St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-09-03
RIVER j. mARBCB
CONVENTION {
ST. PAUL, MINA
SEPT. 3rd, 1855.
SEPT. 3rd, 1885,

ther so magnificent project. There seems
to be a desire on the part of all for the
greatest harmony, and that for once the
Northwest may speak with mighty uni
son in demanding its rights at the hands OF
the government. About the hotels last night
this was the common thought expressed by
everybody, and was undoubtedly sincere
with most, although there are not wanting
those perhaps who use this sort Of Ian
guage as a cloak TO conceal private ends.
Said a member of the convention from an
Iowa river town: - think | have attended
every river convention that has ever been
held, and l never before saw such q COM
munity Of purpose exhibited. There seems
to be
BROAD AND UNANIMOUS DESIRE
on the part of everybody to have the con-
vention take comprehensive yet definite
ground, to ask for a few things but to in
sist upon them. There is an absence Of
much of that lobbying for outside improve
ments of which we used to get so much in
former conventions"
by outside improvements you mean the
Hennepin canal?"
mo, sir. By outside Improvements L
mean Goose creek in general. Now it may be
and probably is true that these Goose creek
people are as anxious for their own little
improvements as they ever were; but they
keep their little schemes in the background.
They have tried before to put them to the
front and have ignominiously failed each
time. Not only have they defeated their own
purposes, but they have SO divided up the
sentiments of the conventions they have at
tended that they have practically defeated
the one great purpose of having a decent re-
cognition of the demands Of western water
transportation. Now their only hope is to
keep their own little schemes in the back
ground and join i'll obtaining the precedent
of liberal appropriation for the upper
Mississippi, and then i'll future years per-
haps they can get their appropriation for
Goose creek"
THE HARMONY.
And such seemed to be the feeling.
There are two great things that are upper
most in everyOne's mind, and those are the
Improvement of the navigation of the Mis-
sissippi river from the head of navigation
down, and the opening of the Hennepin
canal to connect the Mississippi
with Lake Michigan. The in
fuence that has come up to the
convention i'll favor of that improvement is
simply immense. All of Illinois. all of
Iowa, all of Nebraska, all of Minnesota
and all Of Wisconsin are in favor of this
improvement. 1t has but little opposition.
and it is doubtful if that will dare to show
its head in the practically unanimous senti-
ment in favor of it.
Col. Utley of Dixon, ILL.,, who is the
president of the Hennepin canal commits
sion, was rubbing his hands last night
1--WE been working for this for twenty
years." said he, ''and now | am much graf
flied to see how unanimous is the sentiment
in favor of our canal"
''Have you any opposition at alp" was
asked.
But very little. There is some from
Missouri, as is quite natural, and from Min
neapolis, but l don't expect to be called
upon to meet the opposition of either in the
convention. / am at a loss to understand
the opposition from Minneapolis. | under
stand it is because they are afraid st. Paul
will be the head of q more comprehensive
system of waterways than it now is. Why
that should hurt Minneapolis is more than 1
can see, for the effect of the canal upon the
cheapening of rates to and from Minneapo-
lis will be as great as on st. Paul"
More Delegates.
L