The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-20
The Cheap Transportation Convention.

On next Tuesday, the oath, is to be held
ut Rock Island a convention composed OF
the people of the northwest to consider
the question Of cheap transportation, in
which all classes, particularly the produc-
ers and manufacturers, have vital inter
est, Great pains have been taken to get
together a meeting worthy Of the cause in
behalf Of which it is to be held, and from
oil accounts the efforts of the moving spir-
its are likely to be awarded with signal
success. The governors and other officers
Of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, legislators,
eminent agriculturists, delegates from far
mers' associations, manufactures, and 9TH
ers deeply interested in cheap transporta-
ton will be present, and should nothing
transpire to keep the people who intend to
be present away the meeting will be the
largest and most important one of the
kind ever held in the northwest
While other schemes will doubtless be
canvassed and other projects examined, il
is to be presumed that the extension of
the Illinois and Michigan canal to the Mis-.
sissippi will be the chief theme for discus
sion, for to all rejecting people this is the
most feasible, and offers surer relief to the
overburdened people than any other that
has been or can be suggested. There is a
very strong interest felt insthis scheme al
over the northwest, and even the east see
in 1t better mode for securing cheaper
transportation than in any other of the nu-
merous plans that have been devised, and
is therefore prepared to lend its influence
to its accomplishment. Considering the re-
cent revival of public sentiment in favor of
the canal project and also the influences
that can and will be brought to bear in ia
vor Of its success, we have seen no period
within the history of its agitation when
the prospect for ultimate triumph looked
so fattcring as at the present time. All it
needs is long pull, a strong pull, and a
pull altogether to insure the construction
OF the canal by which new line of trans
portation will be opened up, the value Of
which it would be difficult to compute
GeReseo Republic
The Governor of Illinois officially recog.
nizes this movement, and has invited the
Governors of the states of Missouri, Iowa,
Wisconsin and Minnesota, to be present
and general invitation is given to ali
Boards of Trade, Merchants Exchanges
and other corporate bodies to send dele
gates. The call says: Discussion and
experience have taught that our only hope
Of success lies in the concentration of the
energies and influence of the Northwest
upon the early construction of the line
which shall seem to be of the greatest
utility, cost of construction considered. -
Nothing is more obvious than that the Vi
ial question of the West and Northwest at
the present time is cheap transportation.
And the more the question shall be dis
cussed, the sooner the problem will be
solved. We trust the best minds in the
Northwest will be assembled at Rock Isl
and on the oath inst-ISt. Louis Demo
crdt.
The circular containing the call states
that Gov. Beveridge has invited the Exec
utives of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota
to be present. The only suspicious cir
cumstance about the affair is that the
circular of invitation to attend encloses a
bill now before Congress for canal at the
government expense from Hennepin to
Rock Island. Probably the citizens of the
interesting suburb where the convention is
to be held imagine that if the Hennepin
canal we're built, cheap transportation
would be an accomplished fact Chicago
Poet