Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-05
MISSISSIPPI RIVER CONVENTION.
Opening Proceedings To-day.
LIST OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. VESTS SPEECH
OF WELCOME, ETC.

OF WELCOME, ETC.
The Mississippi River convention, composed Of
delegates from the states bordering on the FEATHER
OF Waters" who meet to discuss plans for improve
ment OF the river assembled at Lincoln hall at noon
to-day Ii Is expected that the sessions will con-
ttnue for three days
The delegates were appointed as follows:
Ten by the governor OF each state bordering on
the river and It's tributaries; five by each board OF
Trade or commerce Of every city lying the river
10 every 100 members Of such Organizations, and
three by the mayor OF each town likewise situated
Those appointed by the governor are delegates for
The state at large.
THE SCENE m THE HALL.
Before the delegates assembled the hall was e.
v1ded on and placards bearing the names OF differ
ent states were posted up In the different sections
OF the hall allotted to the different states. Back
OF the stage was stretched canvas. on which the
.S Sios1sr was painted In big black letters;
master. has competed Is round trips between St
Louis and New Orleans; average number OF days to
eaca TIP, %; has towed down stream 474 barges;
tons; has towed up stream 4el barges; has trans
ported IN up stream cargoes ,67 tons; has trav-
s s,,.a =; niles you tell this to Congress be
record OF work could be increased 20 per cent with
out any Increase OF expense. This means benefit
to the producers"
The delegates began to arrive in the hall before
noon and 70 range under the placards OF the states
The bosom OF each delegate was adorned with
inscribed with golden letters follows: "Conven-
ton Tor the improvement OF the Mississippi river
and its navfgable tributaries, Washington, D. c.,
February 5, 1884"
THE CONVENTION CALLED TO ORDER.
1t was some time after IL O'Clock when Mr. B. D.
Woods, Of New Orleans, called the convention TO
order. He spoke briefly Of the objects Of the con-
vention he said the delegates present represented
an extent OF country sufficient to supply the world
with food and textile fabrics They had come to-
gSther to give the important subject OF the i'm
pavement OF the Mississippi river full and fair
consideration, and he trusted their action would
be OF benefit to the whole country MT Geo L.
wright, the secretary, then read the Official call
for the convention.
hon. ". D. wAsHRrKNs ADDRESS.
MI. Wood then announced that the executive
committee had chosen Hon. ". d. WasAburn, OF
Minnesota, as temporary presiding officer. He put
Mr.. Washburn's name to the convention and he
was eiected, there being but one dissenting vote.
-. Mr.: WaShDurn was then conducted to the chair
0y Hon. ". Stannard, OF Missouri, and Judge Bill
ungS, OF Louisiana.
Mr. Washburn, upon assuming the chair. read an
ADDRESS, which was frequently applauded. He
urged hat the future OF the country demanded that
the highes engineering skill be employed upon the
improvement OF the great river He referred to the
TACT that when the men OF the northwest fough
Tor the preservation OF the Union not the least
sideration was the preservation Of uninterrupted
navigation In the Mississippi V ho,lt the Interior
ence of foreign power Iney now. wished it to be
maintained. as bond OF union and love between
the two sections.
secretary.
A resolution providing for the appointment Of
committees on credentials, rules. permanent organ
cation and resolutions. TO consist each Of one dele
gate from each state and Territory represented was
adopted.
