The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-10-27

with o suitable number OF secretaries.
When the convention was organized
resolutions were offered appointing COM
resolutions, to which latter all resolutions
and papers pertaining 10 the object OF the
convention should be referred. The
committee on resolutions, in due time,
reported the following
RESOLUTIONS:
WHEREAS, The Mississippi river has,
from the earliest settlement OF country,
been recognized by all treaties with for
eign nations and by congressional and
state legislation as a great national high
way, and Is in fact, the great national
artery OF commerce for vast area OF
country Its converging water courses.
draining the whole or part of eighteen
great States of the Union, and incrsect-
Ing the most fertile agricultural States OF
the West and South, which seek This as
the natural and cheapest outlet TO the
markets OF the world; and whereas, the
lessening of the costs of transportation
between the producer and the consumer
is one of the greatest problems of the
age, which, II successfully solved would
benefit our whole country, and the gen.
eral government having already com-
menced the Improvement OF this great
natural highway by the construction OF
the jetties at the mouth OF the river and
of the Des Moines rapids canal, and OF
various other improvements, leaving a
comparative small expenditure necessary
to thoroughly improve the navigation OF
the river from the falls of st. Anthony
to New Orleans; now, therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That we, as representatives
OF the agricultural, manufacturing, COM
mercal, industrial and navigation inter-
ests of the valley of the Mississippi, in
convention assembled, urge upon con-
gresss the pressing necessity OF passing
such acts and making such appropria-
tons as will, in the shortest possible
time, and ia the most economical manner,
in all seasons OF the year, secure good
navigable stage of water from the falls of
st. Anthony to the gulf OF Mexico, and,
il practicable, as appears by the recon-.
mendaton OF the senate committee on
transportation routes TO the seaboard,and
by the various reports Of distinguished
and able officers OF the engineer corps OF
the United States, give minimum OF
about five feet from st. Paul to st. Louis,
about eight feet from st, Louis to Cairo,
aud about ten feet from Cairo to New
Orleans.
Resolved, That we respectfully and ur.
gently request congress to adopt such
legislation as will best and most speedily
secure the end in view, and we ask and
insist that in all acts providing TOR the ap.
preparation OF money for internal imprO>
vement the improvement of the nayiga
ton OF the Mississippi river be kept most
prominent as a distinctively national
work, and of equal, il not paramount,
importance to all others, as it will result
in the saving Of millions of dollars both
to producers and consumers annually.
Resolved, That the president OF this
convention select an executive committee
OF nine, whose duty it shall be to prepare
n memorial 10 congress, setting forth
more In detail the views OF this cOnyen,
ton upon this subject, and the necessity
of this improvements call future cOnven-
lions il they deem 1t eXpedient to do so,
and TO conduct and publish statistics
bearing OH this subject for the infOrma.
ton OF the people and OF congress, and in
general to be charged with the work OF
securing unity ofpurpose and harmony
OF action among the states, communities
and localities interested herein. and 10
use all proper means to procure early
and favorable action upon this subject by
congress.
Resolred, That We recognize the ability
and distinguished services Of the officers
of the engineer department OF the United
States, in making accurate and laborious
it tie navigation 81 to PIT the in
issippi river in the past, and while we re.
greet the scantiness OF the appropriations
heretofore made have not been sufficient
to carry forward needed Improvements,
and have greatly crippled and retarded
the work, we recognize that much has
been accomplished in preparing the way
and placing the necessary data at the dis.
posal of congress. We urge upon con.
gresS the necessity, proprlety and econo.
my OF making prompt appropriations tor
this work, in accordance with the est.
mates OF the engineers in charge thereof,
appropriating the amount required to
complete and utilize the Improvements,
section by section, IN accordance with
their detailed estimates and plans for such
improvement.
Resolved, That congress be requested
to cause to be published maps embody.
ing the most recent information and sur
yeys of the upper Mississippi river,
Resolcsd, That as It's banks on the
lower portion OF its channel will not
bear without distinct abrasion, largely
due to the increase Of steamboat wares
in transporting, the commerce OF the
States that lie upon and beyond Its wa.
ters, the servitude of easement OF navi,
cation, 1t becomes the duty of the gen.
eral government to levee and protect it
from crevasses, and the people who
have their homes and fields upon Its
banks from inundation.
Besolced, That in the prosecution of
the improvements OF the Mississippi
river, as requested In the foregoing res
due regard should always be
had to the protection and conservation
Of the manufacturing interests OF said
river, and to their legitimate develop
ment.
Resotced, That to meet the expenses OF
the work intrustcd to the executive COM
mittee, we recommend that they call
upon the towns. cities and corporations
located on the Mississippi river, or which
are to be benefited, to make eontribu.
tons through chambers of commerce,
boards of trade and other organizations
and We, as members OF tins convention.
pledge ourselves to assist in securing the
necessary funds from our respective To-
calities for prosecuting the work in what
ever manner the executive committee
may deem best,
Resolved, That the secretary of this
convention cause printed copies of these
resolutions TO be transmitted to the
President OF the United States, members
Of congress and heads of departments;
and that all newspapers OF the country
be requested to publish these resolutions.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
On the evening Of the first day of the
opening OF the convention, Hon. John