The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-10
A BIG RAILROAD SCHEME.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill, March "A convention /
of delegates from the states and territories |
along the 4Oth parallel of latitude met here |
to-day to consider the subject of national |
railroad along that parallel. Delegates were |
present from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Mis- |
ssuri, Kansas and the territory of Colora- |
90 temporary organization was
effected by the election of Van /
Dorm of Illinois as temporary chairman, A. |
Stone OF Indiana, and of +. l.. Merritt and i
James Fishback of Illinois, temporary sec /
retaries. The following committee resolu- |
lions nc were then appointed: Col NJ. Piggatt |
or Illinois; Geo. Duggan of Indiana; Geo. /
Black OF Illinois; III. j. Whi,lock of Illinois; |
4: w. keaser of Indian; Alex. Starr and Z. |
N: ID. Massie of Illinois, S. H. Glenn of |
MISSOURI. Gov. Beveridge of Illinois was in
vlted TO address the convention. |
he made brief speech express
ing MS hearty sympathy with the general |
THE RAILROAD RESOLUTIONS.
The preamble to the resolutions declares |
the undoubted constitutional power of con-
gress to regulate interstate commerce, and
that its right to charter corporations is
necessary to carry into effect any Of the
powers of the national government has been
settled by decisions of the supreme court of
the United States, and recites the inn
perstive necessity for increased trans
portation facilities between the west and the
seaooard uniform and cheaper tariff freight
rates not subject to such changes under the
effects OF the constitution. The preamble
further recites the fact that there are now
before congress various bills asking charters
for the roads from the seaboard to the west,
asking government aid in their construc-
ton, and as the line along the fortieth paral
} lei Is in the opinion OF the committee, the
most just and equitable location for such
line of railways; therefore,
Resolved, That the ri Zht of transit over
any part of the limits of the Uni
! ted States by post routes, railways
: or canals, as avenues of commerce,
belongs to the United States government
, under all proper circumstances and necessi
3 ties, and it should exercise that right by
9 building such roads or canals by granting
charters. with such fixed maximum rates and
restrictions as may be deemed necessary. Sub
Q ordinate corporations for that purpose, with
{ such liberal and judicious legislation as may
a be proper and necessary to secure the early
{ completion of the great national line of rail-
a way, and promote the best interest of the
: public. --, -,.f
: Resolved, That a liberal commercial spirit
!, she uld prevail between the different states
n of the union in granting reciprocal rights of
q way across their respective territories and
such further legislation as may be re-
8 quired in the construction of ma
q tional line railway from the Atlantic
s seaboard central through the western
n states ana territories.
@ Resolved, That justice to the great produc-
# ing states of the Mississippi valley the best
e interests of the whole country demands that
e the United States government should grant
e such liberal legislation as may be needful to
If secure the early and speedy construction
:. OF this great national railway, with two or
d more tracks, on or near the central
Y route of the fortieth parallel OF
o north latitude, from the Atlantic
70 seaboards through the western states with
e diverging lines at proper points to the cities
of Cincinnati, st. Louis, Toledo and Chicago
9, in the west, and to the principal commercial
W cities in the east, on the Atlantic seaboard
Resolved, That this convention is fully
~ satisfied of the feasibility and actual neces
sity Of great national railway constructed
as direct as possible and with easy grades
ss practicable on or near the 10th parallel
p of north latitude from the Atlantic sea
board through the capitols of the great states
OF Pennsylvania, Ohio. Indiana and
y Illinois, thence crossing the Mississippi rivei
OF at the city of Quincy, Illinois, the mos
T. western point on the east bank Of that rivel
for its whole length, and thence westward Il
the base of the Rocky Mountains at the city
=, of Denver, Colorado, and we feel that the
he people will most heartily greet it.
r, blessing which will afford them am
is pie and cheap means of transportation
" for their products, as well as to correct exist
rs ing evils by giving the country a truly ma
IlOndl SHSIoul Oh rdllrOduS
n Resolved, That an executive committee o
q, 80 be appointed by this convention, with full
Is power and instructions to, prepar,
20 a suitable charter to be laiI
y before congress embodying the views of thi
J. convention and to secure the necessary leg
d, isation to aid the early completion of thi
re great enterprise and said committee is here
le by fully empowered and authorised to add
c to their own number and fill vacancies anC
Is appoint any and all subcommittee tina
10 may be necessary. The resolutions wer,
1 adopted and ubcommittee of five APP
pointed 10 nominate an executive COMMITTEES
so of fifty.
~ A permanent organization was ther
" effected by the election of ex Governor Pal
IT, mer, of Illinois, as PRESIDENT; Genera
= Wright, of Ohio. s. X. Glenn, of Missouri
"a n. Kemp, of Indiana, C. III. Morton, of Him
- . DIS, Geo. A. Burns, of Colorado, A. d. Whit
~ ney, of Kansas, as vice presidents, and o
f. A Stone, of Indiana, and three others, sec
70 retaries. Ex-Governor Palmer on takine
. the chair, thanked the convention for the
N honor, and spoke briefly of the difficulty o.
- settling upon the best plan for cheap trans
q portation. He thought there was no royal
30 road to the solution of this question
=, which he thought was not simply a
. state or national. but continental question
20 Col. 7. j. Carter, of Illinois, next addressed
Il he convention. He briefly sketched the de-
:, sign of the convention and compared the
; cost of water and railroad transportation
The average cost per mile per ton by rail is
one cent; by river, three quarters of cent
by canal, one-half a cent; by the lakes, one
quarter; and on the ocean, one-eighth. A
belt OF country along theline of the fortieth
Y parallel has none yofthe benefits OF water
le transportation. The design is to get up q
"a state organization and to secure a charter
!, from the national government for railroad
d from the sea coast to the base of the Rock y
= mountains. Speeches were also made by n.
,fl N. Jones, ofIllinois and A. f. Gotten, ofIndi-
n ana, showing the necessity for railroad,
4 such as is contemplated by this movement,
: and the advantages which the proposed
2 route along the 40.h parallel would have.
= Among them the fact that it would pass near
2 the capitals of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
! land Illinois and through the richest aQricul-