The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-25
D)WE THU hISSlSSIPPI
TIE COMMERCIAL CONGRESS
IN APRIL
HITTING PLACE FOR MEETING


EO2ste 81 the Questions Which the
Executive Committee Has Decided
jUOn for DiscuSsion--Au states
West of the Father OF WATERS
Entit!cd to representation; AIxO
Minnesota and louisiana
GREAT BEND. Kan. March 24.-(spe
ciaiQ-Mr. r. r. Moses. of this city.
chairman of the executive committee OF
the Trans-Alississippi Commercial con-
gresa, is today in receipt of an enor-
nous amount of mail from all sections of
the Trans Mississippi country, relative to
the meeting of the congress to be held
at Houston, Tex, April II to 81, inclusive.
To your correspondent MIR. Moses said:
The people of the United States are
quite familiar with the objects of the
Trans-Mississppi Commercial congress.
and the press Of the entire country has
given 1t great deal of attention, while
the newspapers printed within the limits
OF the great region embraced have been
generous to PH extreme, and we are par
tiCularly ANXIOUS for the continuance of
this assistance during the next month
for there seems TO be a determination on
the part OF every officer of the congress,
as well as those who have formerly been
delegates to make the meeting III HOus-
ton the most important in the history of
the organization.
In the language of the late E. V.
Smalley. of St Paul, the vital question
which has held the congress together has
been that of securing additional deep
water facilities upon the Mexican gulf
and now We are to meet in a city to
which the government is building a chan
mel twenty-five feet deep, and which has
three lines of railroads to Galveston,
where the government has built the fa-
nous jetties. which have resulted in al
most thirty feet of water as an en-
trance to Galveston harbor Then
the mouth of the Brazos, Port Arthur
and Sabine pass are all within a few
hours ride, with New Orleans but
nights ride away, so that the coming
meeting cannot be otherwise than of ex-
treme interest to the people of one of
the most important agricultural, mining
and stock growing regions of the world,
for the question Of transportation to and
from these ports has Interested them
for many years more than any other one
subject.
The railroad systems of the West are
taxing an active interest in the meeting
to be held at Houston and have made
rate of one fare plus 81 for the round
trip from all sections of the great mid
continent of which Kansas is the CEN
ter Tickets on sale April 13 and IA, good
Tor twenty-One days, and there will be
large delegations from every Western
state and territory ha
sured that our own state of Kansas will
be thoroughly represented.
Thus far the executive committee have
decided upon the discussion of the fol-
lowing subjects: Irrigation rivers and
harbors, Nicaraguan canal Pacific ca
bic, merchant marine. ST. Louis worlds
fair, 1903; trade with the Orient, consular
service, statehood, railroad transporta-
tion. preservation of forests, beet root
sugar. trade with Mexico, advantages Of
American travel. exports and imports
through Gulf and Pacific ports. need of
nome factories, good roads and drainage.
II has been stated in the of1iciaT call
that would be grateful for suggestions
as to the questions to be discussed by
any citizen of the Mississippi couY-
try, and at this time I wish to emphasize
the fact, for we are particularly anxious
that this organization should be thor
--. oughly- representative.
governor OF each state on territory may
appoint ter delegates, the mayor of EACH
city one delegate, and one additional del
cSate for each 5000 inhabitants, provided
however, that no city shall have more
than ten delegates; each county NAV an
point one delegate through ite executive
ofilcer; every business organiza ton one
deiegate. and an additional delegate for
every fifty members, provided, however,
that no such organization shall have
more than ten delegates. Governors Of
states or territories, members of the Unit
ed States congress and eX-presidents OF
this congress are eX-officio delega tes
with all the privileges of delegates, ex-
Cept that Of voting.
AS l stated before, there has never
been a time when the interest was as
great as at present, and among the active
officers in each state and territory there
are many busy men who are giving much
of their time for the benefit of the people
of the state or territory they represent.
President e. o. Stanard, of ST. Louis,
and Mr., H. r. Whitmore of the same
city, who is chairman of the advisory
- board of the executive committee, are
especially active. Secretary Tom Rich
ardson. of Houston, advises me that his
correspondence is daily upon the increase,
and a similar report comes from many
members Of the executive committee, as
So we'll as the vice presidents representing
the different states and territories.
1.-THE territory embraced in the congress
includes all the states and territories ly-
ing west of the Mississippi river and all
of Minnesota and Louisiana. The area
Is 100000 square miles, and careful es-
innate recently made by Prof. Water
house, Of Washington university, st.
Louis, places the population at 10000, ,000
! wish to emphasize one fact, and that is
thai the Mississippi Commercial
congress does not discuss partisan poll
tics and only deals with questions of
general Importance. Judging from the
letters received from Houston the people
of THAI city are thoroughly aroused tC
tire Importance Of the congress, and will
give the delegates and visitors a hearty
reception and interesting entertainment
Including ride down their highway to
the : "a. out through the jetties TO the
deep, blue waters of the Gulf of Mex
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