COMMISSIONER VESTS ADDRESS OF WELCOME
Hon. D. r. West. Commissioner OF the District,
was then introduced to deliver an address OF well
| come. Mr. West, in extending a welcome to the
delegates. referred to the many former occasions on
wAich Washington has welcomed bodies OF various
characters Of all such occasions OF late" he sJ
THE cause or your convention stands prominent
Tor its Importance. 1t concerns the welfare OF the
whoe people of this country in the same degree
that the soundneaS and healthy How OF
the river OF life in OF the great arteries OF the
human body is essential TO the human system
paraiyze one such artery obsruct its Tow, allow
dehhtt for Its channel, the whole system becomes
dlsordered Stagnation ensles and decay and des-
the country the Mississippi river, beamlng upon its
bosom ami upon Its tributaries the commerce OF
lliH the union, giving healthy circulation to and
reaction from the pursuits OF every human being In
the land-obstruct It's flow allow 1t to
run riot over the vast territory which will
be subject to its periodical Hoods and decay
ana deterioration would rapidly spread Itself
throughout the life OF country that until then
would not realize how vital the preservation OF that
mighty Channel Is TO the fun measure OF its ex-
iSence. The city OF Washington. the political
heart OF the llatiOn, owes the expansion OF it's ex-
lStence to and derives its prosperity from the
growth OF the whole country. Her people may be
guided by even the meaner instincts OF selfsaness
TO view with interest the Improvement OF the most
Insignificant part OF the whole. But when a meas
ure finds advocate ia the President OF the United
states, when half the states OF the Union,
speaking through the unanimous voice OF their rep
reSeutaLiveS ia Congress, demand for IL a hearing
they should realize that something dwellS In that
mighty tone and whatever may be their individual
views, 1t seems TO me that they should merge them
IN hopeful desire for its accomplishment. We
make no Speciality OF schemes for national improve
ments, and though We rally with wonderful unan-
unity around the Old flag when an appropriation
IMPROVEMENT OF m.ir
fats we cannot but acknowledge that the grand
project that has brought you together here in its
advocacy should command our earnest wishes for
Its consideration by Congress, and for its complete
accomplishment through the action OF that body"
Mr.. Vests address was loudly applauded.
The states We're then:called Tor nominations for
places on the committee, and when this was cofu-
pleted the convention took recess until four
O'Clock.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE COMMITTEES:
Permanent organization-Logan II. Roots, J. G.
Liebneck, c. W. Charleton, S. NJ. Chapman, c. c.
SEeatS. Platt b. Walker, John s. Williams Hon
Thad Z. Pound, Emile host, e. L. Burnhan, ID. II.
Francis, Col Alex. Campbell, John Maher, C. E
Cox, Silas .. Thorne.
Rules and order OF busness-P. O. Thweat, S. W.
Calvin, Edwd s. Jones, c. Thompson. A. w. McCul-
bride, A. G. Brtce, W. " Allen, j. j. Russell. Col
Geo W; Thompson, j. W. Thomas, W. 2. Halliday,
credentials-Geo. ". sappington, s. l. NJ Henry,
Tomlinson Fort, j. W. DolaL. 4. w. Mccullough, {.
H. Berry, F., F. C. Moorhead, Capt. D. A; Mcdonald, J.
l. breht, mos w. Heatley, W. H. Miller, 5. GEM
berger, Capt John McIure, l. F. Parker, James NJ.
Beardsley, Allen TindOph.
Resolutions-Wm r. Burke, John F. Drain, G. P.
NJ. Turner, E. Rosewater, C. {. SheatS, John F. Nor
IRISH, James +. Stokes. b. j. Stevens. W. c. Wyley,
Hon. II. NJ. Aller, Henry Hitchcock, Alexander c.
Botkfn, Louis Baker, Edward Russell, w. S. Brack-
EFT, NJ. A Marks.
THE DELEGATES PRESENT.
Following is list OF delegates present when
the convention opened today:
Arkansas-Logan H. Roots, G. W. Sappngton,
W. r. Burke. \. Straub. T. O. Tr1vatt, G. b. Peters,
&c: Tappan p. o: Thivatt, n. Straube, William X.
Burke, John G. Calhoun
nlinois-W. S. Bracket, c. E. Cox, II. s. Brown.
W. W. Berry, d. F. Wilcox, E. Miller, J. F. Durant,
Vandenboon. W. B. Haworth, j. W. Singleton, otis
Turner, William Sommerville, j. NJ. Allen, Henry
Head, II. G. Weber, j. N. Allen, W. A. Brackett, j.
Z. Adams. r. ID. BurfOrd, H. @. McPike. William
Armstrong Alexander Steel " Ennyyltnn Inh1,