The Portland daily press., 1873-12-15


and Stevenson. Representative Sypher read a
call Tor the meeting, which he said was signed
by over one hundred members.
Inns meeting, he remarked, was not for the
purpose of committing any individual to any
particular object. The East was interested in
this question equally with the West and South,
ana IN his judgement the Improvements of the
natural channels was the first question to
winch they should address themselves. These
would secure the end they sought to a greater
uegree and at less expense to the country than
any other project of artificial means which
could be devised. After speaking of the vast
products of the Mississippi Valley, showing
the excess of the western products seeking
eastern and European markets, being in am
cunt over one tenth of the gross yield of cere-
ans, he said these cereals were transported by
tnree great water routes, namely: the st. Law
renee the Hudson, aud the Mississippi rivers.
ne average rates per bushel and time of tran
ST are as follows By the st. Lawrence from
chicago to Liverpool, forty-eight cents per
bushel and fifty: three days time; by the Hud-
son river route forty-nine cents per bushel and
htty-eighJ days time; by the Mississippi from
81: Louis thirty seven cents per bushel and
thirty days time. The two first named routes
were ice bound five months out of twelve,
whereas the last named route was practicable
the entire year. While he was an advocate
pressed the advantages of the Mississippi
route. He spoke especially of its necessity,
the national depth of water at the mouth of
49, Ppi pCihS, Ouiy lOul tCCu lcOt. L uC
government dredge boats have maintained a
depth of from seventeen to twenty feet, but
this was not reliable.
Mr.. Burchard of ILL.,, came here representing
his constituency who are deeply interested in
this transportation question. He did not sup
pose the object was to agr ee upon any particu-
lar plan, but every person was at liberty to ex-
press his views and he would acquire knOwl-
edge Tor further consideration with a view to
acting intelligenty on such measures as might
hpfn thn IL mot
think it prudent to gree ON any plan; in fact
1t was impossible now to do so. A strong and
popular committee have been appointed by the
Speaker, gentlemen from the West and South,
to take charge of all matters relating to rail-
ways and canals, freight and inland transpor-
tation.
Representative Crittenden felt gratifed in
seeing so many of the parties meeting together
for the elevation of our country from Maine to
California, lifting it from the bane of sectiona-
lsm to a board plain nationality. He was here
to cooperate with anybody provided they could
so act as to carry the projects. Congress had
granted millions to the railroad companies.
While he did not make war upon them, he
thought it was now time for those living in the
Mississippi Valley to apply to Congress to give
them such assistance as would develop the
great resources of the West commencing, where
the Mississippi takes its rise, to where it finds
its outlet and removing distractions.
Mr.. Lougbrdge was glad to see so many
members here from the Mississippi Valley. No
one question interested their constituents SO
much as cheap transportation. They were too
apt to forget there was any other section than
their own. The East was beginning to find out
there wa a West, which had power In Con-
gress and comes with renewed strength. The
West had power to obtain redress if they would
but unite. He wished to take the whole coun-
try and obtain such improvements as would be
of national benefit. The cost was nothing in
this matter His constituents were farmers
and must have an outlet for their surplus pro
duce.
Mr. Steward of No., said that the financial
and transportation interests of the country had
grown beyond the facilities of transportations
Mr. Clark of Kansas wished to offer reso-
luton declaring the meeting was in favor of
the government improving the month of the
Mississippi, either by the construction of Fort
Phillips Canal or otherwise, as competent en-
gineers deem it to be possible at the earliest
practicable moment as the first great work of
interal Improvement. s.
Mr. Burchard said this meeting had no right
to bind members to any plan. The gentlemen
could only express their individual opinions.
Mr.. Steward expressed hope that no resolu-
ton be offered. He proceeded to show that the
object in view could be effective in no better
way than by the improvement of the MISSISSIPPI
pi River 1t was the duty of the government
to do this, no matter what it might cost, SO that
all the tributaries to that river might be bene-
fted
Mr.. Loughbridge asked how long it would
take to improve the mouth of the Mississippi
River if the outlet were in New York. a,
Mr. Steward replied, "As soon as men and
money could do it.
