Vicksburg weekly herald., 1877-10-05
a Proposed Convention.

bc meMucE VI ING next MlsslebIppl
Legislature.
A Proposed Convention.
THR MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND ITS DEvRL-
OPMENT.
At o meeting of the Chamber Of Com
merce Of ST. Paul, MINI, the follow.
ing resolutions, which will be found
worthy Of perusal BY those interested
in the development Of the Mississippi
Valley, were passed, and copies order
ed to be transmitted 10 the various ed.
ltoTs and mayors within the valley:
WHEREAS, The great wheat produce
ing States Of the Union are In the Mis-
sissippi Valley-the State Of Mlnneso.
Ia heading the column with 100000
bushels, Iowa following with 3A,0O0OOO
bushela, Illinois 100000 bushels,
Wisconsin rs, 100000, Missouri 10000.
OO-aggregatiDg nearly l50,000OOO
bushels, or nearly one.half of the pro.
duct ofthe United States, which is esh.
mated Of 1926, ,000,0 900 bushels; and,
Whereas, The wheat product OF the
New England States is estimated As
barely sufficient to supply them with
bread for three weeks, that OF the
State of New York elk months, Penn.
sylvania and Ohio twelve months, leaV-
ing the States Of the Mississippi VAL
ley the great and almost only export
ing States Of wheat and
Whereas, the Mississippi river is the
trunk line for heavy transportation
upon which the whole country must do.
pend 90 check upon exorbilant
freights, which consume the fruits OF
our industry, and cause US to pay high
or prices for all we consume, and re-
ceive lower prices for all we sell
therefore
Resolved, That the frat duty of the
General Government 10 to make this
great highway Of commerce navigable
with q minimum Of five feet OF water
from st. Paul 10 the Gulf Of Mexico
to do this in the shortest possible time,
with the very least regard to red tape
and, II necessary, 10 postpone ell other
minor and collateral improvements un.
I'll this work is accomplished
Resolved, That this improvement is
national in its Importance, and not 10.
cal that II iS paramount to all others
at this time that 1t can be made with
less expense in proportion to its i'm
portanCe than any other, and should
have preference over all others, If all
cannot be carried on at the Same time.
Resolved, That the appropriation
heretofore made of $4,000 Tor the en-
tire upper Mississippi river, below ST.
Paul, out Of about 100000 appropri-
ated for other localities, was an act of
injustice and a wrong upon tho North
west, and an utter ignoring OF ils ne
eessities, its capacities, and It's desti-
nice, as the future granary Of the con-
iinent; pre.eminent as q grain centre
even In its infancy, with not one.twen.
lielh OF its virgin soil broken; that Il
was entirely inadequate 10 accomplish
Tie work needed that 1t has either moi
been expended at all, or If expended,
has been FILTERED away without re.
moving a sand-bar-leaving the river
effectually closed and useless as Q navi.
gable stream at the very season when
most needed 10 export our crops and
import our Winter supplies, and tax.
ing tue grain.produclng States millions
of dollars annually in surplus freights.
Resolved, That these wrongs mus
be righted, and can speedily be right.
cd, If the Representatives in Congress
of the Mississippi Valley, from New
Orleans to St. Paul, will stand shoulder
10 shoulder and work and vote as one
man for this purpose; Consenting to nc
other improvement and voting no 9th,
er until this improvement is recognized
and provided for; and In order tC
bring about this unity of purpose and
concert Of action, we respectfully re-
quest the editors and representative
men Of the Mississippi Valley, from
the Cult to st. Paul, TO meet in con
ventiOn OF st. Paul on Thursday, thu
11th day Of October next, to devise ant
carry out such united action as will
emphasize our demands upon the en-
SUNG session of Congress, and secure
the Just recognition OF the rights o
the Mississippi Valley from st. Paul L
New Orleans.
The committee appointed have madl
arrangements with the railroads ani
hotels for transportation and fare OF re
duced rates, and the appointment O.
delegates from all parts Of the Missis
ssn,t Ua1lnyV l. vaawvsnlEy nRn0A