Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-07-12
THE MISSISSIPPI
Conference at st. Louis to Consider the
Most Practical Course TO Pursue
in Advocating tie
improvement Of the Great Rivera Con.
Vention Called 10 Meet at Wash.
ington Next February.

ST. LOUIS, July 1.-THE Conference called
together through the efforts Of the Mer-
Chants Exchange Of ST. Louis, to consider
the mts. practical course 10 pursue in sdvo-
citirg the improvement of the Mississippi
river, met this morning in the Southern
Hotel. The Conference is composed of one
delegate appointed by representative com
mercial bodies OF every important city in
The Valley States. Twenty cities we're repre-
sented, sone of them, especially New Or
lesns, sending strong delegations Besides
the delegates there were present Gov. Chas.
Foster, Of OHIO; United States Senator Mil
Ter, of New York; Speaker Ksifer and Ex-
Congressman Townsend, Of Ohio, who are
here, however, on smother mission.
The Conference was called 10 order by j.
c. Ewald, president Of the Merchants E1-
change Of St. Louis, who, in brief address
of welcome, said the time has come for ac-
tion 10 The campaign for the improvement Of
the Mississippi river. The cause was not
local one, but national, and needs only to be
Set properly before the people of the coun-
try 10 gain their spprecia alton, and through
them, TO force that recognition by our ma
tionsl legi .lators due it and so long denied it.
Mr.. G-o,qe S. Wright, secretary OF the
Merchau's' Exchange Improvement Com
OiItee, oil 5. Louis read lengthy and elab-
ordte argument in favor OF the Improvement
Of the Mississippi river. He referred, in
tomwhat sarcastic terms, TO the readiness
With which E stern Congressman secure ap-
Iii for all latr in
tlons, and nrss ed it with the herculean
labor necessary to induce Congress TO do any.
thing for the great river. He said the as.
sembiAge before him was an evidence tha.
the people Of The Mississippi Valley were
determined TO push their needs upon
the notice Of Congress. He advocated that
he work begun to-day be kept up unremit-
tingly until certain results are achieved.
The Convention then effected a perm anent
org aniz alton by elec,ing B. d. Wood, of the
New Orlesn4 Cotton Exchange, permanent
chairman; George L. Wright, permanent
secretary, md he following vice-presidents:
W. s. PHELPS, Wlnons, MINI; Fl. G. McPike,
Alton, IL G. N. Clarg, Hannibal, Mo; Il.
w. Crawford, Dubuque, Ia; A. II. Wool
fox, Ksntucky; ]. i. Browo, Mississippi;
John ID. adams, Little Rock, Ark; r. 9.
Gray, Pttlsburg; Ben Eckerson, Cinci iunati;
o W. Oliver, Wichita, K+.; Thonl as W. Hal
liday. Cairo, II; Judge Parker, Davenport,
Ia; w den.opP, Cjuucil Bluffs, Ia; Ex-
CIV. Z. o S.suard. st. Louis; John Mcclure,
Wheeiing, w. W.; Capt. John Gilbert,
Evansville, Ind.
The Committee on RESOLUTIONS aud Oder
OF Business we're appointed, aud the C3nler-
ence then adjourned until this afternoon.
AFrERE, ON SESSION.
Al the afternoon session the Committee on
Resolutions 50 omitted the following report,
which was adopted:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this meet
ing that a R,v r Convention b, held in the
Mississippi Valley, the place to be hereafter
designated, nat later than November 20, 1888.
ResOtUsd That il is the duty OF CONNER
cial boiies of the cities and towns, of the
farmers anil laborers in esch Congres, ional
district in the NJ ssissppi Valley to petition
their r.rpecIiv, representatives in Congress
| TO aphoid and vote for adequate appropris-
tion4 Tor the improvement OF Western water
~aya
Resolved, That 10 the selection heresfter of
members Uf Congress from the Mississippi
Valley it -hou'd b, the especial care OF all
people interested that no candidates be se-
| iected except thase prom 1u ucediy in favor of
river improvement.
Resolved, That a subcommittee be cho sen
| oy his m-etiog to fix The time an place for
| calling the River Conve ntiou, and that this
l conmittse prepare in due form the call for
| said Cow vsnio'
Resotced, Thar the seasoning of time as
| been rendered more valuable aud necessary
| to the public veal OF the Mississippi River
improvement Convention, held in ST. Louis,
Ostober 26, q and %, 1891 and we com
| mend lis action 10 the public mind
The CommIltee on O.d.r Of Business sub.
| mltted th4ir renorl which ad0pfaH -
/ follows: First, that a permsnent org aniz l.
| ton be elected; second, that the headquar-
tiers oil this organic alton bs al s.. Louis, or
such other place AS this meeting may deter
mine; third, that all local permanent com
mittees b considered as branches OF this
central org tniz ,liop, and report to ii such
matters as msy he oil use in prosecuting the
work bsfore u; fourth, that the EN- oership
OF the central organic Ition consist of one
delegate from each of the permanent COM
uittues now or Hereafter to be appointed
in the pres 'cution of this work; fifth, your
committee further recommend that a com
miltee be appo ntsd to draft rules for the
gov-rnmsnt OF said central organization, and
that they provide therein for raising such
| funds may be r, ,quired.
y long di-cuesiOn then took place as to
| where the next RIVER Convention should be
| he'd, which developed the fact that a large
| ms jority OF the Committee favored Washing
ton in preference 10 s.. Louis, or any other
place IN ths Mississippi Valley. The gen.
| srSl opiDios was that the ears of Con res 3
| men could be better resched iu Washington
than snywhere else, and that far greater in.
I fiuence could be exerted there, both iu a spe.
ciic and general way, than at any other
uoin'. 1t wss finally decided that the next
Convention shall be held at Washington, or
he 9 cond Thursday in February, 1884. II
| was then agreed that The Executive Commit
tee should be changed into and known as ths
Permanent Committee, of which W., ID
Wood, of Nes Orleans, was elected chair
man; George l.. Wright. of St.. Lonis, secre
tary, and Michael McInues, of St. Louis
treasurer. All the sclions of the Executiv,
Committee we're adopted by the Central Com
Mute, and Secretary Wright authorized I,
frame call Tor the ConveDlion aud appenC
thereto the names OF the Central CommIttee
Toe Conference then adjourned.
The members Of the Conference were en-
tertained a; barquet tonight at the South
eru Hotel, at whicn quite number OF promi
nent members OF the Nero ants Exch ang
and ding citzsns interested in river i'm
provements were present.
| TELE(IRA PHO RREVITTES