Daily globe., 1879-07-23
COMMIT ERCIAL LEAGUE.
THE STATE BECOMING AROUSED At
LAST.
Gathering of the State Commi.tee-A Gem
era1 Determination That Something
Must BE Done-The Duluth Road AL
legged to be Helplessly Gone-Strong Re
port of the Committee Adopted.

Pursuant to the call of the st. Paul chambe
OF commerce, the State convention assembled
yesterday at the capitol to devise or suggest
State system of railway communication de-
pendent upon natural water ways. Represen
tatives were present from all parts of the State
and not few were in attendance from the
lake regions. The delegates were representa-.
tive business men of their respective localities
and IN person and the manner in which pro-
ceedings were inaugurated, indicated that
business was meant in all that it implies. The
delegates were prompt in coming together, and
business was commenced without any prelim-
mary flourish; the object was known and work
was begun.
THE ORGANIZATION.
The meeting was called to order at II o'clock
by Gen H. II. Sibley. Gen. Banning nomi-
mated Hon. Fl. NJ. Rice as temporary chairman,
who being elected assumed the duties of office,
and called for tho election of q temporary
secretary. ' r
Mr.. Wm. Petit, of Minneapolis, was elected
secretary. Gen. Banning nominated Quinton
Campbell for assistant secretary. The GLOBE
being principle opposed to holding office,
thankfully declined the honor.
Thereupon Mr. Mendenhall of Minneapolis,
was honored with the office of assistant secre-
ary.
Mr.. Barning moved to make the temporary
the permanent organization. Carried unani
mously,
President Rice then addressed the conven-
ton, returning thanks for the honor conferred
He remarked that the imp )rtance of this con-
ventiOn could not be over estimated. The
future of Minnesota to no little extent depend
ed upon the action Of this conference. The
Importance Of the route to the sea via the
lakes WAS something which struck everyone.
and t" secure and keep it was a duty incum-
bent upon the Northwest. New York bad ex-
pended 76,0O0,000 to reach the lakes, to bring
to its markets the vast resources in mineral
ard agricultural wealth of that section. Only
few years ago all this vast region was declar-
ed u waste, but now it commanded the ap-
breaches Of the world for it's wealth, within a
few years steamers from Liverpool would
find harbor at the head of Lake
Superior, and 1t behooved Minnesota to see
that such q carrying trade should not escape us.
This convention was to look to securing and
keeping open such line, which would never
pool with Chicago and that monopoly which
was eating up the vital resources of our State.
In conclusion, Mr. Rice again returned his
thanks for the honor conferred upon him.
Mr.. Banning, to obtain the sense Of the
meeting, moved the appointment of commit
tee of ten to present an order of proceeding, or
suggest subjects for discussion and action.
Pending the appointment of the committee,
Secretary Petit read letter from j. B. Botti-
neau, of Red Lake Falls, in winch he heartily
indorsed the objects OF the meeting, stated he
was unable to attend as delegate, but had Sc
cured the services of DR.. H. E. Laffette as dele
gate, who was in hearty accord with all the OBJ
jects of the meeting.
THE LIST or DELEGATES.
At this stage of the proceedings the creden.
tials Of the several delegations were handed in,
as follows:
Taylors Falls-George W. Seymour, Col. j.
p. Owens.
Pine City-W. H. Grant.
sault Ste Marie--Henry W. Seymour Chaun-
ccy Montgomery.
Minneapolis-W. d. Washburn, J.C. Whit
ney, f. g. 0. Morrison, D. Morrison, w. w.
Folwel, VIM. Petit, Leander Gorton. J. A.
Donaldson, j. N. Gross. Richard Chute, v. G..
Hush.
Shakcpee-C. j. Strunk
Superior City, Wis.,. W. Yates. James
Borden, G. W. Perry.
ST. Croix Falls, Wis.-Wm. Nj. Blandiug.
Duluth-Judge o. P. Stearns, DR.. V. Smith,
l.. Mendenhall, G. P. Bailey, r. s. Munger, DR..
l: l.. Maham, VIM. 8. Woodbridge, R. G.
