The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1884-02-23
The Late Rissr CsnvsntIOu.



Extracts si = Ias.rEisv vitA +. Dsl.s.ts.
A member of the Ledger stan
looking over the register at the
Peabody Hotel yesterday after
noon discovered the entry: aJas.
T. Stokes, Missispippi.7 This gen.
ueman Is largely interested in the
Improvement of the Mississippi
river and its tributaries; is Presi.
dent Of the Leyee Board, District
No. 2, and was an active partici.
pant in the late National River
Convention at Washington. He
Is a son of the late Hon. Jordan
Stokes, a distinguished lawyer,
politician and legislator in his
day, representing a middle Ten
nessee district, and has himself
served with high credit in our
Legislature. Since he became a
citizen of Mississippi a few years
ago ne has taken an important
part in all movements looking to
the permanent Improvement Of the
great river and incidentally pro-
tecting the richest delta in the
world. which lies south of Men,
phis.
Upon being asked to give an
account of the River Convention,
Col. Stokes said:
"The convention was one of the
finest body of men | ever saw as
sembled. There were about 600
accredited delegates, represent
ing 20 States and Territories, as
we'll as the Commercial Exchanges
therein. Even Montana aad Col
orado sent delegates, as well as
Minnesota and Wisconsin. A more
pronounced stamp Of intelligence
l never saw in a public assem-
blage, animated by patriotic ear
nestness to secure to the vast val
ley the benefits Of cheap water
transportation. The Northwest at
last realize that their only hope of
commercial supremacy lies in the
direction of improving the Missis-
sippi and it's tributaries, and be-
yond question they intend to do
this. 1t was gratifying in the sx-
treme to notice the progress this
sentiment has made In the past
few years. Some of MS very easily
remember time when the support
of the River Commission came in
q great measure from the lower
river, and the whole matter was
deemed Of doubtful expediency.
Now, tits all changed, and at
Washington Democrats aud Re.
publicans from the Northwest
We'd With each other in express
sions Of loyalty to the great en-
terprise. 1t would astomsh our
friends to know how deeply the
Northwest is moved in this mat
ter.
'sThe resolutions adopted fully
and frankly represent my views
on all the subjects of which they
treat, and in them the Commission
is unreservedly endorsed.
II represented my State on the
Committee on Resolutions. Such
q convention would naturally call
forth many resolutions expressive
Of local as well as general matters,
and this was not an exception.
All these interests were repre-
sented and found expression in
resolutions, which were referred
to the committee. 1t seemed at
one time as If there would be a
minority report. but this I think
was due to MISUNDERSTANDING
The committee referred all the
resolutions offered to sub com
mittee, composed of Judge Wyly
Of Louisiana, Mr.. Russell Of Iowa
Mr.. Botkin of Montana, Mr.. Hitch
cock Of st. Louis and myself. Al
| ter some deliberation we reached
a unanimous conclusion. which
was endorsed by the entire com
mittee the next morning, and la
ter In the day was unanimousl.
adopted by the entire convention
There was no serious division o
sentiment. We ali endorsed th'
plans of the River Commission o
the lower river, the Improvement
Of the upper river and the tributa
ries. and The connecting OF tn
river with tide waters of the Eas
by canal. There are several routes
the most prominent, perhaps, DC
ing known as the Hennepin cana
@Undoubtedly, | DO not think
public man Of any party or froI
any section could live POLITICAL
who opposed river improvement
m I. .... ~. a ,.ora m aunf eantlmeT