The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-08
The Proceedings i'm Detail.

To the Western Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Feb 1.-THE Mississippi river
convention reassembled this morning Mr.
Hitchcock, of st. Louis, chairman of the com
nittee on resolutions, presented the unanimous
report of the committee. After setting forth the
necessities for and the benefits to accrue from
the improvement of the Mississippi,
the resolutions gave utterance to
the popular desire for continuous
improvement and extension of the great water
way; assert that one-half of the domestic com
merce of the country is affected; that it is more
than twelve times greater than the total
foreign commerce of the nation and
Ieater than the total foreign co M
lnerce of the whole world; reaffrms the dec
laration of the St. Louis convention that it is
the manifest, imperative duty of the government
to cause to be made such improvement as sh all
secure safe and easy navigation of the river,
especially in view Of the donations already made
by Cos gress in land, amounting to nearly 200,
DO0O 900 acres, and in bonds issued or guaranteed
of nearly 800 900 to aid artificial highways
and the property of individuals, which even at
lowest rates must furnish a costly form
of transportation; approves the appointment of
the Mississippi River Commission; indorses the
plans for preserving to the river all the water of
its tributaries and for removing all obstruction s;
declares the work now being prosecuted is emf
nently satisfactory and ought to be continued;
urges upon Congress that scientific and com
prehensive system of river improvement by the
present commission should be applied without
delay to complete the improvement of the Mis-
souri,, Ohio and other rivers that in the interest
OF cheap transportation and to afford choice wa
ter routes to the seaboard, connection should be
made between the upper navigation of the Mis-
, sissippi and the great lakes and appeals to
; Congress to consider the establishment
of free water communication between the
valley of the great river and the tide water of
the East; cOmmends the views expressed by the
President in his message; recognizes the benefits
which have resulted to navigation of the Mis-
sissippi river and principal tributaries from the
extension of the lighthouse system; recon-
mends a further increase of lights, and con
cludes by authorizing the executive committee
to memoralize Congress in accordance with the
sense of the resolutions.
The resolutions were adopted
Representative Houk, of Tennessee, addressed
the convention stating that, while he would
vote for the most liberal appropriations for the
eral appropriations for all tributaries.
They should not, however, fatter
themselves that everyone thought as
they did They would meet antagonisms
and he would advise them to place their claims
upon such broad grounds would at once do
away with small local opposition.
Hon. VIM Hatch, of Missouri was called
upon and made speech in which he said he
had always voted for the river and harbor BILL
letting those who put improper appropriations in
it take the responsibility for them; yet he never
had known river and harbor bill to pass Con
gress that was not fair and just.
General Turner, of Tennessee Congressman
Dunnell, ex-Marsha Pitkin, of Louisiana, and
others made short speeches
Mr. Morehead of Louisiana, as director-ge
eral of the Worlds Cotton Exposition to be held
Al (lrlnNnQ into haha off Of 4l,a
board of managers extended to the delegates
an invitation to hold their next session at New
Orleans. The convention then adjourned, sub
ject to the call of the executive committee.