The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-10-31
The Mississippi River improvement
Convention.

QUINCY. ILL.,. Oct. l0.-The Missis-
sippi River Improvement Convention. which
assembled here yesterday. was well attended
BY representative men from the vufious
states ~ the Mississippi Valley, the bulk ~
the delegates. however, being from Minne-
sofa, Iowa and Missouri. Mr.. -. "A. brown
i'm made an address ~ welcome on hclialf
az the citizens ~ Quincy, aitcr which Gov.
Cullom 81 Illinois made a brief address
stating the Objects ~ the Convention.
lion. T.. u. Stannard ~ Missouri was
chosen President, and upun taking Inc chair
said. among other things, that this tunsen-
tioa had come together 70 a>N the Congress
of the Inllrd States 10 make a sufficient APP
preparation out OF the National Ireasur, 10
narrow the channel 81 the river where Il was
wide and shallow, or In some way make IL
50 that the waters ~ the Mississippi
and its tributaries could be utilized Tor
transportation purposes. Ihi> ucelar stion
was warmly applauded. lie claimed that
the Eads Jcttie- nave proved success. and
that all difficulty Al the mouth had thereby
been overcome. Brief addresses were also
made By senator Window and Others. Capt.
John n. Cowdcn Of Missouri gave the Con-
yention description of his plans, illustrated
by diagrams, Tor the Improvement Of the
river navigation generally and the removal
OF ~and-barS In particular Mr.. flatt H..
Walker, Of Minnesota. followed with an ex-
position 81 his reservoir system o. supplying
water sufficient 10 hoat steamers ~ low
stages Of the Mississippi.
The Committee on Resolutions presented
two reports The majority report sets forth
the fact that
velop the resources. augment the wealth and
facilitate the commerce of the whole country.
and demands wise and liberal treatment AZ
the hands 81 Congress; that the Improvement
OF the Mississippi andit- nasigable tributaries
- Of paramount importance. because the
great bulk Of commerce and wealth l. cen
tered there, that While. since the foundation
Of the country, >luo.No.uuv has been expended
on rivers and hnrb0rs. not one-tenfh ~ that
sum has been spent IN tho Mississippi
Valley, that the extraordinary forciSn
demand for our cereals, cotton and
provisions increases yearly. and that
every avenue for cheaper transit Tor them
should be encouraged. thus tending 10 make
Us the most prosperous nation AZ the world
The resolutions express qualification AZ tie
action 81 the last Congress IN appointing an
Engineering Commission tor the survey ~ the
Mississippi River and tributaries, which bodies
OF water parts Of one system united and
unDroken. They favor rs~crs Dir system on
the waters OF the Upper Mississippi, whereby
surplus Of water may be stored until low
pronihit the construction of private wharye~
and thu throwing Of debris, cinderS. etc. HE n
may form sand bars, into the Mississippi or
it, tributaries. Private SpcculAtorr should
not b. allowed 20 profit by improvements
made by the GOVERNING nt 10 the dctriment ~
the public. and cities should not bc allowed to
use water power created BY the Improvement
OF rivers for local manufacturing and me
clIAnicai purposes Apcrmancnt commission
0f three Representatives from each state Dor
dctlng ON the Ni~-i~~ippi River and IL nafl-
gable tributaries >nolld be appointed by their
Gov errors 10 promote tie iinprottiie nt ~
said rivers for commerce, 80 ~ 70 best dement,
the whole country The President should -
lecs an Executive COMMITTEES u nine 20 pre-
pare a memorial 10 Congress. setting forfiithc
views 81 the Convention. 70 call future ton-
vcnti0ns. and procure favor action BY Con-
greSs.
The minority report was then presented
ON behalf OF the Iowa delegation. They de-
INJURED from the sweeping demand made by
the majority for biz appropriation TOR the
improvement ofeyery little tributary ~ The
Father II Waters. auL planted Themselves
sqrarely on the broad ground, without preIm-
dice or parti>anship, mat the main channels
~ the Mississippi, the Ohio and the
Missouri should be improved, 20 meet
the wants Of commerce, and no
claims for smaller streams should be permit
ted To hamper this demand. The discussion
that followed was quite spirited, but the
Iowa delegates stood alone m opposition 70
the majority report, and the latter was adopt
ell without change
The delegates 10 the Convention were hos
pItably entertained by the citizens 81 Quincy
during their stay. and this evening a grand
banquet was given. followed by q ball.