Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-02


offered the following resolution, which was
adopted:
Resolved, That the National Board Of Steam
Navigation, in convention assembled, do most
gladly welcome every movement directed to-
ward us by the representatives of other nation.
alues, and more especially those delegated
from our sister republics to the Congress of all
Americas. We extend our warmest fluctuations
TO the distinguished gentlemen who are now
officially visiting our country in the interest of
peace unity and commerce, with the earnest
hope that the seed of patriotism and material
advancement they are now sowing will speedily
come to fruition and produce golden sheaves.
General Negley then spoke on the estab-
lishment Of an American merchant marine.
He did not believe that great nation, with
5000 miles of ocean front, could promote
and defend its commerce without conduct
ing its own carrying trade and mail service.
The United States should participate in the
advantages of the European trade, and
control the markets of all the Americas for
its surplus. The pressure of relentless
competition has been forcing the United
States out of its legitimate markets. This
nation produces the best merchandise, but
the advantages offered by the commercial
codes of France, England and Germany
are forcing the United States out of the
trade with other countries. The leading
European nations are excessively active in
fostering private maritime enterprise and in
Strengthening their relations abroad
POSTED coNsULs NEEDED.
They send as consuls only persons with
commercial and technical experience, who
made regular trade reports to their govern
mentS. General Negley spoke particularly
of the great efforts being made by Germany
for commercial supremacy He said that
Emperor Wilhelm was greatly underrated,
Al. L. IL 1F 1aoA
and was a prodigious and Indefatigable
worker, as bold in purpose as he was tireless
in energy. The United States, he held,
must push its marine no matter what might
be its first cost. General Negley's address
was received with great applause, and was
ordered to be spread in full upon the min
utes of the board.
George W. Walker, f. W. Mum and W.
H. Il. Titus, of Philadelphia, and the
Southwestern Transportation Company, of
New Orleans were elected to membership
in the board.
At the afternoon session Secretary Bryant
presented resolution asking Congress to
prevent the obstruction of the uavigable
rivers by low and short-spanned bridges.
Mr.. Bryant referred to the Beaver and
Steubenville bridges, and said that the
lower Mississippi was threatened. he rec
ognized the right of railways to bridge the
free waterways, but held that bridges
should be so built as not to impede the nav
igation OF the stream. He regretted the
disposition OF Congress to grant the right
to build bridges without considering the
interests Of navigation.
SECRETARY PROCTOR FRIENDLY.
River competition is the only guarantee
of reasonable freight rates, and it should
not be lmpeded for a single day. He
thought Congress and the Secretary OF War
should regard the importance of free nayiga-
ton rather than the cost OF bridge con-
struction. Mr.. Bryant said that a recent
conversation which he had with Secretary
Proctor convinced him that steam vessel
owners at least have friend at the head of
the War Department.
Mr.. John A. Wood spoke strongly of the
impediments TO navigation by bridges over
the Ohio. Tows are frequently broken to
pieces on the piers, which are only two or
three hundred feet apart. Formerly $4,000
tons of coal could be taken in one tow. lows
must be tied up at night, because they can
not trust the narrow bridge spans.
Captain VoSburgh, of New York, spoke of
his experience in bridge fighting on the
Hudson river. BY legislative lobbying he
was at last defeated on one bridge.
Captain Holloway, of Cincinnati, also
felt strongly on the same subject. He said
that capital had been subscribed in New
York to put another bridge acress the Ohio
at Cincinnati, and at Louisville prepara-
tions are now making to throw bridge
across the river at the head of the falls, a
place where great injury will be done to
navigation.
Captain John F. bravo being called out
l., L.,
and short spans. He said that the case was
the people against corporations. The free
dom of the waterways should be guarded
jealousy. he inquired how long a railroad
would stand it ii its traffic were impeded
for a single day, or it were compelled to
''tie up" its trains over night.
RIVERS MUST BE GUARDED.
Railroads have rights secured by legisla-
ton, but the rights of the water highways
ante-date all legislation. To impede the
carrying of cheap coal rapidly down the
river is an invasion of the rights of every
ireside in the country. There will be
limit to railroad construction and capacity
and the rivers must be guarded for the fut-
ure.
General Negley said that Congress should
require higher bridges and longer spans.
Spans of 600 and 500 feet are now con-
Structed and piers have been reduced in
size Mr. Bryant said that there was a
bridge law for the Ohio river. but that it
was evaded by special legislation. Captain
Vosburgh said:
''If nature had placed in the middle of
your river q stone monument like one of
these bridge piers, Congress would spend
hundreds of thousands OF dollars, if neces-
sary, to remove it." He referred to the
Baltimore and Ohio bridge across Staten
Island Sound at Arthur Kill as the great
est outrage ever permitted by Congress.
Captain Addison Lysle described the OBJ
Etructions placed under the channel span of
the Pittsburg and Lake Erie bridge at
Beaver and under the Panhandle bridge at
Steubenville, and how they were likely to
impede navigation during the fall freshet.
Mr.. Bryant's resolution was unanimously
adopted, and turned over for acrion to the
Committee on Legislation.
APPEALING TO PROCTOR.
On Captain Vosburgh's motion the Com
mittee on Legislation was enlarged from
three to seven members, three from New
York, one from Pittsburg, one from Cin-
cinnati, one from ST. Louis and one from
New Orleans. The President will appoint
this committee to-day.
Captain bravo presented a resolution re-
questing the Secretary of War to order the
immediate removal of the distractions at
the Beaver and Steubenville bridges, so that
the 10000, 900 bushels of coal awaiting ship
ment here can be taken down stream during
the expected fall freShet. The resolution was
adopted, and the Secretary was directed to
send a copy to Secretary Proctor.
Secretary Bryant moved that the Legisla- |
tive Committee be authorized to obtain ex-
pert testimony relating to the possibilities
of bridge construction, that it might be
presented to Congress.
President Cheney said that the bridge |