Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-27
DITCH DIGGERS.
SECOND DAY OF THE DAVENPORT
CONTENTION.
A Series of Resolutions Adopted-Recom-
mending the Hennepin Canal Scheme
But to be Subordinate to the Improve
ment of the Mississippi River-Miscel-
laneous Proceedings.

DAVENPORT, May 90. - The second days
session of the Northwestern river and canal
Improvement convention was largely attended,
there being over 400 present. After spirited
colloquy between ex-Goy. Stannard, of Mis-
souri,, and ex-Gov. Bross, Of Illinois, supple
mented by remarks from Julius C. Starr, OF
Peoria, and Hon. John Hogan, of st. Louis,
each in favor of the improvement OF particular
waterways in their vicinity, the committee
On resolutions reported as follows:
This convention, representing the people of
the Mississippi Valley of the Northwest, in
pursuance to call, and in furtherance of
their purposes thereof, unanimously declare:
First-The Congress of the United States
should devise by law and sustain by liberal
and efficient appropriations, a system
of cheap transportation by water routes con-
Meeting the Mississippi river and its tributa-
ries with the Eastern Atlantic seaboard and
Gulf of Mexico.
Second--It has been the policy of Congress
and the desire of the people of the Northwest
for many years, to inaugurste and complete a
system Of water channel improvement, having
the Mississippi for its base. That to give
greater efficiency to this policy there should
be constructed from the Mississippi river on
the most direct and feasible route to the nli-
nois river at Hennepin, thence to the lakes at
Chicago, canal adequate to the present and
future transportation needs of the people.
Such work of internal improvement is an i'm
perative necessity for relief from expensive
freight rates on produce, and that the work SO
long needed should be Immediately COM
menced.
Third The continued improvements OF the
Mississippi river under the auspices of the
Mississippi river commission, created by act
of Congress, is a work of great national i'm
portance, and Congress ought to promote the
scheme of improvement by most liberal ap-
propriations, and therefore we emphasize and
enforce the united and earnest demand OF the
people of the entire Mississippi valley, that
Congress shall make prompt and adequate ap-
propriations for the improvement OF the Mis-
sissippi river and the naviga5le tributaries,
from the falls of st. Anthony to the Gulf of
Mexico, and that the convention has no sympa-
thy with any policy that would depreciate or
hinder this great enterprise of making fully
naviga5le and building up the great commerce
upon this central river-nature's great high
way of the continent.
Fourth-We have, with peculiar satisfac-
tion, witnessed the increasing success of the
barge line system of transportation on the
Mississippi river and its tributaries, and the
relief it gives to producers and shippers in the
Mississippi valley in cheapening freight.
Fifth-We heartily favor the proposed
cession of the Illinois q Michigan
canal, and the Improvements on the Illinois
river by the State Of Illinois, and declare the
Erie canal should be made free of tolls. We
therefore hope for the early success OF the ef-
forts inaugurated to secure these results.
The following resolutions were supplemental
to the report of the committee on resolutions
by Mr.. Russell, and adopted:
Sixth-That the commission under the aus
picies of which this convention has been
called be continued with proviso that Its
membership be enlarged by the selection of an
additional member from each State represent
ed in this body, which additional member
shall be named by the delegates OF the re-
spective States, said commissioner to after
wards select its own Offices and mature its
own organization.
Seventh-The commission when re-
organized as contemplated herein
gentlemen for each State TO present to Con-
gress an appeal for support to the work of in
ternal improvement, which is contemplated
by the foregoing resolutions.
The report was unanimously adopted amidst
cheers.
A running discussion followed on incorpor-
ating the recommendation of canal from
Hennepin to Wabash, but the resolution to
that effect was Overwhelmingly lost.
At noon the convention adjourned, car
riages being in waiting to take the delegates
on pleasure drive.
GUESTS OF THREE CITIES.
DAVENPORT, Ia, May 26.-The delegates to
the canal convention which closed this, noon
became the guests of the cities of Davenport,
Rock Island and Moline this afternoon. The
company, including members of the press and
the distinguished visitors, numbered nearly
500. They were driven over the island OF
Rock Island and about the cluster OF cities
until 5 P. NJ, when a grand banquet was
spread in shop "A,' of the United States ar
senal. This over, most of the delegates de-
parted on the evening train for home. The
best of good feeling prevails among all who
have been present at the transportation gath
ering
AR ARorNn THE GTORE