OFFICIAL REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HELD IX 
 
 SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI, 
 ox 
 
 OCTOBER 26TH, 27TH AND 28TH, 1881, 
 
 INCLUDING 
 
 LETTERS FROM DISTINGUISHED MEN THROUGHOUT THE 
 COUNTRY, AND PRESS COMMENTS. 
 
 TOGETHER WITH A 
 
 MEMOEIAL TO CONGRESS 
 
 PREPARED BY THE COMMITTEE OF TWEXTY-OXE, AS AUTHOR- 
 IZED BY THE CONVENTION". 
 
 SAIXT LOUIS: 
 GREAT WESTERN PRINTING COMPANY. 
 
 1881. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 There is presented in this little book a record of the 
 most important River Convention ever held in the Missis- 
 sippi Valley a Convention composed of delegates from 
 nearly every section of the Union, who represented every 
 variety of industrial interests, and fairly reflected the ma- 
 tured opinions of the people upon the important question 
 of river improvement as the chief adjunct to cheap trans- 
 portation. The Convention met to carry out a well-defined 
 purpose, as set forth in the "Official Call," and the una- 
 nimity of its action, as expressed in the resolutions unani- 
 mously adopted, after a full and free discussion, was a 
 marked feature of its deliberations. Representatives of 
 twenty States and three Territories declared, " as with 
 one voice," that the imperative duty of our National 
 Legislature was to bestow such aid for the improvement 
 of the Mississippi, and its navigable tributaries, as the de- 
 mands of an ever-increasing commerce required, according 
 to the judgment and plans of the River Commission, and 
 United States Engineers, in charge of the works. The 
 attempt has been made to record accurately what was said 
 and done at the meetings. In a few instances, the names 
 
 M16596 
 
 
of delegates addressing the Chairman have necessarily been 
 omitted. The request was distinctly made, that persons on 
 rising should first give their names ; but, in some cases, 
 this request was not heeded, and in place of the name, 
 the compiler has been forced to use the word " delegate." 
 The speeches have been carefully revised, in order to give 
 the exact words of those addressing the Convention ; and 
 it is hoped and believed that the compilation will be 
 adopted as, in the main, full and accurate in detail. 
 
REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Iippi River Improvement Bonvention, 
 
 SECTION 1 FIRST DAY. 
 
 ST. Louis, October '26, 1881. 
 
 The Convention was called to order by Mr. Michael 
 McEnnis, President of the Merchants' Exchange, who said : 
 
 " GENTLEMEN: With your permission, I will ask Mr. 
 George L. Wright to read the official call under which we 
 have met here to-day." 
 
 Mr. George L. Wright then read the official call, as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 "The Merchants' Exchange of St. Louis, through the 
 undersigned, its Executive Committee, duly appointed, hereby 
 issues a call to the people of the Mississippi Valley for the 
 selection of delegates to a Convention to be held in their city 
 on the 26th day of October, 1881, to deliberate on the ques- 
 tion of improving the great Mississippi river and its navigable 
 tributaries. The call is made in pursuance of a general 
 desire, communicated through the press, emanating from 
 various commercial bodies recognizing the importance of 
 united and intelligent action on a subject of the most vital 
 importance, and fixing upon St. Louis, the central city of the 
 Valley, as the proper place for holding the Convention. 
 
 [5] 
 
6 
 
 " The rapid growth and settlement of the Mississippi Val- 
 ley, and with it the development and enlargement of the export 
 trade, a trade made up in largely controlling proportions of 
 its products, has forced upon the thought of the country the 
 question of cheap transportation. All the later commercial 
 and trade experiences have demonstrated that only by the 
 cheap water route can this question be so placed, as in its 
 resultant influences to represent and embrace fair profit to 
 the farmer, the manufacturer and merchant, the classes 
 through which all others become participants in the profits 
 of industry. 
 
 " The necessity of improving these navigable streams, and 
 the correlative duty of the General Government to give its aid 
 as to a great national work, is derived from a consideration of 
 their functions in the commerce and trade of the country. 
 Within the area of States and Territories drained by the Mis- 
 sissippi and its navigable tributaries are produced 90 per cent, 
 of the corn, 73 per cent, of the wheat, 83 per cent, of the 
 oats, 64 per cent, of the tobacco, 77 per cent, of the cotton, 
 and 66 per cent, of the value of the live hogs of the whole 
 country. In addition to the vast supply of food and textile 
 products, the abundance of coal, iron and timber mark it as 
 the seat of manufacturing industries, the great and unques- 
 tioned source of American production and national revenue. 
 
 " Even in the present imperfect condition of navigation 
 one-seventh of the amount of this vast production which 
 enters into the export trade of the country goes to the ocean 
 by way of the Mississippi river at a cost of less than one- 
 third at which it can be carried by any other route. 
 
 "When it is remembered that this region has in the later 
 years furnished to the markets of the world the products 
 which have changed the balances of trade in our favor and 
 made us among kindred commercial races the creditor instead 
 of the debtor nation, the necessity for united and intelligent 
 work on the part of its people, and of liberal and comprehen- 
 sive action on the part of the national legislature in the 
 
improvement of these water-ways, becomes too apparent for 
 argument. 
 
 " With channels made equal to the demands of trade, from 
 the highest point of navigation in these great national arteries 
 to the Gulf, maintained throughout the year in successful 
 competition with the trunk lines of railroad, the question of 
 cheap transportation the supreme question of the hour, the 
 foundation to all future prosperity is settled, and the country 
 will enter upon a new career of progress. 
 
 " We may regard with some satisfaction what has been 
 accomplished in reducing the cost of transportation, yet what 
 has been witnessed is but a tithe of what may be anticipated 
 in the future, when the river system, under wise method and 
 liberal appropriations, is placed as its matchless value deserves, 
 as its power of development demands. 
 
 " With even more satisfaction may we regard the advanced 
 thought which now requires that the improvement of the 
 great river shall stand as a national work, on its own merits, 
 and unconnected with any other subject or object of appro- 
 priation. [Loud applause.] 
 
 " In view of the magnitude of the interests involved and 
 the results to be obtained, we cordially and earnestly invite the 
 various boards of trade of the Valley so largely interested in 
 these results, as well as those from communities outside 
 the Valley who appreciate the scope of the Convention, to send 
 delegates fully penetrated with the necessity of action, and 
 with ability to represent the great interests at stake. 
 
 " The Convention will be composed of delegates from the 
 States and Territories in the Mississippi Valley, Governors 
 being hereby authorized and requested to appoint ten from 
 each State and five from each Territory. 
 
 " From each board of trade or cotton exchange two dele- 
 gates for each 100 members, said bodies to be entitled to at 
 least two delegates. 
 
 "From corporate cities of the Mississippi Valley where no 
 
8 
 
 boards or exchanges exist, two delegates from each, to be ap- 
 pointed by the mayor of each city. 
 
 44 The President and Vice-President of the United States, 
 members of the Cabinet, Senators and Representatives in 
 Congress, and Governors of States and Territories, will be 
 invited as guests of the Convention and assigned seats on the 
 floor during its deliberations. 
 
 44 [Signed] MICHAEL McENNis, President. 
 
 " JOHN JACKSON, E. O. STANARD, 
 
 44 JOHN A. SCUDDER, H. C. HAARSTICK, 
 
 44 FRANK GAIENNIE, E. W. GOULD, 
 
 44 HENRY HITCHCOCK, JOHN T. DAVIS, 
 
 44 HENRY LOUREY, NATHAN COLE, 
 
 44 C. F. ORTHWEIN, E. J. LACKLAND, 
 
 44 CHARLES PARSONS, E. C. SIMMONS, 
 
 44 A. H. SMITH. 
 
 44 FRANK GAIENNIE, 
 
 "Secretary. 
 
 44 GEORGE L. WRIGHT, 
 
 4 4 Corresponding Secretary . ' ' 
 
 At the conclusion of the reading of the call Mr. McEnnis 
 then addressed the Convention as follows : 
 
 GENTLEMEN : As chairman of the Executive Committee, appointed by 
 th'- Merchants' Exchange of St. Louis, under whose authority tin- rail ha- 
 been issued, it devolves upon me to call this Convention to order. 
 
 The language of the call sufficiently explains the objects and aims of the 
 Convention. It is strange that at this late day there should be a n< ressii y 
 for calling the people of this valley together to urge upon Congress its duty 
 and obligation to enact measures for the improvement of the Mis-i--ippi and 
 its navigable tributaries. The people of the rniu-d States are famous for 
 their public spirit and enterprise. Every subject involving the interest or 
 happiness of the people has received due attention, exeept alone the qu 
 that has brought us together. I mean the improvement of our great water- 
 ways. What raii<e~ this indiffereiiee to a que-tion xi vital to tin- prn-p'-rity 
 Of the people? Are w ignorant <>f their value, or ran we dispense with 
 them? \o: we have frittered away much time and money over *mall 
 schemes and purely local question-. It is tini'- we -topped ami altered our 
 course. This valley of our- includes eighteen States and three Territories 
 
9 
 
 It is capable of producing sufficient to feed, clothe and house the world. It 
 now contains one-half the population of the United States, and could sustain 
 ten times as many. It now yields a surplus of production that has turned 
 the balance of trade in our favor and made us the creditor instead of the 
 debtor nation. Its products will soon enable us to control the financial 
 destiny of the world, and we will reap the rich harvest always within the 
 grasp of a people so highly favored. But we must do our duty. This duty 
 is plain and imperative. We must go before Congress with such overwhelm- 
 ing proofs of the necessity of improving these rivers, by deepening their 
 channels, removing obstructions, and giving us a free outlet to the sea, that 
 our petitions (I would rather say demands) will meet with immediate and 
 favorable consideration. The Government engineers have completed their 
 surveys. Their recommendations have been approved and adopted by 
 Congress and the War Department. A commission has been appointed and 
 is now at work within the scanty limits; of the appropriations, and doing 
 good work. The time has now arrived when we, the people of the Missis- 
 sippi Valley, must unite and insist that these improvements shall be pushed 
 forward with vigor, and that sufficient money shall be appropriated to per- 
 mit work to be inaugurated at all necessary points at one and the same time. 
 [Applause.] We should not tolerate any more ten or twenty-j'ear delays. 
 We want a systematic, far-seeing, statesmanlike management of this great 
 work. The labor and cost of properly improving these streams would not 
 be one-fourth that necessary for the building of the railroad to the Pacific. 
 Look at the difference from the standpoint of national advantage. The one 
 was a private enterprise, upheld by the credit of the Government, the other 
 is a great public undertaking, designed for the good of all, and destined 
 to repay every cent of the cost in a few years in the increasing revenues to 
 the Government and in the enhanced value of the products that would float 
 down on the waters to the sea. Have these watery highways improved and 
 this vast valley will sing with the song of happy millions bound together by 
 a common bond of interest. 
 
 We purpose, with your help, gentlemen, to make this Convention the 
 dawn of a new era in the commercial history of this valley. We do not 
 intend to permit the actions of this Convention to be pigeon-holed or buried 
 in a committee at Washington. [Loud applause.] We will compile and 
 print the correspondence, discussions and acts of this Convention, with 
 statistical information that will sustain and justify an agitation that shall 
 not cease until justice is done this valley [renewed applause] and our local 
 representatives are brought to a vivid realization of the fact that they must 
 protect the interests of their constituents or go back to that private life 
 which men lacking the ability or the foresight to discern and execute the 
 will of their constituents deserve. 
 
 These are my individual sentiments, and in them I think the sentiments 
 of the Merchants' Exchange are reflected. 
 
 To you, gentlemen, we surrender the further consideration of this 
 subject. You bring to its elucidation the lessons of political economy and 
 
10 
 
 experience. May your deliberations be guided by wisdom and crowned by 
 success. [Loud applause.] 
 
 At the conclusion of the above address Mr. McEnnis said : 
 
 " Gentlemen, the Executive Committee has requested Hon. 
 Henry Hitchcock to deliver the address of welcome. Mr. 
 Hitchcock will now address you." 
 
 Mr. Hitchcock then came forward amid applause and 
 addressed the Convention as follows : 
 
 GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION : In behalf of the Merchants' Ex- 
 change of St. Louis, at whose call you have assembled. I am requested to 
 greet you upon the threshold of your deliberations. 
 
 In their behalf, as the organized representatives of the mercantile inter- 
 ests of this city, itself the commercial and manufacturing center of this 
 great valley, I have the honor and the great happiness to offer a cordial 
 welcome to you who come accredited to represent the productive industry 
 and the commercial enterprise of the millions who inhabit it. And I beg to 
 a.ure you, gentlemen, that however earnest that wi-h-ome. it must bean 
 inadequate expression alike of the heartfelt good-will with which all classes 
 of their fellow-citizens welcome your advent, and of the deep interest 
 which they feel in the vitally important subject you have assembled to con- 
 sider. 
 
 That subject, gentlemen, has already been announced in the call just 
 read in your hearing, and in response to which this large and distinguished 
 assemblage has met. In a word, it is the question of improving the Mis- 
 
 Ippi river and its navigable tributaries. It is the question of cheap 
 transportation, to us Western men, as that call so well and earnestly 
 declares, "the supreme question of the hour.*' [Applause.] 
 
 It is not needful, if it were indeed appropriate at this moment, ihat I 
 detain you by dwelling in detail upon the wonderful resounds and the still 
 more marvelous possibilities of thi- imperial valley. Its star of empire 
 already shines brightly far above the horizon. Already the wise men of the 
 East have turned towards it their inquiring and not unanxious gaze. [Loud 
 applause.] And if, with the modesty characteristic of Americans, and, above 
 all, of Western men [laughter], we concede that this new empire is yet in 
 its infancy, we are reminded, if I may use the well-worn figure, of the 
 infancy of Hercules, who smilingly strangled in his cradle the Python who 
 came to destroy him. 
 
