Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-28
IMPROVING THE MISSISSIPPI
The Dubuque Convention Completes
Its Work and Adjourns.

DUBUQUE. Ia, Jan. 20.-The river con-
v~ention completed its session yesterday
and adjourned sine die. The committee
on resolutions submitted its report, which
is quite lengthy. The substance of it is
that the national government has failed
TO provide appropriations for the improve
ment of the Upper Mississippi. and there
by deprived the people Of that country
Of q cheap and safe route TO the
seah"ard. There now exists an i'm
perative necessity for congress
to take prompt action for the relief of all
the interests involved. This convention
has met to suggest needed improvements
and urge the general government to adopt
them. That these improvements have
been long needed and that they demand
the watchful care Of congress and of the
chief executive. to whom is intrusted, by
the constitution, the advancement Of the
general welfare. Upon all products of the
northwest there Is levied every year a
direct and ruinous tax by way of in
creased ~freights, large insurance, dam
ages, wrecks and repairs caused by rocks,
snags. sandbars and interruptions to tho
safe and regular navigation of tho Mis-
sissippi river. Nothing can be more wise
or just on the part of the government
than 10 remove these Instructions. That
all river and harbor work undertaken by
the government should be considered rs
business enterprises, the cost TO be meas
ured by the general resulting good. Upon
this basil al money hitherto expended
on the improvement of the Upper Mis-
sissippi has been more than repaid and
j~ustiiieS largely increased appropria-
tons. The system of improve
ments now being done in the proper
one, and is accomplishing the desired re-
suits. Its continuance would soon give q
safe and permanent channel to NEE. the
demands of commerce.. The work now
being lone by the Engineering Depart
mcnt is heartily Endorsed. The z
tons of Maj. McKenzie's corps Of engin-
GERS in regard to appropriations sufficient
to cover the work of several years is hear
tily approved. The lighthouse system 10
indorsed, and the placing Of buoy-lights
to define the channel through tho Rock
Island rapids is recommended.
A resolution favoring the construction
Of "a canal from Leclaire TO Davenport
around the Rock Island rapids was
stricken out and another one Of a similar
character differently worded was substi-
bultu. ITO lt5OlutloIfS were tutH fioIb-
ed. The chairman appointed a committee
of two from Zach state, including Iowa,
Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Mis-
souri,, to devise plans for The
formation Of a permanent Upper
Mississippi improvement league. These
committees were IA follows: Iowa. James
ii. Stout, Phillip W. Grape; Illinois, &. f.
Cox, G. II. Deere; Wisconsin, John Paul,
David Austin; Minncsonta, j. w. Blakely,
sam Van SAINT; Missouri. M. j. Murphy,
George Blaine. Resolutions thanking the
people of Dubuque for their hospitality
were adopted, after which the convention
adjourned.
The general statement was That the
convention will lead to results hat will
be of great benefit in the future TO the
business interests OF the Mississippi valley.
After adjournment there was "a meeting
Of steamboat captains and owners OF
boats at which a committee was appoint
ed to perfect an organization Of steam
boatmcnt to look after interests directly
pertaining to them.