The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-10-17


ton on these great national highways @
: national cummerce. would respectfully
submit for the consideration of the con
ventlon the following resolutions:
Res0tued, 1st, That the River improvement
Convention now assembled, representing State
having for its object the consideration of the Mis-
slsslppl and Ohio rivers and their navigable tribu
taries, as measure that tends to deyeiope the re
sources, to augment the wealth and to facilitat
the commerce of the whole country, deem 1t prope
at the outset to declare that the usefulness o
these rivers to the industrial, agricultural ant
commercial interest of the country demands at tn,
hands of Congress, a wise md vigorous policy il
making the adequate appropriations for improving
and developing water ways between the interior O
the continent and the seaboard for the purpose O
tons and developing the resources of the coHntr,
and opening up the markets of the world. to allow
that thas commercial & saPremacy to which we are en-
Resot0ed, That the Improvement of the Missis
siPpi river and its navigable tributaries for com
mercial purposes is 80 paramount to all questions
OF public policy, now under consideration by the
people of the United States; that great bulk oi
Mississippi valley which covers two-tbirds of the
area of our country and now contains more than
ton of our government up to 1876 there have been
expended $109,375 .S22 for river and harbor i'm
provements, of which snm less than one-tenth has
been expended upon the rivers of the Mississippi
| valley; therefore be il further
| ResOtUed In the light of these facts, that it is
the dHty of our National Government to make ap-
propriations ADEQUATE to the needs and commen-
surate with the just rights OF the people of the
Mississippi Valley. and we demand that Congress
shall cooperate with Them in giving effect these
wisely devised measures, which have for their OBJ
ject larger. better and cheaper facilities TO- inter
state transportation and development of our do
ResoEUed, Sd, That the extraordinary foreign de-
mand for our breadstuffs. cereals, cotton and pro-
visions increasing each year in their magnitude,
demand that every avenue for their cheap and rapid
speedily opened to accommodate the traffic which
will, ifwsey presented, make of the United States
OF America, the most prosperous country on the
ReSoEUed, 4th, That we hail with the greatest
pleasure the action of the last session of Congress
resulting In an appointment OF an engineering
commission for the Mississippi river and its trlbu-
taries giving assurance that these great waters
are contemplated in the light of one united and
unbroken system of water ways, and they are to be
improved as such, and that in asking appropria-
tons for the improvement of the Mississippi river
and its tributaries, we have prescribed plans.
and experience of the able corps of engineers of
the United States army who have the work of i'm
provement in charge.
Res0loed 9Th, That we favor the establishment
of the reservoir system on the waters of the Upper
Mississippi River, whereby the surplus of water
ing it when needed for navigation.
ResotUed, 9th. That general act Of Congress
ehould be passed forbiddng the construction of
private wharves, throwing or placing of debris,
chips, sops, saw dust ashes. cinders, any other
matters which form or aid in forming sand bars or
other distractions into the Mississippi river or any
navigsble tributaries of the same.
ResotUed 7th, Tha it is contrary to public policy
for the general Government to construct public
improvements at an immense expense and suffer
the to be utilized by private spectators, to
the detriment Of public uses, and this Convention
hereby expresses its opposition to the practice of
allowing cities 10 water power created by the
improvement of rivers for local manufactul ing and
mechanical purposes.
ResotOed, eth, That permanent commission of
three representatives from each State bordering
upon the Mississippi river and its nayigable tribu-
aries, appoipted by their Governors, To promote
poses, would conduce to the best interests OF the
who.e country, and that the Governors of any of
the said States who have not made sach appoint
ments are earnestly requested by this Convention
to do so.
Resotued, 9th, That the President of the conven-
tlon select executive committee of nine together
with the President of this convention, whose duty
1t shall be to prepare memorial Congress, set
ting forth more in detail. the views of this conven-
ton upon the subject of the Improvement of the
channel OF tie Mississippi river and its tributaries
to eau future convention II they deem il expe-
dient to do soto collect and statistics
ing on the subject for the Information of the peo
means to procure early and favorable action upon
this subject by Congress
(signed)-s F CoVington, hle; Jas W Dawes, T
Picket, n Nebraska; Eugene Underwood Kentucky;
Lempke, n Ramer, indiana; VIM Crooks,
VIM King, Minnesota; Robt w Leigh, Arkansas
Chas Seymour, Wisconsin; j Stephouse JohnL
Bobinger' Missouri; c Z Hooker, & K Marshall,
Mississippi.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
The minority presented the following:
he object and purposes of this convention
being 10 urge upon Congress the CONNER
cial necessity of improving the Mississippi,
Missouri and Ohio rivers so that they may
be navigable at low stage of water and
that while this convention recognizes the
paramount importance of the speedy and
adequate improvement of the main chan
nels of these rivers, we are of the opinion
that such result should be accom- mplished
on its merits, which are amply sufficient
To commend it to the favorable coDsidera-
ton of all reasonable men and this con-
vention is opposed to unnecessarily spend
ing large sums in the Improvement of
unimportant tributaries TO secure an 10
huence for the Improvement of the three
main rivers, great as may be the necessity
tor the Improvement OF the main channels
of the three rivers named. ttet necessity
should not be met by squanderiug millions
Of dollars on minor and unimportant
streams; therefore, be il
ResolUed, That we, the representatives of thir-
teen States IN Convention ssembled, dc hereby
urge upon Congress the importance of making
liberal appropriations for the improvement OF the
main channel OF the three rivers named
(Signed) FRANK HATToN.
j. H. MURPHY.
After a protrac,ed debate the minority
report was rejected and the report by the
majority adopted. and the Convention ad
journed SINE die