The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-04-16

10 compete with cheap labor
and the pauper legions of the Orient.
This we cannot do, and one much need
ed reform m overcoming the competi-
ton is reduction of the cost of trans
portation. II is plain TO he seen that
the railroads do not come To our relief.
They will not yield one bit of the accus-
toned toll for carrying, and they must
he compelled To this by the opening of
water routes. The waterway is the on
ly regulator of transportation tariii. lie
is i'm favor of the Waterways of the coun-
try anywhere and everywhere. The
proposed improvement of the Mime
sofa and Red rivers cannot be over es-
timated. Ii this were done the ELECTS
would be Immediately felt throughout
Minnesota and Dakota, in great savings
on the shipment of our products. This
is m artery of commerce that Will and
can be of great pecuniary benefit Ia our
sister cities of the northwest, and the
proposed improvement would go long
way toward the solution of the problem
of cheap transportation in the north
west, and would prove more potent in
the regulation and control of railroads
than any legislation, its influence would
be so wide spread. If this were accom-
plished the railways, instead of securing
an income on greatly watered stock,
would have Ia take II fair competence
for the labor performed, which would
be of the greatest importance to bust
ness men. The governor closed his re-
marks by expressing the hope that the
efforts of the convention would he
fraught with good results, and assured
them that any aid he could render by
word or otherwise would be cheerfully
granted.
Mr.. $. +. Barney, of this city, was the
next speaker and confined himself to II
history of the river improvement
scheme, he having been one of the
prime movers of the project. Two
years ago he was appointed AZ chair
man of committee from the Board of
Trade to ascertain why navigation of the
Minnesota as far AZ New Ulm could not
be accomplished, and in that commit
tees report suggested the Minnesota,
Big Stone lake, and Red river scheme,
and outlined the plan. He said that
the Board at first treated his idea ~ Il
Joke, but as they were further enlightcn-
ed, and assured that his was not entire
" Il new conception, for early settlers
had actually made the passage by boat,
and considered tina feasibility of such
serious about it, and the result was The
call of this convention. Mr.. Barney
uraed the convention not To forget the
former services oc This noble stream and
expressed the belief that ii we've practi-
cable To make il equally SER
yiceai,le to-day. lie assured the con-
veption that the matiar WIS not taken
ND us scheme of our own, nor DO We
clam to lend, but issued the call To give
the agitation u start, and hope To see il
90 on. lie expressed his gratitude at
so earnest u response To the call con
sidering the convention thoroughly
| representative one, although not large
i'm numbers. lie hoped to see new and
| increasing enthusiasm, and admonIshed
those interested to hold out.
| NJ. ID. l.. Collester of Mankato, being
called upon for Il speech, spoke for sew.
eral minutes i'm favor of the advance
| ment of transportory means, and more
| especially that which would lessen the
cost. lie discussed tha oppressive
measures of some of the railways, and
| showed that when Il reduction Is made
on through rates from Chicago to St
Paul and other leading points, loca
rates from point To point are sufficiently
| increased tO balance the reduction
These companies resort Ia all means Il
keep up high rate Of dividends on
their stock. The people of the Mime
sofa valley have to bear their share %
this burden, and if it can be obyiated by
the river improvement we will be doing
"A good work. There are many who d,
not believe i'm il, and If by holding thes,
| conventions pcUple can be converted I,
the faith, and make them believe il il
| ,,,,,;I,I., a will lao "A pnpI rnSIlll
| MIR Larpentcur, of st, Paul took the iiool
| and remarked that he couid Offer nothing new
| but as he was here to represent the 81. Pau
| BOARD of Trade he felt ID his duty To- state thai
| that body would be in hearty cooperation
| with any rational plan for the proposed i'm
| proyements. He was IN early sctt Ter of Min
! nesota and could remember wen whch IN,
4 Minnesota river was u prominent artery o
1 commerce. lie believes IL can he 81 made
\ again.
