Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-31
DEEP HARBoR CONVENTION.
Report of Abilene's Delegation to
The Great Meeting.


The following is the report made by
Chairman D. r. Gorden to the city
council OF Abilene's delegation which
attended the deep-water convention al
Topeka:
To the Honorable May0r and Council
men, G3ntLem en-:
The Third Interstate Deep-HarbOr conven-
tion held in Topeka, Kansas, Oct lst, I'd, and Sd,
1889. was a large and representative body OF men
mainly delegates from all the states and terri
tories west OF the Mississippi river Illinois was,
However, represented by sixteen delegates, who
were admitted to all the rights and privileges OF
the convention. The convention was har
monious and unanimous in its demands for
deep-sea outlet via the Texas coast, and resulted
in the adoption of the following resolutions
Whereas, The general welfare of our country
is so far a. it relates to navgable rivers, harbOrs
and commerce, is committed oy the constitution
OF the United states 10 the exclusive charge OF
congress; and
Whereas, Cheap transportation Of cur com
Inercial products Constitutes one OF the no5t
| IMPORTANT elements of the general welfare, and
Whereas The Congress has donated to pTl-
vate corporations more than one hundred mil
| lions OF money and upwards OF Two hundred mil
lions of acres OF our national lands WIFI whlth 10
Construct artificial, anu therefore Hucn more OK
| pensive highways, owned by private individuals,
while they have neglected to make adequate
appropriation for even one feasible harbor on the
| northWeS coast OF the Gull of Mexico. which
would not only affOSd very much cheaper trans
portatiOn, but which, by our organic laT, is
under the exclusive care and control OF Congress;
and
| whereas The vast anG rapidly developing
area living west of the Mississippi river, cOmpri-
ingmOre than three -ifh S.of The national domai ,
| and yielding largely more than one-half or thu
| agricultural, meat, and mineral products oil
the entire country, is by this neglect forced 10
| transport its Commerce across the continent by
way Of these artificial and expensive Highways,
subject to such eXactiOns Of private cupiGiiy IS
| amounts always to a serious burden, and some
times 10 total Introduction to both consumer and
| producer; and
| discrimination in favor of private highways,
| which, during the last year, cost the commerce
| Of the west an enormous loss IN transportation
| expense, estimated at more than one hundred
and twenty millions OF dollars, or upwards of ten
| millions per month; therefore.
| Resolved. first, That in reafiiirmance OF the
| action of the Denver convention and of the COM
mittees organized Hereunder, it IL the sense of
this convention that it is the duty of congress 70
| appropriate permanently, and for immediate use,
| whatever amount is necessary to secure q deep
water port on the northwest coast of the Gulf of
| Mexico, west of the 93Ia degrees west longitude,
| capable OF admitting the largest vessels and al
/ which the best and most accessible har6Or can be
| secured and maintained In the shortest possible
time and at least cost; the time, place and cost
| TO be ascertained from the board Of engineers,
appointed under an act OF congress passed at its
| last session.
| Resolved, second, That this convention, In be-
half OF the people It represents, thanks the con-
| gress of the United states for the prompt and
| satisfactory action heretofore taken in recOgui-
| lion of the request of the Denver Deep-Nate
| convention.
| Resolved, thIrds That thanks of this conven-
| ton are due to the permanent committee APP
| pointed at the Denver Deep-HarbOr convention,
for their efficient action In the past, and said
| committee Is hereby requested TO continue
| earnestly in the work so well begun; and said
| committee is instructed TO present these reSOlu-
lions to the president of the United States. with
the request that he in his annual message TO con-
| gress recommend such an appropriation as may
| be reported necessary 10 secure the permanent
1 deep-harbOr on the coast OF Texas, which may be
recommended by the report OF the board OF engi-
| neers.
| Resolved, fourth, That those states and terri
| tories represented In this convention and not
represented on the Permanent committee. shall
have the privilege OF reporting 20 the permanent
/ committee the names or such members of the
committee as they may be entitled 10 under the
basis of representation On which that committee
/ Is constituted
| The above is a true copy of resolutions passed
| by the convention october Sd, 1889.
T. L. DANA,
| Secretary OF Convention