Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-12-01

The Committee on Resolutions then
made the following reports. This
convention ofdclegatcs, duly appoint
cd from 81 States and Territories,
many cities and boards of trade. mer-
chants exchanges, and other CONNER
cial bodies. constituting a body of IS6
delegates, representing not only a
large proportion of the people of the
United States. but of the active pro-
ducing business capital Ofthe country,
and now assembled to take action
upon the construction of southern
line of railroad to the Pacific, do re-
spectfully represent to the Senate and
House Of Representative ofthe Unit
ed States in Congress assembled. that
a southern trans-continental railway
from the waters OF the Mississippi
via Elpaso to the Pacific Ocean. or
near the 23d parallel of latitude, is
imperativcly demanded; first as a
measure of sound craftsmanship, be-
cause il is only by constant inter-
course. business and social, that the
great States now growing up OH the
Pacific slope can he permanently
bound in common interest with
Eastern and Southern communities,
and il is therefore sound policy and
wise foresight TO promote the most
intimate relations between all sections
of our common country, necessity
already recognized by the government
in its grants of bonds and lands to the
Union. and Central. and Kansas Pa
ciiic roads. and OF lands to other trans
continental lines of the 32d. Both. and
fifth parllel, under the belief that
private capital would furnish the
necdful fundsto complete these high
ways. but owing to the great CONNER
ciai depression they cannot be built
by individual capital, and the re-
spnnsibility still rests upon the Gov
ernment to secure the completion OF
at least one additional trans-continen-
tal line. Second, as means of na
! tional defense, because it is the duty
/ of the Government to have line to
the Pacific unobstructed at all seasons
of the year. for tho prompt transport
alton of troops and supplies, should
trouble arise with any foreign coun.
TRY. and tho forts and countries on the
/ Pacific coast would be exposed to in
suit or attack, such line to be suffi-
ciently removed from our border to
enable it to be fully protected against
4 the movements of hostile forces
! Third, as local military necessity
because the experience of the nation
on the Central. Union, and kansa:
Pacific roads has proved that the raj
and telegraph, and facilities thereby
provided. furnish the only sure mean:
OF intercepting and Furnishing the
/ hostile Indians and unmistakabiy in
i dicatethe adoption ofthe same methot
TO prevent the constant depredation
i'm Western Texas, New Mexico ant
\ Arizona. make life and property Sc
cure. and establish the same law ant
order that prevails along the presen
Pacific line. Fourth, as measure o
/. practical economy, because, as alread,
! shown by the experiences of the Pa
} fcific road, the expense Of maintainin.
, military establishment for the pro
lection of the southern tcrritor
Iagainst Indian depredations Will b
largely reduced by enabling the Gov
ernment to transport troops and sup
plies nj one-fnurth of the present cos
by enabling it TO dispense with two
/, thirds of the present force through
,, the facilities offered for the trans
! poriation and movement of troops
: and thereby save from eight to te
!, million dollars per annum. and at IN
! same time provide more efiicientl
J and economically for the care an
maintenance Of the Indian tribes als'
+ that are under the charge OF the Cox
ernmcni.
. 5th, As h matter Of commercial nj
! ccssity to.the l., 100000 people inhabi
u inc a belt OF country from 400 to 4
G miles in width and stretching along Il
g entire-southern Atlantic coast, the Gu
g of Mexico. and the coast OF Old Mex
n co. to the Pacific Ocean. who |
, reason of their geographical positit
Is cannot share in the benefits conferrf
'e bv the present Pacific line.
d 9th. Asa means OF direct saving
. the people of the entire country, b
g cause it will give competing line b
o. tween the two. oceans, both for t
G large local and through traffic of I'll
ID country, and fora great through traf
with the Sandwich Island, Ind
n. China, Japan, Australia, and Wcste
ne South America, thereby conferri
" upon the entire nation substant
re benefits. because in this manner I
N people of the United States will b.
at be protected against n monopoly
whom they have loaned $55,000,OO0
six per cent government bonds, a
made a large grant of lands TO bu
ft; the present Pacific railway line, a
nd for whose benefit the government
IN now paying, yearly, upward of thu
no additional millions out of the tire
as ury: corporation that has establi
&c, ed arbitrary rates for transportati
ea After q unanimous adoption of
20. report. brief and congratulate
le, speeches were made by invitation
the convention by Hon. R. w. Thon
son. of Indiana, Gen. VIM. Prest
nd Kentucky, andJudgc Matthews. III
c,. itlent of the convention. Convent