The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-09-11


plan to prepare It for commerce by
steamers and harges,. and we urge. a
policy OF large apd continuous appropria.
tions by congress- therefor. We further rec.
oinmend that tho Improvement be carried
forEaed by q distinct and separate measure,
and in not less than five divisions Of the
river, and under Uuited Sta tss engineers and
civilians resident therein, with equal appli-
cation Of sf,bropriation to thcscveral divi.
sions; and We do now demand appropria.
tions for the work commensurate with the
wealth and growth Of the great country
tributary thereto, its. remoteness from
Eastern commerce, and the construction OF
ways ut suitable points Tor the protection
OF boats against damage from ice.
Resolved, Thpt this. convention urge
upon the government to appoint upon the
missouri river commission engineers and
civilians residing upon and interested in
whose other interests arc not incompati.
.ble with their duties as said commissioners.
T. Resolved, That in the opinion Of this
convention the enlargement Of the Illinois
& Michigan canal and the extension OF the
same by the construction Of IL oanal from
the Illinois river ut Hennepin to the Mis-
sissippi ut Rock Island, thereby CONNECT
ing the great lakes with the upper Mis-
si..ippi and giving q continuous line Of
~
valley to the Atlantic seaboard, isdemand-
ed in the interest Of cheap transportation
and the now immense and growing COM
nierce Of the Northwest, and We call upon
Oursenators and drcprcsentativcsincon in congress
to nrge the construction Of such cannl and
the enlargement Of the Illinois and Michigan
canal by the general government.
Resolved, That this convention approves
tbe,plans recommended and urged by the
sN,,1 0knAn .l.
Sauit Ste. Marie canal for increasing the
capacity Of the same to meet the rapidly
growing demands Of commerce by con-
structing an additional lock twenty. one
feet deep; and VIC favor the completion OF
tlic Hay lake channel ut the earliest prac-
ticable day, and we urgently request con-
gless to make regular appropriations Of
thci amounts recommended by United
States engineers for the prosecution of
these works.
Resolved, That wo also recommend an
appropriation sufficient to Immediately
complete the work undertaken and that
may be necessary for the Improvement Of
the Red River of the North and the tribu-
tary and adjacent lakes and streams.
Resolved, Tint this convention favors
the early completion OF the improvement
Of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, with u
view Of providing u through route OF water
transportation between the mississippi
and the great lukcs.
Resolved, That the Yellowstone river,
the Chippewa river in the State Of Wiscon-
sin, the st. Croix river between the states
of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the Min
nesota river, by virtue Of their present and
prospective commerce and the immense
benefits that would flow from their i'm
proycmcnt, are well entitled to the FOSTER
ing care Of the general government, and
that We recommend such appropriations
for their improvement as may he deemed
jutliciots by the government engineers.
Resolved, That in the system Of water
way improvements herein recommended il
intended the Improvement OF the harbors
to which they are tributary.
Resolved, That We recognize. with great
satisfaction, the benefits which have re-
suited to the navigation OF the Mississippi
river and it's principal tributaries, from the
extension Of the light housesystcm thereto,
and also the snas and drcdge boat service,
and renew the hope that annual npprO-
prIations will he made to insure the ctfi-
cheney OF both.
\ Resolved, That in the opinion OF this
convention annual appropriations OF $685.
600, 900 for the improvement OF the rivers
and harbors Of the United States, and the
construction of artificial wa :erways, would
not bo extrRvagant, and could he expended
30 az to enrich tho country far beyond the
amounts so appropriated.
The resolutions we're received with en-.
thusiasln. AS the different sections would
have their pet schemes one by one brought
forward, 1he delegates from that section
would break in with lively applause. At
the conclusion OF the reading the whole
body burst forth into n prolonged
demonstration of approval and the reso-
tutions were unanimously adopted. After
this there. was very little business trans
acted, and the convention adjourned Mt
4:2Q to go tothe State Fair grounds. In the
evening there was IL grand reception at the
Ryan, where there were a few speeches and
a good deal OF champagne.