New-York tribune., 1875-02-06
THE BANQUET.


The guests assembled in DelmOnicO's parlors
about o'clock. and down the sumptuous dinner
hall hour Later. Four tables ranged the din
ing-han devoted TO the members OF the Associa
lion. while at long table, extending th' length OF
the roOm sat the guests. Each table was tastefully
decorated with flowers pyramids Ok nut Tue wall
behind tire guests was decorated with the
national col0rs Of America and England. under
which hung portraits Of Chancellor Livingston, DE Witt
clinton Roheit Fulton, and POT Morse. In front OF
President Baker. who seated tle center OF the
guest table a miniature railroad engine and
tender ingeuoUsly constructed OF sJr. AT the right
Of Ar B-kor sat Senator Window OF Minnesota. and at
LIS left the r. Y. Mr.. Hapworth.
The other guests this table ter Cooper J.
" mOutor. Commissioner =. II. Wa ., MAJ. Bupdv,
the Tor r. Bl.f'rf Prince Writ'l-y R.id CEN
Horace Porter, u O.. CrOlv George Op!yke, s. b..
EuSges. the Hon. William L. DoaFe, aud Josiah Quincy.
A Photograph OF the first steam railway train ever
constructed m America presented each guest.
The picture portrayed the JUST ready TO start the
passengers al mounted their places aud the driver
us opening starting valve. Tho Of the trav
aIers, among them TLu-low WeeG, printed the
margin below tl'c ph -to-~aph.
when TIE guests re seated. tie Rev. Ir. pwor'h
asked a blessing. Tie speaking bo.tu lou, halfpas
O'Clock. win tae address Of welcome, by President
Baker who said among o.her thn--;
GENTLEMEN: Il is with great rea-are that rise ~
annual dilne- of tho N'wYsrk Cheap transportation
As- o, ct o., aud I'D tlo "a uo o. t-c Association
gentlemen. extend to yo1 heartfelt wei
come. see before men from TIE busy mLrts Of
.rtle who, tbOg-G still ia active business, are
world over, and that all united on the
common platform Of building up tac t.ade aud com
mcrce OF oor cry aad country s indeed great source
10 cOnErato.auOu. We may d-her in some minor
etails yet all agree that ourselves or be
eft behiud IN tie race T coneTclA sHpr- macy or
Association Was formed Ltr III re tndu Near ago Oy
who fe that the ie o. noble city was
eing diverted 70 otheF ports or o,- oNt 10 the coun
ery largely by the want Of Improved trans spOrtaton
md t. m.uai fa lilies Our name Cheap IrLnsporId-
.lon perhaps az first was untJftUnate one. fjr
we're without any act OF ours, looked upOn being hos
f.eighs uujusLy. We found tue OF ireghts
cases lower from other cities 70 the interior
I'm SoT vr dr-ct erin from hc Wrsi was beiIs
ciyereC Montreal and other ports 10 the injury of
We have advocated the building OF a doubla-track
yreig1t rIir the Mississippi River. and tae build
tne o. elevators II large capacity 90 tAe termn OF al
roads ceuieuiug her. We nave also advocated the
Jl.l OF a IA WAY for freight aud passeuge On
margin OF the East North Rivers be used by all
railroads. cen;erug here for freight rpOses, and not TO
tae rapid transit OF passengers; also also
.onnecauS with t1o marginal railway the
OF trade n heavy goods near the water
'front.'. We have alvocat, the ratification by the pe0-
p q OF the con, ,uona amen dmeuts, recently adopted
We have also advocated the continuance OF e work or
emOval OF the Oustruc ous al Hell Gde oy the general
Government; also tle appponiment OF state k.i.road
commissioners 0y tins State with such powers - we're
conferred on tie Ma>sa, lusetts h. "ad Cohnl'sl1n
ers W. have advocated tue sale o. tDc uera canals
We oppposed tue Canal Funding hu during the last
winter and opposed the oil known as the G4rduer Pier
these efforts have acted concert with other trade
bodies and convinced that such united eor Is pro
ductive Great puDlC gOOI. We are let too FOlpK 10
speak OF whit We have done wih much prd, although
We trust our riOrts have moi been trdlteas.