 These, gentlemen, are figures of speech. More prosaic, but far more 
 eloquent, are those figures of the statistician, some of which are given in the 
 call for this assemblage. You were reminded by those figures of the enor- 
 mous contributions of thi< valley to the sustenance not only of this nation, 
 but of the civilized world. It t-!N you what percentage of the vast product 
 of this nation, in grain, in tobacco and in cotton came from the teeming 
 
11 
 
 fields of the Mississippi Valley. But the percentage is only one factor in 
 that great sum. May I ask your attention for a moment to the other factor, 
 which discloses the significance of that percentage? When we are told 
 from official data that within the area of States and Territories drained by 
 the Mississippi and its navigable tributaries has been harvested ninety per 
 cent, of the corn produced by the whole country in one year, that means, 
 gentlemen, ninety per cent, of one billion five hundred and forty-seven mil- 
 lion (1.547.901,000) of bushels of Indian corn, which is the official statement 
 of the total production of that grain in the United States for 1879. When 
 we are told that this valley has produced seventy-three per cent, of the 
 wheat of the whole country, it is that proportion of four hundred and forty- 
 eight millions (448,000,000) of bushels, produced in 1879. Eighty-three per 
 cent, of the oat crop of the country means eighty-three per cent, of three 
 hundred and sixty-three millions (363,761.000) of bushels. Seventy-seven 
 per cent, of the cotton means seventy-seven per cent, of 2,367.540.900 pounds, 
 say 4.700.000 bales. and so for the rest. These figures relate to nineteen 
 States which are drained by the rivers of this valley. The percentage is 
 but little less if it be confined to the fourteen States, which are the Val- 
 ley States " proper. Enormous as are these results, they cease to be sur- 
 prising when we consider or attempt to consider and realize what the area 
 of that valley is. Referring again to official statistics, and particularly a 
 tabular statement compiled, I believe, by Professor Von Steinwehr, in con- 
 nection with the census of 1S70. it appears that the whole country may be 
 properly divided, with reference to the distribution of its water-courses, into 
 four great drainage systems. These were styled respectively the Atlantic 
 Coast System, the Pacific Coast System, the Northern Lake System, and the 
 -ippi Valley System, and the area of the district included in each sys- 
 tem was carefully compiled. That of the Atlantic Coast System is 204.538 
 square miles; that of the Pacific Coast System, 834.314 square miles; of the 
 Xorthern Lake System, 185.337 square miles, these three systems together 
 aggregating something over 1.344.000 square miles of area. But the area 
 of the Mississippi Valley System is 1,683,303 square miles [applause], 
 the excess alone of the last-named system, over all the rest combined, being 
 338,000 square miles; and that excess itself being many thousand square 
 miles greater than the entire area of the Atlantic Coast System, and nearly 
 double the area of the one designated as the Xorthern Lake System. 
 
 But, gentlemen, after all these figures are stated, who does, who can. in 
 truth, realize their significance? The astronomers used to tell us. at least I 
 was so taught when I was a boy. that the sun was 96.000,000 of miles distant 
 from the earth. Of late years, I believe, their calculations have been revised 
 and the distance is now stated at ninety-seven and a half or ninety-eight mil- 
 lions. But mathematicians also tell us that for practical purposes it makes 
 no great difference which is correct; for, it is said, the human being does 
 not live who has ever been able to form a really correct conception of one 
 million of anything. Gentlemen, the significance of these figures is not found 
 merely in piling up these statistics, however large they sound or how- 
 
ever striking an iinpiv>-it.n they produce, ttnle& we look behind them at 
 what they truly mean. I -hall not detain you by enlarging upon that mean- 
 ing. You do not need from me even the suggestion that these millions upon 
 millions of bushels of the staple products which sustain human life, har- 
 d in a -ingle year upon more than a million and a half of square miles. 
 not yet den.-ely populated by twenty-five millions of people, mean human 
 prosperity, human comfort, human freedom. They signify and demonstrate 
 the welfare of thousands, of hundreds of thousands of peaceful and happy 
 families. They mean that faithful and intelligent labor is reaping its just 
 reward, under equal institutions; that more and more are being thrown off 
 the burdens which have weighed down humanity in the ages that are pa-;. 
 and the nobler energies of the soul set free from the sordid cares and anxie- 
 ties which attend merely physical wants, to pursue a still higher flight in its 
 immortal career. [Loud applause.] 
 
 May I ask your attention, however, gentlemen, for a few moments to s inn- 
 thoughts connected more immediately with the objects of this Convention. 
 .May I a-k you to consider with me, retrospectively, the growth of the public 
 sentiment which finds its latest expression in this large and important Con- 
 vention. the largest and most representative, and. as we have every reason 
 to hope, likely to be the most influential, of the many that have assembled. 
 I need not remind you that this is by no means the first inter-State con- 
 vention whieh has assembled to consider this great subject. For more than 
 a generation past such bodies have met at various points in the great Valley, 
 and during the la-t few years with increasing frequency, and. if possible, 
 m< <rv and more pronounced earnestness of purpose. Along the whole length 
 of the great river, from St. Paul on the north, to Xew Orleans on the south, 
 such assemblies have met from time to time, representing alike the productive 
 and the commercial and manufacturing interests of the Valley, to take into 
 consideration thi- same question of the improvement of its river navigation 
 and cheaper transportation to be gained thereby, and to urge upon Congress 
 the prosecution of these public works, which have been, and which are. and 
 which will continue to be rightfully demanded, until due and regular and 
 permanent provision -hall have been made for their complete execution and 
 their permanent maintenance. [Applause.] 
 
 There was recently republi-hed in this city the record of the first cou- 
 pon of this character the first inter-State convention, so far as I know, 
 and I think there is no doubt that it was such which to any extent consid- 
 ered this great question. It ni'-t in the <-jty of Memphis .-,< lung ago ftg l^i:>. 
 It assembled first in July of that ;. being represented, and after 
 organizing and doing a certain amount of business, it adjourned to the fol- 
 lowing November. On it- rc-a--embling in that month, twelve State- were 
 sented by some five hundred deli-gates. The president of that conven- 
 tion Vfftt no less distinguished a man than John ( '. ( 'alhoun. of South Caro- 
 lina. It embraced, among other-, thirty-live delegates from Missouri; and 
 we have the pleasure of knowing that one of those delegate- from Missouri, 
 and \\\\ w&t the memb.-r from ft !" The commit! >i\ nominations 
 
13 
 
 appointed by that convention, sits with us to-day as an honored member of 
 the delegation from the St. Louis Merchants' Exchange. 
 
 That convention, however, was not called exclusively, or even chiefly, 
 with reference to the improvement of the Mississippi river. It considered 
 many subjects, and finally adopted eighteen or twenty resolutions, sixteen 
 of which referred to various matters of public importance ; some of them to 
 railroads, some to arsenals, some to docks, some to coast defenses, and four 
 of them to questions relating to the river itself. That convention is memo- 
 rable, as it seems to me, for two things. Its utterances were, so far as we 
 know, the first expression publicly made with reference to subjects of this 
 character, by a delegated body, including men of national reputation from 
 the various States of the South and Southwest. And it is further memora- 
 ble from the fact that that distinguished man and eminent statesman, John 
 C. Calhoun, whose opinions are a part of the history of this country, dis- 
 tinctly declared before that body that the political views which he enter- 
 tained, as we all know, concerning the functions of the General Government, 
 did not interfere in his opinion with the right of those there assembled to 
 call upon that Government to contribute to and take charge of the improve- 
 ment of what he felicitously styled our "Inland Sea.'' [Loud applause.] 
 
 Two years later another convention assembled, also famous in its day. 
 the great river and harbor convention held in Chicago in July, 1847. At 
 this convention were also present many men who were then, or afterwards 
 became, of national reputation. Abraham Lincoln and Charles Hempstead, 
 of Illinois ; Thomas Corwin and Robert C. Schenck, of Ohio ; Horace Greeley , 
 David Dudley Field and John C. Spencer, of Xew York; Andrew Stewart, of 
 Pennsylvania ; and Thomas Butler King, of Georgia, these men were among 
 the members of that convention ; and among the letters received favoring 
 its objects objects indicated by the name bestowed upon it were letters 
 from Henry Clay and Silas Wright. May I be permitted to add that that 
 convention had for its presiding officer one whose spotless life as well as his 
 silvery eloquence is still remembered with affection and honor in this State. 
 It is said that of all the eloquent words spoken there none created greater 
 enthusiasm than the brilliant closing address of its president, Edward Bates, 
 of Missouri. [Loud applause.] 
 
 Four years later, and I shall refer particularly to only two other con- 
 ventions, for reasons which I shall mention presently, four years later, 
 thirty years ago this month, it was my privilege, as one of the youngest 
 members of a numerous delegation from this city, to attend a very large 
 convention held at Burlington, Iowa, which was called for the special 
 purpose of advocating the improvement by the General Government of w T hat 
 were then and are still known as the Rock Island, or Upper, and the Des 
 Moines, or Lower, Rapids of the Mississippi River. Many States were rep- 
 resented there also, and resolutions were passed earnestly calling Congress 
 to make this important improvement. Up to that time nothing had been 
 done with reference to them except that up to 1837 those Rapids had been 
 more than once surveyed under the orders of the War Department, and one 
 
14 
 
 of those survey- \\ a- made by Lieutenant Robert E. Lee, of the engineer 
 corps. Fifteen years passed before anything more was done with reference 
 to that subject. 
 
 In 1866 another convention assembled at Dubuque, also held for the 
 special purpose of considering the improvement of the Upper and Lower 
 Eapids of the Mississippi. The City of St. Louis was represented in that 
 Convention also. Five hundred delegates were there in attendance, includ- 
 ing a large number of the members of the Iowa Legislature; and the 
 chairman of our St. Louis delegation to-day who is a veteran in this 
 service was called to preside over its deliberations. Strong resolutions were 
 passed by that body urging Congress to make the improvements in question. 
 In 1867 another convention was held in the City of St. Louis, also with 
 special reference to the improvement of these same Rapids. At that con- 
 vention twelve States were represented, over four hundred delegates being 
 in attendance ; and there were passed not only resolutions in favor of the 
 particular improvement in question, but other resolutions also, by which was 
 invoked earnest and immediate action by Congress for the improvement of 
 the Mississippi river from the Balize to St. Paul, and of the Ohio river, and 
 the works at the Falls of the Ohio ; the resolutions also commending to the 
 earnest and favorable action of Congress the improvement of the other great 
 affluents of the Mississippi river. 
 
 I have particularly alluded to these conventions, for two reasons : first, 
 because it is pleasant for us to remember that from the beginning the 
 merchants of St. Louis and the citizens of Missouri have not been backward 
 in their earnest efforts to promote improvements of this kind, not only those 
 which they themselves desired, but those also which were or might be bene- 
 ficial to their brethren in whatever part of the Valley ; and secondly, because 
 as a result no doubt a part of these strong expressions of public sentiment, 
 certainly as a result in part of the holding of the later conventions which I 
 have mentioned, we know now that not only the improvement of the Lower 
 Rapids by a canal which is in constant and successful use during the period 
 of navigation, but also the deepening of the Upper Rapids, at an expense for 
 them both of several millions of dollars to the General Government, have 
 passed into the region of accomplished facts. Certainly we have reason to 
 look with satisfaction upon these natural and legitimate results of such ex- 
 pressions of public opinion on the part of the people for whose immediate 
 benefit these work- W.TC planned. the people who pay so large a part of the 
 taxes which furnish the means of constructing them, and who have the right 
 to demand that they shall be constructed. [Loud applause.] 
 
 The list of similar conventions held since the date last given, I shall 
 briefly glance at, and simply in order to recall to our minds that this assem- 
 blage doe- not -prin< from a new or crude public opinion. Tin- fart that 
 many such conventions have been held is familiar to us all; but I doubt 
 whether we all reali/e. unless we stop to think of ir, what a steady and 
 powerful and constantly increasing current of public sentiment they repre- 
 sent. And of this let them take heed whom it concerns. 
 
15 
 
 In Keokiik, in 1867, another convention was held, also having special 
 reference to the improvement of the Upper and Lower Kapids. Other con- 
 ventions have been held with reference to the same general subject, as 
 many of you know, and in which many of you have taken active part, 
 for I am merely reminding men of larger experience and far more practical 
 knowledge than myself of these facts, in Xew Orleans in 1869, in 1875, in 
 1876, in 1879, and 1880; at St. Louis in 1872. and again in 1873, when there 
 was a very important conference of Congressmen held here pursuant to an in- 
 vitation issued by the St. Louis Merchants' Exchange to all the then members 
 of Congress. That assemblage was a conference rather than a convention, 
 and was intended especially to furnish information to the gentlemen thus 
 invited, and impress upon them the importance of the subject. Its proceed- 
 ings were published by the St. Louis Merchants' Exchange, and contain a 
 great mass of valuable information. 
 
 There was also a similar convention held at Vicksburg in 1875. another 
 at St. Paul in 1877. possibly that was in 1878, another at Quincy in 1879, 
 and another at Davenport in 1881. Some of these conventions were called 
 with special reference to improvements of what may be termed a local 
 character, but in every one of them the idea of the improvement of the 
 Mississippi river was necessarily the key-note of their action, for the great 
 value of these local improvements depends upon the existence of that 
 greatest of all water-ways. 
 
 I say nothing of other conventions which have been held at other points 
 in the Valley of the Mississippi, whose composition and whose purposes 
 were not, strictly speaking, of an inter-State character. They have been 
 numerous and influential, and if I omit to mention them here, it is not in 
 the least that I undervalue their importance, but because they do not belong 
 to the class of inter-State conventions of which I speak. 
 
 As the result of these successive conventions, representing, if you 
 please, the stream of public sentiment continually growing, and you will 
 observe the coincidence of their dates with the assembling of successive 
 Congresses, besides these, and, as it were, like the growth of shrubbery, 
 herbage and trees on the banks of the mighty stream itself, there has been 
 growing up quite as steadily as those trees, grass and shrubbery have grown 
 up, a literature relating to the improvement of the rivers, which is itself 
 exceedingly interesting and of great importance. for in that literature are 
 recorded the successive steps of the growth of this great valley. 
 
 Another and important result of these conventions has been the ap- 
 pointment, as many of you know, within two or three years past, of an 
 " Inter-State Commission" of which Judge Underwood, of Louisville, was 
 made the President. An address issued by this body to the Governors of 
 the various States interested in its objects, was responded to by the Gover- 
 nors of fourteen of those States, who appointed in all thirty-six members of 
 that Commission : and the address issued by that Commission is another of 
 these documents full of interesting facts and statistics, and weighty argu- 
 ments based upon them. 
 
16 
 
 Now. during the last fifteen years other important events have also con- 
 tributed to the growth of this public sentiment in favor of the improvement 
 of our great rivers by the General Government. Especially since the close 
 of the civil war, thousands of miles of railway have been built, not only 
 trans-continental, but within and connecting the various Western States ; 
 and to the building of these railways the General Government has made 
 enormous contributions in money and in land. We do not complain of this; 
 but we do call attention to the fact that the Government aid thus given in 
 land and bonds and money actually advanced, running up into hundreds of 
 millions of dollars, has far exceeded all that has ever been asked for the im- 
 provement of the Mississippi river and its tributaries. 
 