Representative Harris of Va, spoke of the
improvement of James Riv9r and Kanawha
Canal atfording great west outlet to the sea.
This work would not cost over SAT, 000. 600 or
S50,000,000. This sum was not large as com
pared with the benefits which would accrue
from it. LIVERPOOL was nearer by 1000 miles
by the way of Norfolk than by the way OF New
Orleans. l,t
Representative Cobb of Kansas, said he
should like to know whether this was cauens
of members residing in the Mississippi val
ley.
Mr.. Harris replied that he did not wish to
intrude himself ON the caucus and imagined he
was at liberty to speak of one of the great means
of transportation as he was not aware the call
was exclusive in its character.
Mr. Sypher interposed. saying to his friend
from Virginia. and all others, that the call did
not exclusively apply to the interest of the
Mississippi Wiley. This question was nation
al and could not be made sectional ..-
Mr.. Clark of Kansas, said the time had
come when the West would demonstrate that
there was West. He was in favor Of the
James River and the Kanawha Canal, in favor
of the ST. Lawrence route and the Atlantic and
Great Western Canal and he favored the i'm
provement of the harbor of Galveston, and now
he asked his eastern friends to open up the
Mississippi River to the people of that valley.
He then offered resolution to which reference
has already been made. After debate the Chair
declared it out of order, as he did oso the reso-
luton offered by Mr.. Fort of Illinois, providing
tor the appointment of q committee of nine to
collect information as to the facilities and cost
of transportation by various proposed ways of
communication.
Mr. McNulta of Illinois. said he had attended
the cheap transportation convention in Missouri
without results and now ne had been invited
hither to hear speeches and to compare views.
1t struck him that it was best to quit talking
and do something. He was now ready to COM
mence the fight and continue, if the gentleman
from the East shall, as intimated, attempt to
control legislatit N. The West and South should
unite to control Congress in the performance of
right Let it be said that the West and South
have as much power as the East and will use
Representative Mclean of Texas, offered the
following resolution:
Resolved, By this meeting that the members
of the House of Representatives, whose con-
stituents are interested in cheap transportation,
will direct their efforts to bring about aunity of
action on the part of said members in the legis-
latiOn of Congress.
Representative Holman of Indiana, alluded
to the fact that the Committee of River and
Harbor Improvements had been largely con-
trolled by Western members and that appro-
priatons made for the Mississippi, including
the intervening lines of communication, had
been in fair proportion to the appropriations
made for such purposes.
Mr.. Wilson of Iowa. said the East was as
much interested as the West in such improve
ments and he was satisfied the Western mem
bers were unit and must support the meas
ures which would benefit the agricultural inter
est. The question was not how much money
should be spent but how far Congress
should go.
Mr.. Purman of Florida, after saying the
South had interests in coumon with the West,
remarked that if he came from the Mississippi
Valley he would, in company with others, de-
mand the improvement of that river and organ
ize caucus and make that caucus power be-
hind the throne and would carry the measure
irrespective of money or sections,
Mr.. Leans resolution was agreed to.
Mr.. McNuta of Illinois, offered resolution
that when this meeting adjourns it adjourn to
three weeks from tonight, when it will take
into consideration the propriety of forming a
permanent organization in the Forty hird
Congress in favor of cheap transportation and
will take measures for its accomplishments
Pending the resolution, motion was made and
carried to adjourn.
Naval Orders.
There were Numbers of changes of officers in
the navy made to-day including the following
Captain S. B. Luce is detached from the Boston
navy yard and ordered to the command of the
Minnesota; acknowledgements II. f.
Picking from the Torpedo Station and ordered
to the Dictator as executive officer; Lieutenant
Commander j. p. T. Wede is detached from
Boston navy ward and ordered to The MinneSO-