The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-05-25

ones. For it is cheap transportation, OF
not cheap transportation that Is the ques-
ton"
And what is said of Chicago is equally
true of New York, Albany Buffalo. Tsle-
| do, Cleveland, Detroit and other interme-
diate points.
And my friends, the cost of the construo
| ton of the Hennepin canal in comparison
| with the certain benefits to be enjoyed is
insignificant. / am not informed of the
amount of surplus produce annually ex-
ported from the Northwest, neither can ]
estimate how large scope of country
would patronize this canal when built; but
do know that il we can secure an all
| water route to Chicago via the Hennepin
canal, the slack water of the Illinois river
to LaSalle, and thence to Chicago by the
Michigan and Illinois canal, saving will
result of about onehalf upon every poun
of grain that is shipped, over the present
railroad rates. This statement is made
upon the authority of the report made to
the Senate of the United States, April "A,
1874, by a select committee, appointed by
that body to investigate and make a report
on transportation routes to the seaboard.
And they further report that 1.-The Henne-
pin canal would be the cheapest canal ey-
er constructed in the United States.
Gentlemen, to-day this hall is the ear of
the Nation; we have no difference of opin-
ion, we have no dead lock, no solid south
or divided north, but, prompted by a COM
mon necessity, and animated by common
desire to relieve the horny hand of toll, we
will do our best to act fairly prudently
and wisely If we do so, have no fears
of the result. That we must have more
H. Of
not be denied; and as [ do not think we
have arrived at the happy millennium
'Fwhen the wolf shall dwell with the lamb and
the leopard lie down with the kid" | am
in favor of improving our reliable naviga-
bic, natural water ways, and constructing
such artificial ones as seem economical and
practical, but L am not in favor of Con-
gress donoting money TO improve small
streams so that smaller men can be return
ed to Congress.
Gentlemen, / fear have committed waste
upon your patience and my only apology
is my zeal and earnestness. / have long
since been impressed with the importance
of the Hennepin Canal project; that inn
preston has grown into conviction, and
in conclusion | thank you most sincerely
for your indulgence, and before this mighty
audience beg that you take such action
as will result in the speedy construction
of the Hennepin Canal, the purpose for
which this convention was called
The predictions made in this paper, that
the convention would be anything but
harmonious, was proved true from the be-
ginning of the proceedings, and a fight at
once began over the appointment of the
different committees An animated dis
cussion at once took place which immedi
ately divided the convention into two
parties.
The committees appointed were as fol-
lows:
Credentials George L. Adams, Illinois;
n. Durley, Hennepin; James s. Hurley,
Iowa; J. Godfrey, Iowa; J. Benjamin,
Wisconsin; j. G. Prather, Missouri; j. L.
Walker, Ohio; Palmer, Michigan; Melon
aid. Minnesota.
Organization and Rules - ]. c. Dore,
Chicago; G. d. Clark, Peoria; Craig Alex
ander, Missouri; Plat B. Walker, Mime
sofa; NJ NJ Howard, Ohio; P B. LOOMS,
Michigan; John Van Valkenburg. Iowa;
John L. Coffin, Iowa; Jonn De Lake, Min
nesota.
Adjourned till two o'clock.