 The result of this railroad building, and one of the conditions of the 
 development of the West, was the constant extension westward of the 
 frontier line of settlement and civilization. From year to year that line 
 has moved towards the setting sun as the shadow moves on the face of a dial, 
 hour by hour, only that instead of recording the hours it recorded degrees 
 of longitude, and instead of noting the passage of time, it has marked the 
 reclamation of the wilderness, the redemption of a new empire from bar- 
 barism by civilization. But what was the result of this sublime movement, 
 this ever-advancing wave of civilization? It differed from the onward 
 inarch of Attila's hosts as the rush of a tidal wave differs from the inun- 
 dation of the Nile, the one submerging to destroy; the other peacefully 
 overflowing that it may fertilize. 
 
 One result of this extension of the cultivated area of the West was that 
 it pushed further from the river, further from a market, the area of cheap cul- 
 tivation, not only of lands entered at a dollar and a quarter an acre, but of 
 homesteads occupied and settlements rapidly springing up without any cost 
 except for the labor which made them habitable. There was attracted to these 
 newjands a large part not only of the yearly immigration from foreign shores, 
 but also of that restless and most valuable element of the young blood of our 
 own country, which is constantly pushing forward in advance of the older 
 members of civilization and society, subduing the wilderness and preparing 
 the desert and the prairie to blosson like the rose. [Loud applause.] 
 
 The ipevitable result was that the ever new settlers constantly found 
 themselves farther and farther from the markets of the world. Another 
 result was that the very development of these new lands actually added to 
 the burden of which the dwell. T> on the river complained, for the produc- 
 tion thus increased could not be accommodated with transportation. Un- 
 doubtedly the railroads have endeavored to meet with ad< -quaie facilities 
 thi- new burden. But it is not in the nature of things for;rail roads to supply 
 for the staple products of an agricultural country, destined to distant mar- 
 kets, the cheap transportation whieh their profitable production demands. 
 And thus it is as the call for this Convention truly asserts that the ques- 
 tion of cheap transportation, the question of the rate of freight for agri- 
 cultural products, is a vital one. If I had the time, or it were appropriate 
 for me to go into it, there are fads and figures at hand of the highest interest, 
 
17 
 
 relating to this question. But I shall not weary you at this moment with any 
 details on that subject. I only ask you to consider the cardinal facts at 
 different and successive periods in regard to this question of comparative 
 freights. 
 
 In the proceedings of the Congressional Conference held at St. Louis in 
 1873. already mentioned, I find a statement made by the late Hon. Henry T. 
 Blow formerly a member of Congress from this city, and whose energy 
 and public spirit are well remembered here to the effect that the cost of 
 transportation by rail at that time was thirteen mills per ton per mile, while 
 by river it was three and a half mills per ton per mile. That single com- 
 parison throws a flood of light on the question of the wants of this ever- 
 increasing area of cultivation, and the comparative value to its inhabitants 
 of rail and river transportation for their staple products. 
 
 It is interesting to compare still later statements of the rates of freight, 
 and see how the increasing demands of commerce, even with only crippled 
 rivers to respond to them, have pressed down the freight rates since then. 
 In a valuable pamphlet issued by the Board of Trade of Cincinnati for the 
 year ending in March last, the statement is made, in a very able Report on 
 Internal Commerce and Navigation, that the cost of transportation on rivers 
 is now only one mill per ton per mile, and that this is but one -tenth of the 
 cost of the tonnage movement by rail west of the Mississippi river. Thus 
 in eight years, according to this statement, based on official data, the rate of 
 freight has fallen from three and a half mills to one mill per ton per mile for 
 the river, and from thirteen mills to ten mills, or one cent per ton per mile, 
 for railroads. I am informed by those familiar with the subject, that the 
 rate per ton per mile by rail, under circumstances favoring the shipper, has 
 been reduced to eight mills or even to seven. 
 
 Xow, gentlemen, if that downward movement of freight has thus 
 already been going on and can be accelerated by the improvement of the 
 river, both in respect of freight rates on the river itself, and rates on the 
 railroads under competition of the river, as we well know that it can be. 
 and that is why you are here to-day. it would be a simple matter to make 
 a calculation on the figures already before us, which should show in dol- 
 lars and cents the ultimate benefit of such improvements, not only to the 
 people of the Mississippi Valley, but to the nation at large yes, to the con- 
 sumers of the world. The official statistics already referred to show that 
 the- production of Indian corn by the fourteen Valley States in 1879 was 
 more than twelve hundred and fifty million (1,250,000,000) bushels; that 
 their production of wheat in the same year was very nearly three hundred 
 million (300,000.000) bushels, and of oats, not less than two hundred and 
 twenty million (220,000,000) bushels, say eighteen hundred million (1.800.- 
 000,000) bushels in these three staples. Xow, if by removing from the Missis- 
 sippi river and its great tributaries the existing impediments to navigation, 
 sand-bars, snags, treacherous banks and the like, it is made practicable and 
 profitable, now that the Jetties have opened the port of Xew Orleans to the 
 largest steamships, to send only one-half of that eighteen hundred million 
 
 2 
 
18 
 
 (l.SOO.OOO.OOO) bushels to the market- of the world by way of the river 
 in-tead >f by rail, with the consequent reduction in the actual cost of traus- 
 ]M. nation which is represented by the difference between river transportation 
 and transportation by rail per ton per mile, already mentioned, how many 
 millions of dollars would represent the actual gain, by means of this cheaper 
 transportation, to the producer and the consumer bothy Yon can figure it 
 out for yourselves. 
 
 And yet, gentlemen, we are to-day holding this Convention for the 
 purpose of imploring no, of demanding of Congress that these improve- 
 ment- <hall be made. Although the stream of public sentiment began to 
 How in this channel more than a generation ago: although the numerous 
 conventions already mentioned show that its volume has been increasing 
 from year to year throughout the whole length of this valley: although the 
 demands of the farmer, of the manufacturer, and of the carrier by river, have 
 become more and more pressing from year to year, yet to-day we art- 
 holding one of the largest and probably the most important Convention ever 
 yet held with reference to this subject, and the people of this whole valley 
 are to-day feeling a deeper and stronger anxiety for the success of this effort 
 than ever before. Why should this state of facts exist? Why should we be 
 still endeavoring to concentrate our forces to bring about that result? 
 
 There seem to have existed, during all these years, perhaps three chief 
 ob-taeies in the way of the rapid development of cheap transportation on 
 the We-tern rivers. One may be said to have been the imperfection of the 
 m. -an- of transportation themselves, I mean the steamboats and their 
 machinery, which were in vogue many years ago. Another, obviously, is 
 found in the condition of the rivers themselves, in the difficulties and 
 impediment- to navigation which we are asking the Government to remove. 
 The third and I beg leave to say that it seems to me to be the one to which 
 the attention of this Convention needs to be most seriously directed has 
 been the failure on the part of the people of the West, at least until within 
 the la-; two or three years, to so direct and wisely concentrate their effort - 
 a- to secure the results to which, as members of this great nation, they are 
 ju-tly entitled. 
 
 As to the first of these difficulties the early imperfection- of steamboat- 
 and their machinery the characterj-tir ingenuity and energy of our people 
 have steadily le.-ned them. .May I give one illustration of this? It was in 
 LSI 5, I believe, ill it the first steamboat began to navigate the .Mississippi 
 river. In IH'.i. a- we learn from a very intere-ting address read last year 
 by Mr. Overstolz, late mayor of this city, before the Mi>s>uri Immigration 
 Society, the first through steamboat came from New Orleans to St. Louis, 
 carrying !:',<) tons of cargo, and puffing its weary \\ay through these same 
 tortiiou- and dilfieiilt channel- during a period of ticenty-seven days. To-day 
 our -plendid steamers of 2,000 ton- burden ply l.etw.-en New Orleans and 
 St. I.-.ui- in -i.\ and seven day-. And when we remember that in ls;?7 the 
 lir-t ocean steamers, the Great Western and Sinus, carrying l.:><)0 ton-. 
 QTOtMd the Atlantic in twelve day-, and that to-day the lim-t ocean steamer 
 
19 
 
 has not yet exceeded 6,000 tons capacity, and its time of passage is not yet 
 reduced to one-half of what it was forty years ago, the comparison is 
 certainly not to the disadvantage of the Western steamboat men. The im- 
 perfection of steamboats and their machinery, therefore, does not explain 
 the relatively backward condition of our internal river commerce. 
 
 The second obstacle which I mentioned the impediments to navigation 
 in the rivers themselves I need not dwell upon. It is the fact of their 
 existence and the possibility of their removal which brings you here. I do 
 not overlook the fact that the Mississippi river 'and its tributaries are not in 
 this respect the same rivers that they were. I do notforget that to a certain 
 extent the Government has improved them. Allusion has already been 
 made to some important work that has been accomplished. I believe, 
 however, that I am 'correct in saying that the first expenditure of public- 
 money in any improvement for the Mississippi river proper, I do not speak 
 of Western harbor improvements, for they are very few. the first expendi- 
 ture of public money for that purpose was made after the war. Even this 
 expenditure has been made only here and there, and until a very recent 
 period not, so far as I am informed, on any general and systematic plan. 
 
 Why is this so? Is it because our public men, especially of late years. 
 have opposed such improvements? I think it would be hard to find a public 
 man that has undertaken openly to do so, or that has venturedjto avow any 
 such purpose even if he had it. We have already seen that thirty-six years 
 ago Mr. Calhoun laid the foundation for such public works as these by a 
 declaration which removed them at once fromjthe sphere of political con- 
 troversies. We know that distinguished statesmen of all political parties 
 have borne willing tribute to the importance of this work, not to this valley 
 alone, but to the nation. I need not remind you of those earnest and 
 eloquent words with which the late President, in his letter accepting the 
 nomination for that high office, signified his sense of the national importance 
 of the Mississippi river, and declared that Congress ought to prevent it from 
 being any longer a terror to those who. dwell upon its banks. I need not 
 remind you that the present incumbent of the same office, in his letter 
 accepting his nomination for Vice-President, declared in emphatic terms 
 that the Government ought to aid works of internal improvement national 
 in their character. Why is it, then. the question still recurs. why is it that 
 a Convention like this has still to be held? I think, gentlemen, that we must 
 look to the third of these obstacles which I venture to suggest, for the true 
 explanation. namely, the failure of those most interestedjin this great work 
 to wisely ' direct and effectively concentrate theirjown efforts. And I 
 respectfully submit to you whether it is not in that direction that the 
 energies of this assemblage can be most wisely put forth. 
 
 The most recent history of this movement I k think tends to confirm thN 
 view, and at the same time to give assurance that this question will not be 
 asked, that this explanation will not continue to be true, much longer. 
 
 In 1879. as you are aware, there was introduced in Congress by Mr. 
 Randall M. Gibson, of Louisiana, a bill for the appointment of a Mississippi 
 
20 
 
 River Commission. That bill, chunked in no material respect from its form 
 a- introduced by him except that the number of persons to compose the 
 Commission was increased in the Senate from five to seven, became a law on 
 June 29th, 1879, under the title of u An Act to provide for the appointment 
 of a Mississippi River Commission, for the improvement of said river from 
 the Head of the Passes, near the mouth, to its headwaters/' The President 
 appointed as members of this Commission, in pursuance of the act. General 
 o. A. Gilmore, General C. B. Comstock, Major Charles R. Suter, Henry 
 Mitchell. B. M. Harrod, James B. Eads, and Benjamin Harrison; three of 
 them being army engineers, one a civil engineer, two connected with the 
 coast and geodetic survey, and one a civilian, and all of them gentlemen of 
 high repute. That Commission promptly set about its work. It made one 
 report in February, 1880, and a second and more elaborate one in Feb- 
 ruary, 1881. It is not my province to speak of what these reports contained, 
 nor of the work and recommendations of that Commission, in detail. I am 
 happy to say that during your deliberations a letter from the President of 
 the Commission will be laid before you, and you will further have the pleas- 
 ure of hearing from one of its members in person. What I now call your 
 attention to, and I think the statement is both true and important, is that 
 the passage of that bill signalized the first effective concentration of effort, 
 or rather, that it gave evidence of concentrated effort towards the first dis- 
 tinct, scientific and systematic plan for the improvement of the great river 
 which has yet been made; and the improvement of that river necessarily 
 includes in due time the improvement of all its navigable tributaries. 
 
 In the same year. 1*711. was realized the triumph of that engineering 
 work, of which as American- we are proud, and for which, as business men, I 
 know that you are grateful. I speak of the successful completion of the Jetties 
 and the consequent opening of the port of New Orleans to steamers of the 
 large-. i -i/.e. [Loud applause.] It was something more than a coincidence, 
 that the same year was made memorable by these two great events. the 
 actual removal of those obstructions at the mouth of the river, with which 
 by other methods the Government had so long contended in vain, and the 
 provision by Act of Congress for the comprehensive, practical and scientific 
 consideration, by men who were not only experts, but experts of the highest 
 character, of what ought to be done towards removing by systematic and 
 permanent methods the impediments to navigation which -till remain. 
 
 In connection with the Jetties may I ask your indulgence while I call 
 voiir attention to two statement- made at different times concerning the con- 
 dition of the river below New Orleans, one of them made before the jetties 
 were proposed, and the other after their success had been demonstrated. I 
 desire the more to do so, because of statements which have been occasion- 
 ally made even within the last year. dultl->s under some strange misap- 
 prehension of the fart*, and which make the contrast I \\i-h to draw the 
 more timely and impressive. 
 
 I read from the proceeding- f that Congressional Conference held at St. 
 Louis in 1873. the following extract from an address to the members of 
 Congress there assembled, made by .Judge Kennard, of New Orleans : 
 
21 
 
 If you could with us to the mouth of the Mississippi, we would 
 show you such evidence as would remove the last doubt from the last 
 Thomas among you. Only ten days ago. in making a critical survey of that 
 locality. I found, when we arrived' at the mouth of the South west Pass, there 
 were lying [that is. either aground or afraid to get aground] thirty odd of the 
 largest class of ships, representative of almost every country 'in Europe. 
 among which were rive or six fine steamers." 
 
 Xow, let me read you a few lines from a valuable pamphlet recently 
 published by Mr. Alexander D. Anderson, of Washington City, entitled 
 " The Mississippi River and its Tributaries." in which, among other things, 
 he discusses the effect of the Jetties immediately after their completion: 
 
 Another illustration of the effect of these improvements is the record of 
 the exports of a single day during the past year. viz. : "December 20. 1879. 
 a Xew Orleans paper (the Picayune* of December 21. 1879) describes it as 
 follows : Yesterday a fleet of fifteen vessels cleared at the custom- 
 house with full cargoes. This fleet embraced eight steamships, two ships, 
 four barques and one schooner; seven of them were for Liverpool, three for 
 Havre, and one each for Xe\v York. Bremen. Malaga. Ruatan. and Pensa- 
 cola. The cargoes of this fleet form the largest exports that ever passed 
 through our custom-house in one day.' " 
 
 The newspaper goes on to give the details of these cargoes, from which 
 it appears that they included 46.300 bales of cotton, 40.000 bushels of wheat. 
 45,579 bushels of corn, and a variety of other merchandise: of which the 
 cotton alone was worth $2.550.000, and the total about $3,000.000. [Loud 
 applause.] 
 
