Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-10-28
THEFATHER OF WATERS.
GATHERING ON HIS BANKS AND CON-
SiDERlNG HIS WtlFhRe'
The Mississippi Convention at St. Louis
Discussing the Improvement of the
Great Water way-Recom-
mendations to Congress
Resolutions.
THE VAST INTERESTS INVOLVED

Convention was called to order at lO:30
AN. Prayer was offered by DR.. VIC.
Elliott, Chancellor of Washington Uni
! yersity. On motion, the COMMITTEES ap-
pointed by the United States River
Commission to represent that body in
the convention was invited to take seats
on the platform. The Committee on
Order of Business made report, which
Was adopted. The Committee on Per-
manent Organization reported the iol-
lowing as officers OF the convention:
President, Hon. Mark H. Dunnell, Of
Minnesota; Vice Presidents, Hon. John
K. Adams, Alabama; Thomas T.
Allen, Iowa; George w. Jones,
Kentucky; Eugene Underwood, In
diana; II. NJ. Hurley, louisiana; Geo.
C. Waddell, Tennessee; II. HI. Elicit,
Kansas; D. G. Stockwell, Minnesota;
o. C.. Merriman, Nebraska; Clinton
Briggs, Dakotah; ]. c. Pettigrew, Wis
consin; VIM. Wilson, New York; d. S.
| Osborne, Pennsylvania; K. G. Grey,
Texas; w. H. Flippen, Ohio; S. F.
Covington, Illinois: II. Fullerton, Mis-
souri,; James Rollins, West Virginia;
Alexander Campbell; Secretary Geo.
L., Wright, st. Louis; Assistant Secreta-
ries Frank Gainie and Nick Bell, st.
Louis; Alexander Campbell, West Vir-
pinia, and Logan II. Root, Arkansas,
were appointed to conduct the President
elect to the chair.
Upon taxing the chair Mr.. Dunnel
returned thanks for the honor conferred
upon him, and in very brief and,gen-
eral remarks said, as delegates, they
were here from twenty. States and. Ter
ritories extending from Minnesota to
| the Gulf of Mexico, and from the east.
ern seaboard to the Rocky Mountains,
to discuss the question and devise
| means OF improving the great rivers OF
the Mississippi Valley, whose produc.
tions had given the balance OF trade to
the country. The question was
not only of great interest to the
Mississippi Valley, but to the whole
nation, ard should be treated with de-
liberation and with view OF impress.
ing its importance upon Congress and
inducing that body to extend the aid go
much desired.
A communication on plans ior the i'm
provement OF rivers was then handed in
aud filed for future reference.
Letters were then read from James b.
Eads, United States SenatOr-eleCt RAN
ds,l l.. Gibson, Louisiana; Senator j. B.
Beck, of Kentucky; Senator A. +. Goi-
man, Congressman Abram S. Hewitt, OF
New York; Postmaster General James,
Congressman R. G.. Horr, of Michigan;
Senator Hawley, OF Connecticut, and
others. Some OF these letters have al
ready been published.
The reception OF resolutions was the
next thing in order, all OF which, under
the rule, we're referred TO the Committee
on Resolutions without debate.
Mr.. Roberts, OF Illinois, offered reso-
luton providing that the appropriations
for each river be separate. Many other
resolutions were presented and referred
to committees.
Judge Taylor, representing the River
Com mission, addressed the convention.
He said the River Commission looked
with great anxiety to the result OF the
proceedings Of the convention. There
must be universal harmony and ihe
decisions must be unanimous. There
were various ways 10 improve the
rivers. The right plan was to compel
the great stream 10 build its own banks.
This had already been done at Horse
Tail Bar, lust below st. Louis, where it
| had been compelled to bulld banks at
least twenty feet in height. The speaker
was much cheered at the conclusion Of
| his speech. After one or two addresses
the convention took recess until 2:30
Pm. .-
On reassembling at three O'Clock the
| Committee on Resolutions not being
ready to report brief addresses were
made by Congressman Conner, OF llli-.
nois and General Rosser, OF Missouri.
The Committee on Resolutions then,
through it's chairman, Duncan
+. Keener, of New Orleans, made lis
report. The committee report, after re-
| ferring To the belief OF the convection
that the great inland water ways pre-.
pared by the Creator for the use of the
people are a most important part OF the
national domain, introduced number
OF resolutions. The substance of these
resolutions was as follows:
| Resolved, That it is the manifest and
imperative duty of the Government OF
| the United States TO cause to be made
such Improvement of the Mississippi
river and its navigibie tributaries as
shall permanently secure safe and easy
navigation. :
RsSolred, That this Convention recog-
nize with extreme satisfaction and en-
| Il hA infn II n
Mississippi river commission Ivy Con-
gress as the first step towards the COM
plete and permanent opening of the
Mississippi valley to the markets OF the
| world, but would also strongly express
its regret at the refusal OF the last Coz
gress, after creating said commission,
and notwithstanding the deliberate ard
emphatic approval OF their plans by the
House Committee on Improvement OF
the Mississippi, to appropriate the
amount estimated an Recommended.
RssoIesd, That il is the i'm perative duty
| OF Congress and. right Of the people fOr
whom this convention is authorized TO
speak, that the legislation thus wisely
begun be made effectual and permanent
nv eularring the powers OF the River
| Commission to include the further pros
tcution of works already recommended
by them, and by the regular and sepac
rate appropriations from year toAyear of
such sums as said Commission, acting
under reasonable supervision OF Con-
gress, shall report as necessary to that
end. -..s....-
Mr.. Roberts again introduced his res
olution offered this morning, relating to
the Illinois and Michigan csnafand the
Illinois river, bat alter considerable dis
cussion, the raising OF points OF order
and some confusion, it was defeated BY a
decided vote. 2 rs-.- Z dgI a-4 6
The Convention then. adjourned until
10 O'Clock tomorrow. ,.st
This evening the delegates are attend
ing, many OF them sceomp infed by la
dies, the performance OF "Virsihius' by
John McCullcugh, at the Grand Opera
House, theentire theatre being engaged
by the Executive Committee fof the oc-
casion, nobody being admitted except
by special invitation- To morrow liter.