Huntsville gazette., 1884-03-15
lUECLE SHOALE:C0NvENTION
Over 500 Delegates in Attendance

A Memorial Committeo Of 100. The
The Resolutions Adopted.
The Convention called for the pur-
pose Of urging an appropriation BY
Congress for the completion of the
work on the Muscle Shoals Canal met
in Chattanooga, Tenn. Wednesday
with over Eve hundred delegates pres
ent, representing the various cities,
towns md the country in the region
Of the Tennessee river stretching
away tor miles from the Shoals.
Gov. ONesl wa elected perma-
nent Chairman and In the course Of
an extended address on the object Of
tho Convention, said
The productions Of our country have in.
creased much more rapidly than our means
Of transportation. and the growth Of our
population and products demand addition.
al and cHnAPxs facilities to reach the mar
kets Of the Union and tho rest of the world.
Earnestly impressed With these views, the
representatives OF al the States and towns
bordering on this greatrivss hsve met hero
70. day 10 demand for the Tennessee River
Improvement that recognition which its
national importance Is entitled 70 receive
from our Representatives in Congress- A.
ter the progress already made in this work.
just upon the eve Of its eonpletisn, viii
tho Government, from IN unvise spirit Of
economy. refuse longer 70 furnish the
means necessary - render available the
Labor and money already expended
From Knoxville, Tenn, 10 PAducah, KY,
TOO miles Of uninterrupted steamboat navi-
gatisn would be unlocked BY the compile
ton Of the Muscle Shoals canal. In addi.
tion to this several smaller rivers, tributa-
ries Of the Tennessee. navigable at :certain
seasons. wonld pour into the main river
great cargoes Of iron. coal. lumber and 9th
or produce that are now without value, ss
they are without markets. Thus would be
opened to commerce the vast region of
Western North Carolina. Southwestern
East Tennessee and hast but not
least North Alabama. with its immense but
only partially developed mineral wealth.
With water transportation. which alone
ca transport cheAply heavy products long
dst2nees. the Tennessee Valley would Wit
Hsw - err Of unexampled and magnificent
and material development
With the amount asked for this yea-. the
es4ise Improvement Gao b made available.
The vhole work. am informed, will be
completed far inside Of tho original esti-
mE@, notwithstanding the fact ths appro.
priations have been only about 30 pes cent
Of the annual estimates. which, Of course,
increase the cost Of work. The work, VIII On
done, win last for centuries, and will be
washable at all seasons of the year II Me
balance Of the river h put in good nAvi-
Gabh condition. Maj. King in his report
ays: 1T is fact not generally apprecia-
ted that the Tennessee river has . better
low water channel than The Ohio, and that
i6 supply Of water 10 much more perua.
nens. The bottom is generally of rock,
and the banks are almost invariably pro-
tected by rocks OF by dense growth Of
vegetation.
Another fact that gives great importance
to this canal. especially in East Tennessee.
is that the distance from Chattanooga to
PadueaA viii be only 453 miles, while
PittsbuYs il 9l9 miles from tho same point
Yet With the advantages Of water trans
portstion the coal miners Of Pennsylvania
can come ITO miles to Florence and sell
coal cheaper than this great city only 200
miles distant.
The people Of the Tennessee Valley no
longer intsnd 10 be FABRICATED from the out
ss vsrld. Congress will appreciate the
importance Of this great work. and the dr-
mands Of the people voiced BY this Con-
vention win reach even into the vsstibules
Of the National Capital.
The demand for cheaper food from the
Glasses Of tho East and the planta-
Aons Of the South, tho ino1sasing wants of
= progressive. thrifty population. and the
j Inauguration Of vas, comprehensive manu-.
Interests. the astonishing dow Of
o. itAl for investment in our mineral and
Agricultural lands indicate lhe imperative
necessity Of cheaper means OF internal
communication. We occupy . region pos.
sesiAs advantages above al others ON the
globs Of the ane extent in fertility, diver.
sisy Of climate, production and geographic
cal position.
The great Tennessee Valley only awaits
cheaper facilitiss for transportation 70 de-
vslop commerce tho aaenituds Of which
il b dinRcult nov 10 conceive. Nsy he
result Of ysur deliberations be such Is to
accomplish Jour most sanguine hopes. and
be the dawn of new era Of unexampled
prosperity and developmsht for our below
cd section.
The Convention Yotod q Memorial
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