Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-02-08
THE RIVER CONVENTION.
An Appeal to Congress 10 Improve the
Mississippi and Its Great
Tributaries

Washington, February THE Mis-.
sissippi river convention re-assembled
this morning, and the committee on
resolutions unanimously reported the
following:
Whereas, this convention, represent
ing the broad area of eighteen states
and territories, the people OF which
are intensely interested In cheaper
transportation from producer to con.
sumner of all products of the
country, whether of soil
mine or factory, has assembled
at the national capital expressly TO
give utterance to the popular desire
for continuous improvement and OK
tension of the great Western water
way; therefore,
Resolved, that the first interests for
which the convention Is authorized to
speak are entitled to the highest de-
gree of consideration from the national
legislature, to which Is entrusted by
the constitution as well the regula-
ton of commerce between the states
the promotion of the gen.
affected IL already one-half of that of
the whole United States, more than
twelve times greater than the total
u.
Upon this vast commerce has been
levied year by year direct or waste
full tax, enormous In amount, by way
of increased freights, insurance demur-
rage, wrecks and repairs caused by
sand bars, snags, treacherous banks
and other obstacles to safe and easy
navigation of the Mississippi river
and its navigable tributaries.
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 indus
tries which support 1t, from such need
less burdens by removing those obsta-
Giles. The navigation to be acquired
from these great water ways and the
vast territory they drain was the
triumph of early American statesman
ship; to retain their mighty floods and
direct their resistless energies IL an
achievement for its latest science. 1t
is for craftsmanship to complete that
triumph 10y calling that science perma-
nently TO its aid.
Second, we earnestly re.affirm the
declaration of the river improvement
convention which met in st. Louis in
1881, that il is the manifest and imper-
tive duty of the government, to cause
to be made such improvement in 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 negOti-
ations already made by congress in
land amounting TO nearly 200, 0OO, 900
acres, and in bonds issued or guaran-
teed of nearly 100000, 600 more in aid
of artificial highways, the property of
individuals, and which, even at the
low est rates, must furnish the most
costly form of legislation on large
scale, as compared with the appropria-
ton, yet not so great by one-tenth in
all is asked for the improvement of
more than Is 600 miles Unnatural water
ways, whose freedom from tax or mo-
nopoly is protected by constitutional
guarantees, and in cheaper service and
unrestricted competition they afford
the most efficient check upon eXorbi-
tant charges by amy other route to the
sea.
Third-We emphatically approve
the appointment by congress of the
Mississippi river commission as the
first we'll considered and efficient step
toward permanently opening the Mis-
sissippi valley to the markets of the
world. The work of the commission
has passed out of the region of expert
ment, and h as justified the expendi-
ture made and plans adopted for the
improvement of the lower river. We
approve their plan for preserving to
the main river all the water of all its
tributaries and for removing all OBJ
structions, either natural or artificial,
which tend TO defect or impede the
flow of any portion OF the same.
We also declare that the system now
being successfully prosecuted under
for the improvement of the upper Mis-
sissippi meets general improval. In
the Judgment of this convention, said
improvements ought to be continued
under the same system, general plan
and jurisdiction respectively as at pres
ent. We also earnestly urge upon
congress that the scientific and COM
prehensive system of river improve
ment by competent commission, thus
inaugurated us to the Mississippi, |
should be applied without delay to the
Improvement of the Missouri, Ohio and |
other ravigable rivers, and true econo-
nv dictates that all such work be car
ried on by liberal and regular appro-
priations.
Fourth-That in the interest of cheap
transportation, and to afford choice
of water routes 10 the |
seaboard, we regard
connection between the upper navi-
gable waters of the Mississippi and the
great lakes as of great Importance, and
congress in making appropriations
ought to have regard TO the
establishment of tree water
communication between the val
ley of the great river on the
west and tide water on the east, In ac-
cordance with recommendations here
tofore made by the president OF the
United States in his special message
on this subject.
Fifth-We desire to express our cor
dial appreciation and acknowledge
ment of the braod and patriotic views
expressed and important advice rem
dered to the improvement OF the water
ways of the West by the president OF
the United States In his official acts
and declarations from the time OF his
accession to that high office.
Sixth-We also recognize the WIS
dom of congress in appropriations
heretofore made for the improvement
of the rivers of the West, at the same |
time observing with satisfaction the |
recent recommendation of the senate
select committee on Mississippi river
improvement that II the work OF I'M
provement be worth doing, it Is
worth doing well, and to secure thor