Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-02-14
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE..
Enlareing the P0stoffice-River Improve
mont Memorial = Death of Dillon
O'Brien.

ment Memorial = Death of Dillon
O'Brien.
At ths chamber OF commerce yesterday
morning letter from D. w. Ingersoll, dated
at Washington, was read, recommending that
our senator's and representatives in congress
be especially urged to secure the necessary
appropriation to make the needed enlarge
ment of the st. Paul custom house and post
Office. The communication was referred to
the committee on statistics and correspon-
dence.
Mr.. McClung presented memorial and ad-
| dress to our delegation in Congress urging
| them to secure additional appropriations for
the improvement of the river. The document
was referred to the president withiinstructions
to revise and forward to Washington.
CONGRESS INVITED TO HELL.
Mr.. MoClung also offered the following
which was sent to the committee on river I'M.
provement:
To the Senate and House OF Representatives
of the United States:
The chamber of commerce, Of the city of
st. Panl, Minnesota, located at the head of
navigation of The Mississippi river, and speak.
ing for that vast area of country which al
ready supplies the major portion of the cereal
exports of the country even while three
fourths of the tillable area which has capaci-
ty to supply bread for the world, is yet In its
virgin states respectfully represents that the
paramount interest of this entire northwestern
country Is the improvement of the Mississippi
river. Our representatives may attend faith
fully to every other branch of legislation
which may come before them, and yet If they
neglect to make this river the special object
OF their solicitude and labor, and neglect to
secure adequate appropriations to make IL at
once available for the necessities Of commerce,
they have utterly failed to represent our in
terests or to accomplish the purposes for
which they were elected our representatives.
We are suffering loss of millions of dollars
annually for the want of this improvement.
The worst economy will be atpolicy which
doles out scanty appropriation. A small
appropriation of a few hundred thousand
means large loss Of many millions. The
improvement of this river is either a sub
ject of no importance, and may be
dallied with and put Of with appropriations
utterly inadequate to It's proper improvement.
or it is worthy the attention of congress and
Of being improved up to its utmost capacity.
II 1t 10 worthy of being improved, 1t isiworthy
of being improved at once. 1t will cost no
more to DO it now, than ten or twenty years
hence, while delays will tax the people NIL
lions OF dollars more In freights, than they
would have to pay In taxes for Its speedy and
prompt improvement at once.
Not only are these losses to be entailed on
the northwest, but east, north and south must
share these losses by paying higher for the
breadstuffs and other produce sent TO Them
from first hands with prices enhanced and
swollen to eKtravagant figures by reason of
freights levied upon them without the fear of
rivalry or competition In view of these con-
sideratiOns We make this special appeal to our
representatives to stand together as unit on
this question. Allow no other subject to take
precedence of it. Command the support of
all other interests which cannot be Influenced
by patriotic and just considerations, by
timely application of the law of retaliation,
and with what measure they mete to our great
interest, let it be measured back to them.
1t must be impressed upon all sections of
the country, that there is Mississippi valley,
and If its representatives stand shoulder to
shoulder and vote as one man, they can WELD
the sceptre and dictate the policy of the gov
erment-not for sectional or class interest,
but for the national purpose of utilizing the
great national highway, holding in check the
power of classes and monopolies, and cheap
ening the necessaries of life for all classes of
all sections.
A special appeal is made to orr represen-
sentatives of the state of Minnesota to heed
the three leading ideas of this memorial; viz:
First-That failure to give us an unobstructed
river from the head of navigation to the gulf
is an entire failure to represent the people of
Minnesota. Second-That q unity of action
of all the representatives of the Mississippi
valley, with the firm purpose that it shall be
an alliance offensive as well as defensive
is essential to success. Third, that it is econ
omy to make the largest appropriations at
once, and that every years delay adds mill
lions to the cost OF the Improvement by the
indirect tax of exhorbitant freigats, which
will continue to wiring millions of dollars out
of us until the competition of an improved
river shall reduce them.
THE LATE DILLON o'BRIEN.
Mr. Lee offered the following:
Resc,ued, That the chamber has learned of
the death of Hon. Dillon O'Brien with pro.
found sorrow, and in his death recognize the
loss of an upright and public spirited citizen,
devoted philanthropist and Christian gentle.
man.
Mr.. Dawson said the death of Dillon O'Brien
has been shock to the people. He had known
him twenty years, and met him last at p. m.
on Saturday. He was a man of genius and
philanthropy. He had known of many acts
of charity, and they were always unostenta.
tious. Mr.. OBrien was in the fulleat sense
gentleman, and the Irish of this state will feel
his loss sadly. Ths speaker felt Mr.. O'Brien,s
loss as the loss Of a personal friend.
The resolution was then adopted by rising
vote and the board adjourned.
MEETING OF FIKE co I'M iSSIONERS
The La France Engine Ordered to be Put
IN Servic and Will Be on Duty To-