Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-10

ceases, while In summer it is scarcely
half the higher figure? The propor-
tioDate charge by rail for the transit
of a bLshel of wheat between Chicago
and Buffalo would be in the winter
from six to eight cents, while by lake
it Is generally two cents, and often
less than that. The freight on bushel
OF wheat between St Paul and Chi
cago Is from 10 TO IL cents, while
Major Benyaurd has shown that by
the Mississippi and the Hennepin
Canal 1t would not exceed six cents.
Now see what q vast amount OF money
1t would leave In the pockets of the
people of the Upper Mississippi Valley
If such q reduction of the transit of
their cereals 20 market were realizsd.
Official Government estimates of the
crop of wheat in the states of the Ups
per Mississippi Valley for 1884 were:
wheat. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1885, 349 600
Total, .........,........1, O25 928, 600
Suppose only one-half is 10 be ship
ped eastward for consumption there
and for export, and we have sos. 961.-
500 bushels. If only one cent per
bushel were saved 10 the people by
water transit, the amount would be
50, 029, 615; at five cents per bushel the
fabulous sum of S25, 14S, 055 would be
left in the pockets of the people every
year. Spend but a quarter of this
SUM Tor two or three years on improv.
ing the navigation of the Upper Mis-
slsslppi and the building of the Hen
nepln Canal, most important part of
the river system, and the most mar
Vicious results would ever after be re
aiIzed, For the want of such improve
ment wheat is forced up the Mississippi
river from Wlnona, and perhaps be-
low, to seek the shorter railway tran
sit to Duluth, and thence by the great
lakes on It's way to the sesboard.
Whatever saving is thus effected is SO
much the better for the people.
Following the spaech of Mr.. Bross,
Mr. Chase, Of Omaha, stated that res
olutions had been perfected, which
would DE reported as soon as engrossed.
He thought they would be generally
acceptable to the convention, although
they asked liberal appropriations;
IS, 600, 600 are apparently lying idle in
the treasury; the great northwest had
paid a good part of it and wanted to
share It's benefits IN the way OF i'm
proved water ways. He denied that
hostility was intended against the
railroads. He then gave statistics
claiming that one county in Nebraska
had produced s, GOO, 600 bushels or corn
last year, which was about as much as
tue rest Of the United States had pro-
duced. His special plea was for the
Missouri river. He claimed that the
people OF Nebraska Were entitled to
good portion OF the millions appro.
priated.
Ignatius D9nnelly took the plat>
form and said the convention was an
organized raid on the treasury of the
United States. He said the farmers
had been advised to diversity their
industries. H. would advise them to
raise hell. Laughter and applause.
w hat we want is cheap transportation
TO our waterways, and if we don't get
it there will be revolution in this
country. Their emnisaries were even
present on the floor of this conven-
ton.
Senator Eustace, of Louisiana, in
vited by the convention, proceeded to
disabuse the public mind of the idea
that there was any antagonism on the
part of the south agasnst the upper
river improvement.
Clark E.. Carr, of Illinois, Mr.. MUIR
ply, OF Iowa, and Governor Bross
made speeches in favor of the Hen
1epin canal.
A series Of resolutions recommend
ing immediate and comprehensive
improvement Of the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers and their navigable
tributaries, and the appropriation an
nually Of $25, 000, 900 for the improve
ment of rivers and harbors of the
United States and the construction of
artificial waterways were unanimous
ly adopted by the convention when it
adjourned.