The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-18
FROM THELAKES TO THE SEA
Object of the Waterways Convention
Which Met at Detroit Yesterday.
Inland Cities to Be Made Seaports by Digging
Deep Channels at Necessary Points Be-
tween Chicago and st. Lawrence Gulf

DETROIT, Dec. 1.-THE deep-waterways
convention, which convened here this
morning. is an assemblage OF distinguished
men. which promises to take an important
place in the history of the country. even if
1t only makes one step In the direction of
the ultimate object of the econventiOn-that
of making seaports Of the cities of the
great lakes. The call for the conv vention
recites the meeting will consider questions
relating to much needed improvements in
the channels of water communication
through our great lakes. making twenty
and twenty feet the minimum depth
throughout their entire length, the
location of lighthouses. the deepen
ing of import harbors, and possi-
bly, the most feasible route for
connecting these lakes with the tidewater
by deep water channel that will float our
largest vessels" In regard to the main
subject Gen. o. M. Poe's report published
some weeks ago. is to the point. From
depth of nine feet and half course of
sixteen feet has been obtained by dredg ging,
and this deepening was followed by a great
increase OF traffic. which now cries for
tweney -one feet depth. General Poe says
that the dredging should be done at six
places In the following order: Sa.urs' En-
campment, st. Clair flats, Crosse Point fats,
mouth of the Detroit river. foot of Lake
Huron, and the shoals near Roung island.
Further. General Poe says that all this can
be done at q cost of s.. 339, ,567.96. As to the
channel to the tide. vessel men are not
united regarding the possibility and the re-
suit OF such great undertaking. The sup
porters OF this vast project are growing IN
NUM- bers. and they will rest satisfied for
the time in the belief that twenty-one-
foot channel from Duluth to the Atlantic
m ust be inevitably followed by the desire
for an outlet to the sea later on.
Representatives. from all the commercial
organizations in the lake cities ana dele
gates appointed by the Governors of the
States directly interested were present
when the convention was called to order
this morning by Hon. William {. Maybury
of Detroit. chairman oil the executive COM
mittee. The letter of the Hon. j. Logan
Chipman. which first suggested the con-
ventioD, was read, followed by the reading
OF the call for the convention. An address OF
welcome was then delivered by Mayor
Pingree, after which Hon. Thomas w. Pal
mer was called to the chair as temporary
chairman and delivered u characteristic ad-
dress. Committees on credentials and per-
manent organization were then appointed.
AZ the opening of the afternoon session
the first business was the report of the
committee on credentials This report,
which was unanimously adopted. showed
lou accrcQlteu anu lOrty-elgDL honorary
delegates present. Hon. Thomas w. Palmer
was elected permanent president The CON-
niiJtee on legislation was arranged to con-
sist of the president. vice-presldents and
secretaries of the convention and committee
on resolutions. The following secretaries
were elected: G. II. Graves. Duluth; e. A.
Keep. Buffalo: Robert Downing, Oswego;
Is. l.. Remington. Cleveland; /. :. Durham,
Chicago; q. l.. Lane Detroit Resolutions
and memorials pertinent to the objects of
ha ~ mn
delegates They were all referred to the
committee on resolutions for action. The
convention then adjourned for the day. A
banquet was rendered the delegates this
evening.
Resolutions OF the Miners Congress.
Ell PAso. Tex, Dec. 1.-THE third days
session of the Southwest Miners conven-
tion was called to order at $50 O'clock this
morning. The hall wes crowded with
fully 1900 people. The committee on re-
solutions with ex-senator John H. Reagan.
of Texas. as the chairman submitted it's
report. 1t requests the friends of silver to
have definite policy in view, and that
they should labor to secure the free and
unlimited coinage of silver, and seek for
repeal OF nhe requirements TO purchase
silver bullion and issue treasury notes
thereon: secure the reopening of the mints
OF the United States to equally unrestricted
coinage of gold and silver into dollars of
the present standard, these gold and silver
dollars to be exactly equivalent to legal
tender units of accounts In the United
States. The resolutions conclude by de-
mandiDg of the Congress of the United
States that mining property be exempt
from the provisions OF law which prohibit
the investment of foreign capital in real
estate property in the Territories. The
resolutions were adopted amid tremendous
applause and the congress adjourned sine
die.
The Charges Against Secretary OF state Soper.
LANSING, Mich, Dec. 17.-Last midnigb
in response to an emphatic demand from