The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-09-05
THE RESOLUTIONS


Dakota, as follows: Mr.. Chairman, your
commission on resolutions, having cares
fnlly consulted upon the various resolu-
ions and subjects referred to them re-
'pectfully submit the following reports:
WHEREAS, In order to secure to the
producers in all parts of the country the
highest possible return for the preducts
and the most favorable exchange of the
same and our proper relations to the cons
htions of the foreign markets. it is essen
Iial that the cost of transportation be res
1nced to the minimum, therefore be it
Resolved, That immediate and compre
lensive improvement of the Mississippi
and Missouri rivers and their navigable
tributaries to their fullest extent of their
capacity in order to secure
safe. permanent and reliable channels of
sufficient depth and breadth to afford at
all seasons of the year ample facilities
for water transportation of the immense
products of the Mississippi valley is de-
manded Of the government of the United
States by every consideration of CONNER
clal and social advancement and by JUS
tice and an enlightened policy of promol-
ing prosperity and defence of the nation.
Resolved, That We favor any meritor
ious project for increased water transpor-
tation facilities by which the general in
terests of the whole county may be con-
served and we commend a liberal policy
in this regard to the careful consldera
ton and intelligent support of congress.
But we deem the immediate and perma
nent improvement of the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers and their navigable trib>
utaries according to some comprehensive
plan embracing the whole subject, of par
amount importance.
Resolved. That the Mississippi river
from the falls of St. Anthony to the Gulf
of Mexico is great natural highway for
the commerce of the west and the dis
tance between the falls and south of the
Ohio river being more than half the dis
tance of the navigable water of said
river.
Resolved, That sufficient appropria>
tions 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 that we urge
upon congress that an immediate approe
priation be made for the amount neces>
sary to complete said works, and we also
favor the continuing of liberal apppro>
priations by congress for the improve,
ment of the Mississippi from Cairo TO the
Gulf
Resolved, That appropriations should
be made by congress for the improvement
of the navigation Of the Mississippi to the
navigable sources thereof in accordance
with the recommendation of the govern
ment engineers to the war department OF
the reservoir system of the upper Missis>
sippi.
WHEREAS, The Missouri river, one of
the largest and longest rivers in the
world, watering an agricultural and min>
eral country unsurpassed in wealth, its
borders populated by over six millions ot
people. yet never having received di-
rect appropriation from the national gov
ernment for its general improvement
prior to the 47th congress therefore, be
it
Resolved, That we earnestly recon-
mend and urge the present and perma'
nent improvement of the navigation OF
the Missouri river upon general and
systematic plan to prepare it for COM
merce by steamers and barges, and We
urge the policy of large and continuous
appropriations by congress therefor; We
further recommend that the improve
ments be carried forward as distinct and
separate measures, and in not less than il
five divisions of the river will an e9ua
application of appropriations for this
work consummate with the wealth anG
growth of the real country tributary
thereto on account of its remoteness from
the eastern market and the fitness of the
river for great commerce and the con-
struction Of the ways at suitable point!
for the protection of boats against the
damage from ice.
Resolved, That this convention urg,
upon the government to appoint npoI
the Missouri river a commission of ems
gineers and civilians residing upon anC
interested in the improvement of thu
Missouri river and whose other interests
are not incompatible with their duties al
said commissioners.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this
convention the enlargement of The Hi
nois and Michigan canal and the exten
sion of the same by the construction of ,
canal from the Illinois river at Hennepir
to The Mississippi river at Rock Island
thereby connecting the great lakes witt
the Upper Mississippi and giving con
tinLous line of water transportation from
the Mississippi valley to the Atlantic sea
board is demanded in the interest o
cheap transportation and the now i'm
mense growing commerce of the north
west, we call upon our senators and rep
resentatives in congress to urge the con
struction of such canal and the enlarge
ment of the Illinois and Michigan cana
by the general government.
Resolved, That this convention ap
proves the plans recommended and urget
by the United States engineers in charg
of the Sault Sur Marte canal for improv
ing the capacity of the stream to meet tn
rapidly growing demands Of commerce b,
constructing an additional lock of TWEEN
ty>6ve feet deep and we favor the com
pletion of the Hay Lake Channel at tn
earliest possible day and we urgently re
quest congress to make regular appropri
ations of the amounts recommended fo
the preservation of the works.
Resolved, That we also recommend a
appropriation sufficient to immediateI
complete the work undertaken and tina