The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-09


and pressure to bear to secure, thru.
government appropriation and action,
permanent depth of six feet at low
water in the channel Of the Mississippi
river from Minneapolis to the mouth
OF the Missouri river.
Minneapolis at the Head.
Minneapolis is the point named az
the head Of the deep channel for which
the association is working. With the
channel fact, Minneapolis will be the
and the great originating point where
the products of the northwest will be
started on their a1l-water Journey to the.
markets Of the world.
This feature of the work of the assoc
citation was continually referred to BY
the speakers at the opening session Of
the convention. Mayor Jones, in his
address Of welcome, former Governor
Van SAINT and others brought up this
point: that river improvement will Of
fer a solution Of the great question Of
rate regulation, for the maximum river
rate can be made the basis Of railway
freight rates. It was urged, too, that
manipulation will not be possible, for
no monopoly can secure entire control
of the river. The river belongs to the
nation and any person may use it.
Hitchcock's Support.
One communications of more than Or
binary interest to the members Of the
convention was letter of regret from
the secretary Of the interior, E. a.
Hitchcock, addressed to President
Thomas Wilkinson Of Burlington and
read before the convention by Secre-
tary z. B. Boswell. After announcing
that his attendance would be impossi-
bic and expressing his regret, Secretary.
Hitchcock continued: 49, 8!
Being a western man, and keenly
alive to the transportation facilities
upon which the whole west, and espe-
cially the states bordering on our great
rivers are dependent, need hardly as
sure you that I am in entire sympathy
with. the purpose Of the convention, be-
lieving, as I do, that there is nothing
to compare, in the development, per
petuation and enlargement of COM
MERGE, to a properly developed system
Of navigation. which means water
channel that will, the whole year round,
easily and cheaply carry the products
of the great west to the seaboard.
F'In no other country of the world
would such opportunities as are pre-
scented for the development Of COM
merce by our great rivers, have been
permitted to remain undeveloped, as has
been the case with us for SO many years,
that is, in comparison with the inter
ests involved. It is quite true that APP
preparations have. been made from time
to time involving the expenditure Of
millions of dollars, but, for some reason
or other, such expenditures have not
achieved the results that people have
a right to expect, and it is to be hoped
that the convention will take such ae-
tion and make such recommendation as
will result in a systematic plan to pro-
vide at least an unobstructed ten foot
channel from Minneapolis to New Or
leans.0
Mayor Talked Business.
The convention. was called to order
Burlington, Iowa, who introduced
Mayor D. P. Jones. The mayor talked
business. He said:
81 doubt if the busy, hustling COM
mercial interests Of this city, the great
est in the northwest; realize the import
ance to the city Of this gathering or
the greater Importance that will accrue
if the objects and aims Of this gather
ing are worked out. When they are
realized I believe, tho, that I can
pledge greater interest and support in
IHC IuIulC. owes DuO
Mississippi river a debt Of gratitude for
the measure Of greatness 1t has brought
her, and for what it has done for the
origin, growth and present development
Of the city.
"The Mississippi river is God y great
gift to the American continent and the
American people,, and we here in Min
neapolis have been the recipients Of
large bounty from it. This meeting is
important and significant. You are an
assemblage Of business men, not ,kere
as sehtimentalists or politicians, but
here as earnest, broad-g gagged business
men who propose to get together and
show congress that the people of the
upper Mississippi valley made definite
demands to supply their needs. You
are here to accomplish it and bring it
about by business methods.
The Great Center.
minneapolis occupies location of
prophetic prominence. s Years ago Sec
rotary Seward, that great believer in
the northwest, said that the northwest
was a. natural domain Of principality,
and that near The headwaters OF tie
Mississippi would some day be preet
center OF population and commerce. He
was right. The Mississippi is the gredt
spinal cord Of commerce of the CONT
nent, and with its feeders and tribu-
taries must be cared for and developed.
Railways have done much for, the de-
yelopment OF the country, but complete
elopment will Come only when. the
waterNayS toos are full deyelopod