The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-28
THE RIVER IMPROVEMENT CON.
VENTTON.

The following important circular concern
Ing river improvements was received yester-
day BY Mayor Patton:
The flfteeath day Or October is the day for the
above convention to be held at Quincy. Illinois.
1t is the manif Guty OF the officials "A the va,
board. Of trades Of the various ottlens.sit4ated
On the Missi. sippi Missouri and Ohio rivers.
and their navlg. bic tributaries. to do al Ia
Many prominent members OF each House OF
Congress have pledged themselves TO attend
the convention. to hear from the delegates OF me
various States, Territories cities ana boards
Of tt de themselves. the interests TO be benefited
thereby. and an epitome OF the improvements
such interests have right 70 demand: oh s..to
II is of the utmost Importance That each Mate.
Territory. city aud board OF trade shonl' pc
represented By able gentlemen who not only
understand the interests involved. but who have
needed river improvements to meet the re-
quirements of commerce to the members OF
gent i'm portance 80 that they will feel II both Q
pleasn 70 ard u duty to work and vote fOr sucn
improvements In Congress.
The area Of these great valleys aggregate two
| millions OF square miles OF the most productive
| land In the world. The annual produce Of tnls
land 81 the tine Is O nhe yahs q
will increase incalculHbly. 49,
the navigabfe isnkth q said rivers End thelE
Of eishteen 81 tss and three Territories are
laved By their waters. To further eDitonize
4 the production OF this area II may not De out
81 place to state that abon' 30 per cent of the
| cereals 70 per cent Of the cotton, tobacco ana
| meat Of the United States are produced ia
these valleys II, therefore. behooves all inter-
| sisted to lend their hearty cooperation to 1m-
| prove these great natural arteries OF COM
| merce 80 as to hold the railroad monopolie5 10
check and give to the hardy sons Of the soil me
full fruit Of their labor, by providing for them
the cheapest of all-water Transportation. .,u
The supreme question OF the hour pressing
| for satisfactory solution upon the people OF
| this country Ia that Of transportation. me
4 tremendous struggle for commercial aupreIna-
cy now being waged by leading nations u a
question which must be dealt with promptly
and honestly. Whatever plan will secure per,
carriage should engage tho attention 81 Con
Rress more than any other one question no"
i before them.
The producers of the great staples OF export
In these valleys are dependent upon transpor,-
tation lines for the economical facilities Wblch
alone will enable them to become sncoessIu
4 producers. They obtain q fair aud assured r.
muneration for labor aud investment whenever
they ara abba to secure the benefits OF rivalry
between rail and water frelxnts. and only then
The hopes OF our manufacturing ana sRTl,
cultural interests depend upon fostering ano
improving BY all means within re aeh the water
routes Of thase Rr eat valleys and being further
from the river to the gulf, either by 1et.ies OF
canals, or both will err able bargs lines and rivel
steamers to conne t with ocean vessels o. lnt
LARGEST tonnage, and maintain throughout ~
year successful competition with the gre =
trunk ltnea eeDtering on the Atlantic seaDoard
and forever ilsnre cheap transpoG5taTu'oInas y
Chairman Committee on River improvement
l Convention.
Quincy. Iii, September 49, 1879.