The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-05
WATERWAYS.
Demand forthe Improvement Ofthe Two
Great Rivers and Their Tributaries.
The Claims of the Great Northwest for I'm
proved Shipping Facilities-What
That Region Sends to Market.

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crossed. He thought they would be generally
acceptable to the convention, although they asked
liberal appropriations. Five million dollars were
apparently lying idle in the United States Treas
ury, and the great Northwest has paid a good
part of it and wanted a share of its benefits in
the way of improved waterways. He protested
that no hostility was intended against the rail
roads.
Ignatius Donnelly then took the platform, and
said that the convention was an organized raid
on the Treasury of the United States. He said
the farmers had been advised to diversity in
dustries. He would advise them to raise hell.
Laughter and applause. "What we want is
cheap transportation by our water ways, and if
we don't get il there will be a revolution in this
country. The railroads have taken possession of
the government of this country; their emissaries
are even present on the floor of this convention
Senator Eustis, of Louisiana, was invited by
the convention, and proceeded to disabuse the
public mind of the idea that there was any
antagonism on the part af the South against
upper river Improvement. Mr.. Eustls said to
secure what is wanted there should be no
division, and there is none.
you will find the Southern representative
ready and anxious to join with the North in
securing from Congress such appropriations as
may be needed to secure the betterment of our
waterways. We must stand together from a
a consideration of self-interest, if from no other
cause" Applause. He added that what was
asked by the convention should not be consider
ed as a charity, but as a just demand which
must be granted. "Your voice must and shall
be heard. and / pledge myself to voice your SEN
timents in Congress"
Hon. W.. II. Hatch, of Missouri, was next
invited to address the convention. He claimed
that the Hennepin canal had no place in the
House of Representatives on the river and har
Dor bill, and it was this that had killed that bill
in the last Congress. His words proved that he
was arrayed against the cause emphatically, and
tended to elongate the countenances of the
Illinois delegates. In conclusion. he said that
he came here as a citizen of the Mississippi
valley, and not in the interest of any special in
terest. The people of the Mississippi valley must
receive what is due them by right. The people
in the East have no idea of the greatness of the
West. The West has been feeding the cow
while the Yankees have been milking her. He
proposed to turn the cow around and let the
West milk awhile. Laughter and applause
Clark X. Carr Of Illinois, Mr.. Murphy of Iowa,
and Ex-Governor Bross of Illinois. all spoke in
the advocacy of the Hennepin canal, after which
the convention adjourned till 2 P. N.
The convention was called to order at 2:40 P.
NJ, and the committee reported the resolutions,
which were read by General Beadle, of Dakota.
They set forth in detail the Importance to the
Whole country, and especially to the West and
Northwest of so improving the great rivers and
tutAr udVlgdUlo tributaries dS TO aUOrQ q READY
and reliable means for transporting to the sea-
board the products of the great agricultural
regions of the Northwest. They particularly
demandl liberal appropriations for the improve
ment of the upper Mississippi and Mis-
souri,, and also ask aid for the improve
ment of the navigable portions of the Fox,
Wisconsin. Chippewa and Yellowstone rivers,
and the Red river of the North. They indorse
the Hennepin canal scheme, and ask the i'm
provement of the Illinois and Michigan canal,
the SAINT ST Marie canal and aSk tho attaptiou
of Congress to the reservoir system, which has
been tried to a limited extent on the upper
mississippi. The resolutions declare that On
appropriation for the improvement of North
western water ways to the extent of $25, 000, 900
would be in the nature of wise economy.
The resolutions were received with applause
at various points in the text. The chairman of
the committee moved the adoption of the resolu-
After the adoption of resolutions, John T. Alt
gelt. of Illinois, offered the following:
Resolved, That inasmuch as the region west of the
Alleghenies possesses more than half of the shipping
OF the country, and contributes more than three
fourths of the money expended by the federal govern
ment for public Improvement tits rank injustice to this
great section that it receives only about M -third of the
money appropriated for it's river and harbor improve
ments, as has so long been done. While we favor the
Improvement of our waterways throughout the
country to meet the demands of producers and con-
sumers, we demand from this time forth that as
much proportion OF these appropriations be made for
the Northwest as may be necessary to meet tbs de-
mands or the growing trade OF this section OF the
country.
Judge Frye, of New York, addressed the con-
vention on the Florida ship-canal. which, he said,
was the route by which products should 80 to
foreign markets, saving l. 600 miles and avoiding
the dangers of the gulf stream. The amount of
losses by lack of this canal in ten years had been
$75, 900, 900, with S., 0QO, 900 extra insurance
added. The Mississippi valley is the
greatest feeder to the ship canal
that IS now constructed or that
a =. q A-ak A. =
Frye continued at length, showing how i'm
portant waterways were considered in Europe
as a cheap means of TRANSPORTATION, and claiming
that in European States canals were increasing
in popularity and proftableness. despite the
rapid development of railway interests. After
the conclusion of this address, Mr.. Rea, of
Illinois, moved that the resolution go to the COM
mittee, which had not yet been discharged,
which was lost.
Mr.. Blakely, of Minnesota, moved the COM
mittee of conference on the Improvement of
Western water ways in the valley of the
Mississippi look after the river and harbor mat
ters of the Northwest in Congress-, as their
expenses had been provided for at the St Louis
meeting. and levies could be made on the cities
interested in the work.
Governor Stannard, of Missouri, wanted the
matter left to representatives, one from each
State and Territory, to be appointed by the chair,
of which the chair should be chairman.
Mr.. Gordon. of Minnesota. wanted the repre-
sensations to be made up of the delegates from
each State and Territory, and Governor Stannard
accepted the amendment.
Mr.. Donnelly, of Minnesota, wanted the COM
mittee ON resolutions discharged. so he could get
In some resolutions, but he was voted down.
Then, after certain arguments, made in favor
of the upper rivers. had been ordered made a
part of the proceedings in the official record, the
convention adjourned sine die. The cordial and
hearty greeting bestowed on Senator Eustis,
Major Burke. and others of the New Orleans
committee, is the subject of much favorable
comment tonight.
The following memorial was adopted by the
convention just before the adjournment:
We, the people, inhabitants of the upper Mississip-
pi and the Missouri river valleys, in convention as
%sembled, do most earnestly petition the Congress of
the United States. when assembled, at the earliest
possible moment to consider and act upon this. our
memorial in reference to water ways. These two val
leys comprise the States of Illinois, Wisconsin, Mis-.
souri Iowa Kansas NahraSka MinnaSota nrd L.