Year: 1879

shipment from the land carriage that brings i
them to the water. When these routes are
rightly improved, we may safely predict that
the policy and interest of the railways in
the West will be to carry their tonnage to,
and not around and away from Lake Su-
perior from three to four hundred mills, by
expensive lines, out of the way to market.


RESOLUTIONS.


WHEREAS, The rapid settlement and fertile
character of the vast region of country
north and west of the head of Lake
Superior, and it's inexhaustible mineral and
timber resources, calls for such improvement
OF our northern waterway as will give the
largest sized vessels free and uninterrupted
navigation through the great lakes, and thus
secure to the producer the cheapest and most
direct route and to the consumer the products
of this region at the smallest cost; and


WHEREAS, The greatest obstruction to this
waterway is in the St. Mary's river, between
Lake Superior and Lake Huron, the present
condition of which permits vessels of but
twelve feet draft to pass; and, although the
government has made large expenditures in
the construction of a ship canal for vessels
drawing sixteen feet Of water, it cannot be
available for the purposes desinged, until such
further Improvements are made to the river be-
low as will give the required depth of WATER
and thus save the present loss of thirty per
cent. in the carrying capacity of modern lake
vessels and the annually recurring loss of 20
much of the public wealth; therefore,


Resotoed, That we respectfully urge upon
Congress the immediate acceptance by the
United States of the st. Mary's canal, in ac-
cordance with the offer of the State of Michi-
gan of April 8, 1869, it's establishment as free
canal, and the speedy completion of the new
lock and it's approaches.


heso~ed, That we ask of Congress an appro-
priation for the further survey of the channels
between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, and
| SO much for the improvement of the present
channel and the st. Clair flats and Detroit
river, as IN n the opinion of the war department
can be ]udlclously expended the coming season.


fesot0ed That we fnrther petition Congress
Tor an appropriation to complete the survey of
the harbor at the head of Lake Superior, and
It's early improvement SO as to meet the pres
ent increasing demands of commerce.
ReSOtUe0, That it is of the utmost import
ance that the necessary harbors on the northern
Waterway be suitably improved.


Should your honorable bodies grant the
prayer of your memorialists, and make such
appropriations as will assure the prompt
completion of the works demanded, all
sections of the country will receive measure
less benefits in the guarantees thus given to
millions in the East, South and Middle
States for the increase in the necessaries of
life at a greatly reduced cost.


Further than this, the opening of this
great water way will enable the producers of
the West to place their agricultural produc-
t1ons IN foreign markets, at such reduced
cost as will bring them in direct competition
with like products of Russia, or any portion
of Europe or British India.


Our exports of these productions have
already assumed such proportions as to dem
onstrate that a further reasonable and readily
attainable reduction in the cost of transport
alton from points of production to the ocean
will SO lower the export cost of breadstuff
and meats from the West as to enable this
country largely to supply the old world with
food. Reaching this result, we will have
secured that balance of trade in our favor,
that certain supply of coin, which will aid in
sustaining the good credit, progress and
prosperity of the country.


More than 60 per cent. of the population
OF Great Britain are, dependent on foreign
food supplies; while her steadily growing
population is increasing this dependence,
wise statesmanship now demands that we
shall place ourselves in position to increase
our power to supply this deficiency by the
expenditure of the small amount demanded
to secure such sure and valuable returns.
The United States during the year ending
June 20, 1877, exported to England in grain,
Hour, live sheep, cattle, pigs, dead meat,
pork, bacon and hams, butter, cheese, eggs
and potatoes, amounting in value to $780,
100000.


Returns of British grain imports from the
various countries for a period of nine months
ending October 81 of the current wear,