The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-11-05
MISSISSIPPI RIVER CONVENTION.
Proceedings OF tho Meeting us ST. louis
Resolutions Adopted.

IrnftFNNnEN 81 INC hetttnE w IUulh-
Resolutions Adopted.
The Mississippi River Improvement Con-
ycntion, which met at St. Louis on the Goth
Of October, continued in session three days
and was attended by about 500 regularly APP
pointed delegates.
Michael McEunis, President OF the local
Executive Committee, and also President OF
the St. Louis Merchants Exchange, called
the convention to order. George L. Wright,
Secretary Of the Executive Committee, then
read the call for the convention, issued by
the st. Louis Merchants Exchange.
Governor Ciittenden, OF Missouri, was
made Temporary Chairman OF the COnyen-
ton and made brief address.
A preliminary discussion occurred as to
whether this should be a convention Of the
Mississippi Valley States or Of all the States
of the Union, which was decided by the
Chairman reading from the call that all
States were included.
The usual committees were then appoint
ed, that on resolutions being composed as
follows: q
Arkansas, william VI. Fiahback; Alabama,
Thomas saylcr; Iowa, william IL: Nandever;
Kentucky II. NcIhoH, Jr; Indiana, a. ID
sueigh; Louisiana, u. + Kenner; Tennes-
see Il. l.. Elliott; kansas, J. p. Root; Mime
Kennedy: Nebrasxa, j. s. Morton: Wiscon
sion, }. ". Gregory; West virginia, f. ).
Hcrne; Michigan, AIonzo Sessions; Pennsyl-
vania, G.. II. Anderson; Texas, j. j. Gam
mage; Ohio, :. +. Gown ton; Mississippi,
Judge II. +. Simrall; Illinois, w. Il. Dowdall.
The Committee on Permanent Organza-
ton reported the following list of oflicers
Chairman-Hon. Mark II. Dunncll, of Min
ncsOta.
Secretary-George L. Wright, of st. Louis
Assistant Sccretarcs-Franl Gaiennie and
Nicholas VI. Bell, of st. Louis.
Vice observation-disclosures II. Taylor, Ala
bama; John D. Adams, Arkansas; Geo. w.
Jones, Iowa; Eugene Underwood Kentucky;
NJ VI. Hurley, Indiana; Geo. @. Waddell Lou
isiana: H. L. Elicit, tennessee; u. G. Stock
well, Kansas; o. Q. Mcrriman, Minnesota;
Governor lionel 4. sheldon, New Mexico;
ta VIM Wilson, Wisconsin; Alexander
Campbell, West Virginia; Philo Parsons,
Michigan; c. S. Osborn, New York; r.. c. Gray
Covington, Ohio; II. Fullerton, Illinois; Ii. f.
Simrall, Mississippi; james S. Rollins, Mis-.
souri,.
Upon taking the chair Mr.. Dunnell re-
turned thanks for the honor conferred upon
him, and in very brief and general remarks
said as delegates they were here from TWEEN
ty States and Territories, extending from
Minnesota to the Gulf OF Mexico, and from
the Eastern seaboard to the Rocky Noun
tains, to discuss the question and devise
means of improving the great rivers of the
Mississippi Valley, whose productions 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, and should be treated with deliber-
alton, and with view to impress its impOr-
lance upon Congress and inducing that body
to extend the aid so much desired.
COMMUNICATIONS on plans for the improve
ment Of the rivers, etc., were then handed
in and filed for future reference.
Letters were then read from Capt. James
B. Eads, Hon. Randall l.. Gibson, Senator
James b. Beck, Senator A. 7. German,
Hon. Abrams. Hewitt, Postmaster Gener-
al James, Hon. II. G. Iorr, Senator Jonas,
Senator IIawIey, and others.
There was also read a paper prepared by
Gen. Gilmore, President of the River Com
mission, in regard to the operations of that
committee.
The Committee on Resolutions reported
as follows:
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. President-The Committee on Resolu.
tiOns, after careful cons Iteration of the OBJ
jects of the Convention rs set forth in the call
under which it has assembled, and of various
resolutions which have been submitted to the
committee rs expressing the views not only
of individual delegates, but of delegations
from widely distant parts of the Mississippi
Valley, touching these objects and the best
mode of promoting them, have instructed me
on behalf OF the unanimous committee to re-
port to the Convention the preamble and res
outiOus herewith submitted, with the recon-
mendation that the same be adopted by the
Convention.
(Signed) DUNCAN f. KENNER.
The representatives of the commercial in e
tcrestS aud agricultural and other pro luctive
industries of the Mississippi Wiley, in Con
yention assembled Mt st, LouA, Mo, believ.
ing:
That the Mississippi River and its navigable
tributaries the great inland waterways pre-
pared by the Creator for the use OF the peO-
pie, are a most Important and valuable part
of the national domain, free to ali, beyond the
reach of monopoly, and ahOrding to the
whole Pc ople that Comp"tition in transporta-
ton which benefits producer and consum r
alike; ana further,
Tuat cheap transportation Is the great ne
ce~-ity OF an ggicull ural people, the indis-
pvnSablc condition of the easy conveyance TO
distant markets OF their staple products, bulky
in proportion to value; and
That the tumiliar, economical truth, that
the cheapest transportation of such products
is by water is especially applicable to the
great waterway OF tins country, provided the
same j. kept free from sna - sund-baIs,
rCuChcr,u- banks and other obstacles to nav.
igatiOn, do, therefore,
ReSolre and declare That it is the manifest
and imperative duty OF the Government of the
United states to cause to be made such i'm
provCmout of the Mississippi River and i, 4
navlgabie tributaries as shall permanently Sc.
cur" tn" snlc ana easy navigation thereof
thereby Oheapening ireghts, reducing insur.
0nCe and other burdens and expenses; pro.
noting the vast inland commerce of the ma.
ton, ana creating new avenues of foreign
trade, aud thus not only inviting increased
production and population, but assuring
greater prosperity to the whole people. Els
pccially is this duty obvious, and our demand
Justified, in view OF the donations already
made by Congress, in land amounting tt
ne trly 2OOOO0,0OO acres, and. in bonds issued OF
guaranteed nearly 100000 600 more. in aid o.