The Grange advance., 1873-11-12

urge Oh al tnOSe WHO Gull 70 Duy Oy the
quantity, and not buy by the small
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.
The Senate Committee at St. Louis
The Value Of the Mississippi River,
and :. the Obstacles to Freq 7rnsporta-
ST.. LOUIS, 0ct 3o.-The sed kte transpor-
tation committee held lentthy session
here to-day, during which, the merchants
exchange committee presented report en-
bracing great amount Of information rela-
tive to the trade and commerce of the Mis-
sissippi valley, the means and cost of trans
portation. and the capabilities Of the Mis-
sissippi river as an outlet to the seaport
States. The obstruction to the navigation
Of the river, and which prevent cheap
transportation Of the heavy products Of the
valley to the ocean are the Rock Island
and Des Moines rapids. shoal places and
bars at about dozen points, sunken
wrecks, snags and bars at the mouth of
the river. The widening of the channel at
Rock Island, the completion of the canal at
Des Moines, the construction Of wing dams
at the shoals, the removal Of wrecks and
snags and the construction of the Fort St.
Phillip canal, would in the opinion Of the
committee, result in atfording a sufficient
constant depth in the channel from St. Paul
to New Orleans for steamers and barges,
and reduce the cost Of transfer to uniform
price, not exceeding the lowest present
average. Particular attention is called to
the barge system now in use, both above
and below St. Louis, and its many advant-
ages in moving grain in bulk, and other
products of the valley. Capt. j. Mason,
superintendent of the Keokuk Northern
Packet Co., Capt. John A. Scudder, of the
St. Louis and Memphis Packet Co., and
Capt. Howistell, superintendent Of the Mis-
sissippi Valley barge lin, !, explained At
length the various obstructi ions to the free
navigation of the river; afd how the diff
culties can be overcome 1T comparatively
light expense. severa1~ ~other prominent
gentlemen presented thet tr Views. and ans
wered many questions aAked by the men,
bers Of the committee, and number of
others will give=iuformation tomorrow. It
is also expected that several grangers from
this and surrounding States will have a
consultation with the committee and pre-
sent their claims for cheap transportation.
NEW YORK dispatches announce that
company has been formed in England with
capital Of $10,000,O0 for the purpose
of laying another cable telegraph between
that country and the United States, the
American terminus to be somewhere on
Long Island. The cable, it is stated, will
be connected with the wires along the line
of the Erie, Baltimore s. Ohio, and Penn
sylvania roads. The directors Of the CON-
pany are English and American capitalists.
The PENNSYLVANIA Constitutional Con.
vention passed the railroad article, which
will be submitted to the people with the
remaining articles Of the new constitution.
It provides that all railroad and canal COM
panies shall be common carriers, and shall
receive and transport each others passen~
gers, freight, and cars without delay or
discrimination that every corporation
shall maintain an Office in the state. where
transfers of stock shall be made, and where
its books shall be kept for inspection. It
prohibits all unreasonable discrimination,
requires that persons and property shall
be delivered to any station at charges not
exceeding the charges of the same classes
if in the same direction, to a more distant
station. 1t prohibits railway consolida-
tions, either by purchase or lease, of par
allel or competing lines, hnd the question
whether roads are pefallel or competing
may be decided bya jiry. 1t prohibits
companies doing businesA as common car
riers from engaging in mi ing or manufac-
turing articles for -t,onspol kation over their
lines, and prohibits them from engaging in
any other business than that of common
carriers. The article prohibits the giving
OF free passes to any persons except off,
GERS or employees.
T G. STEARNS,