 And in the same connection Mr. Anderson quotes the following from a 
 communication to him from the Secretary of the St. Louis Chamber of Com- 
 merce, under date of December 29. 1879 : 
 
 'The Jetties at the mouth of the river have lessened the rates of freight 
 by that route and by the East. The shipments of bulk grain this year from 
 St. Louis by river to Xew Orleans, have been six million bushels' of grain. 
 and would have been three million more had there been a good stage of 
 water." 
 
 Within a few days past there has been published in this city an official 
 statement or report by a committee appointed by the St. Louis Merchants' 
 Exchange, for the express purpose of ascertaining and reporting the facts 
 concerning the passage of ships through these Jetties. In that report a list 
 is given by name of ten steamers, each of which had a draught of twenty-four 
 feet and upwards, every one of which steamers has passed up that channel 
 and it was up the South Pass, formerly impracticable for commerce, but 
 which the Jetties have substituted for the Southwest Pass -without let or 
 hindrance, in the two years since the Jetties were opened. 
 
 These facts are no doubt familiar to you all ; yet I hope you will have 
 pardoned me for detaining you by their statement, because the}* all tend to 
 illustrate the subject which I have desired to bring before you the source 
 and meaning of that public sentiment which you have assembled once more 
 to express to-day, the results which it has so far accomplished, and the con- 
 
22 
 
 ditions upon which it may hope for complete success; and because they 
 throw light upon the significance and value of this latest effort, whose im- 
 portant fruit was the creation of the Mississippi River Commission. 
 
 The history and debates of the conventions which have preceded you. 
 teaeh the same lesson. The President of the Merchants' Exchange, in call- 
 ing you together to-day, lias already alluded to what has been said in those 
 debates by other gentlemen, standing, as you stand to-day, in the attitude 
 of deliberation on this great subject, as to the best means of giving effect to 
 that public sentiment. Again and again the question has been asked, not 
 only what were the difficulties and hindrances which have impeded its right- 
 ful operation, but whether the greatest hindrance of all has not been the error 
 on our own part of scattering, if not dividing, forces? Would it not have been 
 better were it not better now to concentrate our energies upon the demand 
 for the systematic improvement, first of all, of the great river itself, as the 
 most natural and effective -step towards securing all the rest? Again and 
 again, as the proceedings and debates of those conventions bear witne--. 
 this danger, this hindrance has been pointed out. Has not the time come 
 when, through our united efforts, it shall cease to exist? 
 
 Gentlemen, this great river itself seems, in its source and origin, and in 
 the movement of its great waters to the Gulf, to furnish a striking symbol. 
 an instructive lesson, which the members of this body may profitably con- 
 sider. 
 
 You are gathered here from all quarters of this great valley. From 
 every direction ; some of you from great distances ; you have come in larger 
 or smaller delegations, representing the sentiment, the experience, the 
 interest and demands of many different communities, prosperous cities, 
 thriving towns and villages, vast areas of agricultural lands, marvelous for 
 fertility and steadily increasing in production, whose industry and prosperity 
 constitute the life of many great and populous States. So this great river. 
 whose turbid waters, gathered into one mighty current, How by this city 
 with majestic and ever-increasing volume in their progress to the Gulf, 
 does it not in like manner represent the confluence of many lesser stream-. 
 impelled by the my-terious energies of Nature, to unite inseekinga common 
 outlet? Its remote-t -oim-e- are found in innumerable rills and sparkling 
 brooks, over any one of which a boy might leap, but from whose union are 
 formed, a thousand mik- to the north of it-, tho-e far-off headwaters which 
 we rail I lie I'pper M i--i i 1 1] >i ; and again, three thousand miles to the north- 
 west, those headwaters which we call the Upper Missouri; and again, 
 almo-t a thousand mik- nearer the Atlantic, the headwater- <>f the Ohio; 
 and to these streams come continually new accessions from every portion of 
 theimmen-e and variou- region which they drain, until all unite to form the 
 va-t and resistless flood of the Lower Mi--i--ippi. And vet we know that 
 thi- va-t flood, resistless as it i-. ha- a peeidiar movement and history <>\ it- 
 own. Tho-e who know it be-t tell n- that when the volume of its water- ! 
 the greatr.-t. when it ran IK. longer lie enntined within it- bank-, and spread^ 
 for mile- on either -ide. wandering here and there, a- it \\ere. in its inip.i- 
 
23 
 
 tienee to reach its destination, its current becomes less powerful, its progress 
 
 !>> rapid, its work less beneficent. Its sluggish waters, too widely dis- 
 persed, lose their grasp upon the enormous burden of soil and sediment 
 \vhieh the swift current has brought down from hundreds of miles above, 
 and by the deposit of which ne\v obstructions now begin to be formed. new 
 barriers to its own progress, new impediments to its navigation. 
 
 But they tell us also that whenever its waters are prevented from thus 
 wasting their strength by diffusion, whenever they are confined within a 
 narrower channel, either by the ingenuity of man or by the steadfast resistance 
 of their natural banks, then, even though the volume of the flood be less, 
 its energies are concentrated, the swiftness and momentum of the current 
 rapidly increase, and. gathering itself together for the mighty task, it 
 -rotirs and sweeps from its rapidly deepening channel every hidden obstacle 
 and impediment, and moves on triumphantly to the Gulf. It was by thus 
 enlisting and concentrating the vast physical forces of Nature herself that 
 that great triumph of the Jetties was achieved. Does not the same law con- 
 trol the moral forces of public opinion under this Government of ours? 
 Shall we not find in this the secret of our complete success? [Loud ap- 
 plause.] 
 
 I have detained you too long, gentlemen. My office has been a grate- 
 ful one, to offer you a hearty welcome from the Merchants' Exchange 
 <>f >t. Louis and the citizens of this city. If I have trespassed upon your 
 indulgence, it was because it seemed to me not inappropriate, upon the very 
 threshold of your action, that we should reflect upon and call attention to 
 the long history and constant growth of that public sentiment which your 
 assembly to-day expresses, and expresses more heartily, more earnestly. 
 more effectively than ever before. That such a body of men. representative 
 in the highest sense, assembled from every quarter of this great valley, 
 should meet without making felt their just desires, without impressing, 
 soberly, earnestly, but imperatively, upon the government of this nation the 
 expediency and the wisdom of yielding that which they rightfully demand. 
 this, gentlemen, we may well feel confident is one of the things that cannot 
 take place. [Loud and prolonged applause.] 
 
 Mr. McEnnis then said : " By request I will introduce Gov. 
 Thomas T. Crittenden, of Missouri, to act as temporary Chair- 
 man of the Convention. Gentlemen of the Convention, I 
 have the honor as well as the pleasure of introducing to you 
 Gov. Thomas T. Crittenden, of Missouri." [Loud applause.] 
 
 Gov. Crittenden, on assuming the chairmanship, said: 
 
 GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION : It is gratifying, indeed, to see 
 such a body of representative men assembled from so large a part of our 
 country for a common purpose. Xot how to build up higher walls ; not how- 
 to construct, under mathematical calculations, stronger forts; not how to 
 
24 
 
 enforce a cunning law against tin 1 oppre ed tillers of the soil; not how to 
 -ecure a partisan victory for political ends; but how to cheapen broad for 
 tin 1 world: ho\v to -trengthen our own producers; how to utilize the greatest 
 body of navigable water in the world, with the largest tonnage, at the lowest 
 charge: how to afford to our own people the cheapest and the most easy 
 facility for reaching the great marts of trade of the world. In the language 
 of the New York 7Y//->-. within the area drained by the Mis.-issippi and its 
 navigable tributaries is produced ninety per cent, of the corn, seventy-three 
 per cent, of the wheat, eighty-three per cent, of the oats, sixty-four per 
 cent, of the tobacco, seventy-seven per cent, of the cotton, and sixty-three 
 per cent, of the live hogs of the whole country: and these are the products 
 which make up a large part of our exports, and the exchange of which for 
 foreign commodities constitutes the bulk of our commerce with foreign 
 countries. These figures are great living truths, and they contain and evolve 
 that great problem how to transport these commodities to market at tin- 
 lowest possible charge, and that problem is. or should be. the only one that 
 has been active in assembling this Convention. Our land is tilled with rail- 
 ways passing from east to west, from north to south, with surprising 
 speed, and they are a great desideratum in the elevation of our country 
 which should be duly appreciated, backed by immense capital, managed by 
 men of the largest brain and the keenest activity, which would stand as 
 ma-ters of the situation, if not for this great river and its navigable tributa- 
 ric- which How through so large a part of our common country, and which 
 with an unfailing hand settle and unsettle the transit question by the law- 
 of Nature and not the whims of man. And this great internal sea of ours 
 cause- the managers of those corporations to contend like giants for that 
 tonnage upborne upon the bosom of its waters. It is Nature's highway, 
 unowned by man. and a thousand tleets >\M-ep over it without marking or 
 wearing it out. In the language of our own Kads, he who never opens a 
 mouth in vain. The garden which it beautifies and enriches contain.- 
 7>. 000.000 acres of the finest lands on the face of the globe. Enough to 
 make more than l.~>s States as large as Massachusetts. Acres of the choicest 
 -il in profusion sufficient to duplicate England. (Jreat Britain. France. 
 M. Au<tria. 1'rus^ia. Kuropean Turkey and the Italian Peninsula com- 
 bined. If peopled as Belgium and the Netherlands are. with not one-half 
 the danger of famine, it woiildVontain lon.OOO.OOO of souls, nearly one-third 
 the population of the entire earth. Human comprehension cannot grasp 
 tin- grandeur of .-uch an empire. Human wUdom cannot estimate tin- 
 wonderful value ,,f -uch an inheritance/' 
 
 Gentlemen, the question Oectm, how to make this inheritance greater. 
 richer and more worthy of being the home- ,,f t i,j- marching, tramping. 
 toiling, progn-s-ive race of ours. I feel a mvil that the \\i-dom of tbi- 
 will -olve this important question in the most .-atisfactory way. 
 it i- determined here to improve the Mi-.-is-ippi river the great trunk 
 line then let ii- proceed to agree upon -ome fea.-ihle plan to improve the 
 tributaries. Let not the smaller ijue.-tion govern the larger one. I touch 
 
25 
 
 upon these two subjects with much delicacy, as it will be left to this body 
 to evolve some plan that will work the greatest amount of good at whatever 
 co<t to the inhabitants of this valley. no. to the whole population of our 
 land. Millions have been generously and at times wisely given to construct 
 railroads in our country, and millions upon millions, if necessary, should be 
 as generously given to improve the Mississippi river. It may be asked, im- 
 prove it how much? I answer: All it requires is that every drop of idle 
 water that now flows to the sea may be harnessed by the hand of engineer- 
 ing skill and made to bear its proportion of the commerce of the world. 
 Paying into the treasury of the Government our proportion of the taxe- 
 without grumbling and almost without limit, we shall have no hesitancy in 
 calling upon our representatives in Congress to return those taxes to us for 
 the improvement of our great rivers, without grumbling and if necessary 
 almost without limit. We are a part of the nation a large part, too and 
 we desire to be recognized by that Government in such a liberal way as 
 will not only build up our own part of the country, but will also contribute 
 largely to the strength, endurance and stability of the whole country. We 
 are not sectional in our demands, nor selfish in our appeals. We expect to 
 be heard in Congress we will be heard because our cause is just. In this 
 great forensic contest Illinois will stand by Louisiana [loud applause], and 
 Minnesota will stand by Kentucky, and but one flag will float over all. and 
 that will be the flag of a paternal government. [Loud applause.] Gentle- 
 men. I have seen, whilst a member of Congress from this State, the evils of 
 i% omnibus appropriation bills " for the improvement of our rivers and har- 
 bors. Much good is always embodied in those bills, and also an infinite 
 amount of demagoguery and waste of money. It should be stopped before 
 the evil gets too large. It has already made itself very strong in Congress, 
 and if not checked, and that soon, it will dictate its own terms of appropri- 
 ation. There are too many unnavigable and uuwatered streams in those 
 bills inserted by interested politicians for local purposes. Abolish the evil 
 and assert the independence of the great stream and its truly navigable 
 tributaries. Then a, victory worthy of the American Congress will have 
 been accomplished, and the money of the people will be judiciously 
 expended. [Applause.] Enough money is wasted on these small streams 
 to perform a larfe part, if not the whole, of the desired work in the Missis- 
 sippi river. Such foolishness should be stopped at once. May this Con- 
 vention strike the key-note in not only suppressing such an evil, but also in 
 marking out a line of policy by which our Senators and Representatives in 
 Congress are to be governed in their future appropriation bills. I thank 
 tin- ( '(invention for the honor conferred in making me its temporary Chair- 
 man, and these distinguished delegates for having honored Missouri with 
 their presence. May wisdom and unity of action govern all your delibera- 
 tions. [Loud applause.] 
 
 At the conclusion of Gov. Crittenden's address, Hon. 
 Nathan Cole, of St. Louis, said : 
 
26 
 
 Mr. President, I would like to move, at this moment, 
 that Mr. Frank Gaiennie act as temporary Secretary of the 
 Convention." 
 
 The motion being duly seconded was put and carried. 
 
 Mr. John Hogan, of St. Louis. " I move you, sir, that a 
 committee of one from each State and Territory represented 
 here, be appointed a Committee on Credentials ; and probably 
 it will be better, in order that the committee may be properly 
 selected, and that an opportunity may be given to the States 
 to select their men upon that committee, to adjourn, and I 
 therefore move that the Convention adjourn until to-morrow 
 morning." 
 
 Several delegates. "No, no." 
 
 Mr. Hogan. "All right; any way so that the committee 
 can be appointed." 
 
 Mr. Roberts, of Pekin, Illinois. " I move that the roll of 
 States be called in alphabetical order, and that each delega- 
 tion be requested to name one delegate to act upon the sev- 
 eral committees: first on the Committee on Credentials, then 
 on the Committee on Resolutions, as this Convention may 
 elect." 
 
 A delegate from Arkansas. " I offer an amendment to 
 that. That the chairman of the several delegations act as 
 chairman of those committees." 
 
