Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-05-15
The Great Gathering of Congress
men at st. Louis List of
those Present.
Resolutions of Captain Eads, En-.
bracing the Questions to be
Discussed.
All the Cities of the Mississippi
Valley Interested in the
Result.

ance at the convention of congressman
at st. Louis:
Alabama-C. c. Sheats, F. 6. Brombery, j.
II. Sloss, Charles Pelham, John II. Caldwell.
ATkansas-Asa Hodges, William Hynes 5.
W. Dorsey, Powell Clayton.
Delaware-James r. Lofiand.
Georgla-James II. Blount, Thomas NJ. Ha-
venwood, P. NJ. 3; Young Phil. Cook.
Illinois,. ID. Ward, Franklin Corwin, John
II. Eden, James q Robinson, c. b. Farweu, q.
/. Fort, Il. NJ. Knapp, 5. s. Marshal, 5. A.
Hurlbut, Isaac Clements, Granville Barrere,
JOS. g. Cannon, John McNulta, James l.. Mar
tin, William X. Morrison,
Indiana-Thomas J. Cason, J. NJ. Wilson, g.
L. Orth, W. \. Holman, William (. Niblack,
Jasper Packard, John Coburn.
Iowa-A. r. Cotton, William LOughridge,
John a. kasSon, George w. McCrary.
Lowe
Kentueky-Charles W. AIiuiken, W. E. N
thur, Milton ]. Durham, Edward Grassland.
Louisiana-Chester b. Darral, j. 81. Sypher,
J. r, West, l.. A. Sheldon, Frank Morey.
Maryl8nd-Senator George r. Dennis.
Michigan. W. Begole, George Willard, n.
Minnesota Senator Alex. Ramsey,
Mississippi-James Niles, John r. Lynch.
MiSsouri-R. p. Bland, A. COmingo, Ira B.
Hyde, E. o. Stanard, A. H. Buekner, ]. NJ.
Glover, T. T. Crittenden, Erastus Wells, w. H.
Stone
Nebraska-Lorenzo Crounse.
New Hampshire-W. B. Small.
New Jersey-AmOs Clark, Jr., John W. Ha-
zelton, Marcus L. Ward, Robert Hamilton.
James S. Stewart David b. MelIish.
North Carolina-James NJ. Leach.
Ohio-L. 7. Neal, William Lawrence, Charles
V. Lamison, Hugh J. Jewett, Milton SaylOr,
John Berry, Lewis B. Gunckle, William p.
Sprague.
Pennsylvania-James S. Biery, John W. Kill
lenger, Carlton B. Curtis, Charles Albright,
Hiram L. Richmond, Alexander Taylor.
South Caroiina-Senator John ]. Patterson.
TenneSsee-Senator Hy. Cooper, VIM. Crutch-
field, John d. c. Atkins
Texas-R. L. Mills, A. W. Willie, D. c. Ged-
dings.
Sever, \. NJ. Davis, Harris, Marshall, Parks,
]. 4. Smith.
West virginia-Benj. Williams, B. F. Mar
Wiseonsin-Chas. G. Williams. a. Mitchell,
Charles A. Edwards, a. 5. McDill.
Edward I. NoyeS, governor of Ohio.
SilaS WOOdSOn, governor of Missouri.
Gilbert {. Walker, governor of Virginia.
Horace Austin, governor Of Minnesota.
The congressional conference was
called to order shortly after eleven
o'clock, Mayor Brown in the chair.
Two or three trains, which were de-
layed yesterday, arrived last night,
bringing several more members of con-
gress, who took seats in the conference
this morning.
A letter from President Grant was
read returning thanks for the invitation,
and regretting that other engagements
prevented his attendance. Letters were
also received from Charles Sumner, and
several other distinguished gentlemen,
regretting their inability to be present.
Captain James B. Eads, representing
the st. Louis merchants exchange, in
trOduced and read series of resolutions
expressive of the views of the mer-
chants and business men constituting
that body on the requirements of the
Mississippi valley, and what congress
ought to do for it.
James S. Rollins, of Missouri, then
came forward, and is now delivering a
speech in which, after describing the eX-
tent and productiveness of the MiSsis-
sippi valley, he is stating in a general
way the necessity not only to the west
but to the whole country for the i'm
prOvement of present and opening of
new water lines of transportation to the
seabOard.
The following is the substance of the
resolutions presented by Captain James
B. Eads, as expressive of the views of
the merchants exchange of this city,
and by which body they were unani-
mously approved. The first resolution
declares that the deepening of the
mouth of the Mississippi river is of the
very first importance to the interests of
the entire valley of the Mississippi and
of great moment to the whole country.
The solution of this problem, we believe,
will be achieved by the closing up of all
the inferior outlets of the river and con-
densing its waters by system of jetties
to one channel. By this means depth
of at least twenty or twenty-five feet
may be obtained in the southwest pass
at an outlay Insignificant when COM
pared with the many millions that will
be annually saved to the country by the
work. When once accomplished small
annual appropriations will suffice to
maintain the required depth forever
afterward.
The second urges that in addition to
the removal of snags, wrecks, and other
distractions from the channel, a COM
prehensive system of improvements,
looking directly to the permanent loca-
ton and deepening of the channel
through the Shoal places below st.
Louis, be at once matured and inaugu-
rated, and that depth of eight feet be
determined on as the maximum to be
accomplished at first by the proposed
works. This will involve the deepening
Of the channel at probably not more
than thirty bars or shoal places between
this city and New Orleans, and the re-
moval of a few dangerous rocks above
Cairo; and would result in a saving a
thousand-fold greater than the original
cost.
The third resolution declares this plan
is suited for the improvement of the Mis-
souri,, Illinois, Arkansas, Red, Ohio,
Tennessee, Cumberland and many
other important streams in this valley,
on each of which it should be applied
on scale commensurate with the vol
Ume of the river and the demand of
its commerce. The fourth resolution
declares that the improvement of the
upper and lower rapids of the Missis-
sippi should be vigorously prosecuted
until the navigation of those parts of
that river are made safe and conve-
nient, and that the improvements al
ready commenced on all other rivers of
this valley should be energetically pro-
secuted TO completion.
The sixth says that every practicable
water route TO the gulf, to the Atlantic
ocean, and to the great lakes, which can
be opened and made safe andconvenient
at a reasonable cost when compared with
the benefits to result from it, in lessen
ing the expense of transporting the pro-
duets Of this valley TO their various mar
kets, should meet with favor from the
general government, and receive the
unanimous support of the representa-
tives of this valley in congress.
Seventh-That the vast commerce de-
pending upon the Mississippi river for
Cheap transportation demands that no
artificial obstruction be permitted in its
channel, except upon the most urgent
necessity; and that no bridges should be
authorized to cross it below st. Louis
having spans over the stream of less
width than five hundred feet, and a
clear hight of seven nty-five feet above
high water mark should be preserved
under the center of the channel spans of
such bridge.
Eighth-We suggest that in conse-
quence of the breaking down Of several
iron bridges within the past few years,
involving much loss of life, all bridges
hereafter built on an important railroad
route should be examined into by a
competent commissioner, whose duties
and powers should be defined by con-
gress, and without whose examination
ana approval no plans for such proposed
bridges should be adopted.
The ninth asks that the navigation of
our great water highways should De re-
lieved of the dangers and DELAYS to
which it is subjected by the many bad
reconstructed railroad bridges on the
upper Mississippi river by requiring
them TO be 50 modified as to lessen the
number of accidents constantly occur
ring to the river craft by collision with