Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-12-30
The National Cheap Transportation
Convention.

I The National cheap Trans pOTtatlOn Con-
vention, recently held in Chicago, was
largely attended, and the proceedings oc-
cupied three full days of time. The reso-
lutlons adopted read as follows;
| Resoloed, That the great and pressing need of
! this country is system of transportation COM
mensurate with the requirements of the age in
which we live; that the absence of such system is
in great measure the cause of the present Insatis
| factory state OF trade and commerce the reason
why our mills and manufactures are idle. why
| our agricultural interests are unremunerative
and why thousands of willing hands lack employ.
menJ.
Res0tUed, That the presence of metallic cur
rency IL the result of commercial prosperity, and
not the cause of that prosperity to restore this cir
culaton it is only necessary for us TO supply the
means of exporting our grain, flour, bacon tobacco
cotton oil and other products at prices which will
enable Us TO sell those products TO other countries
this will give commercial prosperity and its evil
dence will be gold circulation; with the return OF
commercial prosperity all questions relating one
value OF different kinds of currency will disappear
| Res0LUed, That this contamination can be
reached by providing an adequate system OF trans
| portation and that the only way such system can
be provided Is by he cooperation of the people,
| through the machinery OF Government; that the
| boundaries of commerce have become so extended
through the agencies of steam and electricity that
a new and more extensive class of transportation
facilities are needed; that the present system has
become not only inadequate TO the necessities of
the times but is so filled with defects and abuses
! that it dwarfs production, stiles commerce and
/
markets OF the world.
| Res0IUed That the corporate power embodied in
our transportation lines has become so organized
| consolidated and combined that it is now able to
dictate values to the producers prices to the con-
sumers and profits TO the manufactures and trades,
and to build up privileged class contrary TO the
| spirit Of the Constitution of the United States.
ReS0tCeG, That the further extension of this pow
! er must be opposed by the mass of the people by
creating as fast as possible new system OF trans
/ pOrtation lines which will insure competition and
|
fes0LCed, That as means to this end the Ma
tional Government should, as speedily possible,
undertake the construction of lines of trans
! portatiOn recommended by the United States SEN
| ate Committee on Transportation Routes. or such
| of them as after survey produce the most favora-
! Bile results
| ReS0!Ued, That national railway, exclusively
for freight should be constructed from the grain
growing sections of the West TO the Atlantic sea-
hoard, to the end that this great territory with its
| dense population, and the principal distributing
cities both Of the East and the West, may not be
v h1Ily at the mercy of existing railroads when
water routes are closed by ice.
ReS050ed That, if it be deemed ineXpedient to
have this road constructed and owned ny the Ma
tional Government, the object may be reached by
granting national aid TO such road and assuming
in consideration thereof such supervision and con-
troll will insure reasonable rates of freight for
ever prevent combination and consolidation with
existing INES and the abuses IN construction anC
management which perVade our present railway
system, and heavily tax the commercial and
consuming public ut this time
ReS0GUed That, whenever national aid is extend
ed TO any project III the way of internal improve
ment, or whenever the construction of any work
is undertaken by Government, the work should
be done by contract, IN small sections, to the low
est responsible bidder.
ReSOtOed, That a committee consisting OF seven.
persons familiar with and interested in water trans
pOrtatiOn, and committee of equal number who
are dependent upon improved railway facilities for
cheap be appointed to present copies
OF these resolutions to the Congress OF the United
States, and to take such other steps to forward
the objects therein advocated as may be in their
power.
Res0JUe6 That the internal commerce of the
United States has not in the past received that
slderatlOn at the hands of our National Govern
ment that Its Importance merits, that, exceeding
IN magnitude as it does our foreign commerce in
the ratio OF more than ten to one, it is entitled to
the most careful consideration and fostering care
Res0tUed, That in pursuance Of this policy, a
memorial TO Congress from this convention be
prepared, asking that a Joint committee from both
houses of Congress be appointed to consider the
advlsability of forming new department Of our
National Government, to be called the Depart
ment Of Internal Commerce, said department. to
be specially charged with the collection. preserva-
ton and dissemination OF information bearing up
on transportation, and with all other matters per
tanning to internal commerce The joint COM
mittee before mentioned to investigate the sub
Ject and report at the next session of Congress-
ResOLCed, That we recommend the several States
to enact the following laws for the regulation of
railways chartered by them:
l. \ law providing Board of Railroad Com
missiOners to obtain. preserve and circulate in
formation bearing upon transportation, with power
to prescribe uniform system Of keeping railway
accounts and with other powers aud duties SINH
lar to those possessed by the Railway Commits
siOners of Massachusetts.
2 A law 10 prevent stock imitation.
). A law prohibiting representatives of the people
from being retained or employed as agents, attor-
neys or counsel in any where the public inter
est is involved
d. A law providing that all common carriers
shall receipt for quantity, whether it be of grain or
other commodities, and to deliver the same at its
destination.
merchandise and prohibiting the printing of condi-
tions on bills Of lading issued by common carriers
which are designed to eyade the just responsibility
or SuCn carriers.
G. A general law or constitutional prohibition
against the consolidation of railroads. by which the
power of these great corporations is often greatly
increased and their proper control and regulation
prevented.
Resolved, That we have no warfare to make upon
any of the great industries Of the country but on
the contrary, the very object of the convention is
to promote peace and harmony among them by
securing an equitable distribution of the benefits
and burdens of life. without which there can be no
permanent harmony of interests. AS the offices OF
all the members of the human body are essential
to its perfect vitality and vigor are all these in
terests essential to country that would be great
and prosperous. Il is the true interest Of all to
promote the interest of each other and our best
policy will be found in the union of all the great
industries of the land for the sake of national
peace and national prosperity.
R6S0I060, That for the purpose Of effecting
more perfect organization an Executive Commit
tee be appointed Tor each state, consisting OF a
number equal TO the representation OF said State
in the Federal Congress.
ReSOJ0ed, That the said Executive Committee
shall have power TO appoint subcommittee in
each Congressional district in their respective
States.
R6sogyed That it shall be the duties of these
several committees TO collect and disseminate such
information in their several States and districts as
may aid in procuring proper legislation upon this
al-imporJant matter of transportation, and that
their efforts and aims shall be 10 procure for our
people the cheapest means possible.
ReSOtCed, That it shall be the duty Of the sub
committee TO cores pond with the Executive Com
mittees of the States. and the State Executive
Committees with the National Executive Commit
tee of this body that there may be uniformity of
purpose and action between the whole.
Re8OEUed, That when this convention adjourn it
be to meet in October, 1876, at such place may
be designated by the Executive Committee.
ReSOtUed. That your committee further recon-
mend the adoption of the resolutions introduced
by the Hon. VIM Bross in this convention
lating to deep-Water communication between the
great Western lakes. Montreal and New York city,
by the way of Lake Champlain and the Caughna-
waga Ship Canal.
Res0Er6d. That we are in favor of completing
both the Northern and Southern Pacific Railways
as soon as the means for the completion OF the
same can be properly made available.
ReSOLUeQ That the attention of the State of New
York is called to the absolute necessity OF clean
ing and bottoming out the Erie Canal TO the maxi
mum depth provided by law, and that improved
lOck-gates. now in common use elsewhere, be ap-
piled 10 the locks, to the end that It's present Ca
pacity may be increased.
ReSotGeG. further. tn at the authorities OF that