Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-02
Cheap Transportation.

At the recent convention held at Rock
Island, ILL.,, to consider the question of
cheap transportation, addresses were de-
livered by X-Lieutenant-Go Governor VIM.
Bross and Mr.. J. @. Dore, of Chicago, and
other gentleman, after which the follow
ing resolutions were proposed, debated
and adopted:
WHEREAS, The question of cheapening the cost
OF transportation of the products of the country
has come to be considered and is now universally
regarded, both by the producers and consumers,
as second to no other question before the people;
and,
WHEREAS, This convention, composed of repre-
sentatlyes from the agricultural, mercantile and
manufacturing interests of the Northwestern
States, has been convened to consider this lmpor-
tant question; therefore,
ReSolged That we believe the time has come
when the Government of the United States, in the
discharge of its duties to the people, under the
power expressly conferred upon 1t by the Con-
st1tutlon, should declare its purpose to assume
such supervision and control over all branches of
interstate commerce as will secure to the people
OF the whole country relief from all unnecessary
burdens imposed, either by existing monopolies or
by those that may be established, with compare
lively little cost.
ResotUed That the expression Of popular opin-
ion heretofore given, demanding completed
communication by canal between the waters of the
upper Mississippi River the Illinois River and the
lakes, as those expressions were seyerally
made at the conventions of 1865, held at Geneseo
and st Rock Island, and as author1tatively placed
on record by the respective memsrlalsts to Con-
gress of the Tenth General Assembly of Iowa, the
Legislature of Illinois, the City Councils of Daven-
port and Rock Island, and other cities in Iowa and
Illinois, ought to have remained unnoticed and
neglected SO long by the National Government,
and should now be promptly considered, respected
and complied with
ResotUed That in the judgment of this conven-
non the construction of canal OF sufficient
capacity for commercial purposes from the
Mississippi River at or above Rock Island TO the
! Illinois River at or near Hennepln would tend
more efectually to the solution OF the question of
cheap transportation for those States bordering
upon the Mississippi River above ROCK Island than
any projected work involving q similar amount of
| money, and is imperatively demanded by the ne
cesSlles of the producer of the Northwest as well
as the consumer in the Eastern States or IN foreign
| lands.
! ReS0ECed, That while this convention especially
lndorse and urge upon the attention OF the United
states Government the construction or the work
/ ueieln named, we would also urge upon IL any
ana all Interstate improvements THAI arc feasible
| and the completion of which Will not involve an
| expenditure disproporuonate 10 tne prospective
] benefits among which we recognize as prominent
/ the Improvement of the Mississippi and the Hi
nols Rivers, and the control by the General Gov
ratio.
! ResolUed, That we urge upon the people of Hi
nols That they cede TO the General government the
ehtlre control of the Illinois Michigan Canal and
lne lninols River, to be improved ana forever
maintained as navigable highways for the benefit
OF the nation, provided this should pc necessary in
order to secure prompt and efficient action by the
General Government in prosecuting the work es-
| FeGlally indicated by this convention.
! Res0tUed, That this convention appoint a COM
mittee of thirteen whose duty it shall be to me-
| morlailze Congress in accordance with the views
/ expressed in the foregoing resolutions.
Res0tUed, That the bill now pending before Con-
| gress introduced by the Hon. ]. B. Hawley, to
provide for the construction of canal connecting
4 the waters of Lake Michigan, the Illinois. Mssis-
| sippi and Rock Rivers meets with our hearty sp-
| proval; and we cheerfully unite in recommend
TO use their influence to aid ia the passage of this
act.