River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-10-18
THE RIVER CONVENTION.
Movement for the Improvements of ia.
Mississippi Silver.


The Mississippi River Improvement
Convention met in the Opera House, St.
Panl, on the 18th and l2th insts. A
large number of delegates were present
from st. Louis, New Orleans and many
Of the leading intermediate points, Hon.
Joseph Brown of st. Louis, was chosen
permanent president, and the following
committee on resolutions selected:
Wisconsin-Charles Seymore, w. T. Price.
lllinois-D, 5. Harris, Vim. Brown.
Iowa--W. w. Blake, Edward Russell.
Missouri ohm Hogan, ID. Nj. Chambers.
Louisiana l.. a. Bush, John w. Augustin.
Minnesota e. NJ Wilson, j. Ham Davidson
At large-d. NJ Rice, Of st. Paul.
During the afternoon the committee
reported the following resolutions which
were considered at length and finally
adopted in the following form.
WHEREAS, The Mississippi river has from
the earliest settlement of the country been
recognized by all treaties with foreign ma
tons, and by congressional and State legisla-
ton as a great national common highway"
and is in fact the great natural artery of COM
merce for vast area of country, its converg
ing water courses draining in whole or part
eighteen great States of the Union and inter
secting the most fertile agricultural States of
the West and South, which seek his as the
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the world; ard
WHEREAS, The lessening of the cost of
transportation between the producer and con-
sumner is one Of the great problems of the age,
which If successfully solved would benefit
our whole country, and the general govern
ment having already commenced the inn
proyement Of this great national highway by
the construction of jetties at the mouth of the
river and of the Des Moines rapids canal and
of various other Improvements leaving com
paratively small expenditure necessary to
thoroughly improve the navigation of the
river from st. Paul to New Orleans; now,
therefore, be ii
RESOLVED, LIST. That we, as representatives of
the agricultural, manufacturing, commercial,
industrial end navigation interests of the val
ley of the Mississippi, in convention assembled,
urge upon congress the pressing necessity of
passing such acts and making such appro-
priations as will in the shortest possible time,
and in the most economical manner, in all
seasons ofthe year secure a good nayigable
stage of water from st. Paul To the Gulf of
Mexico, and If practicable, as appears by. the
the recommendation tof the senate committee
on transportation routes TO the seaboard, and
by the various reports ofdistinguished and able
officers of the engineer corps of the United
States, give q minimum of about five feet from
st. Paul to st. Louis; about eight feet from
st, Louis to Cairo; and about ten feet from
Cairo to New Orleans,
Resolred, ID That we respectfully and ur-
gently request congress TO adopt such legis-
lation rs will best and most speedily secure
the end in view, and we ask and insist that in
all acts providing for the appropriation of
money for i Internal improvement, the i'm
prOVement of the navigation of the Mississippi
river be kept most prominent as adistinctively
national work, and of equal if not of para
mount importance TO all others, as it will re-
suit in the saving of millions of dollars both
TO producers and.ronsumers annually.
ReS|ted Sd That the president of this con-
ventiOn select an executive committee Of nine
whose duty it shall be to prepare memorial
to congress setting forth more in detail the
views of this convention upon this subject and
the necessity of this improvement; to call
future conventions and publish statistics bear
ing on this subject, for information Of the
people and of congress, and in general TO be
charged with the work of securing unity of
purpose and harmony OF action among the
States, communities. and localities interested
herein, and TO use all proper means to pro-
cure early and favorable action upon this
subject by congress.
Res0lleti 4th. That we recognize the abil-
ity and distinguished services of the officers
of the engineer department OF the United
States in making accurate and laborlous sur
veys and estimates looking 10 the improve
ment Of the navigation of the Mississippi river
in the past, and while we regret that the
seantiness of appropriations heretofore made
have not been sufficient to carry forward
needed improvements, and have greatly Grip
pied and retarded the work, we recognize that
much has been accomplished in preparing the
way and placing the necessary data at the
disposal Of congress- and we urge uTon con-
gress the necessity prOpriety and economy of
making prompt appropriations for this work
in accordance With the estimates of the en-
glneers in charge thereof, appropriatng the
amount required to complete and utilize the
improvements, section by section, in accord
ance with their detailed estimates and plans
for such improvements.
ReSolucd 5th, That congress be requested TO
cause to be published, maps embodying the
most recent information and surveys of the
upper Mississippi river.
RESOLVED 9th. That In the prosecution OF
the improvements of the Mississippi river, as
requested in the foregoing resolutions, due
regard should always be had to the protection
and conservation Of the manufacturing inter-
ests of the said river and their legitimate de-
yelopment.
RESOLVED, 9TH That the secretary of this
convention cause printed copies of these reso-
buttons 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.