 Mr. Roberts. "As far as Illinois is concerned, I will say 
 that her delegation has been already organized ;'that we have 
 a chairman ; and when our State is called, our chairman will 
 announce tin- >everal representatives of those committees, and 
 1 therefore in>ist upon my motion." 
 
 The Chairman. 4t Does the gentleman from St. Louis with- 
 draw his motion ?" 
 
 Mr. Ilo-ati. " My motion, the first part of it, or the part 
 that I wish adopted, i- -imply that the Committee on Creden- 
 tials be appointed. The design of the last part was to give 
 an opportunity for consultation with the several delegations. 
 
27 
 
 If the delegations have already appointed a member to serve 
 on that committee, then it can be carried out now. That is 
 all the design I had in view." 
 
 Several delegates. * Question ! question !" 
 The Chairman. " Gentlemen, you have heard the motion 
 of the gentleman from Illinois, that the list of States be called ; 
 I believe that is the purport of the motion." 
 
 A delegate. " List of States and Territories." 
 The Chairman. " Of the States and Territories; and 
 what was the balance of the motion?" 
 
 Mr. Koberts. "And that upon being called, the delega- 
 tions of the respective States and Territories name a member 
 of the committee from their respective States and Territo- 
 ries." 
 
 The Chairman. " That the chairmen of the delegations 
 of the States and Territories, name the respective members to 
 be represented on the committee." 
 
 A delegate from Kentucky. " Will the Chairman please 
 state for the information of the Convention how many com- 
 mittees are to be provided for in that resolution?" 
 The Chairman. " One committee ; only one." 
 The delegate from Kentucky. "A Committee on Cre- 
 dentials?" 
 
 The Chairman. "A Committee on Credentials." 
 The delegate from Kentucky. " Very well, I didn't 
 understand it, and I wished to know." 
 
 Mr. George H. Shields, of Missouri. " I desire to offer 
 as a substitute to the resolution now pending, that the dele- 
 gates from the States and Territories name members of a Com- 
 mittee on Credentials, a Committee on Order of Business, a 
 Committee on Permanent Organization, and a Committee on 
 Resolutions ; and as I know that some of the State delegations 
 have not organized yet, in order to give them an opportunity to 
 name members for those committees, I therefore move that the 
 Convention take a recess for fifteen minutes, in order that the 
 delegations may be organized by the respective States and 
 
28 
 
 Territories, and at the termination of the recess be prepared 
 to announce the names of the delegates on these committees 
 to the Convention." 
 
 A delegate. " I rise to a point of order. My point of 
 order is, until the Convention is fully organized and a Com- 
 mittee on Credentials has reported, we don't know who con- 
 stitute the Convention." 
 
 The Chairman. "The Chair will sustain the point of 
 order of the gentleman. You have heard the motion of the 
 gentleman from Illinois. The Chair will now put the motion." 
 
 The motion was put and carried. 
 
 The Chairman. " The Secretary will now call the list of 
 the States and Territories." 
 
 A delegate. " I understand that a motion has been made 
 that a recess be taken, in order that delegates may be selected 
 for these committees. 
 
 The Chairman. "No, sir; the Chair does not so under- 
 stand. The gentleman is out of order. The Secretary will 
 proceed with the calling of the roll." 
 
 The Secretary then called the roll of delegates. The first 
 State called was Arkansas. 
 
 A delegate from Illinois. " I would respectfully ask the 
 Chair as to when this meeting of the Illinois delegation was 
 called. There are several delegates from the State of Illi- 
 nois, bordering on the Mississippi, who arrived to-day, and do 
 not know of the action that was taken by the delegates who 
 arrived yesterday ; and therefore, if it is not too late, I would 
 suggest, for the purpose of perfecting the organization of this 
 Convention with entire harmony, that every State and Terri- 
 tory represented in this great Convention, probably the 
 greatest and most important that has ever been held in this 
 < ountry, certainly in the Mississippi Valley, that these State- 
 and Territories have the privilege of selecting their members 
 for the Committee on Credentials, Permanent Organization, 
 Order of Business, and Resolutions, >o that the representatives 
 from this great valley can act together and can present the 
 
29 
 
 names of men from their States that stand high in commercial, 
 political and other relations ; and therefore, if not too late, I 
 would suggest that the States act together and select their 
 members for these committees, and afterwards present the 
 names to this Convention, for the purpose of conducting the 
 business of the Convention in an orderly manner." [Several 
 delegates. "No, no."] 
 
 Mr. Roberts, of Illinois. " I would inform the gentleman 
 that the Illinois delegation convened at ten o'clock at the 
 Planters' House, in pursuance to a call, and organized by ap- 
 pointing Mr. Holliday chairman of the delegation, and that 
 they then and there agreed on the several representatives for 
 these respective committees. I regret that the gentleman was 
 not present, but that was not our fault." 
 
 A delegate. "I suggest that a recess be taken for ten 
 minutes, to allow these difficulties to be settled between the 
 different States." 
 
 The delegate from Illinois. " I am requested by several 
 delegates, some of whom were here yesterday, and a large 
 number of whom arrived to-day, to say that they were not 
 cognizant of any meeting of the Illinois delegation having 
 been held at the Planters' House or elsewhere. As far as I 
 may be permitted, I am perfectly willing, as a unit, as a 
 member, as one of this Illinois delegation to this Convention, 
 to submit, for myself, to the action as taken, but we were not 
 apprised of the fact." 
 
 Several delegates. " Call the roll." 
 
 Mr. E. O. Stanard, of Missouri. " I have no doubt the 
 desire is general to facilitate the business of the Convention as 
 speedily as possible. The Illinois delegation has had a meet- 
 ing and elected their officers and designated the gentlemen 
 who shall serve upon the committees. Other States may have 
 done the same, but there are several States here, I am told, 
 and one I know the State of Missouri whose delegates 
 have never been called together as a body, and that is a 
 delegation in which I am sure there is no organization. Now 
 
30 
 
 it seems to me before we proceed to business it would be the 
 part of wisdom that we should take a recess of at least fifteen 
 minutes." 
 
 A delegate. " Thirty minutes." 
 
 Mr. Stanard. "No, sir; I am making this speech. 
 [Laughter and cries of "Go on."] What I desired to say was 
 this, that I think we should take a recess of at least fifteen 
 minutes, and that each delegation each State delegation in 
 their seats should organize. There are more of them together 
 now than will be likely to be got together in any hour of the 
 next twenty-four. [Laughter.] And it seems to me that the 
 first business that we should do, should be for each State to 
 have an organization and designate the gentlemen that they 
 would have to serve on the various committees." 
 
 A delegate. " What are the various committees?" 
 
 Mr. Stanard. "The various committees have not been 
 designated ; but I presume they are such committees as are 
 usual in deliberative bodies of this kind ; a committee on 
 permanent organization, on order of business, on resolutions 
 and credentials ; at least those four committees. Now it 
 seems to me that we will be in confusion if some step of this 
 kind is not taken, and I hope the gentleman I understand 
 that the gentleman made a motion that the States be called 
 for the purpose of designating members for the Committee on 
 Credentials." 
 
 A delegate. " That was all, sir." 
 
 Mr. Stanard. " That was all that that embraced ; is that 
 so?" 
 
 A delegate. "Yes." 
 
 Mr. Stanard. " Now let that matter be held in abeyance, 
 and let us take a recess and organize, as far as the State 
 delegates are concerned." 
 
 Mr. Roberts, of Illinois. " If the gentleman will permit 
 me, I will withdraw my motion, temporarily, and agree to 
 his." 
 
 A delegate. " It has been carried." 
 
31 
 
 Mr. Roberts. " Well, then, I don't object ; if these other 
 delegations are not organized, I don't object to having them." 
 
 Mr. Stanard. "I move that we take a recess of fifteen 
 minutes, for the purpose of organization." 
 
 The Chairman. " It is moved that this Convention take a 
 recess of fifteen minutes, in order that the delegations may 
 effect an organization and present their names to the Conven- 
 tion." 
 
 The motion was put and carried, and a recess of fifteen 
 minutes was taken. 
 
 At the termination of the recess the Convention was called 
 to order by the Chairman, who said : 
 
 " Gentlemen of the Convention, it will facilitate business 
 very much if each gentleman as he rises will announce his 
 name and the State from which he comes. That request is 
 made by the Press and the Secretary of the Convention, and 
 the Chairman will be very much gratified if it is done." 
 
 Mr. D. H. Hart, of Illinois. " I have a resolution I wish 
 to offer to have referred to the Committee on Resolutions, and 
 as I shall not be here to-morrow, I would like to ofier it now, 
 and I will pass it to the clerk in order that .it may be re- 
 ferred." 
 
 A delegate. " We are not organized, yet." 
 
 The Chairman. " The first thing in order now, gentle- 
 men of the Convention, is the calling of the States and Ter- 
 ritories, in order that the names of the Committee on Cre- 
 dentials may be obtained. The Secretary will proceed to 
 call the roll." 
 
 Mr. Rowland, of St. Louis. " Before that action is taken 
 I would request Mayor Ewing be invited to make a short 
 address of welcome to the Convention. 
 
 A delegate. "I move that Mayor Ewing have leave to 
 print his speech." 
 
 The Chairman. "I will state to the gentlemen of the 
 Convention that Mayor Ewing declines to make an address, 
 and that he would prefer to have the Convention progress 
 
32 
 
 with its business rather than to detain it by an address on his 
 part." [Loud applause.] 
 
 The clerk then called the roll of States, first .calling Ala- 
 bama. 
 
 Mr. T. B. Taylor. "I am placed in rather a delicate 
 position ; I am the only delegate from Alabama." 
 
 The Chairman. " Have you your credentials." 
 
 Mr. Taylor. " Yes, sir; from the Mayor of Montgom- 
 ery." 
 
 The Chairman. "If the gentleman will give his name 
 we will make him a delegate." 
 
 Mr. Taylor. " My name is Dr. Thomas B. Taylor." 
 
 Mr. Hogan, of St. Louis. "I move that the gentleman 
 from Alabama, by common consent, be appointed upon all the 
 committees." [Applause.] 
 
 The question was put, and the motion was carried. 
 
 The Secretary then proceeded with the call of the roll of 
 States, and the delegations announced the following as the 
 Committee on Credentials and chairmen of the delegations : 
 
 COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS. 
 
 Alabama Thomas B. Taylor. 
 
 Arkansas John E. Bennett, Helena. 
 
 Iowa Col. P. G. Ballingall. 
 
 Kentucky B. C. Levi. 
 
 Indiana C. A. Zollinger. 
 
 Louisiana E. K. Converse. 
 
 Tennessee Edward S. Jones. 
 
 K;m<:is B. M. Brake. 
 
 Minnesota E. W. Durant, Stillwater. 
 
 New Mexico P. J. Kennedy. 
 
 Nebraska Victor ViUjuain. 
 
 Dakota J. T. Pettigrew. 
 
 Wisconsin J. R. Berryman. 
 
 West Virginia Frank J. Hearne, Wheeling. 
 
33 
 
 Michigan Philo Parsons. 
 
 Missouri James Craig. 
 
 New York B. S. Osborne. 
 
 Pennsylvania Capt. J. T. Stockdale, Pittsburg. 
 
 Texas Thomas F. McEnm's. 
 
 Mississippi Col. Green Clay. 
 
 Ohio Joseph Hargrove. 
 
 Illinois Hon. C. A. Walker, Carlinville. 
 
 The chairmen of the delegations as reported are : 
 
 CHAIRMEN OF DELEGATIONS. 
 
 Alabama Thomas B. Taylor. 
 
 Arkansas Capt. W. H. Fulton. 
 
 Iowa J. W. Thomas. 
 
 Kentucky Eugene Underwood. 
 
 Indiana G. V. Menzies, Mt. Vernon. 
 
 Louisiana Duncan F. Kenner. 
 
 Tennessee J. B. Heiskill. 
 
 Kansas F. P. Baker. 
 
 Minnesota C. C. Sturtevant. 
 
 Missouri E. O. Stanard. 
 
 New Mexico P. J. Kennedy. 
 
 Nebraska H. G. Clark. 
 
 Dakota J. T. Pettigrew. 
 
 Wisconsin Win. T. Price. 
 
 West Virginia Col. Alex. Campbell, Bethany. 
 
 Michigan Philo Parsons. 
 
 New York B. S. Osborne. 
 
 Pennsylvania R. C. Gray, Pittsburg. 
 
 Texas T. T. Gammage. 
 
 When the State of Michigan was called, a delegate said : 
 ; ' Michigan has but two delegates present. More are expected 
 this afternoon. We were not conscious that we had any im- 
 mediate interest in the affair ; but we have the deepest inter- 
 est in point of sympathy with it, and we sympathize with 
 
34 
 
 what the States watered by the Mississippi demand, and we 
 shall second their efforts." [Loud applause.] 
 
 When New Mexico was called, Mr. P. J. Kennedy said : 
 "New Mexico has but one delegate, P. J. Kennedy." 
 
 Mr. Eowland, of St. Louis. " I move that Mr. Kennedy, 
 of New Mexico, be considered the chairman of the delegation 
 from New Mexico, and also a member of each one of these 
 committees." 
 
 The Chairman. " It will be so ordered unless objection is 
 made." 
 
 A delegate. " I was just going to make that motion, to 
 apply to all who are single delegates." 
 
 The Chairman. " It will be so ordered unless objection is 
 made." 
 
 Mr. Craig, of Missouri. " I have investigated, as far as I 
 could, the names of the gentlemen who have been appointed 
 to this Convention from the State of Missouri, and as you will 
 see, I have quite a number of columns of names here ; and the 
 gentlemen present, so far as I have been able to ascertain, are 
 all delegates, duly appointed, either by municipal bodies or 
 otherwise, having the right to sit here as members of this 
 Convention ; but I will not be able to get my list perfected 
 until to-morrow morning, and even then I will not without 
 the aid of two clerks ; and I ask the Convention to give me 
 until to-morrow morning for that purpose." [Laughter.] 
 
 Mr. Chase, of Nebraska. " I suggest that when members 
 ri-e they give their names. We want to know who these men 
 are from the different States. I think it would be well where 
 a delegate represents a State alone, as Mr. Pettigrew, for 
 instance, a member of Congress from Dakota, and who has 
 done us the honor of sitting with us, and as I know him to be 
 straight in every way, that he should be allowed to act upon 
 all the committees ; and therefore, I move that he be author- 
 ized to act on all the committees as a representative from the 
 Territory of Dakota." 
 
35 
 
 The Chairman. "You have heard the motion, that the 
 Hon. Mr. Pettigrew, of Dakota, be permitted to act upon all 
 the committees, as a representative from that Territory. It 
 will be so ordered unless objection is made." 
 
