River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-01-30

several subordinate oranges suitable petitions
4 10 Congress for the better and cheaper means
1 81 transportation from the West to the Allan.
/ tic aui Southern seabOard, with the reqnest
/ that said petition be signed as aumerously as
possible, and returned to the Secretary uf the
/ State Grange at as early dav as possible, to
( be- by him forwarded TO Congress at the be.
ginning Of the next session.
4 In accordance with the above resolutions the
Executive I Ommittee prepared and distrlbu-
ted a petition 20 Congress, representing the
necessity of improving the great national wa
ter routes tur the purpose Of securing cheap
2 transportation, aud asking for the speedy i'm.
proyement OF the Mississippi river nj IL
mouth, aud at such otner points upon il AZ
work has already been commenced bv the
general government, and also the speedy i'm.
+ proyement Of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers.
/ The improvements recommended are oh.
ylousy OF the very first importance Ia TIRE
whole people. aud are entitled "a the special
attention OF Congress, not only on account of
us merits, but because they can be reached
/ only by the national gOYerf ment. Indeed. II
would be supposed that, in view Of the IN.
/ mense material interests OF the people involved
/ IN the Improvement Of these natural water
courses OF the country, and that they are en-.
urey under the control OF Congress the first
/ thing TO receive the attention OF our repre-
Isentatlyes would be perfecting the natural
+ facilities ofthe people for carrying on n vast
/ iuland commerce aud To imp owe the natural
channels 10 the sea, both from the
rather OF Waters to the south.
and by the great lakes and their
outlets 10 the East And vet the people have
seen these improvements, so vital to T. cir In.
terests, langmsh iron want OF efficient appro-
priauohs RON year % year, sensible at the
same tlme that Their aggregate loss has been
/ largely IN excess Of what the whole cost Of
mes IS improvements ought to be. But while
| sunei ing rom inattcnton 10 the improvement
OF these natural highways, which wonld be
open TO al, they were unwilling Witnesses q
the despolimeut OF the national domain Tor the
| dement, OF class of private TRANSPORTATION
companies, whose only limit TO their greed
was the amount Of depletion that could be
borne 10y Their victims without absolute ex-
haustlOn. The relations OF the people and
Their interests with their representation in
| Congress have finally become well Hpdcr.
/ stood. Otfclal position is now to a great
I extent regarded as q means Of advancing
PERSONAL instead Of public interests. Aud III
dlueleuce TO the real interests Of the people
I at afge ~ not more apparent than devotion
TO those schemes which have for their Office
private EN- 3'nments rather than public hene.
hts. Even an entire disregard Of solicitations
/ rom tneIr constituents Is not at this day con.
sdefed as Indicating failure to meet either
tue duties or the Courtesles Of official posl.
| non IN accordance With the suggestion
adopted at the keokuk meeting the Execu.
tive Committee Of the State Grange of Wis.
consln issued the following circular letter 10
the United states Senators and Rerreseuta.
tlyes Of Wisconsin -
To tie Honorable
In your capacity as member Of the Ma.
uonal Legislature. we respectfully ask your
attention to the following statement and re-
quest:
Adequate means Of transportation at modz
crate cost has grown to be a great national
/ want, and justly demands the attention Of
congress. To the producers OF the country
a portion OF whom are leprasepted bv tie mn
/ dersigned, the subject is of vital ip6ortapce
/ WIN due regard for all the various plans.
theories, and schemes which are advoca ted
4 before the country at large, or which may b.
/ pres 7nted for the consideration OF Congress
we respectfully represent that one means Of
rehet IS open for the action Of that body.
which would seem TO demand precedence. no
matter what other plan or plans may or may
not be subsequently adopted; we refer to the
/ IMPROVEMENT Of rivers Of "A national character.
WINE Improvements upon these have here.
/ tUtOre been altogether ignorcd or kent lin0er-
lh@ along with comparatively trilmg expendi-
lures Of public moley from time to time
Congress has made appropriations of such
magnitude IN aud OF private enterprises as 10
az once provide for and secure their raDjd
completion. We believe that the imprOyer,eut
o. national water-channels should have CORE
spending action at the hands Of Congress
without further delay, and have resolved To
give what Influence we possess towards secur.
ing such results
To that end, in behalf of large number Of
citizens ut the state which Won represent in
our National Congress, we respectfully ask To
be assured that your efforts and influence will
be given during the coming session Of Con.
ste-s TO secure, by adequate appropriations.
the following results, towit
The speedy improvement of the MississipDi
RIVER at lis mouth, and at such other points
upon It as work has already been commences
al by the general government and also tn.
speedy Improvement OF the Fox and WISDOM
sln Rivers.
reply az your earliest convenience will
obliSe yonfs respectfully.
J. CocHRANE.
J. BRAINERD
J. a. O,BlRN
II. G.. SHERwfN,
A. w. MCLAUGHIIN.
Executive Committee OF the State Grange of
Wisconsin
hcphes were received from Senators Car
bthier and Howe, and Representative J. NJ.
hush, but noue from any of the other repre-
sehtatVts. No 0tieuse could be- taken to the
WoIhing al the circular letter. as none was in
dcated by those who did reply. Tie subject
:, conceded 90 be Of vital importance to our
non from tue irt sdent IN ms message
There D. but QUO conclusion to b. arrived
az nom this want OF attention 60 our request,
and that conciusion is one that II now ptncr-
aly accepted as correct al over the country:
That so Tar 81 regards The people Themselves
tni IN II repre- entativcs, the connection is
broken from he day OF election
The representatives are masters Of the stu.
alton aui assume an arrogant irresnonsImlity
well Indicated 10 the uc lest alluded 10.
There IS seriousness VI aspect about this
state OF things which calls Tor earnest action.
and particularly can your attention tolt.
The necessity which obliged the present
universal dCmaui for cheap transportation
has not beea without IFS lesson, nor SHOULD
the example afforded bv the municipal rut
ruptious Of the country be without their warn.
ing
There Is an important bearing upon our m.
tcre, =, connect. 4 with tn subject L. nv
Judgment there n no other that dtmaLtls, al
this time, a more decided expression from
tins order.
II Is seen tina! power delegated hy ,he poo
pie to their representatives BE- made % react
against themselves, aud they are Obliged to
battle with creatures If their own creation Tor
their rights.
~ II