The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-09-30
CHARLES E, Cox,

The 10th day OF October Is the day fixed
for the above Convention, 10 be held at
Quincy, Illinois. II the manifest duty
Of the officials of the various States and
Territories Mayors and Boards Of
Trades Of the various cities@situSted on N
the Mississippi, Missouri aud Ohio rivers,
and their navigable tributaries, to do all
in their power TO make the Convention a
success.
Many prominentmembers OF each House
ot Congress have pledged themselves 70
attend the Convention, to hear from the
delegates OF the various States, Territories,
Cities and Boards Of Trade themselves, the
interests to be benefited thereby, and an
epitome Of the improvements such inte.
rests have right to demand.
It Is OF the utmost importance that each
State, Territory, City and Board Of Trade,
should be represented by able gentlemen
who not only understand the interests in.
yolVed, but who have the faculty to make
known the nature OF the needed river
improvements to meet the requirements Of
commerce to the members Of Congress
present, and to press on them It's urgent
importance, SO that they will feel 1t both q
pleasure and duty to work and vote for
such improvements In Congress.
The area Of these great valleys aggre-
gate two millions OF square miles OF the
most productive land in the world. The
annual produce Of this land at the present
time Is OF the value Of hundreds Of mill.
ions OF dollars, and in the future will in.
crease incidentally.
The navigable length OF said rivers and
their tributaries Is at least 14,000 miles.
The shores OF eighteen States and three
Territories are layed by their waters. To
further epitomiEe the production OF this
area It may not be out OF place to state
that about 90 per cent. OF the cereals-90
per cent OF the cotton, tobacco and meat
OF the United States are produced in these
valleys. It therefore behooves all inter.
ested 10 lend their hearty cooperation 10
improve these great natural arteries OF
commerce, so as to hold the railroad
monopolies in check and give to the hardy
sons Of the soil the full fruit Of their labor,
by providing for them the cheapest OF ali
water transportation.
The supreme question OF the hour press.
ing for o satisfactory solution upon the
people OF this country Is that OF transporta.
tion. The tremendous struggle for com.
mercial supremacy now being waged by
leading nations. is a question which must
be dealt with promptly and honestly.
Whatever plan will secure permanent
and cheaper the cost of car
riage should engage the attention OF Con-
gress, more than any other one question
now before them.
The producers Of the great staples OF ex.
port in these valleys are dependent upon
lines for the economical IA.
cilities which alone will enSble them to
become successful producers. They OBJ.
tain fair and assured remuneration for
labor and investment whenever they are
able to secure the benefits OF rivalry be-
tween rail and water freights, and only
then.
The hopes Of our manufacturing and
agricultural interests depend upon ioster-
ing and improving, by all means within
reach, the water routes Of these great val
leys, and being further supplemented BY
deep and permanent outlets from the river
TO the gull, either by ietties or canals, or
both, will enable barge lines and river
steamers to connect with ocean vessels OF
the largest tonnage, and maintain through
out the eyearsucce competition with the
great trunk lines centering on the Atlantic
seaboard, and forever insure cheap trans.
portation. CHARLES e. Cox.
Chairman Committee on RirT improvement
ConrentiOn.