Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1885-04-18
The Water Ways Convention.

Dv the committee on resolution OF t!ie
Water WAYS Convention assembled
in New Orleans last week. were unani-
mouslv adopted. We place them on
record a. the deliberate expression of
opinion upon subject of paramount
importance, by one Of the largest and
most intelligent body of men ever con-
vened:
Whereas, the failure of congress to
take action on the improvement Of
tbs Western water ways Of tins coun-
try has placed in jeopardy the great
work of developing the Mississippi
Valley and the Northwest. thereby
princip;tating Il crisis III this impor-
tant undertaking.; and
Whereas, this convention has been
especially called to assemble al the
grounds Of the Worlds Industrial and
Cotton Centennial Exposition TO de-
wise means of avcrtin%, fpossible, the
disaster thus threatened, and to
prevent the recurrence of such le3is
lative inaction hereafter; and
Whereas, the interest involved are
such that they cannot he ignored by
the congress of the United States;
therefore, be it resolved:
l. That the interest for which
this convention is authorized to speak
are entitled i'll the highest degree to
consideration from the National Leg
islature, to which is entrusted by the
constitution as we'll the regulation Of
commerce between the States as the
promotion of the general welfare
The domestic commerce affected is
already one-half of that OF the whole
United States, and more than six
times greater than our foreign com
merce. Upon this vast commerce is
being levied, year by year, direct
and wasteful tax, enormous in amount
by way of increased freights, insur-
; ance, demurrage, wrecks and repairs,
: caused by sandbars sLags, treachor-
| ous banks and other obstacles TO the
safe and easy navigation Of the ives
, tern WATERWAYS. No exercise Of the
power OF congress can be more leSltl
mate or Just than the relief of tina
= commerce and of the immense ant
varied industries which support i
from such needless burdens by re-
moving those obstaclrs to navlga
) ton. To have acquired those grea
} water WAYS and the vast territor.
, which they drain was the triumph
! of early American craftsmanship
To restrain their mighty floods ant
direct their resistless energies is thu
a achievement of it's latest science. l
It is for the craftsmanship of to-day t
= complete that triumph by calling
= that science permanently to its all.
~ y That We earnestly reaffirm tn
declaration of the river improvement
" conventions which met at st. LOU
o in October, 1881, and at Washingto
J. D. c., in February, 1884, that 1t
/, the manifest and imperative duty c
the government of the United State
'r to cause to be made such improve
10 ment of the Western Water Ways a
,e shall permanently secure the eass
% and safe navigation and prevent th
, overflow theref. Especially is til
i duty obvious when the experience (
IL the past and present demonstrat
10 that such improvement, adequatel
it made and permanently maintains'
~ will save millions of dollars in IL
. cost of transportation to the people
u the. mississippi Valley.
8. That the failure Of the fort
eighth congress, at its last session,
rs continue the improvement Of on
III Western water ways is recalled wit
in great regret, and meets with the eli
:. approval of this conventiOn; tn
such action on the part of congre
10 has greatly embarrassed the work
Id the engineers, and will intict serio1
an injury to the improvement alreaC
Mt under way.
~ 4. That this convention invok
" the Forty-ninth Congress to regal
Is the interests of the people of t
in great Mississippi Valley in this ma
CO ter, and demands of it that appropri
70 lions be made sufficient to prosecu
n intelligently and successfully t
W. work of river improvement in t
at interest Of our commerce, until SUI
i'm work shall be fully completed.
nc 5. That the secretary of war
m. earnestly solicited to allow the une
:. pended appropriations to the cree
III of rivers and harbors as far as tb
nd are available under the law, to
he used in preserving, protecting, a
ne. prosecuting the unfinished works
ia the Mississippi and its tributari
~: from injury until the action of t
l"J Forty-nintn Congress can be h