The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-25

OF states and territories gives the districts
from which delegates may be appointed.
The cities and towns will be named by the
executive committee at subsequent meet
ing: Missouri, Iowa, Kentucky, Minneso-
ia. Mississippi, Indiana, Pennsylvania,
Texas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ar
kansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Ohio, West
Virginia, Kansas, Colorado, Montana, Wy
oming and Dakota.
The secretary prepared and was instruc-
ted to issue the following formal call:
A CONVENTION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT or THE
MrssTssTPPI RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES.
The 26th day of October, 1888, is the day fixed
the above convention to be held at st. Louis, Mo.
IL is the paramount duty OF the officials of the yari
Gus states and territories the mayors and boards OF
trade of the various cities situated the Missis-
sppi river its tributaries 10 make the conven-
ton success. The members of each house of
congress and the governor of every state of the
union will be invited TO meet and consider with the
delegates from the states cities and boards of trade
the interests to be benefited thereby and of the
needed improvements such interests have a right to
demand. 1t may not be inappropriate to state that
while the national government has given to the
various railroads, up 10 the year 1878. nearly 200
00o.0oo acres of the public domain worth at least
81 25 per acre, and to some it loaned its credit be
sides, for anticipated benefits the people, during
this time, the Mississippi river and its tributaries
have had appropriated for their improvement an
To form an idea of the great benefit to be derived
and the importance of improving the Mississippi
river system OF water ways, 1t need but be said that
the navigable length OF these ways is over 1900
miles, and eighteen states and three territories
afforded inland water transportation by them 1t is
the part of wisdom to provide different and
modes OF trans portation when 1t can be done,
that the failure OF will still leave another
command Each win tend to produce an equili-
brium of rates, and the producers and consumers
can derive the benefit Of a healthy competition and
a choice of routes.
1t is of the utmost importance that each state,
territory city and board of trade should be repre-
sented by able gentlemen, who not only understand
the great interest involved, but who have the fac
ulty to make known the nature of the needed river
improvements TO meet the requirements OF COM
merce, and to press upon congress it's urgent inn
portance, so that they will feeli pleasure and
duty to work and vote for the necessary appropriate
ton to improve these rivers.
The areas of these great valleys aggregate abb ut
2o00 900 square miles of the most productive lands
in the world The annual produce of these lands is
OF the value of hundreds of millions of dollars and
in the future viii be illimitable The production of
these States and Territories amounts ninety per
cent OF the corn. seventy three per cent. of the
wheat eghty-three per cent of the oats, sixty -four
per cent of the tobacco, sevenseyen per of the
cotton, and sixtysiX per cent of the value of the
live hogs in the country. Now. the estimated inter
an amount nearly twenty five times much our
whole foreign commerce. Then the internal com
merce of the Mississippi valley is at least half that
amount or ST. 100000 and should enitle it to great
consideration.
The question of cheap transportation for the pro-
ducts OF the Mississippi valley profitable markets
is the supreme question of the hour and is the key
10 IT'S lulure prosperity. Inc Wdter route mas
cheapened freghts everywhere, and the system is
almost in its infancy yet 1t becomes necessary, to
carry the improvement of this MISSISSIPPI
pi river system. that special legislation that end
be adopted by congress- and claim that congress is
justified in making specific appropriations for the
adoption of this system independent of the general
appropriation bills, done in the case of the
jetties. The producers, agriculturists and manu-
facturers dependent upon it tor their success
and to enable them to obtain fair remuneration !
for their labors and investments, improve this
tenn OF river navigation and competition with the
great trunk lines. and it will forever insure YOU
cheap transportation These great natural arteries
of trade and systems of water navigation the |
real conservators of an assured cheap transporta
ton, and those which nature has provided should
be maintained and improved, ana for that purpose !
it is demanded that congress make adequate appro-
priations for their continuous improvement.