The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-09-11
WESTERN WATERWAYS.
Proceedings of the Convention at st. Paul
for the Improvement of the Lakes and
Rivers-Congress Memoralized to Give
the Northwest Cheaper Transportation
to the Seaboard.


for the Improvement of the Lakes and
Rivers-Congress Memoralized to Give
the Northwest Cheaper Transportation
TO the Seaboard.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Sept. 5.-The Water
| ways Convention was called to order at ten
o'clock a. m. yesterday. Mr. Chase, of
Omaha stated that resolutions had been per-
fected and would be reported as soon as
engrossed.
Addresses were made during the morning
session by MIR. Chase, of Omaha, Hon. Ig-
natius Donnelly, of Minnesota, Senator
EuStis, of Louisiana, Hon. w. FL. Hatch,
OF Missouri, Colonel Clarke E. Carr, of IL
| linois, Mr. Murphy, of Iowa, and Ex-GoY-
ernor Bross, of Illinois.
AT the afternoon session the following
resolutions were read by General Beadle,
OF Dakota, and unanimously adopted. The
resolutions assert:
THAT the immediate and comprehensive
improvement of the Mississippi and Missouri
Rlvcrs and their navigable tributaries to the
EaliesL extent OF their IMPROBABLE capacity, in
order to secure safe, permanent and reliable
channels of sufficient depth and breadth TO
aurora at all seasons of the year ample facili-
ties for the water TRANSFORMATION Of the i'm.
menSe production of the Mississippi Valley is
demanded of the Government OF the United
States by every consideration of commercial
agricultural and social advancement, and by
Justice and an enlightened policy of promot.
ing the prosperity and defense of the Nation.
THAT we favor any meritorious project for
increased water transporting facilities by
winch the general interests of the whole cOun-
try may be conserved and we commend a lib
eral policy in that regard to the careful con-
s1deration and Intelligent support of Con-
PresS; but we deem the Immediate and pernlsl.
nent Improvement of the Mississippi and Mis-
souri, Rlyers and their navigable tributaries,
according to some comprehensive plan en-
bracing the whole subject, as of paramount
Importance.
THAT sufficient appropriations should be
made to give at least six feet of water in the
Mississippi River from Cairo to the falls of st.
Anthony at the earliest practicable day, and
we urge upon Congress that an immediate APP
preparation be made for the amount neces-
sary to complete said work; and we also favor
the continuance of liberal appropriations by
Congress for the Improvement OF the MissiS-
sippi from Cairo to the gulf.
mat appropriation should be made by
congress tor the Improvement of the naviga-
tIon OF the Mississippi to the igable sources
thereof, in accordance with the recommends.
tlon OF the Government engineers; and we
commend to Congress the careful consdera-
llon OF the report OF the res dent engineers
to the War Department on the reservoir sys-
TEN OF the upper Mississippi.
THAT the Missouri River is one of the
largest and longest rivers in the world, water
ing an agricultural and mineral country I'M
surpassed in wealth, its borders populated by
over six million people, yetnever has received
q direct appropriation from the National
Government for its general Improvement
prior to the XLVIIth Congress; therefore.
we earnestly recommend and urge the
present and permanent Improvement of the
navigation of the Missouri River upon gen.
eral ana systematic plan, to prepare it for
commerce by steamers and bargeS; and we
urge policy OF large and continuous appro-
prlatlons by Congress therefor; and we fur
Their recommend that the Improvement be car
ried forward as a distinct and separate meas
ure, and in not less than five divisions of
the river, under the charge of United States
engineers and civilians resident therein, with
equal application of appropriations to the
several divisions; and we do now demand APP
preparations for this work commensurate
with the wealth and growth of the great coun-
Try tributary thereto, and the construction of.
ways at suitable points for the protection of
boats against damage from ice.
THAT this convention urge upon the Gov
eminent to appoint upon the Missouri River
Commission engineers and civilians residing
upon and interested in the Improvement of
the Missouri River, whose other interests are
not incompatible with their duties as said
commissioners.
THAT in the opinion of this convention the
enlargement of the Illinois g. Michigan Canal
and the extension of the same by the con-
struction of q canal from the Illinois
River at Rock island, thereby connect
ing the great lakes with the Upper Mississippi
and giving continuous line of water trans
portatlon from the Mississippi Valley to the
Atlantic seaboard, is demanded in the interest
of cheap transportation and the now immense
ana growing commerce of the Northwest;
and we call upon our Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress to urge the construc-
ton of such canal and the enlargement of the
Illinois u Michigan Canal by the General Gov
eminent"
Further resolutions Recommend the i'm.
proyement of the Sault Ste Marie Canal: the
completion of the Hay Lake Channel; the i'm
provement of the Red River of the North and
the tributary adjacent lakes and streams;
the completion of the Fox and Wisconsin
rivers, with view of providing a through
route by water transportation between
Improvement of the Yellowstone, Chip
pewa and St. Croix Rivers, and the cont nu-
ance and extension of the lighthouse system
and Snag and dredgeboat service and the
opinion is expressed that an annual appro-
priation of 81, 600, 900 for the Improvement of
the rivers and harbors and the construction
OF artificial waterways would not be extrava-
giant, and could be expended so as to enrich
the country far beyond the amounts so APP
propriated.
Judge Frye, of New Orleans, addressed
the convention on the Florida Ship Canal,
which, he said was the route by which
products should go to foreign markets, saw
ing 1,600 miles and avoiding the dangers of
the gulf stream. The amount of
losses by lack of this canal in ten
years had been $4,000, 900 with s., 000,-
600 extra insurance added. We are told
that the water system is superseded
by railway construction and operation. En-
gland and France contain 1900 miles of
canals and improved internal waterways
The convention adopted a memorial ask
ing Congress to act upon the question of
waterways. 1t sets forth that the two val
leys represented by it have an aggregate of
744,S sos square miles and IL, 1000, 900 people
who are principally devoted to agriculture,
mining and stock raising The annual
products of this section amount to $2,4O9,-
469,O 0O which could be transported to
the markets of the world at minimum
cost if the national waterways of their
section OF country were to be improved as
recommended. AS part of this system of
waterways improvements there have been
devised and the cost thereof estimated by
some high authorities, certain canals de-
signed to connect the lakes system and
to become part of them so as to avert
obstacles which canals, if completed.
would greatly facilitate trade and cheap
EN- transportation. The results already
attained by the work on these several
rivers, harbors and canals, with the meager
amount heretofore appropriated, have been
eminently satisfactory at all points, fully
demonstrating the feasibility and wisdom
of those plans. The cost of the work
required to perfect these waterways
will be far less than the value of
the 35,546,207 acres of land which
Congress donated railways within the nine
Northwestern States and Territories Ito
say nothing of subsidies and State grants)
upon the plea of affording cheap transpor-
tation and in pursuance of National internal
Improvement policy, while the direct and
immediate benefit will be many times
greater.
The convention adjourned site die.
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