The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-06-03
WATERWAYS.
Proceedings Of the Northwestern
River and Canal Improvement Con-
venti0n, at DavenPOrt, Iowa.

House, In Davenport, on Wednesday, May 20.
There were $40 delegates representing all
the Northwestern States, in attendance.
Judge J. H Murphy, Of Davenport,
was made temporary Chairman. COL
J. M. Allen addressed the convention. He
stated that the survey from Rock Island to
Hennep:n liz sixty-fve miles in length, and that
the canal can be cut for less than $5, 600, 600,
thus completing highway from Chicago TO the
extreme northern boundary OF the Northwest
Hon. james r. Wilson also addressed the
convention. He said it was the ''transporta-
ton problem" and not simply the construction
of canal that had called them together. Poo
pie believed that the transportation system was
at present TOO expensive and too unstable,
and should be reformed. Waterways were the
conservators OF cheap and stable transporta-
ton, and those which nature had provided
should be kept in the highest state OF eff
cheney and supplemented by such artificial
ways as were needed to effect a complete
system. Such ways were not the swift ones
OF commerce, but were the maintainers
Of reasonable rates and better prices
for products whose value depended on
getting TO market Transportation by
rail had been depended on so largely that
the waterway had been neglected, and hence
the superb railway system had been O failure
in that il had not produced that standard Of
equity and fairness which the country cf right
had expected. BY the creation Of an efficient
water competition the railway service could be
brought to realize what its duties were in this
regard.
After the appointment Of Committees on
Credentials and Permanent Organization, an
adjournment was voted until p. m.
On roasscmbling, the convention was ad-
dressed by the Hon. j. B. Henderson, who
represents the Sixth Illinois district in
Congress. He said the question of cheap
transportation from the grain-growing dis
tricls to the seaboard was the important
question before the people of the West. He
wanted TO see direct water communication be-
tween the Upper Mississippi and Chicago. st.
Louis and New Orleans must not think the
commerce Of the great Northwest could DC con-
fined To one beaten track. That trade must
take in Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Balti-
more, and other cities. he did not advocate
ship;canal but believed waterway
be constructed for IS, 100000, or about
as much AZ was paid for Custom
House in any one of the large cities. The
practicabihty of the route from Hennepin 10
Rock Island had been affirmed by successive
Boards of Engineers.
Gov. John Ii. Gear, OF Iowa, was introduced,
and addressed the convention. He said that
they had assembled for most laudable pur-
pose, having for its object the promotion OF
the welfare Of the producers OF the Mississippi
valley, by devising ways and means to lessen
the cost OF transportation of the products OF
the farm and factory. It was true that less
than half of the lands in Iowa were under
cultivation, yet the resources of 5000 miles of
railway In operation i'll the State were taxed to
their fullest extent last year to move the sur
plus product. In 1880 from the State of Iowa
alone there we're exported so, 900, 600 bushels of
corn, 9, DOC, 900 bushels of wheat, IL, 000, 900
bushels OF oats, to say nothing of other cereals
There were packed 65S. 000 hogs in the State
and ,570, 900 were shipped away alive out OF
the State over six lines of railroads. There
we're 372, 900 head Of live cattle shipped East
With the exception of portion of the cattle
and hogs, the other things were the growth OF
Iowa alone. From this 1t would be seen that
much depended upon this convention III giving
such tone to public sentiment would best ac-
comphsh the desirable results to the producers
OF the Mississippi valley.
The Hon. Carter II. Harrison, Mayor Of Chi
cago, came next, and opened his speech by say
ing that in his opinion waterways were the ouly
means OF regulating freight charges and keep
ing railroad monopolies within bounds. Two
specters threatened the perpetuity of repub-
hcan institutions, and the worst of these waE
cooperate monopoly, which had no soul and
never died. Behind this stood q maddened AMI
exasporated people, who might III the end be
goaded 10 destroy the whole machinery of gov
eminent in order TO get rid Off excrescences. lie
behooved mankind To follow the plans OF the
great Engineer of the universe, and to'dig canals
on the lines marked out Mr. Harrison advocated
building ship canal from Hennepin to Rock
Island, and deepening the Illinois and Michigan
canal.
The Committee on Permanent Organization
and Rules reported the following rs permanent
officers OF the convention: President, Il.
$. Horr, East Saginaw, Mich; Vice
Presidents, j. w. Palmer, Detroit; j.
L. swift, New York J. W. Chapman,
Council Bluffs George Schneider, Chicago; w.
I.Walker, Toledo; Charles Seymour, La Crosse
Wis; John Dement,, Dixon. ILL.,; 4. o. Stan
nard, st. Louis; Charles p. King. Peoria; c. +.
Carkson, Des MONIES; William Petit, Mime
apolis; John W. Burdette, Secretary, Burhng-
ton. Iowa.
Charles A. Randolph, Secretary of the Chi
cago Board Of Trade, spoke at great length on
the subject before the convention and in favor
OF the Hennepin canal.
Letters Of regret were read from Horato
Seymour, Secretary Window, Cows. Pillsbury,
Jerome and Cullom, Senator'S Allison, McDiil,
Saunders, Davis. Logan. Ingalls, and Sawyer,
and Congressman Fsrwell.
After the appointment by the chair of the
necessary committees, the convention ad-
tourned for the day.
SECOND DAYS PROCEEDINGS
After the appointment Of Committee on
Resolutions, speeches were called for. Ex-Gov
Stannard, of Missouri, complained of some
structures made by tho Davenport Gazette, with
reference to the position Of the st. Louis dele
gates. He denied that there was opposition to
the canal project, but Missouri men do not
want To see the Mississippi river Improvement
sighted. They had thought the list of COM
mittees and the earlier form Of the convention
had little too much Chicago in them. But
that was all.
Ex-Gov. William Bross, OF Chicago, replied
TO the st. Louis representative, and said Chi
cago was az much interested az st. Louis in
the Improvement of the Mississippi. There
could be no difficulty between st. Louis and
Chicago. Gov. Stannard had talked about
tho shipments OF wheat amounting to G,000, 900
bushels. That amount would mol fill one Chi
cago warehouse. Illinois paid last year
$4,000, 900 internal-revenue tax, and all she
asked from the General Government was per
cent. OF that amount for the improvement OF
her waterways.
The Hon. julius @. Starr, OF Peoria, pro.
nounced in favor of improving all internal wa
TER ways and developing all possible highways
OF commerce. For tins purpose the combina-
ton OF all interests needed. II was only
by this means that Congress could be brought
to appropriate money for improving the rivers
and canals OF tho West.
AT this point Of the proceedings the welcome
announcement was made that the Committee