 A delegate. " I now suggest that the members of the 
 Committee on Credentials retire to a separate room." 
 
 Mr. Durant, of Minnesota. "I would suggest that the 
 committeemen step back and they will find a room provided for 
 them, and that they perform the committee work as soon as 
 possible and report to this Convention." 
 
 A delegate. " I move that the Committee on Credentials 
 have leave to retire for deliberation." 
 
 A delegate. " I move that the chairman of each delega- 
 tion from each State pass in the list of the names of the dele- 
 gates from his State. I presume, sir, that each chairman on 
 the Committee on Credentials from each State knows who 
 represents his State, and he can pass in the list of names, 
 together with the credentials, if they are required, to save 
 further delay." 
 
 A delegate from Indiana. " I wish to call the attention 
 of this Convention to the fact, that by some omission, no 
 placard has been put up for the State of Indiana. I presume 
 other delegates would like to know where that State is 
 located in this Convention, and therefore I suggest the pro- 
 priety of having some recognition of the State of Indiana and 
 its locality in this Convention." 
 
 Mr. Osborne, of New York. " I stand in the same rela- 
 tion with my friend, Mr. Parsons, of Michigan, representing 
 the National Board of Steam Navigation, which has had 
 members for the last ten years in every State bordering on 
 this great water-way, or on the sea-coast. I was appointed a 
 delegate to come from the sea-coast to the city of St. Louis, 
 and join in the deliberations of this body. I am put down in 
 the newspapers as from New York. I represent, in the sen- 
 timent of that body, not only New York, but Maine, Xew 
 Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, and I 
 
36 
 
 will stop there, unless I switch off to Maryland. [Laughter.] 
 We have no shingle up, but we want our voice heard in this 
 Convention. [Loud laughter and applause.] We recognize as 
 much as any of the representatives from other States that any- 
 thing that is for the good of the West ought to be good for the 
 East. [Applause.] And for that reason, in the name of the 
 organization that has sent me ten hundred and sixty-five 
 miles so the railroad time-table says to come here and rep- 
 resent them, we ask for a shingle, and we want to be repre- 
 sented on the Committee on Credentials. [Laughter.] Excuse 
 me for making all this noise, but I can't ride for thirty-five 
 consecutive hours and some minutes on the cars, and then be 
 an hour late, and not be heard after all. [Laughter.] There 
 were five delegates appointed good men, some of them you 
 know very well ; one of them is in Europe. He couldn't get 
 here to-day, but he will some day. Two more have been 
 appointed. My name is Osborne. I am chairman of the dele- 
 gation, and I am on the Committee on Credentials, and I 
 have two more delegates to put on anv^ committee that you 
 want." 
 
 Mr. Anderson, of Pennsylvania. "As it is really neces- 
 sary that we should have a mariner to navigate these waters, 
 I move that the sailor-man from New York be added to all 
 these committees, Mr. Osborne, from New York." 
 
 Mr. Osborne. " I will answer for New York." [Laugh- 
 ter.] 
 
 Mr. Bain, of St. Louis. " Mr. Chairman " 
 
 The Chairman. " The gentleman from Iowa, no, from 
 Michigan." [Loud laughter.] 
 
 A delegate. " Mr. Bain is from Missouri." 
 
 The Chairman. " The gentleman from Missouri, Mr. 
 George Bain." 
 
 Mr. Bain. " I merely want to answer the gentleman from 
 Indiana, that State which is famous for its hoop-poles and 
 Democratic candidates for the Presidency that we had a 
 placard for that State, and I don't know what has become of 
 
37 
 
 it. Perhaps some of the delegates have put it in their 
 pockets. There certainly was a placard put up for that 
 State, so that it could be located in the organization of this 
 body, and I think that Indiana ought to have such a sign, as 
 much as any other State, although it don't exactly border on 
 the Mississippi or any other river. It is certainly too impor- 
 tant to be left out of the deliberations of this Convention, 
 and the committee will see to it that it is properly located in 
 this Convention." 
 
 A delegate. " Where is the Wabash?" 
 
 Mr. Murphy, of Iowa. "I desire to say in behalf of 
 Iowa, that we have had a great many inflictions, but the worst 
 bane that ever was put on us was the recognition of that 
 gentleman, Mr. Bain, of St. Louis, as a representative of 
 Iowa." [Loud laughter.] 
 
 Mr. Cole, of St. Louis. " Mr. Chairman, I presume the 
 desire of all the members of this Convention is that we should 
 now have the business expedited as much as possible, and if 
 it is in order, I would like to move at this moment that the 
 delegates for each of the committees, on order of business, 
 resolutions, and permanent organization, should be called upon 
 now to report the names of members for those committees. I 
 make that motion." 
 
 The Chairman. ' Gentlemen of the Convention, the 
 States and Territories will be called now, for the names of the 
 Committee on Permanent Organization of this Convention. 
 Please announce them when the States are called . ' ' 
 
 Mr. Denman, of Illinois. " I will ask for information, 
 how do we know who are members of the Convention? No 
 committee on credentials has as yet reported, and, although I 
 have not the slightest doubt in my mind that every gentleman 
 here is a delegate, and duly entitled to a seat in the Conven- 
 tion, it seems to me a little premature for such action as this 
 to be taken previous to the report of the Committee on Cre- 
 dentials ; let us have that, and know who are here and entitled 
 to seats, before we proceed to permanent organization." 
 
38 
 
 A delegate. " I will ask the gentleman how he got his 
 badge?'' 
 
 Mr. Denman. " I got my badge from the committee, sir, 
 and remarked afterwards that any man with a little cheek 
 could go and get a badge." 
 
 Mr. Wood, of Illinois. "It is plain before we can pro- 
 ceed with any business in this Convention, that it will be 
 necessary for this committee to report. I shall therefore 
 move that the Convention adjourn until half-past three o'clock 
 for the purpose of hearing the report of the Committee on 
 Credentials." 
 
 The Chairman. " Gentlemen, I will state to the Conven- 
 tion that we have to vacate this building this afternoon at 
 half -past four o'clock." [Several voices. "No, no."] 
 
 The Chairman. " We have to do that. We have to sur- 
 render the building at half-past four o'clock." 
 
 Mr. Cole, of St. Louis. " I move to amend that we meet 
 at half-past two o'clock, to hear the report of the Committee 
 on Credentials." 
 
 Mr. Underwood, of Kentucky. "I wish your attention, 
 Mr. Chairman, for one moment. It seems to me there is a 
 question prior to the question of the appointment of the Com- 
 mittee on Credentials. I see here the names of some States, 
 but it appears that all the States are not named as to who 
 shall compose, or whose delegates shall compose, this Conven- 
 tion. And now, sir, I would like to know, and to hear from 
 the Chairman, what Stales ;nv to be represented in this Con- 
 vention." [Voices. "All."] 
 
 Mr. Underwood. " All the States of the United States?" 
 
 Several delegates. " Yes." 
 
 Mr. Underwood. " All the States of the United States, 
 sir?" 
 
 Several delegates. "Yes." 
 
 The Chairman. " The Mississippi Valley, under the call, 
 as I understand it." 
 
 Mr. Underwood. " I supposed, Mr. Chairman, this was 
 
39 
 
 a Convention to be composed of the States of the Mississippi 
 Valley." 
 
 Several delegates. "That is right." 
 
 Mr. Underwood. "And if it is confined to the States 
 of the Mississippi Valley, we should now understand it ; if it 
 is to be composed of all the States of the United States, we 
 should so understand it ; and I therefore ask that we shall 
 have some announcement as what is to be the constituency 
 of this Convention." 
 
 The Chairman. " I will read, for the information of the 
 gentleman, a part of the call, which I think answers the 
 question : 
 
 " 'In view of the magnitude of the interests involved and 
 the results to be attained, we would cordially and earnestly 
 invite the various boards of trade of the Valley so largely 
 interested in these results, as well as those from the commu- 
 nities outside the Valley who appreciate the scope of the 
 Convention, to send delegates fully penetrated,' " etc. [Loud 
 applause.] 
 
 Mr. Osborne, of New York. "Now, Mr. Chairman, I 
 move that the roll of the Secretary be accepted as the 
 credentials of this body of delegates. It will save time ; it 
 will save talk, and it will make harmony." [Loud applause.] 
 
 Mr. Bennett, of Arkansas. "I have a little suggestion to 
 make for the speedy prosecution of the business of the Con- 
 vention. As a member of the Committee on Credentials I 
 would desire to suggest for the consideration of the President 
 of this Convention that the members of the Committee on 
 Credentials meet in a body, and that each member of the 
 Committee on Credentials from each State report the delegates 
 from his own State and hand the list to the Secretary, and let 
 that be the report of the Committee on Credentials. I know 
 it is parliamentary usage for the Committee on Credentials to 
 meet together and then make a separate report ; but it will 
 avoid a great deal of confusion and save time, perhaps, to let 
 each delegation report its own members here, and hand the 
 
40 
 
 list to the Secretary, and let that be the list of the Conven- 
 tion." 
 
 Mr. Osborne, of New York. "I will accept that amend- 
 ment, sir." 
 
 The Chairman. " You hear the motion of the gentleman 
 from Arkansas." . 
 
 Mr. Craig, of Missouri. " I will ask the Chair if the Sec- 
 retary has got a roll?" 
 
 The Chairman. "Yes, sir ; you have heard the motion of 
 the gentleman from Arkansas, that the names of the commit- 
 tee be handed to the Secretary." 
 
 A delegate. " I move that the committee be instructed to 
 have a shingle put up representing every State in the Union." 
 
 The Chairman. "That will be attended to. You have 
 heard the motion of the gentleman from Arkansas, that :i 
 report of the names be reported by the different delegations 
 to the Secretary of the Convention . ' ' 
 
 The motion was put and carried. 
 
 A delegate. " I desire to inquire if the Clerk has a list of 
 the delegates appointed by the municipalities, cities and 
 towns?" 
 
 The Chairman. "Yes, sir." 
 
 The delegate. " I move that a Committee on Permanent 
 Organization be called." 
 
 Another delegate. * * I move that the chairman of each del- 
 egation report a member of a Committee for Permanent Or- 
 ganization and for Order of Business at the same time." 
 
 Anotherdelegate. " All these suggestions are out of order 
 until the Committee on Credentials make their report." 
 
 The Chairman. " You have heard the motion of the gen- 
 tleman from Minnesota, that the chairmen of the different del- 
 egations from the different States report two names for the 
 two different committees It will expedite the business of the 
 Convention if it is done." 
 
 The motion was put and carried. 
 
41 
 
 The Secretary then called the roll, and the following Com- 
 mittees were selected : 
 
 PERMANENT ORGANIZATION. 
 
 Alabama Thomas B. Taylor. 
 
 Arkansas Hon. Logan H. Roots. 
 
 Iowa Him. William L. Joy. 
 
 Illinois Gen. Rinaker. 
 
 Indiana J. A. Lemcke. 
 
 Kansas W. H. Caldwell. 
 
 Kentucky J. H. Fowler. 
 
 Louisiana Ex-Go v. McEnery. 
 
 Missouri O. Guitar. 
 
 Minnesota C. C. Sturtevant. 
 
 Michigan Alonzo Sessions, Ionia. 
 
 Mississippi Col. S. H. Parisot. 
 
 New Mexico P. J. Kennedy. 
 
 Nebraska C. C. Housel. 
 
 Ohio John J. Raipe. 
 
 Pennsylvania Charles Meyran, Pittsburg. 
 
 Tennessee R. J. Morgan. 
 
 Texas George A. Wright. 
 
 Wisconsin O. H. Ingram. 
 
 West Virginia John A. Gibney. 
 
 COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. 
 
 Alabama Thomas B. Taylor. 
 Arkansas Wm. M. Fishback. 
 Dakota P. Donan. 
 Iowa Gen. Wm. H. Vandiver. 
 Indiana Gen. A. D. Streight. 
 Illinois W. T. Dowdall, Peoria. 
 Kansas J. P. Root. 
 Kentucky H. Verhoff, Jr. 
 Louisiana Duncan F. Kenner. 
 Mississippi Judge H. F. Simrall. 
 Missouri Henry Hitchcock. 
 
, 42 
 
 Michigan Alonzo Sessions. 
 Minnesota R. Blakesley. 
 New Mexico P. J. Kennedy. 
 Nebraska J. Sterling Morton. 
 Ohio S. F. Covington. 
 Pennsylvania Hon. Geo. H. Anderson. 
 Texas J. J. Gammage. 
 Tennessee H. T. Elliot. 
 Wisconsin J. C. Gregory. 
 West Virginia F. J. Hearne. 
 
 COMMITTEE ON ORDER OF BUSINESS. 
 
 Arkansas H. M. Grant. 
 Dakota R. F. Pettigrew. 
 Iowa Ed. Russell. 
 Indiana J. M. Reynolds. 
 Illinois W. D. Dowdall. 
 Kansas A. Dorker. 
 Kentucky Frank Truck. 
 Louisiana A. J. Gomila. 
 Missouri Gov. C. H. Hardin. 
 Minnesota O. C. Merryman. 
 Mississippi C. E. Webb. 
 Michigan Philo Parsons. 
 New Mexico P. J. Kennedy. 
 New York A. H. Dugan. 
 Nebraska Henry G. Clark. 
 Ohio J. K. Morrison. 
 Pennsylvania Joseph J. Sidney. 
 Texas W. H. Fleppen. 
 Tennessee Smith Hart. 
 Wisconsin D. A. McDonald. 
 West Virginia John A. Givens. 
 
 While the roll was being called, Mr. Covington, of Ohio, 
 said : 
 
 " I move that in order to expedite business, the chairman 
 
43 
 
 of each delegation send up the names of all persons appointed 
 on the respective committees." 
 
 The Chairman. " That is being done." 
 
 A delegate. " I move that we now adjourn until eleven 
 o'clock to-morrow.'' 
 
 Mr. Bennett, of Arkansas. "I desire to offer the follow- 
 ing resolution : That the roll of States be called, and that 
 all delegates having resolutions prepared may submit them 
 and have them referred to the Committee on Resolutions for 
 consideration without debate." 
 
 The resolution was adopted. 
 
 A delegate. " I move that all delegates from the territory 
 contiguous to the Missouri river remain here immediately 
 after adjournment." 
 
 Mr. Hogan. " I move, as an amendment to the resolu- 
 tion just offered, that the resolutions be read to the Conven- 
 tion, and then referred without debate." 
 
 Mr. Bennett. " I accept the amendment." 
 
 A delegate. " It will probably be a very long matter to 
 receive all these resolutions and read them, and I therefore 
 move that the Convention adjourn till three o'clock, in order 
 that the Committee on Permanent Organization may be en- 
 abled to report." 
 
