The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-21

sICE, FIVE CENTS.
chain, am not unmindful of the fact that
every avenue that opens up commerce Is to
be fostered by us.
While the great State of New York, In ac-
cordance with common sense and political
economy, has constructed a canal at q cost Of
1854, 710832, over 1908 miles, is 1t unreasonable
| to ask the government to improve a. 900 miles
OF navigable waters, over which she has the
entire Jurisdiction, where her whole people
are Interested that mas cost US nothing to con-
struct2
This river system Is national and Is subject
alone to the control Of Congress, In which no
monopoly can exist, but Is open, free and un-
restrained for all. As q whole, 1t extends
North and South, as great spinal column
from one climate to another, and eventually
Is swallowed up In the Gulf Of Mexico, which
ts the great outlet for this vast territory.
as an illustration Of the fmportance OF this
great work take the commerce OF Mexico. We
find Mexico imported from Europe last year,
In cotton fabric alone, $1O, ,581 $40, while the
United States only furnished $369, ,43S worth,
short distance across the gulf, at our very
doors, and we having the cotton-producnR
States Of the world.
] Yet with an unbroken water channel the
grain products OF this great valley seeks
foreign market by overland transportation,
from our Eastern ports. With our rivers
cleared out, and ocean steamers fostered, we
cannot only become the mistress Of the sea,
but can feed the nations OF the earth.
| Let us for moment compare the statistics
| OF New Orleans before and after the construc-
tion Of the jetties:
Corn received before (bushels). i, ,17s8s1
Corn received after bushelsl. .3.e79.s1e
Increase by jetties tbushels). ....... q bo5 93s
Wheat for shipment before (bushelsJ.. 93.725
Wheat for shipment after tbushels). ...-.- 653.551
Increase In one year tbushels). ....... .s2e
We want no narrow-contracted policy; let
us develop and utilize every section OF our
country.
your Texas and Southern Pacific Railroad.
| abolish the free tone with Mexico, make q.
| new boundary taking due western line from
the southerly point of Texas to the Gulf OF
California, enlarge and expand North and
South, and be what destiny points out as our
| limits.
RESOLUTIONS.
| Resolued. That the River Improvement Com
ysntion, nov Ma-t.s assembled; reDresenting. the
stppi river. having for its object the constdera~
ton of tho Improvement of the Mississippi and
| Ohio rivers and their navigable tributaries, as
to augment the wealth and to facilitate thf,
commerce OF the whole country, deem 1t proper
at the outset to declare that the usefulness Of
these rivers to the Industrial, agricultural and
commercial interests OF the country demands at
the hands Of Congress a wise. liberal and vigor-
for improving and developing the water waTs.
between the interior OF the continent and the
seaboard for the purpose Of cheapening the cost
OF transportation and productions developing
the resources Of the country and opening I'M
the markets Of the world to attain that commer-
ctal supremacy to which we are entitled among
the nations of the earth.
Resolged That the improvement of the Mis-
sissippi river and It's navigable tributaries for
questions Of public policy, now under consid.
Grafton by the people of the United States, that
emanates from the Mississippi valley WHICH
covers tWo-thirds Of the area Of our country.
now contains more than one-haf Of our popu-
ment up to 1876 there have been OK pended $780,
37s 1922 for river and harbor improvements. Of
ened h ryere o a nas been e
Icy, therefore be it further
Resoped. In the light Of these facts that It is
appropriations adequate to the needs and COM
mmensnrate me % with the Just rights Of the people OF
abn VALLEY and + w demand that
effect to these wisely, devised measures which
haye fer Or their object larger better and cheaper
development of our domestic commerce.
Resolued That the extrao rdtnary foreign de-
mand n1.Ii for our breadstuffs cereals cotton and
provisions increasing each year In their mag
nitude. demand that every avenue for their
cheap and rapid transit from the place Of nro-
date trafflc which viii il wisely y Presented. t
make Of the United States Of America the most
prosperous &c country on the face of the globe.
the action OF the last session Of Congress re-
sultng Il in II the appolntnent Of an engineering
sissippi river and Its tributaries, as giving ag-
snrance that these great waters are contem-
plated in the light Of one united and unbroken
proved as such and that ir asking appropria- 1o %
ton for the Improvement Of the Mississippi
river and m Its tributaries. we have no prescribed
plans. but We leave this subject entirely to the
Judgment and experience OF the able corps of
engineers Of the United States army who have
ResolUed That we favor The establishment Of
q reservoir system on the waters Of the Upper
81 un he yw sps Of
utilizing it when needed for navigation.
shos Be- passed t Ct
Of private wharyes. the throwing or placing Of
debris, chips sloDs. saWdust. ashes, cinders or
any any other matters which form or aid in form
Mississippi river. or any of the nayigable trf-
butaries Of the same.
ior the general government to construct public
improyements M at immense expense. and to
atne suer 70 the ,S same to be utilized by private seeu
this convention hereby expresses its Opposition
TO the practice Of all owing cities to use water
power pow created by the improvement Of rivers for
Resoped That a nermannnt aa,a RuT poses1
three representatives from each State border
Ing upon the Mississippi river and its naviga~
pie tributaries. appointed by their Governors.
70 promote the improvement Of said rivers for
commercial PURPOSES would conduce to the
6 Pest interests Of the whole country, and that
Governors .Ia @ OF any OF said States who have not
duested by this convention to do So
:, Resoloed. That the president OF the conyen-
tion select an executive committee of nine (to-t
gether with the president Of this conventionl
whose duty 1t shall be to prepare memorial to
Congress setting forth more in detail the views
provement Of the channel OF the Mississinnf
river and Its tributaries, to call future conyef1-
lect and publish statistics bearing on the smb-
lect. for the information the people and of the
government; ana to use all further means to
subject to Congress. 1NoA 'nAo
"a Ihe n resolutions were approved by a vote Of