Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-05-05
The French Broad River improvement.

At convention of the citizens of Sewer
county, held at the courthouse in Sewer
vile, May 2nd 1881, the following proceed
ings were had, to-wlt: The convention was
called to order by W. c. Murphy, who stated
the object of the meeting, in a short speech,
to be to take action to secure change in
the method by which the French Broad
River is being improved; and, on motion,
W. c. Murphy was made chairman, and NJ
B. McMahar, secretary, of the meeting.
The meeting was then addressed by Hon.
JOS c. McAndrew and D. P Gass, ESQ.,, for
short time. 1t was moved and carried that
a committee of five be appointed to draw up
resolutions expressive of the sense of this
| convention in regard to the matter under
conside1at on. AS such committee, the
chairman appointed NJ. w. McCown, d. P.
Gass, Jno. Kelly, Pink Naples and +. FL.
Andes, with instructions to report lmmedl-
ately.
On motion, the names of W. r. Turner and
| the secretary were added. Said committee,
after de1.Deration. reported the following:
Whereas, Congress, two years ago, made
an appropriation of very considerable
amount of the public money for the pur-
pose of cleaning out and making navi9able
the French Broad River from it's mouth to
Leadvae, which amount SO appropriated
has been expended on the river between the
towns of cambridge and Leadvale; and
Whereas, In the judgment of this con-
vention, said expenditure has been of no
practical benefit to any part of the section
of country which it was intended should be
benefited thereby, for the reason that the
river, below the point where the work of
improvement ceased, has remained as be-
| fore, obst cucted and unfit for navigation
and,
Whereas, Congress, at It's last session,
made an appropriation Of a much larger
sum Of the public moneys to be expended
in the extension completion of
the work of cleaning out said river within
the limits above named. And
| Whereas, We are informed that it is the
intention of the authorities having said work
in charge to commence the same at the
point where the improvements made under
the fist Appropriation stopped and to con-
t.nue it down the liver. And,
Whereas, If the work of improving the
river is carried on in that way, it is greatly
feared that it will result in no good to the
| people who are directly interested in the
river as a public highway. And,
Whereas, II the work of Improvement is
commenced at the mouth and continued up
the Ever. it Will be of incalculable benefits
to all persons having occasion to navigate
| the same, whether the moneys appropriated
be sufficient to complete the entire work of
cleaning out the river or not. Now there
fore, be it
| Resolved, That we here enter our earn
est protest against this unjust, injudicious,
and unwise expenditure of the public moneys
appropriated for the improvement of our
| river.
Resolved, That It is the sense of this
| convention thai the programme of said work
should be so changed as to begin at the
mouth of the river, in order that all who are
concerned in the improvement thereof may
receive The benefit of whatever work is done
IN that direction, and as fast as it is done.
| Resolved, That we earnestly urge it upon
our Representative in Congress, the Hon
L. G. Houk, that he use his best exert.ons
to effect said change jn the conduct of the
improvement OF the river. as a matter of
simple justice to all his constituents who
may be, in any way, interested in the work
Resolved, That the chair appoint COM
mIttee of seven, whose duty it shall be to
correspond and otherwise use their influence
| with the Hon. L. G.. Houk, and the depart
ment having said work in charge in order
to secure the change in the mode of carry
ing out the improvements above Indicated
and that the committee report their action
IN the premises to the next meeting of this
| convention.
Resolved, That the secretary furnish a
copy of the proceedings of this meeting to
the Knoxville Daily CHRONICLE for publica-
ton, with request to the rest of the Knox
vile papers and the cambridge Watchman
and Reporter to copy.
The preamble and resolutions were adopt
ed unanimously.
The chair appointed on the committee of
seven, W. r. Turoer, E. M. Wynn, NJ W.
McCown, B. M Chandler, John w. Andes
and ID. z. Gass, and, on motion the chair
was added to said committed
The convention then adjourned, to meet at
the courthouse, on the first Monday in June,
at IL IN. W. c. MURPHY,
Chairman.
W, B. MoMAHAN, Sec'y.