In closing h remarks Mr. Baker of red the following
coasts The President Of the United a'ee,' ana The
United States one and IndiysiJe." major WindJm
responded to the latter toast
The sentiment 20 which been called upon to re-
gDond embraces d very wide field Ot discussion Pat
rotic political economical topics are ali equally
pertinent relative appropriateness Of each depend
ing upon the occasion Which calls them forth shall
eopnne myself mainly 20 latter. The change Of cir
~uustances FROM the ln Of partisan warfare 10 calm
consultation concerning great economic Questions Affect
tng The material welfare OF tDe wAOe country Is SO
agreeable 90 feelings tnat no one need appreHenu
any reference 10 questions OF party cnSIactet =,
As transportation constitutes one OF the chief ee-
connected with the you have read Is 1t not a
most ruu arkabie TACT tlar as the condition OF commerce
moog tbe state was tue chief and moving cause Of the
frmauon Of tine Constitution and the power 20 regu-
Don Congress, We should 10 this day have
given 50 little attention 10 tho sufJecJ as a
estabshed no officer has Been employed by the Gov
ernment 10 the condition ana wants or our IN
10 base an geut exercise OF thaJ power Inc pto-
pie OF sections or the country complain tHtt the cost
- transportAon constitutes OF the most burden
some tax-s upon tDeir Industries. COmOhauohs OF
srv ali tine great avenues Of commerce ~ QUE section
lsaI' l' " .' 1,. .t~cflon OF food is checked and
a.rcul,uril interests hnguish ior want OF ADEQUATE
compensation wule another the poor are starving
-r bread and vet there s on the paTt OF many o. our
statesmen ehor IuClspOsuon TO exercise the power
.Ite 10 he subiect. Any elaborate discussion OF tne
-eatIye meu,s Of the various moGes OF trans
tlrs occasion. but would far transcend the
I','its yrIr tbe time aIoted 10 wOuId admit.
limits VI , y i NOT on cheaper transportation
Nv aater br creae- transportation DY railroads. The
-romln~n feature the cneaD transportation problem
Q C. q. r=
y..ef i, fjrud IN tlese two facts nrst, tndt
cneales known means ,.g3, o u1a5PesH cSa2gss is s
-pon natural and artificial vaterwdys, aud second
mar about 10 per weight OF the entre commOdl-
ties OF commerce transported consist OF heavy arcies
Of very value N proportion 70 oulH 4au "eisns'
4lch a. coa iron, lImber ores, trrK SIt gram, nav
and other agI-u and mineral prOiucts No" these
Things 10 determine the ueCsss5 10 IVI cneap
water transport aside from ana moe y! e % @
santy increasing demand for cheaper ana Delter TekU
lated means or railway transport 49, ..-... -.
NewiOTk Is the natural Quiet TOT lue "a "a
the great lakes when those lakes snail be connected
WITH the HissssipU RIVER by artncal WaterWays tne @
Of Eer CON llercl@i CONAN W, ~ o I,t yyyit h
Iarged Several OF the Atlanuc clues can c1mpe@ WIN
by rail, can hOat ih0s' prourIs =" an III
Tined Dltue from the lakes 10 tue VIVA Ncs eA'cp.
New York Does not this suggest the e1pedleney M oI
<1s g.e-t c-fy lending the weight OF her powerful
-Ufueuce towaid The ui development OF me "aet ~ >
sens Of the country NAy should sic RlFo pIeIGI I
uce L. tboe svstsus OF transport IN Wbch she mas No
tDecia advantages the neglect OF Lud system "nCI
Which PROMISE s gleaycr nlugs for her IA tle future
but tass DTcf cOn-d ratlon % WAIcI yoi1 @ Aa1
clato1 mas ven special attention, W, douuS
freight railroad from TINS Cy 10 JI- Sal,appl Fey
After careful study am thorouguJ cUna .nC -
1nncipes. would De al Ines Die "e 20 tu9 ~
"a ~ me Whole country. needed especially FOL
hhu 70 tno o ,,-'So and domestic merchandise
20 All parts Of the West ana IL would also We OF EreA
-alue for tue transportation Of al Euds OF lIelRHt u
n0Se pars of the country beyond lc reach Of the cOu
.,etiiiou OF water lne-. / would ais" De OF incdt
uabe value when routes closed Oy frost
Jsut this subject involves many v-xai4ous @ud as ye
O9rstions Doth OF political and economic natur.
artse with reference 20 every uruuti Irt pO.Ou "h