 The Chairman. " Before the motion to adjourn is put, I 
 desire to read a request which I hold in my hand, that the 
 members of the press who are delegates to this Convention, 
 are invited by the press of this city to meet at three p. M., at 
 the press headquarters, in the Laclede Hotel, Parlor B., for 
 the purpose of a carriage ride to Forest Park and other places 
 in the suburbs." 
 
 A delegate. " Please announce where the Committee on 
 Resolutions will meet, and other committees, so that when 
 we adjourn we may know where to go as members of com- 
 mittees." 
 
 The Chairman. " The Secretary will read the resolution 
 
44 
 
 that has been offered and amended, before the motion to ad- 
 journ is put." 
 
 The Secretary then read as follows : 
 
 " Resolved, That the roll of States be called, and that all 
 delegates having resolutions prepared may submit them after 
 being read, and have them referred to the Committee on 
 Resolutions without debate." 
 
 A delegate from Tennessee. " I move to lay the amend- 
 ment on the table." 
 
 A delegate from Illinois. " I rise to a point of order. I 
 made a motion to adjourn, and I understand that it is before 
 the Convention, and that only is in order." 
 
 Mr. Stanard. " I hope the gentleman will withdraw his 
 motion to adjourn ; it is only about half-past one o'clock. 
 
 A delegate. " I call the gentleman from Missouri to 
 order." 
 
 The Chairman. "It is moved that this Convention ad- 
 journ until three o'clock." 
 
 The motion was put and lost. 
 
 The Chairman. " The question now is on the motion of 
 the gentleman from Tennessee, to lay the resolution on the 
 table." 
 
 The motion was put and lost. 
 
 The Chairman. " The question now is on the adoption 
 of the resolution." 
 
 The question was put, and the resolution was adopted. 
 
 Mr. Elliot. "That resolution has not been voted on yet." 
 
 The Chairman. " I will state for the information of the 
 gentleman, that the motion to lay the resolution on the table 
 was lost, and that the resolution has been adopted." 
 
 Mr. Stanard. "I understand there is a point of order 
 pending against me." 
 
 A delegate from Texas. " I make the point of order that 
 
45 
 
 no resolution can be entertained by the Convention until after 
 the permanent organization, and that we are no win embryo." 
 
 The Chairman. "The point of order is well taken. I 
 sustain the gentleman's point of order." 
 
 Mr. Stanard. "There are many letters here from dis- 
 tinguished men throughout the entire United States, some of 
 which I am sure this Convention would like to hear. I ob- 
 serve in looking over a long list of distinguished men here 
 from the various States, that there is a gentleman who was a 
 member of the first Mississippi River Improvement Conven- 
 tion, I believe, that ever was held in the Mississippi Valley, and 
 who secured, or was largely instrumental, at least, in securing 
 the first appropriation that was ever made for the improvement 
 of the Mississippi river, and as we have an hour or two to 
 spare, I hope that some of these letters will be read, and that 
 some of these gentlemen who are here will be invited to ad- 
 dress the Convention ; and in my reference a moment ago, I 
 desire now to state that I referred to Gen. George W. 
 Jones, of Iowa. [Loud applause.] I move that he be re- 
 quested to address the Convention." 
 
 The Chairman. " You have heard the motion ; if there is 
 no objection Gen. Jones will come forward and address the 
 Convention." 
 
 There being no objection, Gen. Jones came forward, amid 
 loud applause, and spoke as follows : 
 
 Mr. President and gentlemen of this glorious, magnificent Convention. 
 I am embarrassed beyond expression at this distinguished honor which is 
 conferred upon me by this Convention in being requested to address you on 
 this occasion. I can conceive of no reason why I should be selected to 
 address you upon this occasion unless it be that I am, perhaps, the oldest 
 member of it. I suppose I am the oldest member of the Convention from 
 the State of Missouri. I came to St. Louis, as the papers have announced, 
 in 1814. My father was a member of the first Convention which framed the 
 Constitution of Missouri, and under that Constitution was elected one of the 
 judges of the Supreme Court of the State of Missouri in 1820. As the gen- 
 tleman upon my right from the State of Missouri, I believe (Governor 
 Stanard) ha> said. I had the honor of being the introducer of a resolution 
 in Congress, in 1836-7, under which, I believe, the first appropriation of 
 
4(5 
 
 money was ever nuule to remove the obstruction to the navigation of 
 the Mississippi river at the Des Homes and Rock River rapids. Under 
 that resolution of mine an appropriation of $75.000 was made. General 
 Charles Gratiot, then Chief Engineer of the United States at Washington 
 City, informed me, after the appropriation was made by Congress, that 
 General Jackson, then President of the United States, intended to veto 
 that bill, and suggested to me that I should procure the assistants, if I 
 could, of old members of Congress I then being about the youngest mem- 
 ber in Congress to wait upon the President. (Jeiu-ral .laekson, to induce 
 him not to veto my bill. 
 
 As I had been introduced to General Jaekson when I reached Washing- 
 ton, on the first Monday in December, IS'.K. by an old friend of his. as a 
 college-mate of his son, as a class-mate of his son, A. J. Donaldson, and 
 as I knew that the old hero looked upon me almost as a son, I undertook to 
 wait upon that hero to ask him not to veto that bill. I did so. He said. 
 My son, I am under the view which I took, and under my Maysville veto, 
 I am compelled to veto that bill, because of its being in opposition to tin- 
 views entertained in my veto -message." 
 
 I said to him: "Mr. President, I, as a delegate from the Territory of 
 Michigan I was then the last delegate from the Territory of Michigan 
 introduced the resolution in Congress asking Congress to make this appro- 
 priation for the benefit of my constituents who are the offspring of the 
 General Government, and under the protection of the General Government. 
 I introduced that resolution, sir. so that we could get our bread/' We had 
 nothing in the world from Michigan Territory to ship down the river then 
 excepting lead; and we had no means, I told him. of obtaining the Hour and 
 the pork and the provisions upon which we were to live, for we raised 
 nothing ourselves in Michigan Territory then west of the Lake, nothing at 
 all. and for that reason I said to him. I have introduced this resolution. lie 
 say*: t; Are you the author of that resol m ion y" I said: - Yes. sir; and I 
 ask it as a delegate of the Territory of Michigan : and I hope, Mr. President, 
 that yon will not veto my bill." He said : " My son, as you are the author 
 of it, I will not veto it." [Loud applause.] 
 
 I need not go into the particulars to tell you all of the arguments that 1 
 made use of at that time, but it is sufficient to .-ay thai as the delegate of 
 Michigan Territory, which then embraced the present States of Michigan. 
 Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska, and all of that country extend- 
 ing to t he Pacific ocean, as that territory wa- represented by myself, I had 
 some influence with the old hero, and had the honor of seeing my bill 
 approved by his hand. 
 
 Now, gentlemen of the Convention, and Mr. President, 1 hope that you 
 will not expect me to extend my remarks. I nippo-i- I could, as old men 
 are very garrulous, keep you here for a long time, but I would not do so, in 
 consideration of the fact that several motion- have already been made, and 
 that you must already be prepared for your dinner, and I then- fore ask you 
 to excuse me from saying anything further. [Loud applause.] 
 
47 
 
 
 The Chairman. " Gentlemen, permit me to state here 
 
 now, before the members are scattered, that this Convention 
 is respectfully invited to attend a promenade concert in the 
 Chamber of Commerce, this evening at eight o'clock, and to 
 take your wives and sweethearts along with you." 
 
 A delegate. "Or somebody else's wife?" [Laughter.] 
 
 A delegate from Arkansas. *' I move, in order to give the 
 Committee on Permanent Organization time to perfect their 
 organization and to report to the Convention, that we adjourn 
 to meet at half-past two or three say three o'clock this even- 
 ing, in order that the Committee on Permanent Organization 
 may report, because if we do not organize until to-morrow 
 we will not get through this week." 
 
 Mr. Bain. " I would suggest that as there is no place to 
 meet herein this room, or connected with this, that the Com- 
 mittee on Permanent Organization meet in the gentlemen's par- 
 lor at the Southern Hotel. I make that motion." 
 
 A delegate. "I move that we adjourn till to-morrow 
 morning at nine o'clock." 
 
 Mr. Hardin, of Missouri. " I suggest that the Committee 
 on Order of Business meet immediately after adjournment." 
 
 A delegate from Minnesota. " I wish to say to the Con- 
 vention that there is present with us to-day the only represen- 
 tative of that first original river convention which was held 
 in the city of Memphis (and which has been described to us by 
 the orator who welcomed us here) Gen. Rozier, of Missouri ; 
 and I would suggest, sir, and move, that Gen. Kozier be 
 requested to address this Convention now. We would like to 
 know the men who are heretfunong us who were the pioneers in 
 this work the men who were in that convention presided over 
 by John C. Calhoun." 
 
 The Chairman. " Gentlemen, I will state for the infor- 
 mation, of the Convention, that the Secretary is now ready to 
 report where the various committees will meet." 
 
 Mr. Rowland, of St. Louis. " Before the report of the 
 
48 
 
 * 
 
 committee is read, I would like to extend an invitation for a 
 committee to meet at the Planters' House." 
 Several voices. "Report, report." 
 
 The Secretary made the following announcement : 
 
 "The Committee on Resolutions will meet in Parlor 17 of 
 theLindell Hotel." 
 
 Mr. Bain. " Immediately?" 
 
 The Secretary. " Immediately, of course. The Com- 
 mittee on Permanent Organization will meet in the gentle- 
 men's parlor of the Southern Hotel. The Committee on 
 Order of Business will meet at the office of the Executive 
 Committee in the rotunda of the Southern Hotel." 
 
 Mr. Rowland. " I move, instead of the office of the Ex- 
 ecutive Committee, that they meet at the Planters' House, as 
 an invitation has been extended by the proprietors of that 
 hotel." 
 
 Mr. Bain. " They will not do anything of the kind." 
 
 Mr. Rowland. " I will explain." 
 
 The Chairman. " The Committee can make that change 
 if it is necessary." 
 
 Mr. Underwood, of Kentucky. " The Committee on 
 Credentials the place is not indicated." 
 
 The Chairman. "I will state to the gentleman that the 
 Committee on Credentials will meet in the Southern Hotel 
 gentlemen's parlor immediately." 
 
 A delegate from Iowa. " The Committee on Credentials 
 has already passed a resolution, which the Chairman will 
 pass to the Secretary now. I make a motion that these com- 
 mittees meet at four o'clock, and report to-morrow at ten. 
 The idea that the Committee on Resolutions can report this 
 afternoon is impossible. There will be lots of talking, and it 
 will be impossible to report this evening, and I move that 
 this Committee report to-morrow morning at ten o'clock." 
 
 Mr. Fishback, of Arkansas. " I have ;i motion to adjourn, 
 which is always in order, and ought to have been put." 
 
49 
 
 The Chairman. "The gentleman from Arkansas moves 
 that this Convention adjourn until this afternoon at four 
 o'clock." 
 
 
 
 The motion was put and lost. 
 
 Mr. Craig, of Missouri. "I move that the Convention 
 adjourn to meet at ten o'clock to-morrow morning." 
 
 The motion was put and carried, and the Convention 
 thereupon adjourned. 
 
SECTION 2 SECOND DAY. 
 
 OCTOBER 27, 1881. 
 
 The Convention re-assembled at 10:30 A." M., and was 
 called to order by Governor Crittenden, temporary President. 
 
 The President. " The Convention will be opened with 
 prayer by Rev. Dr. Eliot, of this city." 
 
 PRAYER BY REV. W. G. ELIOT. 
 
 "Almighty and most merciful God, Thou who art the Ruler 
 of the universe, King of kings and Lord of lords, we pray that 
 Thy blessing may rest upon us here. 
 
 " We thank Thee that we are permitted this day to meet 
 together as brothers in the interest of peace, of good order, and 
 of national union. We thank Thee for the great American 
 brotherhood to which we belong. We thank Thee that we 
 have come together to consider those things which are for our 
 common good ; that here we remember that we represent sister 
 States of the great republic ; that here we are members of one 
 body. And we thank Thee that we have at last learned, 
 though it has been through sadness and tears, that being 
 members of one body, when one member suffers, all members 
 suffer with it, and when one rejoices all rejoice with it. 
 Therefore we pray that Thou wilt give us wisdom in our 
 councils and strength in our purposes. We pray that Thou 
 wilt teach us that we are not working for separate benefit, but 
 for the common good. We pray that Thou wilt teach us to 
 remember that Thou governest all, and that no councils which 
 are begun or continued without Thy blessing can succeed. 
 
 " We thank Thee that Thou hast prospered our great and 
 beloved country so far, leading us through ways that we had 
 not known, through sorrow, through tears, through battle, 
 
 [50] 
 
51 
 
 through blood, to this glorious union of hearts and purposes. 
 
 4 O most merciful God , may Thy blessing still rest upon us , 
 Thou who hast taught us that we are but one family. Through 
 one great common grief which almost bereft us at the time ot 
 thought and reason, Thou hast taught us we are but one 
 family. Grant that we may carry this feeling forward with 
 greater and greater earnestness and more tender affection. 
 And may Thy blessing rest upon our country, upon its rulers 
 and its legislators. Grant that they may have wisdom and 
 truth to guide them, and that they may not care for party inter- 
 ests in comparison with the great interests of the whole land. 
 
 " And now, trusting ourselves to Thee, feeling our own 
 weakness and our own ignorance, thanking Thee once more 
 that we are here together for a united purpose in the interest 
 of peace and good order and national union, we would glorify 
 Thy name forever through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." 
 
 Mr. Hardin. of Missouri. ' You have a committee ap- 
 pointed on Order of Business, and they are ready to make a 
 report." 
 
 The President. " Let the report be presented." 
 
 Mr. Hogan, of Missouri. " Before that report is read per- 
 mit me, if you please, to make this suggestion. The United 
 States Government have appointed a Commission for the im- 
 provement of these water-ways that we are looking after. 
 That Commission, by request, has appointed a delegation from 
 its body to represent it in this Convention and make known 
 its plans. I suggest that the Convention invite that delega- 
 tion to take seats upon the platform, and unite with us in the 
 investigations that we are about to inaugurate." 
 
 The President. " Gentlemen, you have heard the motion 
 of the gentleman from Missouri, Mr. Hogan, that the United 
 States Commission, appointed to investigate the subject of 
 the Mississippi river and its tributaries, be invited to take 
 seats upon this platform." 
 
 The question was put and the motion carried unanimously. 
 
