Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-12-24

The National Cheap transportation 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:
ResolUed, That the great and pressing need Of
this country is q 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 unsptis
factory state Of trade and commerce, the reason
why our mills and manufactures are idle, why
agricultural interests are unremunerative,
and why thousands Of willing hands lack employ
ment,
Resolred, That the presence of metallic cur
rency IL the result Of commercial prosperity, and
not the OF that prosperty to restore this Cir
culatiOn 1t is only necessary for US to supply the
means Of exporting grain, -four 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 win be gold ciTCuatlon; with the return OF
commercial prosperity all questions relating TO one
value of different kinds of currency will disappear,
ResOkred, 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 the 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
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 1t is so filled with defects and abuses
that it dwaris production, STILES commerce and
- 49,
81 hs sS T9Fd 5s power embodied in
our transportation lines has become SO organized,
consolidated and combined that il is now able 70
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 Stntes.
ResOired 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
thus protect the public interests.
RHSDlgEH "a and A.
tional Government should, as speedily as possible,
undertake the construction OF lines of trans
portatiOn recommended by the United States SEN
ate Committee on Tran spouation Routes, or such
Of them as after survey produce the most fayora-
| Bile results
RssolUed, That national railway, exclusively
for freight, should be constructed from the grain
growing sections of the West TO the Atlantic sea
board, to the end that this great territory, with its
cities both of the East and the West may, not be
| wholly at the mercy of existing railroads when
| water routes closed by ice.
| ResOiUed, That If It be deemed ineXpedient 10
have this road constructed aud owned by 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 lines and the abuses in construction and
management which pervade our present railway
system, and so heavily tax the commercial and
| consuming public at this time.
ReSOtOed, That, whenever national aid y extend
ed 10 any project in the way of internal imp ave
ment OF 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.
| ReSOiBed. That q committee consisting OF seven
persons familiar with and interested in water trans
| pOrtation, and a committee of equal number who
dependent upon improved railway facilities fOl
cheap transportation, be appointed TO present cope:
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 thetI
| power.
United States has not In the past received that con
| sideratiOn at the hands OF our National Govern
ment that its importance meritsi that exceeding
| In magnitude as II does our foreign commerce IA
the ratio OF more than ten TO one 1t Is entitled tc
the most careful consideration and fostering eare
Rssotgfd That, In pursuance OF this policy
prepared, asking that joint committee from boti
| houses Of Congress be appointed TO consider thu
adyisability OF forming new department OF oul
National Government, to be called the Depart
| ment Of Internal Commerce, said department u
be specially charged with the collection, prescrva
tiOn 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
teet and report at the next session OF Congress.
Resoiped, That we recommend the several Statei
To enact the following laws for the regulation o.
railways chartered by them;
l. A law providing Board Of Railroad Com
missioners 10 obtain, preserve and circulate In
formation bearing upon trnsporiation' with powe
accounts, aud with oiheT p"wers and duties simi
LAT to those possessed by the Railway COmmis
sioneTs OF Massachusetts.
g. A law TO prevent stock imitation.
s. a law prohibiting representatives Of the peopl
from being retained or employed us agents, nttol
neys orconnsel In any case where the public intel
l. A law providing that all common carrier
shall receptfo quantity, whether II be Of grain 1
other commodities, aud TO deliver the same at II
s. a law providing uniform class iAcation {
merchandlse and prohibiting the printing Of cond