The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-08-24
IMPROVING WATER WAYS.
The Convention OF the Business Men
Of the Three Cities at Davenport
Saturday Evening.

ventiOn was called to order at O'Clock
by the secretary of the Davenport Board
of Trade, L. F. Parker on whose motion
Mr.. Charles Beiderbeck, of that city, was
elected president of the convention. Mr..
W. B. Ferguson, of Rock Island, was
chosen secretary.
Congressman Murphy, of Davenport.
was called upon to address the meeting,
who read Gov. Hubbard's call for the
water way convention. He had taken the
liberty he said, to send telegram to the
father of the HeBnepin canal, Congress-
man Henderson, of Illinois, inviting him
to attend. He had hoped to send a reps
resentation that would command national
respect, and he had arranged for cheap
transportation. He was willing to do
anything in behalf of the Hennepin canal.
While no favorable action was secured at
the last session of con ress, that action
on the canal bill was negative and of a
character that was really favorable. We
understand that in unity there is
strength. He thought that within the
radius OF neighbOring cities a representa-
ton of 100 or $50 men could be secured,
which would have good effect previous
to the opening of the next session of con
gress, at which it was expected to secure
an appropriation with which to CONS
mence the const "uctiOn of the canal.
Judge Murphy remarked he would he
pleased to hear few words from Con
gresham Henderson.
Gen. Henderson was loudly applauded
as he arose to speak. He said he had
not come to the meeting To make Il speech.
When he received the telegram from
Judge Murphy he did not know the OBJ
ject of it but presumed it was in reference
to securing representation at the st. Paul
convention. lie did not think speech
favoring the canal was needed or neces>
sary. He regretted when he saw that
the governor of Minnesota had not felt
such an interest in this matter as to en-
brace it in the call. The call did not EN-
brace il either in the spirit or letter. The
Improvement of the Mississippi was moi
of so much Importance as the connection
of the navigation of the Mississippi with
the navigation of the lakes of the north
The commerce of the east and west eX'
celled BY a hundred fold the amount o
traffic up and down the Mississippi. He
knew st. Louis was jealous of the pro
posed canal connection. believing i
would divert trade from the north to tn,
south. He wanted to say to Gov Hub
bard that in his judgment there was moth
ing of more Importance to the people o
Minnesota than this canal. if water route
are desirable at all. Why the people o
St Paul and Minnea polls. cities of won
derful growth and prosperity, should OPP
pose this enterprise he did not know. |
would compel the railroads to charge
reasonable rate of transportation. Hi
nOis, the southern portion of it at least
had abundant facilities. 1t was of i'm
portance to his district but he did not adj
vocate it for that purpose, 1t was o
national Importance No one coul,
fail but to see that this meas
ure was to be of much importanc
to the people of all sections Of the cOun-
try; was of mutual interest aud natiOna
interest. While some people demo unc
these canals there is the Erie canal tina
stands today to record the fact that ther
is difference of from to 10 cents o
every bushel of wheat that goes east. H
didn't think it necessary to advance an
argument to the people of Davenport ii
wanted to say the course pursued in til
last congress was the only course tha
could be pursued with any show of sue
cess. In every one of these movement
that had been made he believed there ha
been steady growth of sentiment i
favor of the measure, and that it had los
not hing. He was discouraged when h
saw disposition, as in the Utica cOnver
ton, to discourage federal support OF ca
nails and artificial water transpOrtatiO
routes. If the Erie canal is closed tn
people of the northwest can add million
to their freight rates. The people of tn
northwest would not consent to the aban
donment of the Erie canal, but want ad
ditional means to enjoy its benefits. H
professed to represent the state of Ilino
and the northwest and thought it was
matter of public interest. He had ha
something to do with getting solid dele
cations from Kansas and Nebraska, bl
Minnesota was more interested in ii
Hennepin canal than those states. Fl
thought it would be great thing for I'll
northwest if Minnesota was in direct col
nection with the seaboard by water. MI
Henderson retired amid applause. Olive
Olsen, ESQ.,, of this city, addressed IL
meeting on the plan of action to be puI
sued. Congressman Murphy said the oil
ject of the meeting was to select delegate
to attend the st. Paul convention II
intended to visit Muscatine and otht
cities to see that delegates were appoint
ed and wanted to see every city and tow
represented.