New-York tribune., 1881-10-28
MISSISSIPPI IMPROVEMENT.

MISSISSIPPI IWHHOI E-HEN l.
WORK OF THE ST. LOUIS CONVENTION
DISCUSSING PLANS TO IMPROVE THE GREAT WATER
THoROUGHFARE-THE PROMOTION OF INLAND
COMMERCE DECLARED TO BE AN IMPERATIVE
DUTY OF CONGRESS.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. PLAT this mornings ses-
sion of the Mississippi River Improvement Convention
the committee permanent organization reported thc
following as officers Of the Conventions freSl'ehV-
Mark H. Dunneu, OF Minnesota; vlce-presideEts-'ohh
r. Adams Arkansas; Thomas T. Allen Alabama;
Ceor0e w Jones Iowa; Eugene Underwood, hentucKE
H NJ Hurley, Indiana George c. Waddell' LOUISIANA
HIT Elicit Tennessee d. &. stockwell, Kansas; u u
Merriman Minnesota Clinton Briggs, Nebraska D. u
Pettierew Dakota; william Wilson, Wisconsin H. D
Osborn New-York; r. c. Grey, Pennsylvania; W. H.
F1eppep Texas: s. T. Covington, Ohio; H. FniertOh'
Illinois James Rollins, Missouri, and Alexander camp
bell West Virginia. Secreary-George L. "rsh'' Oi 0''
Louis.
Upon taking the chair, Mr.. Dunnel made brief adj
dress Communications plans for the Improvement
of rivers etc were then handed in and filed for future
reference Letters were read from Captain james b.
Eads United senatOrelect Gibson Of louisiana senator
Beck of Kentucky se3atGT G9mS1 Gi
General James Congressman r. e. HorF; OF Nl9ngan'
Senator Jonas, of louisiana Senator a"e9 Vi |onuoo
Mr. Robert Of Illinois offered resolutions providing
that the Recommendation of the Convention nCnde Tue
widening and deepening Of the Illinois m I0 ana fgan R1aT IN
canal. and the Improvement Of the iihos htet t to
afford deep channel from Lake Michigan 10 the
A resolution was offered by Edward s. Jones that
recognition lie given practical river mon III cohsut
committees distribute funds for the Improvement oi
William s Price. of Wisconsin, offered resolution
that tho several delegations be declared GonfTS %
fnpress upon Congress the hectsslt o. tpPl 10 ai
n O Stannd Of Missouri, presented series OF esolu-
FTcSange of this city, calling for the immediate i'm
provemen the Mississippi, Missouri ana ONO hFers
and further recommending that appropriations oI eacn
Among the reports presented was by General Gil
t,ft
operations OF that commission III WHhch ne auN loN
ion befweeI Carr and New Orleans is to reduce the
width OF the river at shallow places rms ne pVpoe;E @ ~
do by protecting cayng banks and by causing the IHer
to build banks by system G Pelheape , q! ad
which he explained were TO be built oi poS & %iG WI nd aGI
brush. In this way the bed OF the stream VIII vo
uay raised during the high water season forming new
channel These methods of improvement have been sue
cessfuly applied at various points on the Alssourl
eXSerimenai except in the details Of construction He
said that out OF the !" had been
ordered and il was expected that active Operations
would be started within the coming month upon Oh the
plum Point reach above Memphis, and the Lake Proy
dence reach above yicksburg These two reaGhee con on
stitute aggregate length OF about seVehy S O @
worst navigation below Cairo The works are e1peeef
TO secure low water depth oi ten @ dfei n T'" RhoTh
The CommissOn given especial attention ana STUDY
low Cairo they have carefully inspected the plans Of the
Improvement now in process OF eHSSGSh " upnS 9
that ToriaE Of the stream between ft GSiT% ,se9
conletion viii establish low water navigation, Of not
less han eight feet between Cairo and Louis and St
ibTn5sh T''n AN ,xsion ana enlargement Of the works
the afternoon the committee on RESOLUTIONS lhauo
Tue reprcseuatives of the commercial interest and
agricultural aud other prodaetive dnstfS u ios
missouri believing that the Mississippi River and It's
prepsrea by the Creator for the use Of
,ns 1SusI SsP c s NaoSa doan free all beyond
the reach monopoly, and afOrding to The WAOc Icoe
that competition in transportation winch Dehehls pro
and consumer allke; anu iuftncf, tHdl CHSdI
transportation s The great necessity OF an aetcuurai
people, the Indispensable oonouon OF the easy
ing to distant markets Of their staple pr0Gucts bukS III
proportion to value and thaI Inc da ~ S
IS by water especially applicable to the seII f
from snags TeacnerOus banks, and Other OBJ
staeles navigation DO therefore resolve ana dccarc:
the Government the United States to cause to be mace
such improvement Of the Mississippi kl'ed anu rs Us sS &
and easy navigation thereof, thereby cheapehihS
freighs reducing insurance and other burdens and eA-
penses promoting the vast inland commerce OF the
Nation and creating new avenues Oh iOGgh @ a"1I or1 an
latlon but assuring greater & p[TSRTS and 10 or I demand
Justified IN view OF the donations alfCauy aue @ g Con
gress IN land, amounting TO nearly 2o2O01OOO@ @ aedSs @
bonds, issued or guaranteed, nearly SlOuVOoVOo
more in aid Of artificial highways tnG PE0pedy @ ol %% PR
vate individuals and necessarily tuInishhg even ~
large scat as eosi09 s 600 600 for lie mprovencnt
yet apCG,5S m ad & 70 ot1Tai waterways whose free.
dom imposed or nonopoiyis protected Dy con
stuoral guarantees while the cheap services ana ui
restricted competition they afford s the most eneclnu
corrective OF exOrbant charges OF any route 10 the
eeabOard that the appropriations for such Improve
ents separately made, with Que provision OI
assuring people OF their faithful application 10 inc
same should be adequate 10 the continued prcHecn
fon OF the work, begun until tba same IS nnlsheo
TO avoid the wasteul destruction OF WORK pafty
completed by OF the delay Boppage thereof ior
want of sufficient appropriations -,
Other resolutions approved the creation Of Mississippi
River Commission ahd ihdorsed its action 80 far as II
but strongly expressed regret at the failure OF
the last Congress To make necessary appropriations Tor
the continuance Of the work. .
Another resolution TO the effect That, In the
Judgment of this COEvebon representing the interests
oneaf OF the States and Territories with
population OF than half OF the entire Republic,
paying above per Of the enro internal revenue
Of the Nation, whose internal commerce Is already Que
hall that the whole United States, more than twelve
times greater than the total foreign commerce Of the
Nation larger than the total foreign commerce OF
the world upon whose industry Is this year Levied
by the obstacles safe and navigation OF the
less tax by way increased FREIGHT and insurance
derurrage wrecks aud repairs OF lesS than OOOOOOO
it is the imperative duty of Congress- and the right o
the people for whom this Convention Is authorized 10
speak that the legislation thus wisely begun be mace
ehectual aud permanent, by enlarging the
powers OF the River Commission, 10 in
clude the active prosecution OF works already
recommended then and 10y the regular and separate
apprOpratiOns 10 Of such sums az said
Commisson acting under the reasonable supervision
OF Congress- shall report is necessary that end that
This great and Indispensable work, National in every
sense, shall no longer be delayed"
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NTyE GOVEKNORS AT ATLANTA.