The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-12-25
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.

The Waterways Convention at Kansas City
Adopts Resolutions and ELECTS n Perma-
nent Organization.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Dec. 1.-THE Ms
souri, river improvement convention
yesterday resolved itself into perma-
nent organization with an executive
committee consisting of two members
from each of the states of Montana,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Mime
sofa, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Colora-
do, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Ten
nessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Lou
isiana.
First-Inasmuch as the constitution con-
fdes 10 the general government the regula-
tion of commerce with foreign nations
among the several states, an essential means
TO which is adequate and economical trans
portation facilities; gives il exclusive juris-
diction over the avigable waters Of the
United States, and enjoins upon it the pro-
motion of the public welfare, no exercise of
its power is more legitimate. no expenditure
of public money more fully authorized, and
no duty more imperative than such i'm
provement of waterways OF national iT.i-
portance as will secure the most adequate
and economical trans portaton Tor the prof.
ucts of the people.
Second-The records of the government
show that of the commo iities entering into
the export trade of the United States 30 per
cent are of agricultural production. OF
VIII CHI 90 per cent is produced in the valleys
of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, which
fact demonstrates the national imnortaHce
in foreign trade OF the chief industry of
these great valleys. 1t is universally recog-
niZed that the manufacturing, mining and
forestry Industries of the country find the
principal consumers of their products in the
md MA iirtr int hos
valleys, upon whose prosperity theirs Is
therefore dependent. In view of these facts
the promotion of the agricultural industry
of the Missouri and Mississippi valleys is of
fundamental national interest, upon which
depends alike our foreign commerce and the
prosperity of all other great productive In
dustries.
neutrality-suspicious. in these great valleys
has become depressed, and in turn retards
other Industries, by commercial changes
which make it necessary to provide cheaper
transportation for its great staple products
than has yet been afforded or can be af-
forded by railroad facilities alone Trans
portation is Il non- productive industry. and
its cost is q tax upon production, which the
public welfare demands should lie so ad-
Jus ed by such wise provision of facilities
as will secure the minimum charge
consistent with the equitable profit
of those engaged therein Experience
in both this and other countries has
shown that the AVERAGE cost of water trans
po rtation for the products of agriculture. as
well as of mining and forestry and the
cheaper commodities o: manufactures. does
not exceed one fifth tn 1t of railroads where
water lines are absent: while with co-eXist-
ing water and rail facilities the water lines
take such cheap commodities at such lower
rates as indicated. and effect u reduction of
fully one-half in the average in the cost of
,-FVn In r,~fs-
ducerS correspondingly EXTENDED markets
and increased rewards for their labor,
and so promoting all productive in
dustries and the general welfare of the peo-
pie Experience has likewis- demonstrated
that where water lines exist to carry the
cheap products of agriculture and other
cheap commodities. the increased prosper
ity of the people and the development of
correlated industries resulting tn, refrom,
provide for the railroads greater tonnage
and larger net earnings than accrue TO roads
not situated. Therefore, while the pro-
vision of water transportation for such
cheap commodities in these great valleys
promotes all productive industry, it is no
less in the interest of the railroads than in
the interest of the people.
Fourth-The surveys of the Missouri and
Mississippi rivers bv the officers of the gov
eminent have shown them to possess an
abundant volume of water for the trans
portatio demanded. If properly improved
and controlled. Therefore, in view of the
facts herein recited the speedy and COM
plets improvement OF these streams, so as
to fully utilize their value as channels Of
commerce, is of national significance. de-
manded alike by our foreign trade, by all
productive industries. by the interest of
railways and by the general welfare of the
entire country.
Fifth-In view of the national Importance
refer with peculiar qualification to the dec
laration of President HARRISON that 1T is a
better policy when a work has once been
determined to be of national significance
that the appropriation should be suffi lent
TO bring il speedily and without loss to a
conclusion" and commend with the highest
apprCvI al the enumeration of such policy on
the part of the n tIonal executive. Wecom-
mend to congress policy of adequate and
continuous appropriations. to be placed at
the disposal OF the officers of the gov, m
ment, for such application as in their scien-
tifc Judgment will most surely, speedily and
Permanently open these great waterways to
the commerce ot the country.
Sixth-The general syst IN adop ed for the
Improvement of the Mis- sipp and Mis-
souri, rivers has been proved by experience
to be adequate and effective. and IS ap-
prove not only ly the highest pr nciples
o. engin er.ng science. but Ly experience in
other countries and our own. IL Is there
fore entitled t. the unqualified Il 'proval of
this cow .ntiOn and of congress; AMI in
view of the magnitude of the national inter-
tsts dependent upon its application this
system should be continued and its greater
per: ect on made possible by liberal and con-
tinuous appropriations.
Seventh-The appropriations for the i'm
provement of the Missouri and Mississippi
rivers should be separated from the riv. r
~,
ests dependent thereon being such as to en-
title them to national recognition and the
peculiar fostering attention of the govern
ment.
Eighth-we urgently represent that the
necessities of the situation demand the an
nual appropriation by congress of the sums
of x. OOJ, 900 for tn" Missouri river and of 81
O0,0oI for the Mississippi river, and that
such appropriations should be CONT .ued
until those rivers are made safely navigable
from the head waters of the Missouri to its
mouth and from the mouth of the Missouri
so the gulf.
Nlnth-Th, efforts for the Improvement
of the Mississippi river in the past ten years
having proven that the control OF the flood
waters of tnat stream by means of l've=s,
whereby its waters are kept within the chan
mel and the present locat on of the river
maintained, are essential 20 the improve
ment OF the river for navigation, no less
thah LOT tne protection OF the lower vail y
from the enormous damage resulting from
inundation,> such lcvees should be recoS-
nized by congress as Il part Of the Necessary
improvem mt of that stream and be ade-
qu,ely provided for IN appropriations
The resolutions further request the
people along the Mississippi to organize
to aid in improving their districts and
favor appropriations for the Hennepin
canal
Fine French Paintings Seized.
MINSEAPoLIs, Mimi, Dec. 17.-United
States treasury officials made another