New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1907-10-23
RIvER MEETING A SUCCESS
Delegates in Attendance From all
Along the Valley.
Three Congressman Offer Hope of
Federal Appropriations.
Resolutions are Strong and Favor
Making the River Navigable.

tilC VNlNSl NdtlSdDlG.
- Federal appropriations for the work
OF making the Minnesota river nav
1gable stream and state appropria-
lions to be devoted to the prevention
OF periodical floods were projects
earnestly urged by delegates attending
the river Improvement convention in
Mankato on Thursday.
The number of persons in attendance
was about fifty, but only half of these
came from outside of Mankato.
a. J. Eckstein, Fred Pfaender, Capt.
Graft, DR.. L. A. Fritsche, Henry Bas-
tian, Fred Fritsche, John Huelskamp,
Chris. Schlumpberger, John Hart
naann, Capt. Hindermann, W. r. La
HFambois, Geo. Palmer, L. P. Bush
ard, Anthony Hartmann, Alex Russell
and Rudolph Massapust were among
those who represented this vicinity
while included in the representation
were such distinguished men as Con-
gressmen Hammond, Volstead and Da-
Wis, State Senators Weis, Collier, john
son, Poehler, Works, Seward, Clague
and Hanson were also among those
present.
Senator Weis in calling the conven-
ton to order called on Senator w forks
of Mankato, who, he said, had been
asked to prepare plan of organiza-
sion. Senator Works spoke briefly
gand then introduced the following re-
solutions:
Whereas, it is patent to every ship
per and consumer in the Minnesota
valley that freight rates into and out
of our towns are both excessive and to
a large extent discriminatory, and be-
lieving that this condition is caused
because we have no waterway to pro-
duce real competition, and believing
it to be clearly within the range of
possibility to utilize the waters of the
Minnesota river for the purpose Of
navigation and thereby afford heal
ESh V competition and relief from pres
emit conditions, and
Further, owing to the fact that
large areas of low and swamp lands
in the Minnesota river basin are being
drained directly into the river, there
by causing the river to overflow its
banks, causing untold damage to
crops and spelling ruin to many of the
~,
be it
"Resolved, that we earnestly invite
the cooperation of all the cities and
towns together with citizens Of the val
lev to devise ways and means FOR rem
sdering this noble river navigable in
fact as we'll as in theory, thereby at
the same time relieving the sufferers
from floods and adding to rather than
decreasing the value Of contiguous
property; be it futher
sResolved, that we form an organi-
cation at this time to be known as the
Minnesota River Improvement associ-
alton. to whose membership all the
citizens of the valley shall be eligible,
and whose aim shall be to compass
the ends indicated above; be it further
ssResolved, that as means to attain
this end petitions be prepared in each
town interested and that definite eff
y forts be made to secure as many sig
natures as can legitimately be gotten,
and that the same be forwarded to our
representatives in congress, urging
them to secure, if possible, federal aid
in this work: be 1t further
ssResolved, that congressman Da-
Wis. Volstead and Hammond be re-
uuested to take such steps as they may
deem necessary to promote these, our
interests.
In moving the adoption of the reso-
lutions Mr.. Works explained that the
loss this year from the Overlooking OF
bottom lands along the river between
New Ulm and St. Paul amounted to
u 81, 600, 900 and he pointed out that the
appropriation of such sum would go
long way toward river improvement.
Congressman volstead, however,
stated that any petition to congress for
aid should be based an a plan to make
the river navigable and not on pro-
position for reimbursement for losses
sustained. Congress would not enter
tain the latter, while it would in all
probability consider appropriations
for Improvement of the channel.
Congressman Davis adhered to this
same view. eff the legislature" ne
said. sswould make an appropriation
ITO begin the W ork OF Strengthening the
silver channel, it might tend to induce
congress to extend similar aid
When he had tried to get an appro-
priation to riprap the river bank at