Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-05-24
CONGREssIONAL CONVENTION.
Important Resolutions Looking q
the welfare OF the West.
Proposed Improvement of the lIis-
sissiPpi and other Western
states.
RESOLUTIONS.

hESO1C I1ONSs
ST. LOUIS, May 14.-Thc follow
ing is the substance of the resOlu-
tions presented by Capt. James 3.
Eads, as expressive of the views of
the Merchants Exchange of the
city, and by which body they were
unanimously approved: The first
declares the opening of the Missis-
sippi River of the very first impOr-
tance to the interests of the entire
Valley of the Mississippi, and of
great importance to the whole coun-
try. The solution of this problem,
we believe, will be achieved by
closing up all inferior outlets of the
river, and condensing its waters by
a system of bellies to one channel.
By this means a depth of at least
twenty O. twenty-five feet would
be obtained in the Southwest Pass,
at an outlet insignificant when COM
pared with the many millions that
will be annually saved by the work.
When accomplished, small annual
appropriations will suffice to main
tain the required depth forever
after.
The second clause urges that the
dSl0lA4OAA " luC AOhAAON0l VI
wrecks and other obstructions from
the channel, a comprehensive sys-
tenn of improvements looking di-
rectly to the permanent location and
deepening of the channel through
shoal places below st. Louis, should
be at once matured and iuaugurated
and that the depth of eight feet be
determined as a maxim um to be ac-
complished at first by the proposed
works. This will involve the estab-
lishment of probably not more than
| thirty bars and shoal places between
this city and New Orleans, and the
removal of a few dangerous rocks
above Cairo, would result in saving
a Thousand fold greater than the
original cost.
The third clause declares this
plan suited for the Improvement of
the Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas,
Red, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland
and many other important streams
in this valley, on each of which it
should be applied, on a scale COM
mensurate with the value of the
river and the demands of its COM
merce.
The fourth clause declares that
| the Improvement of the upper and
lower rapids of the Mississippi riv-
er should be vigorously prosecuted
until navigation of those parts of
that river is made safe and conven-
lent; and that the improvements al
ready commenced on all other riV-
ers of this valley should be energet-
ically prosecuted to completion.
The sixth clause declares that ev-
cry practicable water route to the
Gulf, to the Atlantic Ocean and
great lakes, which can be opened
and made safe and convenient at
reasonable cost, when compared
with the benefits from results less
ening expenses of transporting pro-
ducts of this valley to their various
markets, should meet with favor
from the general Government, and
receive the unanimous support of
every representative of this valley
in Congress.
Seventh, That the vast commerce
depending upon the Mississippi
River for cheap transportation de-
mands that no artificial obstruction
be permitted in its channel, except
on most urgent necessity, and no
bridges should be authorized to be
built across it below st. Louis, hav-
ing spans over the streams of less
width than 500 feet, and height of
| 70 feet above high water mark,
should bs preserved under the CEN
ter of the channel spans of such
bridge.
The eighth clause suggests that in
| consequence of the breaking down
of several iron bridges within the
| past few years, involving much loss
of life, all bridges hereafter built on
| important railrnads should begex-
amined into by a competent COM
mission, whose duties and powers
should be defined by Congress, and
| without whose examination and ap-
prOval no plans for such proposed
bridges should be adopted.
The ninth clause asks that naviga-
ton over great water highways
should be relieved of dangers to
which it is subjected-by bridges on
the upper Mississippi, by requiring
| them to be so modified as to lessen
| the number of accidents constantly
| occurring to river crafts by negli-
gence with their piers, and that a
general bridge law by Congress,
which shall define the length and
height of their spans, and generally
control the location and cOnstruc-
tion of such bridges in manner to
prevent unnecessary injury to nayi-
| CATION of said rivers.
Eleventh clause. The interests of
| this valley imperatiVely demand
most economical means of tramspor-
tation to and from foreign markets
of wares, and the safest and most
durable class of steamers, barges,
etc., for its inland water service,
and that it should be the duty of
each representative of this valley in
! Congress to labor for the removal
of every artificial impediment which
interferes with such cheap ocean
transportation or prevents the adop-
tion of such safe and durable YES
sells for its inland navigation.
Thirteenth, That we emphatical-
ly declare that the revenue laws
should be so amended as to permit
shipmasters to purchase ships
wherever!,they can be most easily and
cheaply procured.
Fourteenth, We emphaticallv de-
clare the revenue law which forbids
registry to the ship of an American