Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-23
Upper Mississippi River I'M
proyement Association to
Petition Congress
LARGE APPROPRIATION WANTED
Plan to Make Six Foot Channel From
ST. Anthony Falls to Mouth of the
Ohio Observation-Disclosures to Be De-
rived Are Set Out in Petition--other
Newa of interest.


ing for an appropriation of SIS, 10000
TO be expended annually on tie i'm
/ provement of the upper Mississippi
river, signed by every delegate TO tn
convention. which met in Davenport
"Wednesday ana Thursday. Will lie pre-
4 seuted 10 congress at its next session
! This action was decided upon 1t yes
/, terday's session when a report of Thu
| resolution committee that the mtmoria
| be adopted and sent to congress wa:
accepted by the convention. The mem
orial was at once written ON a docu-
signed by every delegate. The mem
orial is as follows
To the senate AMI house OF represent
atiyes of the United States in congress
assembled.
The Upper Mississippi River I'M
provenlent association, in convention
assembled in the city of Davenport,
Iowa, October 2l-22, 1903, composed OF
delegates from the states OF Illinois,
Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota and Wis
consin, respectively represent and Pc
tition your Honorable Body as fol-
lowsi
The delegates to this convent on rep
resent the manufacturing mercantile
and producing industries of he five
states contiguous to the upper Missis
sippi river, comprising all OF tile prin-
cipal lines OF commerce. as vel as ag-
riculture.
These interests are allied with the
Mississippi river as one Of the i'm
pcrtant means OF transportation.
The five states named contains pop
ulation of 10000 which is one sixth
of the population of the entire United
States.
There are fifty towns and cities which
border upon the upper river, contain
in population Of 100000.
These five states produce the largest
amount OF agricultural products of any
five states in the union. and are now
great manufacturing centers.
Conditions which now confront US in
the matter of securing cheaper and
more direct transportation for the
products of factory, farm AMI forest,
are such as to Ncall for relief.
This can be afforded thru the
Improvement of tile upper
river, so as To esta bIisn and maintain
"A channel OF six feet in depth at low
water. from ST .Anthony's Fails to the
mouth OF the Ohio river, Iii stance of
l.loe miles
The engineers in charge of this de-
rattment Of the upper river estimate
tae work can be accomplished sue
ress.ully at cost OF s15.o00.0n0.
The benefits which viii accrue are
rot confined 10 the towns and cities
wing imme daley on the upper river.
but NH extend 20 the interior of these
ike states and have their effect upon
territory.
Ii is an established fact that the
power OF the railroads to make and
enforce rates is cireumscribed by wa
ter rates. lake and ocear cariers.
We seek 10 Improve the upper river
N the behalf OF the commercial inter
ISIS directly concerned. which are I'M
portant and entitled TO your rseogni-
Ion, as We'll as to provide for the needs
" AN expanding commerce.
The purpose is 10 secure cheaper
'ates for the trans portasion Of the va
Fed products represented, FOR while |
-ailroad rates may he obtained there !
$ a want OF proper competition. as well |
~ a cheaper outlet 10 the gu and far
sway ports Of The world, which can be I
afforded by the river.
Therefor. acting In the capacity OF !
representatives OF the commercial in
erests within the territory prescribed, |
Ne patiiion TO your honoraf le body TO /
appropriate the sum of SIS 100000 for
he purpose OF perman -ntly improving I
he upper Mississippi river between st. /
Falls and the mouth of the /
ihlo river, ann that said sum be ex-
'ended annually. unGer the continuous
ontract system In such sums as the i
ngfneers in cha.'ge Of the work rec
can be profitably done
Election OF officers resulted
observation-disclosures l.. Wilkinson of I
Ia
Secretary b. Boswell of Quln-
y. H.
Treasurer-John Peckart of Gutten-
erg, la.
The convention viii be held in Du-
uque next year