Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-19
Other Letters.

Other Letters.
Hon. VIM. Window regretted his inability to be
present, but assured the convention of his hearty
sympathy with the objects and purposes of the meet
ing, and pledgM his earnest and undivided efforts
to further the improvement both personally and Of
fcially. He entered into an argument to show that
the harbor the great lakes were improved, the
capacity OF the vessels engaged in transportation
were increased and consequently the cost of trans
porting grain vas decreased. The expenditure for
the purpose 81 making these Improvements was in
significant whei, compared with the advantages to be
obtained. The importance of harbor capable of
floating the largest ships at the head of Lake Supe
rior manifest, when it was understood that the
harbor of Dulnih the only waterproof for Mime
sofa, the granes of the world and the vast mineral
cattle products of the Territories of Dakota and
Montanna, and the region further West. Had it not
been for this port the grain crop of Minnesota would
have been almost yauless during the past two years,
for the fact that there was water route to the
markets of the East tended to keep down the rail-
road freights. Ho held that the ports of New York,
Boston, and others the seaboard, were interested
in the enterprises and would share with the producers
of the West the benefits of cheapened Transports
ton. Conclude g, the Senator says: ''Having long
appreciated the great and growing Importance of the
proposed improvements, and the inaclculabe value
of our national water ways am gratifed to know
that convention mas been called at the capital of
our own State for presenting their claims to the
nation. Wishing you great success in your delibera
tons and tenasng to the eep e and the
named, remalu,'' etc.
HON. Q. CHANDLER.
A letter from II1a. z. Chandler, of Detroit, e1-
planned what had been done on the st. Clair fats
canal. This canal is one and one-third miles in
length with depti, of water of sixteen feet for a
width of two huIdred feet in the middle of the chan
rel the remaining fifty feet on each side having
thirteen feet Of water. This, he sad had cost about
three-fourths of million dollars. Two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars will be needed to improve the
Detroit river. The letter then described what had
haa,p lOya .t,a tbof
the st Mary's river is greatly in need of attention.
its navigation is hazardous that cannot safely be
attempted save by daylight.
SENATOR A'MILLAN.
A letter from Senator Mcmillan, after recounting
the great importance of the work of the convention
said:
''It has heretofore been my privilege as mem Der
of the Senate committee commerce and as men,
Der of the Senate, to vote for the appropriations for
! the improvement of the harbor Of Duluth and for
other improvements on the water route of the lakes
COL. FAEQUAHAR.
COL Farquahar's letter said the canal at the Saut
Ste. Marie is near it's completion, and the WeIand
canal is being enlarged, well as the other canals
on the st. Lawrence. When these works are COM
pleted vessels can be landed at Duluth and other
ports the great lakes and carry their cargoes
direct to foreign markets.
nAJoR J. ALLEN.
Major Aleu- o.thA United States engineers Office
this city, sent very letter. He treated
the Bay of Superior, including the ports of Duluth
and Superior one and declares that that bay is
capable of being made of the best land locked
harbors the lakes. The appropriations heretofore
have been for the construction, extension and re-
! pairs of the piers and dredging only. He urged
! larger appropriations for further improvements.
w GEN. ANDREWS. ~
Y Gen. c. 9. Andrews forwarded an interesting his
lyrical letter. he argued that as there no e1-
Rense in maintaining military force and armed
lob thufo
| shore belonged to not friendly nation, the
government could well afford to make the improve
ments demanded. The absence of all the military
expense owing to arrangement made by
President Monroe in 1878, whereby it stipulated
that Lake Ontario there should be but one vessel
armed with one eighteen pound cannon, and on the
upper lakes two vessels similarly armed. By this
international arrangement the American lake system
had been dedicated to peace The letter then says:
Previous to this arrangement there were nine
British vessels those waters capable of car
| rying 300 guns, though not all were in The
United States had the previous to this "arrange
ment,'' on Lake SUPERIOR twelve vessels with a
capacity of $50 guns; Lake Erie, six vessels
with capacity for l08 guns, and on Lake Champlan
seven war vessels with capacity for hundred
guns, though all OF the vessels of course not
| afoat.
'It is safe to say that, by this statesmanlike and
benefcent disarmament of the northern lakes which
has been in effect over half century the United States
| have saved in naval expenditures more than five
times much would be required to put their
igable capacity within the reasonable requirements
of commerce. Does not such fact render it all the
more imperative on our government, and witho ut
longer delay to improve the northern lake navigation
as fully and thoroughly as practicable -
telegram from Hon. w. D. Washburn, letters
| from Gen Wetze United States engineer at De.
troit, previously published W. Chandler, superin-
tendent of st. Marys canal; Alfred Meads of onton-
agon, also resolutions of the Buffalo board of trade
| previously published) were read.
| On motion of Gen. Sibley the letters were
placed on file and ordered to be printed.
On motion of Geo. e. Keith, Bill King was
| invited to state matter of considerable i'm
| portance. That matter turned out to be an in
vitation to visit and inspect the city of Mime
apolis. The invitation accepted.
Hon. Il. nj. Rice offered a resolution provid-
| ing that all resolutions offered be referred
| without debate, to the committee on resolu-
tons. Adopted.
Mr.. Banning reported, from the committee on
statistics, that the committee would be ready to
report at an early hour in the morning.
Ex-Gov. Marshall stated that the chamber OF
commerce had decided to offer the delegates the
courtesy of a trip over st. Paul. He, therefore,
| thought 1T would be inconvenient to fix abso-
lutely an hour for the trip to Fort Smelling
Minnehaha and Minneapolis, as had further
been contemplated.
The whole matter was referred to the joint
committee of the cities of st. Paul and Mime.
apolis.
/ The convention then adjourned to meet at
o'clock this morning at Music Hall, which is
better heated than the Opera House.
/ The Committee on Resolutions.
After adjournment of the convention, the
committee on resolutions met in the chamber
of commerce The session was prolonged fol