| The chairman asked Mr.. J. w. McClung, of
| St Paul, To give some Of his experience in in
aiiguratiny river improvement projects, foi
| the cditication Of the convention. Mr.. McClunp
| warned the members Of the convention
against disbursement, on account ol SINAI
| attendance Of delegates. He stated that al
| such enterprises were begun In u smilial
manner. lie could remember the hrst rive
| convention ever held in st. Paul, looking Il
the Mississippi Improvement, and the aticn
dance was considerably less than in this gath
| cring. They kept up courage, however, ail'
| from then intereslsrcw more intenSc,c onycrt
| to the enterprise were constantly coming IL
| and in a short time there was Il perfect blaz,
| of enthusiasm and the project succeeded
| These small Indifferent conventions were th'
| thin end of the wedge that WIS TODD the work
| This convention will serve the same pilrpps'
| for you and IL you continue To hrltc you
will effect something. The results oI The aIi,
| tatinn for the Mississippi river Improvement
has been an average annual appropriation al
| sI0OO0J, which has enabled us To secure album
| iant improvements. You can do Il similar
| work by being equally persistent. IL has been
| estimated that S1i5,UU would bc the amount
4 requisite to the Minnesota river Improvement
hut this would be an admirable Investment
| for the people Of this valley, bringing many
| fold returns in the way Of savings on trans
| pOrtation. IL Is wonderful how dead We
have been on this matter. We have been
| spoiled by the Introduction OF railroads be
| licying that we had no more need for the riv'
| err. but we lind that we will never get from
| the rail roads what we deserve, until proper
| competition Is established IT this can he Sc.
| cured there will he no legislation needed. II
has been predicted that railroads could not
1 carry freight at as low rates as GOATS, tut
| where river transportation has been inaiigur'
| ated the railways come To the low rates very
readily and seem to do well. Boats Will re-
1 ducc freight rates, and IL this part of the
| state could have the benefit of bargcs, there
| would he a saving ON wheat of at least ten
| cents per b,Ishcl We must educate the pcO
| pie up To this idea, AMI cmanate the sentiment
| abroad. We must educate our representa-
lives tn il also. that congress will bc inducc,
Ia give us what we ask for.
| Prof. A. +. BechdOlt, of MankatO, gave some
| interesting facts taught by the science of gc
| OlOgy i'm regard to the early relation of the
Minnesota river To the great lakes of tho
| Northwest territory and the Mississippi river
| Tic said that the geological record is, that the
| Minnesota Valley was at one time the natural
| outlet of lake Winnipeg, and that the Mime.
| sofa river was the one that actually made the
| Mississippi river He thinks that the expense
| of making the Minnesota navigtlbc would not
| he so great AZ estimated. His idea would he
| to struighten its channel i'm places ana deep
4 en- the shadows, at the same time maxim the
! channel narrower thereby bringing the water
| intOa less compass. He remarked that We
| haven't less water than formerly, but that thu
| moisture il more abundantly absorbed by the
| cultivated soil, hence we must aim To bring
| what does reach the river intp more direct
| subsection. The Professor spoke at some
| length upon the Warren survey and produced
| some very practical ideas.
| Mr. barney followed Prof. Iirchdolt with II
| letter sent by Il. II. Barrett, of Herman, Mimi
who was unable To attend the convention but
/ sent words of cheer AMI announcement.
| Col. Vim. Thomas was called for, but dc
| clined to enter upon discussion of the issue
further than to state that 10 - our right To ask
| congress for AN appropriation lie argued that
we pay our proper rate Of the national taxes
| and In requesting such an appropriation, W,
| are simply asking for the return Of II small
part Of what We have paid Ia the government
/ and what lcgitimatcly belongs Ia iIs.
| JUnh N Hall Thought that the people arc
responsible in the matter Of river improve q.
| ments, for IL they do not place the matter he.
fore their representatives AMI urge nction Ia
1 CbikTtSS, u VIII htNtt bt itt
1 the people who have come here i'm later years
| are the only ones who are scepticai about this
matter, the old settlers having no doubts
whatever Az to the feasibility of the proposed
| improvement.
| Peter Becker, of Belle PlaIne. an early set.
| tier of the Valley, gave some interesting facts
| concerning the cos. Of shipping wheat Ia st
| Paul by boat thirty years ago as compared
with what ID costs To ship by rail now, and OK
pressed himself rs heartily In favor of going
ahead with the Improvement scheme.
d b. Turrell, of Redwood Falls expressed
the opinion that something can he done i'm this
direction, and should bc done. He believes
| that much of the money appropriated is put
| into improvements where IL Is of no material
benefit To anyone md In localities where com.
mcrce IL nothing as compared with that of the