Fond du Lac-B E. Chambers
Foribault-Gordon E. Cole, A. W. McKins-
try Lafayette Emmett, H. W. Bingham.
pson-A. X. Loveioy.
st. Paul-H. M. Rice, Il. H. Sibley, j. W.
McClnng, W. L. Banning A. s. Elfelt, j. Nj.
Gilman. James Smith, Jr., q. Gotzian, d. w,
lngersoll, II. w. Johnson, John Summers,
Alex. Ramsey, E. +. Drake, J. J. Hill, H. A.
Castle, II. P. Hail. +. Driscoll.
Red Lake Falls--H. 4. Laffette.
Besides these delegates large number of
business men were in attendance. Notably
among them were A. B. Stickney, st. Paul &
Tay lors Falls railroad; President Drake, of the
st. Paul 4 Sioux City railroad; Pennock Pusey,
dea. j. Is. Sanborn and many others.
LETTERS OF ENDORSEMENT
Mr.. McClung submitted the following let
ters, which were read by the secretary:
DULUTH, July 81, 1879.
ST. Paul Chamber of Commerce.: With much in
terest have read your proceedings in reference to
cheap transportation. You are right far as the
necessity OF cooperation is concerned to prevent
monopoly In the carrying trade you not righS as
to TIE end or to the MODE to secure tine end. You
may go on and build railroads ad ininitum, to be
gobbled up by stronger corporations. special con-
yention OF the legislature may pass laws nut doos-
day and these corporations will ind means to render
the law imperative. Suppose A. has twenty car
loads of wheat at Jamestown, ON the st. Paul Sioux
road. He contracted to deliver it at Duluth on the
goth day of September, and suppose the combina-
tions you fear have accomplished their organization.
being contrary to their policy, they would furnish
the cars. Their inability is or wonld be "conven-
lent dodge" and subject A. to disastrous loss. We
want no with rival railroad corporations nor with
any particular railroad. We want cheap Transports
tion Minnesota to-day owes to-thirds Of her great
ness to the construction of railroads. We have all
helped to put them in position. They are neces-
siy in modern civilization and where the almighty
dollar governs the people. -Four or FIVE corpora
tons to-day control over 900 miles Of railroad in
roads, and having railroads we must have pendulum
TO regulate them.
Now this pendulum is the regulating power to
which desire to call your attention. Railroads are
creatures Of State laws There is no moral respon-
sibility They can only be reached by Judgment Of
tha courts in dollars and cents.
Whilst they are necessity, as before stated, q
cortry to be prosperous must to certain extent be
independent of them
You cannot ignore the fact that Minnesota must
river by system of slack water navigation from Du-
lnih to the Floodwood river; up the Floodwood
head of West Swan river; thence down aid river to
the Mississippi; thence down the Missis sppi to st.
Paul, making channel with locks of sufficient ca
pacity to accommodate boats drawing six feet OF
water.
With this improvement freight can be transported
from ST. Paul and Minneapolis for $3.50 per ton as
naxltnum figure, and grain in proportion.
This Will settle the whole question. These river
improvements are necessity, and venture pre-.
dicion that the remedy you seek will never be at
tained until they are accomplished.
With great respect, am yours truly,
GEORGE r.. sTUNTz, @. e.
ORoNooo, Mimi, July 81, 1879.
Toy: Mcclung, W. L. Banning and others:
for meeting of the people Of the whole State who
feel interested in the future welfare of people,
to be he'd in st. Paul, July 22d and desiring very
much, but not being abe to be present at tha
time would say that o community fully appre-
cate the condition that st. Paul and the whole north
west part Of the State will be in when the two great
railroad interests of the Northwest have you vel
bottled up for we are just in that position now and
always have been. st. Paul and Minneapolis onl,
sixty-fve miles distant, and a commercial cente
through which we should receive all our supplies OF
merchandise, and through which should pass mos
Of the surplus produce BY way Of Lake Superior t.
the markets of the world, TO entirely inacces
sibe; in other words, we are forced to purchss
all Of cur merchandise of and ship all Of our sur