The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-10-28

1
Is especially applicable to the grea
water ways OF this country, provided tn
same be kept free from snags, sand ban
treacherous banks and other obstacles /
navigation; do, therefore
ReSolre aud Declare, Fro, that 1t
the manifest and imperative dut,
Of the Government OF the Unitet
States to cause to be made sucl
improvement OF the Mississippi riyeI
and Its navigable tributaries as shall per
manently secure safe and easy navigation
this navigation thereof thereby cheapeninl
treights and reducing insurance and othel
burdens and expenses, promoting the vas
commerce OF the nation and creating new
avenues OF foreign trade, and thus not only
inviting increased production and popula
ton but assuring greater prosperity to the
whole people. Especially IL this duty OBJ,
vious and our demand justified in view Of
the donations already made by Congress,
inland amounting to nearly 100000, ,OOG
acres, and in bonds issued or guaranteed,
nearly 10000, 900 more in aid Of artificial
highways and the property of private indl,
yiduals and necessarily furnishing, even at
the lowest rates, tic most costly form oi
transportation on large scale US com
pared with the appropriation, not yet
amounting TO $25, 100000 in all, for tho I'M
prOvcment Of $1,000 miles OF natural water
ways whose freedom from tax imposed, or
monopoly, Is protected by constitutional
guarantees, while the cheap services and
unrestricted competition they afford Is the
most eheCtual, and corrective OF exorbi-
tant charges OF any route to the sea board,
and that the appropriations for such i'm
provements should be separately made,
with due provision for assuring the people
OF their faithful application to the
same, and should be adequate to the con.
tinued prosecution Of the work at once
began until the same Is finished, so as to
avoid the wasteiul destruction OF the work
partly completed by reason Of the stoppage
thereof for want Of sufficient appropria-
tlOns; and be It further
ReSOlred, That this convention recognizes
with extreme satisfaction and emphatic
approval In the net Of Congress OF June 98,
1870, for the appointment Of u Mississippi
River Commission, and In the comprehen-
sive and scientific surveys and important
recommendations made by the distin.
gnished engineers appointed on that COM
mission, rs set forth In their reports OF Feb
ruary 18th, 1881, the first well considered
and eiteCtual step towards the complete and
permanent opening Of the Miss issippi Val.
ley to the markets Of the world, but would
also strongly express Its regret at the re-
fusal OF the last Congress, after creating
said commissions and notwithstanding the
deliberate and emphatic approval Of their
plans by the House Committee on I'm
prOvementof the Mississippi to appropriate
tho amount estimated md recommended
by said commission for doing the work, by
them carefully laid out and proposed; and
be II further
ReSOlred, That In, the deliberate and
earnest judgment Of this Convention, dele.
gated to represent the interests In tliat be.
halt OF more than onG.half the States and
territories Of the Union, inhabited by more
than one-half Of It's population, from whom
Is collected above seventy per cent Of the
entire internal revenue OF the nation, whose
internal commerce Is already One.lalf
that Of the whole United Sites; more than
twelve times greater than the total foreign
commerce OF the nation, land more cargoes
than the total foreign Commerce Of the
world; but upon whose industry Is this year
levied by the obstacles TO the safe and easy
navigation Of the Mississippi river and lis
navlgable, tributaries, b needless Indirect
tax by way OF increased freights and in.
stiranCc, demurragc, wrecks and repairs OF
not less than l000O,000 dollars. II is the
imperative duty OF Congress and the right
Of the people for whom this convention Is
authorized to speak, that the legislation
thus wisely: begun be made eifectual
and permanent by enlarging the powers
OF the river commission 10 include the
prosecution OF the works already
recommended by them, and by the
regular and separate appropriations
from year to year Of such sums
as said commission, acting under a
reasonable supervision OF Congress, shall
report as necessary to that end, 10 that this
great and Indispensable work national
In every sense, shall no longer be delayed
and be II further
Resolred, That the scientific and com.
prehensivo system Of river improvement
by competent commission thus inau.
glirated should be applied to tho complete
and permanent improvement and main
tenance Of the navigable tributaries OF the
great river, and be II further
Retolyd, That this Convention reeog.
nizes with great satisfaction the benefits al.
ready resulting TO navigation. OF the Miss
issippi river and its principal tributaries
by tie extension Of the light house system
thereto, and expresses the earnest
hope that the partial lighting Of
those rivers may be speedily enlarged by
increasing the number OF districts and
lights to such m extent as the light house
board, In consultation with the river COM
mission, shall find necessary TO render
such service completely efficient; and be II
further
Resolved, Tint the President OF the con.
ventionIbe and he is lerebyhutlorizedand
requested to appoint, ut his earliest coivc.
nience, q committee Of twenty.one, who
shall be charged with the duty Of prepar.
Ing, as soon IA practicable after the con.
vention adjOurnB, Il memorial 10 the Con.
gress OF the United States on behalf Of the
delegates composing the convention, and
the people whom they eyreprcseht In support
OF and In accordance with the foregoing
resolutions, embOdying such statistics aud
information as said committee may deem
expedieht; that they cause 10 be printed d
sufficient number Of said resolutions and
memorial, together with the proceedings Of
this convention, for wide redistribution, and
that a copy thereof be placed In the bands
Of each member Of The United States Sen.
ate and tile House ot Representatives as
soon as practicable, and that said commit.
Tee be and they are hereby authorized 10
take suCh further action touching the
proper presentation Of said resolutions and
memorial 10 Congress, and procuring the
due consideration thereof As they may
deem best The committee also submitted
the following resolution 10 the convention
without recommendation,
Resolved, That In tue interest Of cheap
transportation and 10 afford a choice Of
water routes 10 the seaboatds, we regard
connections between the navlgable waters
Of the Upper Mississippi river and the |
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