The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-10-04
CHAMBER or COMMERCE,
st. Paul, Minp., September 10, 1877.

J. W. MCCLUNG, Chairman.
CHAMBER or COMMERCE,
st. Paul, Mimi, September 18, 1877. {
To Hon. e. John Ellis:
Your attention is respectfully invited to the
following preamble and resolutions unanimously
adopted by the ST. Paul Chamber OF Commerce
this day:
Whereas the great wheat producing States of
the Union are in the Mississippi ysllsy-ths State
of Minnesota heading the column with $4,000, 600
bushels, Iowa following with $4,000, 900 bushels,
Illinois 30 600 bushels, Wisconsin 25 0OO 900.
Missouri $1,000, O0,0O0-sggregating nearly 10000
900 bushels or nearly one half OF the entire pro-
duct of the United States, which is estimated at
325, 600, 900 bushels; and
Whereas, the wheat product Of the New Eng
land States is estimated as barely sufficient 10 sup
ply them with bread three weeks, that OF the State
OF Few York SIX months, Pennsyivania and Ohio
twelve months, leaving the States OF the Missis
sippi valley the great and almost only exporting
States Of wheat; and
Whereas, the Mississippi rivss is the trunk
line for heavy TRANSFORMATION, upon which the
whole country must depend as o cheek upon e1-
o liant freiehts, which consume the fruits of onr
industry, and cause us to pay higher prices for
sh we consume, and receive lower prices for all
We sell;
Therefore, resoloed, That the FIRST duty Of the
general government is to make this great high
way OF commerce navigabe, with minimum of
five feet water from ST. Paul TO the Gulf OF Mex
ieo, to do this in the shortest possible time with
the very least regard TO red tape, and, il neces-
cary, to postpone all 0thsr minor and collstsral
improvements until this work is accomplished.
| ResoiDed, That this improvement is national in
it's Importance and not local. that it is paramount
to all Others at this time; that it can be made
with less expense in proper Eion to its Importance
than any other and should have preference over
sill others il all cannot be carried at the
| time.
| Resoiued, That the appropriation heretofore
made OF s3O, 600 for the entire upper Mississippi
river below ut. Paul. out of about "a, 900, 900 ap-
propriated for other localities, was aet of iniBs-
tice and o wrong upon the Northwest, and an
utter ignoring OF its necessities, its capacities,
and its destlnles, ss the future granary OF the
continent; pre- eminent as grain centre even in
it's infancy, with not one-twensieth of its virgin
| soil broken; that it was entirely Inadequate to
accomplish the work needed; that it has either
not been expended at all, ,r il expended, has
been FILTERED away without removing sandbar,
leaving ths river effsetually closed and uselsss
a nayfgable stream at the very season when
most needed to export our crops and import our
winter supplies, and taxing the grain producing
States millions Of dollars annually in surplus
| freights.
| Resolpad. That these wrongs must be righted,
and can speedily be righted, il the Repressnta-
tiyes in Congress OF the Mississippi vallsy, from
New Orleans to st, Paul, will stand shoulder 10
shoulder and work aud vote a. one man for this
| purpose; con5snting to other improvement
and voting no other until this improvement is
recognized snd provided for; and in order to
bring about this unity Of purpose and concert oi
action, We respec tfally request the editors and
representative men Of the hfi5aiesppi TaisJ ff5ra
the gulf to st. Paul, to meet in convention at st
Paui on Thursday, the 11th day OF October next
to devise and carry out such united action as will
| emphasize our demands upon the ensuing ses-
sion of Congress, and secure the Just recognition
of the rights Of the Mssissippi valley from st
| Paul to New Orleans.
We respectfully urge all newspaper editors IN
the West TO attend this convention, and all vii
lagos, towns, cities and localities interested ir
| the improvement OF the Mississippi river as sug
gested above, TO cooperate in this movement b,
sending delegates 10 said convention at St. Paul
October ii.
Several railroads have already agreed to CARR
delegates TO and from this convention at sixt,
per cent OF usual rates, and it is expected thai
similar arrangements will be made with all rail
roads leading to the State. Special arrangement. (
will be made with the Keokuk Northern line psc &c
company, TO carry delegates from 81. Louis an
all points on the river to and from the cow snsio
at greatly reduced rates. and il possibly an q
cursion steamer will be secured to rake th
round trip from st. Louis to st. Paul Ad return
Whatever arrangements are made will be az
nounced through the public press Hereafter,
8 Reduced rates have been secur,.d st the leai
ing hotels to all delegates Whjae in atsendaue
zpon the convention.
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