
a convention lately held in Jefferson City,
Mo-, route was agreed upen running
through Neosho south through Fayetteville
Van Buren, and Fort Smith. The Missouri
Arkansas & Gulf Road, has lately obtained a
charter and grant of land for a road from Sa-
biue Pass to Paris, Texas, of sixteen sections
of land to the mile to be completed by 1875.
This Is the South end of the road running
from Springfield.
Another road is proposed crossing the Mis-
sissipp river at Cape Grardeau in Mo-. run
ming the south west In Missouri to the Arr
kansas line then south west to and through
Fort Smith. There is still another proposed
crossing still lower down OH the Mississippi
running 100 miles in the southern counties in
Missouri, thence southwest to this place. We
have been unable 60 obtain any satisfactory
information regarding the movements Of the
Little Rock and Fort Smith railroad indcat-
ing speedy building of that road
Your committee have been in receipt of in
formation from the several western border
counties OF the State, showing such general
desire for general Interchange of views OF
the people interested in any road through
said counties, that we have become fully con =
WINGED that railroad convention at this
point at an early day would be greatly bene-
fetal to the cause in hand. We would there
fore respectfully recommend that Railroad
Convention be held in this city on the 4th OF
July next commencing at 10 o'clock A. NJ.
to be composed Of delegates from each coun-
ty interested for the purpose of considering
the feasibility Of securing a Railroad through
said counties, and such other matters connect
ed Herewith as may come before It.
This report was adopted and followed by
an excellent address from the chairman the
Executive committee in its support Col.
Clendening also offered the following resolu-
ton:
ResOired, That we do call Railroad con-
yention to be held in this city on the 4th day
of July next, to be composed of delegates
from the western border counties OF Arkan-
through their several counties from SPRING
field, Mo-. to Dallas, Texas, in accordance
with the recommendations already made by
Mass meetings, held in the upper border
counties.
The motion was recorded and fully discuss
ed by V. Dell, Judge Wheeler. Col. Brooks
and others, and then unanimously adopted.
Mai. Sparks then offered resolution that
the chair appoint general committee Of ar
rangement consisting Of fifteen citizens.
Carried.
The chair appointed the following gentle
tlemcn:
J. II. Sparks, J. II. Glendenning. W. NJ
Fishback, +. II. DuNal, j. N. Sarber 7. X
Roots, J. Il. kannady, John Carnall. Samuel
McLoud, r. G. kercns, j. NJ. Rogers, J. n.
Hewes, John +. Wheeler, V. Deli
On motion, Col. Fuller. the chairman of the
meeting was added to the committee.
A motion of Col Clendenning to appoint
committee of five. to select two delegates to
the convention for each one thousand inhabi-
tants-this being the ratio Of representation
proposed--was amended by Col. Churchill. to
the effect that the committee Of general ar
rangcment be charged with this duty. Car
red.
|. w. FULLER, Chairman.
Y, DELL, Secretary.