The morning call., 1893-04-12
ALL OF ONE MIND.
Trans Mississippi Dele
gates in Session.
DRASTIC RESOLUTION.
The Rivers of the State Must Be
Reopened-A Large Delegation
Will Go TO Ogden.

1t is not often that such perfect harmony
and unity OF action prevail among a large
body of business men as was noted with
universal satisfaction at the Trans-Missis-
sippi delegation convention held in Mayor
Ellerts office last evening.
The meeting was held to form a plan of
action to be pursued by the city delegati ion
to the Trans Mississippi Congress of twenty
two States. which will meet in Ogden Oh
the oath inst.
Among those present were General Chip
man. Will E. Fisher. A. G. Towne, A. r.
Briggs, r. f. Bunker. Julian Sontag, A. b.
Field. +. A. Haber, J. f. Kennedy. Stewart
Menzies. Harry E. Wise. Charles H. Yates.
a. Sbarboro. w. w. Montague. c. S. Lau.
meister. w. T. Y. Schenck, r. II. Sher-
wood, w. l.. Merry, Rolia V. Watt. George
L. Gray. G. w. McNear, w. A. Judd and
Ira p. Rankin.
After Mayor Ebert had briefly stated the
object of the meeting he gave way to j. II.
Weinstock OF Sacramento, who in an elo-
quent address developed more fully the
Ideas which should govern the delegation
Wnen IL VIII meet the other delegations at
Ogden.
THE Trans Mississippi convention" said
ne was hrSt organized about three years
ago. it has since then held four or five
meetings. California has sent delegation
to each OF those meetings, but hitherto the
meetings have been treated with Indifference
II not with contempt. In the meantime the
other States have deservedly profited by
their energies. Texas, for example, secured
an appropriation from the Federal Govern
ment OF S6,OO00O0 Tor the Improvement of
Its barbOr at Galveston, chiefly through this
Trans Mississippi Congress. While the
other Trans Mississippi States have been
working for their own interest the peopIe
OF california seem TO have been content
with their condition and have failed to
make the beat use of the golden opportunity
afforded.
With united delegation a question of
vital Importance to this State, the main
tanning OF the navigation of our rivers, can
be satisfactorily settled. Year by year
these rivers are becoming less navigabIe-
Year by year they are causing greater
damage to the most fertile land under the
sun, and seriously depressing the commerce
of San Francisco. With strong and in
telligent delegation from California to pre-
sent this matter at Ogden there will be
undoubtedly favorable action, if followed
by reasonable energy in Congress at Wash
ingt0n.
What your representatives have been
striving Tor twenty years to accomplish
without avail may be accomplished within
the next twelve months.
What we want is an appropriation of
million dollars year for the next ten
wears, ana this is the way to bring it about
Let us not be content till the cry at Ogden
Is heard and answered by the fathers of the
Government at Washington"
The meeting proceeded to elect chair
man and after Mr.. Weinstock, CAPTAIN w.
L. Merry. ROlla Y. Watt and Arthur NJ.
Briggs had successfully declined the honor
VIII L. Fisher was nominated and elected
by reclamation.
Julian Sontag was elected secretary.
w. w. Montague spoke of the absolute
Importance of having produce cheapIy
brought TO tidewater and cheaply dstri-
5uted. when we have ceased TO produce"
said he, I'VE have no country"
DR.. Dixon Of Sacramento pointed out the
enormous destruction OF crops by the
periodical foundations of the Sacramento
and San Joaquin. There are fully 500. 600
acres of the finest land in the world now
under water, not an acre of which will
produce bushel of wheat this year. but
which ought TO yield $50 an acre and all its
produce would have come 20 San Francisco.
The rivers and harbors are being DESTROYED
as the result OF hydraulic mining and
erosion.
Oregon has secured million-dollar ap-
preparation while the last grant for this
State was S150,0C0 only. The only thing
Congress can do for us is TO help our rivers"
After dwelling on the necessity of CON.
centratiDg tile action of the delegation on
the rivers and harbOrs question DR.. Dixon
moved resolution, which was promptly
referred to the following committee:
Briggs, Sherwood. Merry, Jacobs, Bunker.
WeinStock and Chapman. As originally
drafted the resolution contained a strong
attack on hydraulic mining, and tho COM
mittee did not hesitate to make free excls-
ions in difference 10 the sentiment of the
mining interest.
The resolutions as finally modified and
adopted were as follows:
WHEREAS, The Sacramento and San JoaouIu
RIVERS and their tributaries comprise almost the
entire navlgable waterways Of California, a
Stale the western border OF which forms over
500 miles OF the Pacific Coast limits of lbe
United states, said rivers being The ma uraI
drains Of vast area OF the most productive
lands in The world, the Sacramento River in ira
original state having been nayIgable Tor ocean
vessels for nearly 200 miles from San Francisco
Bay; and whereas, said rivers have owing 10 the
Milling OF the channels from various causes, ana
to neglect by the Federal Government been
greatly injured, and In many portions destroyed
as navleable streams, and rendered wholly in
adequate as natural drains, resulting In the
annual eifiow Of more than /, o0O, 600 acres of
rich river bottom lands, capable OF PRODUCING
from two TO four crops per annum OF some agri-
cultural products; and whereas, this overflow
causes great Nss 10 the State OF Cali
fornia OF from S20,000,oOO 10 $50 600.
600 annually, while the debris deposited
IN said channels Is gradually enerOaching
upon and shoaling san Francisco Bay,
threatening the integrity OF The very gaze.
way 10 The commerce OF The State; and whereas
over 300, 200 tons OF freight are carried on The
Sacramento River annually, and over / Geo 600
Valley al rates controlled by the river CONNIE
ltion, which tonnage would be increased many
fold II the annual loss by overflow and Obst uced
navigation was eliminated by proper treatment
OF she river channels. thus adding vastly 10 the
commercial prosperity OF San Francisco and he
interior OF the STATE; and whereas while re-
peated efforts have been made by the neople OF
California 10 attract the attention OF The national
Government 10 the needs OF our nayigabe rivers
and EarbOfs, and to secure aid for their reslora-
ton ana preservation, the response has been
feeble indeed, aud appropriations so meager as
TO be wholly Inadequate 10 the requirements
ResolUed, By the Trans Mississippi Congress
In conyen ion assembled that a great and com
handing need of The State OF California is lin
eral treatment Of It's Davigable waters and har.
bors by the Federal Government, and we earn
estly request and urge our representatives in
Congress TO use all honorable means TO secure
appropriations adequate to The requirements.
ReSOtued. That We urge upon Congress the i'm
portance OF enactlng into law the bin recently
Introduced In Congress by Hon. A. CaminettI
OF California, proylding Tor The placing OF the
Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers under the
contract and special commission system.
Messrs Ha0er and FERGUSON were ap-
pointed committee to prepare request TO
Governor Markham aud Mayor Ebert TO
attend the congress at Ogden.
A. SbarbOro. Rolla V. Watt. &. s. Lau-
meister and Captain Robins were appoin led
a committee on transportation, and it was
arranged that the delegation should leave
for Ogden Oh Saturday preceding the con-
gress.
On motion Of General Chipman a eommit Z
tee of three, including himself, Captain
Merry and A. Il. Briggs. was appointed to
bring the Nicaragua canal matter before the
congress.
The meeting then adjourned ill Mon day
next.
THEIR GLIB TALE.