The Grange advance., 1873-11-12

nothing so much as that which we are de-
MED. Not for this, however, but from mo-
tives Of economy in dollars and cents, we
urge on all those who can to buy by 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 Free Trnsporta-
tiOn.
ST. LOUIS, oct ao.-The sed kte transpor-
tation committee held lenl thy session
here to-day, during which; thd merchants
exchange committee presented report en-
bracing a 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 q dozen points, sunken
wrecks, snsgs 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 affording 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 Paclet Co., and
Capt, Howistell, sui perintendeht of the Mis-
sissippi Valley barge line ! explained At
length the various obstructj6ns to the free
navigation Of the rilH afd how the diff
culties can be overcdpe st comparatively
light expense. Several other prominent
gentlemen presented thef fr views. and ans
wered many questions aAked by the men,
bers Of the committee, and number of
others will give5tuf0rm6uon tomorrow. 1t
is also expected that several grangers from
this and surrounding States will have q
consultation with the committee and pre-
sent their claims for cheap transportation.
NEW YORK dispatches announce that q
company has been formed in England with
a capital Of $40, ,000, 900, 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 COM
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.
1t 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. It prohibits railway consolida-
tions, either by purchase or lease, of par
allel or competing lpe1, hnd the question
whether roads are. llel or competing
may be decided bya il dFy. It prohibits
companies doing basines4 as common car
riers from engaging in mi ing Or manufac-
turing articles for tsnspo1 patton 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,
oers OF employed
/ sTEARfs,
80 AljIl1s Ru1 l,isxn.