New-York tribune., 1873-05-20
A ST. LOUIS BUBBLE.
TIE CONGRESSIONAL CONVENTION A FAn.-
IRE.

FrRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
ST. LouIs. NAV f7-The Convention of Con-
ressmep has blessed Louis with its presence and has
vanished win cruel sarcasm the papers here have
headed thsir reports "The Congressman IN Council, .
she Western Congress" and the like Surely no gather
fng having about less OF council" was ever witnessed
on this green earth, and Congress" at which not
member OF Congress spoke, became udiorous at last
even TO the the farce. The assembage listened
70 certain St. Louis speeches and resolutions Travelled to
Bhaw's Garden ana the Vulcan Iron Works. consumed
much Of Cooks imperial whisky, and resolved that
st. Louis people are good fellows that the West is
great country and that ali internal improvements ought
70 seriously considered aud adjourned II dis
ruSsed nothing, investigated nothing, agreed upon
nothing Ii listened 20 St. Louis, departed and made no
nsn. There were present ninety-One Senators and
members OF whom a considerable number came mainly
to participate in the railroad excursion Fourteen
rame from States east of the Aneghanies twenty-one
om States in the Mississippi valley south Of this
from Missouri and forty-hve from the Northwest. As
not more than half dozen participated even TO the
bent OF making motions, none debating anything is
not possible TO how many attended simply spec
ators. In fact they all spectators. Mayor Brown
was placed in the by the Executive Committee,
vote being invited that any other subject HIS re-
marks offered welcome the guests present promised
plain practical exhibit OF the needs OF the West and
sOuth for improved lines 20 the ocean, urged the
removal OF obstacles from the channel and mouth Of the
Lared that few of our people betterng their cOndi
hon. and called upon the convention to discover
bdy. Then Gov. WOOdsOn welcomed the guests,
that political purpose was behind the gather
ng presented few statistics about Missouri from the
census boasted little OF the mineral Of the
Bate declared that railroad system could never ac-
tommOdate the wants OF the people long they
we're managed they now arc, argued that Congress
sught to regulate and control tnem and that it ought
also to bring the ad OF railroads the
shannel" What water channel, how improved
thanced he did not attempt 90 suggest.
ST. LOUIS CONTROL THE CONVENTION.
Then Mr.. Blow delivered the first address instruc-
nOn Tor the result proved the plan of the St. Louis
managers was 20 shut of everything like discussion
sebate or comparison Of views and occupy the whole
lime with prepared addresses designed set forth
wants and opinions OF 50. Louis This plan was carried
put to the letter nobody permitted to speak OF offer
resolutions except those who had by the
Committee. Indeed in discussions the Committee
10 the proQriey of placing and keeping in the chair
person not member Of the Convention called together
Dor selected bv if the object frankly 20 be
The absolute Of the body so that certain subjects
snly should be- considered, and certain persons only
heard. Accordingly. Mayor Brown held the chair until
he programme had been put through and then under
pretene Of permitting the Convention speak and act
Ior Itself called the chair another gentleman not
member Of Congress- Gov. Walker OF Virginia who occu-
pied the rest Of the time IN an address upon the
q
except Mr. staaarl Of SL Louis. and Judge
Lawrence OF Ohio in few remarks upon
resolutions Of thanks for entertainment OF the Con-
Fenton. Thus there attempt 90 disguise the
purpose which simply 70 enhghten and impress
members Of Congress by means OF certain speeches and
resolutions prepared in S Louis Whoever is curious
10 know what valuable knowledge Louis had TO i'm
part search speeches aud resolutions, and,
livery much fear VIII be somewhat disappointed Mr..
Blow offered good many elegant sentences but no
Cs whatever either regarding the quantity Of surplus
products the West % be moved, the suicencY
,ost OF present modes Of transportation. His glowing
descriptions Of great Missouri the great West
Uninterrupted by any dry details. either concerning eX
sting difficulties practicable remedies. Indeed he
Iyerred that he had much respect for the intel
yence" of his hearers % cOate from the census or
Dca statistics facts and fguresa sharp hit at Wood
Ion. which left Blow himself open TO the remark
hat as WoOdsOu had presented nothing but few
ess facts his successor presented not even those.
CONGRESSMAN sTANAED'5 INACCURACIES.
Ene Hon. Z. o. stauard. with much rather empty
rhetoric, ming ed many stayements which he IN
tended or facts nut which. unfortunately, lacked the
essential element Of correctness For instance he said
HC0rn realizes the Western farmer but Is cents per
bushel =" whereas large majority OF the counties OF
he great cOru-crOwng states the price really paid is
above % cents seo agricultural report OF March, 1870
STbe consumer the East required TO pay G5 cents
per bushel" New-YOrk quotations received on the day
his speech was delivered for Western corn from
ei 10 O. cents Wholesale and the consumer must OF
s0uTse paw more. "Seven'y-dve thousand mics OF
railway are now employed IN moving the productions
Of the country whereas tho total mileage is several
thousand miles less. "The cost Of carriage
By rail is 10 mills per tun per mile,"
whereas the same day wheat shipped from
D. Louis % NpF-York by rail less than y mills per
OH per mile the charges for wheat from the Msals-
nppi River NewYork bv railroad, when the canals
hal HfrrfrI FI2u utfn
a Winter Was than so cents per bushe Space does
not serve 20 point out half OF inaccuracies Of this
peecb which, though quoting largely from census and
Congressional reports cOntIved 70 copy errors OF state
nent which 10 astonishing that practical merchants
should f-ll 90 correct. Chief in Importance Was his
I 5.J % 7'is; ,,s ' , s i, 3 " Iyay OF w
Orleans per Bushe., and 1rOm the Baltic 90 LV
not a g-n en- 1.e le cheap r. route But strange 20
iay THIS practical merchant made no calculation Oh the
0e cost bv say Of NowYJrE uudcrBtated the cost Dy
way Of New OlleIu3, auI made no allowance Tor the
the Cult, some injured, involving a nix
~ az which 10 DO ltscI AN e.5llent e.5llent ot cO'''
lestlts OF new Ict3 orluIOInaton as am Aoul satcL
yosalos could De-. Tie A4lIess VI eA-5 mao. h1uooL
tlenDied ~ prove, mat railroads 40 uJt anu cduAos
,ellsA au.ae-, iaciIiles an ususl'iHeI
HAT GOyeruiueu IIrlIsh depth OF water (a tAe
pfog.e'I u, ri1, 1T.-' nd COST d, statement
Startling, Dut JI very questionable HcouIacNj an ca4
blsbel mn ey ~ 10. II, '-.s IN Inc I,Toi1ccT the
remainder Oeug eA pended ights anu couiinissOn
1oe-,rt 10 so~ tic ~4l.l lJ4iOds 10 sAIppiH' t"u
the Union Pacific l..irO4u Sail Francisco 10 Omaha
neadefs Sl auulei 40 tAess speeches REAL, icp estAI
Ae practical wisdom aud tae accuracy O DusiAos5 men
1 81 Louis. Iue resolutions, nearly cOluml ln
1--.A' uei4aAu ia sorts oi Improvements ,D ia tno
aaaaspp River a lis tributaries and 40 ITO mouth
Ae opening "csoIy pl.o.eaDle water rodte 10 t"e
1ll t1e Atlantic U alI, ana 10 tAe great t"A's' "l1A
4A De opened and made sale And convenient ~ ie.'sOha