Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-01-01

Cheap Transportation.

WASHINGTON, Dec. -18.-A meet
ing OF Western Congressman called
for this evening, in the bail of the
House of Representatives, to coma
pare views on the subject OF rapid
and cheap, transportation, was presi-
ded over by Mr.. Dunnell, of Mime
sofa. Representatives, Clements, of
Illinois, and Stone, OF Missouri, were
chosen secretaries. Fifty or sixty
representatives were present. Also
Senators Alcorn and Stevenson.
Representative Sypher read the call
for the meeting which was signed by
over hundred members. This
meeting, he remarked, was not for
the purpose of committing any in
djvidual to any particular project.
The East was Interested in this CUES
ton equally with the great West or
South. The improvement Of national
channels was the first question to
which they shondaddress themselves
These would secure the end sought
to greater degree and at less ex-
pense than any other project of ar
tifcial means which could be devised.
After speaking Of the vast products
Of the Mississippi Valley, showing
the excess Of Western products seek
ing Eastern and European markets,
being in amount over one tenth of
the gross yield CT cereals, he said
these cereals were transported by
three great water routes, namely,
the St. Lawrence, Hudson and Mis-
sissippi rivers. The average freight
rates per bushel and timo Of transit
is as follows: By the St Lawrence
route, from Chicago to Liverpool, As
cents per bushel, and SO days; by the
Hudson river route, 40 cents per
bushe', and SO days time; by the Mis-.
tissippi river route from St. Louis,
81 cents per bushel and 30 days time.
The st. Lawrence and Hudson routes
We're ice bound five months out Of
the twelve, when cas- the Mississippi
route was practicable the entire year.
While he was an advocate and
pressed the advantage of the Missis-
sippi route, no desired il TO be dis
tinctly understood that he did not
antagonize it with other projects.
OF the Fort St. Phillip canal he
spoke strongly, showing its advanta-
gos not only to the Mississippi valley
but to tho ontiJo country.
Speeches we're made by Rspresan-
tatives Harris, Cobb andJCIark Of
Kan. Burcbard, Crittenden, Louqh-
ridge, Staudeld, Fort McNulta, Hol-
man; Wilson of Iowa, Purman and
others. The drift Of talk was in IA
vor Of such aid BY Congress as would
develope the resources of the west
from where the Mississippi takes its
rise to where it finds its outlet, and
removing distractions at the mouth
OF that river, and anity Of action or
the part of western members, that
some measures Of relief for the pe3-
pie in tho way of better facilities for
cheap transportation might be pros
vided. Representative Clark Of
Kan. wished to offer q resolution de-
tlAiiD3 Lhab GuG III % tb& - lsS IL ia ' W
of the government improving the
mouth of the Mississippi, either in
the construction of the Fort St. Phi
lip canal or otherwise, as competent
engineers deem feasible, at the earli-
est possible moment, as the first
great work Of internal improvement,
but it was ruled out Of order on the
ground that tho meeting had no au'
thority to bind members to any par
ticular scheme.
Mr. Mclean, Of Tcxas, offered the
following, which, after some debate,
was adopted:
RESOLVED, BY the meeting that the mem
bers Of the House Of Represented whose CON
stitutents are interested in cheap transporta-
ton, will direct their efforts TO bring about
unity of action on the part of said members in
the legislation Of Congress.
The meeting then adjourned sub
ject to the call Of the chair.