The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-02-15
THE FATHER OF WATERS.
Resolutions Adopted by the Mississippi
River Convention at Washington.

River convention at Washington
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-1he Mississippi
River Convention reasSem bled this morning
Resolutions of thanks to the press, the Dis
tTict Commissioners and others were unan-
imousIy agreed to.
Mr.. Hitchcock, of st. Louis, Chairman of
the Committee Oh Resolutions, presented
the unanimous report of the committee, as
follows:
Your Committee on Resolutions, having
carefully considered the various resolutions
referred to them, respectfully submit for con.
sideration the following:
WHEREAS, A convention, representing the
broad area of eighteen States and Territories,
the people Of which are intens ely interested
in the cheaper transportation from producer
to consumer of all products of the country,
whether of soil, mine or factory. has assem-
bled at the National Capital expressly to give
utterance 10 the popular desire for the con-
tinuous improvement and extension of the
great Western waterway; therefore.
keSotued, j. That the interests for which
this convention is authorized to speak are en-
titled to the highest del gree of consideration
from the National Legislature, to which is in
trusted, by the Constitution, as well the regu-
lation of commerce between States as the
promotion of the general welfare. The do
nestle commerce Affected is already one half
of that of the whole United States; more
than twelve times greater than the total for
eign commerce of the Nation, and larger
world. Upon this vast commerce there has
been levied year by year direct and waste
full tax, enormous in amount by the
way of increased freights, insurance, de-
murrage, wrecks and repairs caused by
sandbars snags. treacherous banks and other
obstacles to the safe and easy navigation of
the Mississippi River and its navigable tribu-
taries. No exercise of the power of Congress
can be more legitimate or more just than the
relief of that commerce. and of the immense
and varied industries which support it from
rnN htNp Nv, rftNrr taINCr
obstacles TO the navigation. To have acquired
those great waterways and the vast territory
they drain, was triumph of early American
craftsmanship; to restrain their mighty Hoods
and to direct their reSistesS energies are the
achievements of American science. 1t is for
craftsmanship to complete that triumph by
calling that science permanently to its aid.
2. We earnestly affirm the declaration of the
River Improvement Convention, which met
at St Louis. October, 1881 that il is manifestly
the imperative duty of the Government TO
cause to be made such Improvement of the
Mississippi River and its navigable tributaries
as shall permanently secure the safe and
easy navigation thereof. Especially is this
duty obvious and our demand justified In
view of the donations already made by
Congress in land amounting to nearly
200,0O00y0 acres and in bonds issued or
guaranteed to nearly $l0O,000,000 more,
in aid of artificial highways, the property of
individuals, and which even at the lowest
rates must furnish the most costly form Of
transportation on large scale, as compared
with appropriations not yet 30 great as one
tenth in al For the improvement of more than
ID 900 900 miles of natural waterways whose
freedom from tax or monopoly is protected
by constitutional guarantee while by the
cheaper service and unrestricted compet-
ton they afford most efficient check on
exorbltant charges by any other route to the
sea.
8. We also emphatically approve the ap-
pointment by Congress of the, Mississippi
River Commission as the first wellcOnsidered
and efficient step towards permanently OPEN
ing the Mississippi Valley to the markets of
the world. The work of the Commission has
passed out of the region of experiment. and
has fully justified the expenditure made and
the plans adopted for the improvement of the
lower river. We specially approve their plan
for preserving to the main river all the water
of all its tributaries and Tor removing all OBJ
Struotions, whether natural or artificial, which
tend to defect or draw off any portion of the
same. We also declare that the system now
being suGeessfn iy prosecuted under direc-
ton of the Secretary of War for the
improvement of the Upper Mississippi meets
with general approval In the Judgment or
this convention said improvements ought to
be continued under the same system, the gen.
eral plan and jurisdiction respectively as at
present. We also earnestly urge upon Con-
gress that the scientific and comprehensive
system of river improvements by competent
commission thus inaugurated as to the Mis-
sissippi should be applied without delay to
complete the permanent improvement of the
Missouri, Ohio and othernavigable rivers, and
That true economy dictates GnaC ali Such Work
be carried on by liberal and regular appropri-
ations.
4. That in the interest of cheap Transports
ton, and TO afford a choice of water routes to
the seaboard, we regard the connections be-
tween the upper navigable waters of the Mis-
sissippi and the great lakes as of great i'm
portance, and that Congress, in making the
appropriations, ought to haye regard to the
establishment of free water communication
between the valley of the great river west and
tide water east, in accordance with the rec
concentrations heretofore made by the Presi-
dent of the United States in his special mes
sage on this subject.
Mr.. Moorehead, of Louisiana, as Director
General of the Worlds Cotton Exposition,
to be held in New Orleans next winter, in
behalf of the Board of Managers extended
to the delegates an invitation to hold their
next session in New Orleans. The conven-
ton then adjourned. subject to the call Of
The Executive Committed