52 
 
 The Secretary then read the report of the Committee on 
 Order of Business, as follows : 
 
 To the President and Delegates of the Mississippi River Im- 
 provement Convention : 
 
 GENTLEMEN : The Committee on Order of Business re- 
 spectfully recommend the following programme for the action 
 of the Convention : 
 
 First Prayer. 
 
 Second Permanent organization . 
 
 Third Reception of communications to the Convention. 
 
 Fourth Reception of resolutions to be referred to the 
 Committee on Resolutions without debate. 
 
 Fifth The parliamentary rules of the House of Repre- 
 sentatives of the United States to govern the Convention. 
 
 Sixth Speeches limited to ten minutes unless extended by 
 the Convention. 
 
 Seventh That each State in the Mississippi Valley be 
 entitled, upon all reports and resolutions which may be pre- 
 sented to the Convention by the Committee on Resolutions, 
 and all amendments which may be offered to the same, to 
 cast the same number of votes as they respectively do in the 
 election of President of the United States, to wit : 
 
 Alabama * 10 
 
 Arkansas 6 
 
 Illinois 21 
 
 Indiana 15 
 
 Iowa 11 
 
 Kansas 5 
 
 Kentucky 12 
 
 Louisiana 8 
 
 Minnesota 5 
 
 Mississippi 8 
 
 Missouri 15 
 
 Nebraska 3 
 
 Ohio 22 
 
 Tennessee 12 
 
 Texas 8 
 
 West Virginia 5 
 
 Wisconsin.. 10 
 
 Pennsylvania 29 
 
 The States of New York and Michigan each four votes, 
 and the Territories of New Mexico and Dakota one vote each. 
 
 J. M. REYNOLDS, 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 C. H. HARUIN, 
 
 Chairman. 
 
 The report was adopted unanimously. 
 
 The President. "Is the Committee on Permanent Or- 
 ganization ready to report?" 
 
53 
 
 Mr. Logan H. Koots, of Arkansas : 
 
 "MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN or THE CONVENTION: 
 On behalf of the Committee on Permanent Organization 
 I would state they considered very earnestly the import- 
 ance of permanency after this Convention should cease, but 
 they decided that it was not their province, but that that 
 should be left to the Convention, to decide through what 
 machinerv they will prosecute the important work after 
 the adjournment of the Convention. There were many 
 names presented before them for consideration, as the officers 
 of this Convention, more indeed, I believe, than were pre- 
 sented to either National Convention of the Republican or 
 Democratic parties for nomination to the Presidency of the 
 United States. [Laughter.] But they have selected and 
 unanimously report the following list : 
 
 "For President of this Convention, the Hon. Mark H. 
 Dunnell, of Minnesota. 
 
 "They have recommended a Vice-President from each of 
 the States and Territories who responded to the roll-call upon 
 yesterday, their names being as follows : 
 
 Arkansas John D. Adams. 
 
 Iowa George W. Jones. 
 
 Kentucky Eugene Underwood. 
 
 Indiana M. M. Hurley. 
 
 Louisiana George C. Waddell. 
 
 Tennessee H. T. Elliot. 
 
 Kansas D. G. Stock well. 
 
 Minnesota O. C. Merriman. 
 
 Nebraska C. S. Chase. 
 
 Dakota J. T. Pettigrew. 
 
 Wisconsin William Wilson. 
 
 New York B. S. Osborne. 
 
 Pennsylvania R. C. Gray. 
 
 Texas W. H. Fleppen. 
 
 Ohio S. F. Covington. 
 
 Illinois H. Fullerton. 
 
 Missouri James S. Rollins. 
 
 Michigan Philo Parsons. 
 
 Mississippi H. F. Simrall. 
 
 Alabama Thomas B. Taylor. 
 
 New Mexico Governor Sheldon. 
 
 West Virginia Alexander Campbell. 
 
54 
 
 " They further recommend for Secretary of this Conven- 
 ton, George L. Wright. 
 
 " For Assistant Secretaries, Frank Gaiennie and Nicholas 
 Bell. 
 
 44 All of which is submitted as the unanimous report of this 
 committee. The formal document will be submitted when 
 written by our Secretary, Mr. Caldwell, of Kansas." 
 
 A delegate moved the adoption of the report, and it was 
 adopted unanimously. 
 
 Mr. Roots. "I move that a committee of three be ap- 
 pointed to wait upon Gen. Dunnell and escort him to the 
 chair." 
 
 The motion was carried. 
 
 The President. " I appoint John F. Phillips, of Missouri, 
 Mr. Campbell, of West Virginia, and Mr. Roots, of Arkansas." 
 
 The committee conducted the President elect to the plat- 
 form. 
 
 The President pro-tern. "I have the honor to introduce to 
 you , Hon . Mark H. Dunnell , of Minnesota, permanent President 
 of this Convention. Please permit me to state that from long 
 association with him in Congress, I here fully endorse the 
 action of the Convention, and say that you could not have 
 made a wiser choice." [Applause.] 
 
 The President then said : 
 
 " GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION : In accepting the po- 
 sition you have assigned me in this Convention, allow me to 
 return to you my sincerest thanks and assure you that it shall 
 be my endeavor to preside over your deliberations impartially 
 and to the best of my ability. We have met here from twenty 
 States of the Union, besides the Territories represented, del- 
 egates fronYjthe Gulf to the'sources of the Mississippi, to 
 deliberate, to vote, to resolve upon questions of exceeding 
 interest, not only to that section of country which we here repre- 
 sent, but also to the entire Union. We are here to consider 
 
55 
 
 how we may the better develop the mighty resources which a 
 good Providence has placed within our reach in this mighty 
 valley of the Mississippi. '[Applause.] The questions which 
 will come before us are intensely practical. They lie out be- 
 fore us at once. We are the great producing section of the 
 republic, and the question which interests us as delegates, 
 the question which interests those we represent, is, How 
 shall these vast products find the markets of the world with 
 the least possible loss in transportation. [Applause.] We 
 find here in our great Valley, the mighty Mississippi, which 
 stretches from the Gulf all along to its source, fed by great 
 tributaries, whose representation is made here in your presence 
 at this time. 
 
 " How shall these waters best subserve the great purposes 
 for which they were given to us? Shall these waters be 
 unvexed by the steamboat and the barge ? Shall they be vocal 
 with protestations against all other modes of transportation? 
 Shall these waters be subservient to the mighty interests of 
 this mighty valley? Within a few years the Mississippi 
 Valley has aided very materially in solving questions which 
 interested the patriots of America. Out from this valley went 
 supplies that the markets of the world demanded, that gave to 
 us that balance of trade which has brought on all the attendant 
 
 o 
 
 blessings that have come from it. The balance of trade was 
 given to us by the products of the Mississippi Valley. [Loud 
 applause.] Out from this valley went the source of our 
 present national credit ; and from this region of the republic 
 went the solution of questions which were beyond the reach of 
 statesmanship. 
 
 " Gentlemen of the Convention, there are others here to 
 present the arguments which come from an array of statistics ; 
 there are others here to be heard to-day. Resolutions are to 
 be offered, to be followed by debate, and the great work of 
 this Convention is with you. 
 
 " In closing, let me again thank you for the honor, and let 
 me make this suggestion : That the higher success will be 
 
56 
 
 reached by this Convention if we shall preserve a large degree 
 of order ; and it will be my endeavor as your presiding officer 
 aided, as I no doubt shall be by you so to preserve the ordet 
 of this Convention, that when it shall have closed we may not 
 be led to say that its results were less successful than they 
 ought to have been, because its proceedings were not con- 
 ducted in order. [Applause.] Then, gentlemen, I shall ask 
 for a high measure of order in the midst of these exceedingly 
 interesting deliberations." [Loud applause.] 
 
 The President. "It will now be in order to present 
 communications to the Convention, according to the order of 
 business which you have adopted for this forenoon." 
 
 Mr. Taylor, of Alabama. " I have in my pocket a plan 
 for the improvement of the Mississippi river and its tributa- 
 ries. The main plan is this : I believe the bed of the river 
 is a chain of slack-water lakes, separated by shoals. My plan 
 is to cut a canal through those shoals to the center of the 
 river, or thereabouts, so as to connect the slack-water lakes, 
 so that the best navigation can be secured to the Gulf. I 
 believe, sir, it is perfectly practicable. I believe when I can 
 get the engineers of the United States to understand me fully 
 that they will agree to it. With your permission I will lay 
 my plan before this Convention." 
 
 The President. " Refer it to the committee. The gentle- 
 man will forward any communication he sees fit to make. If 
 I am correctly informed these communications are to be 
 received without debate. I am informed by the Secretary he 
 has a communication in his possession which, under the order 
 of business will now be in order." 
 
 The following communication from the President of the 
 Mississippi River Commission was then read : 
 
 OFFICE <M MI I MM-I RIVER COMMISSION, 
 STEAMER "GENERAL BARNARD." 
 
 Oct. 17, 1881. 
 
 To the President of the Mississippi River Improvement Convention, St. Louis, Mo.: 
 
 DEAR SIR: It has been my intention to be pn^riit at tin- incrtmgsof your 
 
 Convention, in order to afford any information that mi^ht lx; drsiml with 
 
57 
 
 I 
 
 regard to the plans, prospects and expectations of the Mississippi Eiver 
 Commission. 
 
 I find, however, that imperative official engagements will require my 
 presence elsewhere. I have, therefore, thought proper to submit the fol- 
 lowing statement in writing, which may be presented to the Convention, 
 should it be deemed desirable to do so. 
 
 Under the organic act of June 28, 1879, it was made the duty of this 
 Commission : 
 
 First To direct and complete such surveys of the Mississippi river, 
 between the Head of the Passes, near the mouth, and its headwaters, as 
 were then in progress; and to make such additional surveys and examina- 
 tions of the river and its tributaries as the Commission might deem neces- 
 sary. 
 
 Second To consider and mature such plan or plans as will correct, per- 
 manently locate and deepen the channel and protect the banks of the Mis- 
 sissippi river; improve and give safety and ease to navigation; prevent 
 destructive floods, and promote and facilitate commerce and the postal 
 service; and, with such plans, to prepare and submit estimates of the cost 
 of executing the work. 
 
 Third To report specifically upon the practicability, feasibility and 
 probable cost of three certain methods or plans of improvement, designated 
 in the act as the " jetty system," the " levee system," and the ' outlet 
 system." 
 
 Fourth The Commission was also authorized, prior to the completion 
 of all necessary surveys and examinations, to submit plans and estimates 
 of cost of such immediate or initial works, constituting a part of the general 
 system of works recommended, as might be advantageously begun at once. 
 
 In the first report of the Commission, submitted in February of last 
 year, the so-called systems of improvement mentioned in the law were dis- 
 cussed, viz. : the " outlet system," the ''levee system." and the -jetty 
 system." 
 
 The outlet system, being one of diffusion and waste, and not of concen- 
 tration, did not commend itself to our judgment. It has been claimed that 
 outlets, either natural or artificial, which shall draw off the flood-waters of 
 the river and convey them away by independent routes to the sea, will tend 
 to prevent the recurrence of destructive floods by supplying additional 
 avenues for their escape. The general proposition that if a river cannot 
 carry its own waters within its own banks, outlet channels will supply a 
 remedy against overflow, certainly sounds reasonable at first hearing. It is 
 true, however, in certain cases only. It is not generally true of sedimen- 
 tary streams, flowing through alluvial lands, a'nd it is not true of the Mis- 
 sissippi river. The character and useful magnitude of such a stream are 
 determined by its behavior in times of flood ; and there is no more certain 
 way to dwarf its dimensions and destroy its navigation than by depleting 
 it of its flood-waters. Once check its velocity by outlets, or by any other 
 means, thus impairing its power to cany its load of solid matter to the sea, 
 
58 
 
 i 
 
 and the inevitable result is that a deposit of sediment takes place, and 
 the bed of the stream is raised. The consequences are that the sectional area 
 and flood -carrying capacity are both diminished and flood-surface raised. 
 Surely the last condition of that stream is worse than the first, for it is 
 -mailer than before and less able to retain its flood-waters within its own 
 banks. If new outlets are made to meet this contingency, the flood-cur- 
 rent is still further checked, and the bed is raised higher by increased 
 deposits. 
 
 It is submitted, therefore, that the permanent effect of outlets is to in- 
 jure the navigation and increase the frequency and magnitude of floods. 
 
 With regard to a system of improvement by means of levees, it may be 
 said, that while levees are, upon a large portion of the river, necessary to 
 prevent destruction to life and property by overflow, and while they en- 
 hance the safety and ease of navigation, and facilitate trade and commerce 
 by affording convenient landing-places above the reach of flood, and while 
 they aid and promote the postal service by the protection they afford to the 
 roads and railroads in their rear, upon which that service is conducted, the 
 construction and maintenance of a levee system cannot be regarded as a 
 necessary auxiliary to any judicious plan designed for channel improvement 
 only. There is little doubt that levees do exert some direct action in en- 
 larging the bed of the river during those periods of flood, when, by prevent- 
 ing the overflow of adjacent lands, they actually cause the water to rise to 
 a higher level within the river-bed than it would attain if not thus restrained ; 
 for the simple reason that, other things being equal, the deeper the water 
 in the bed of a stream the greater will be the velocity and t lie greater its scour- 
 ing power. Levees are regarded, therefore, as a desirable, though not an 
 essential, adjunct in the method of improvement recommended by the Coui- 
 mission. They are necessary to prevent destructive floods; they are desira- 
 ble and useful for other purposes already stated ; they arc desirable, although 
 not necessary, for purposes of channel improvement. The Commission, in 
 its first report, recommended that all gaps in existing levees, between Cairo 
 and New Orleans, be closed. 
 
 It may be said, in this connection, that some members of this Commis- 
 sion attach more, and others perhaps less, importance to levees as a factor 
 in the problem of channel improvement than that above indicated. 
 
 The plan of improvement recommended by the Commission is based 
 upon the simple, and, I believe, unquestioned fact that the bad navigation 
 of the river is caused by tin- caving and em-ion of its hanks, and the exces- 
 -ive width-, and the hars and shoal- rc-uliing directly therefrom. 
 
 Two well-known condition- characteri/c the entire length of the river 
 below Cairo: Fir-t. that l>:rd shoals and hars and dangerous navigation are 
 always accompanied by a low-water width exceeding 3,000 feet; and, sec- 
 ond, that \\herevcr the \\idth does not exceed 3,000 feet there is a good 
 channel the year round. In other words, had navigation is produced by a 
 wide river, and good navigation by a narrow one. The same principle ap- 
 plies to the portion of the river between the mouth- of the Mi-souri and the 
 
59 
 
 Ohio rivers. The evident remedies for the existing evils are: First, to stop 
 further enlargement by protecting the caving banks; and, second, to narrow 
 the stream to a suitable and approximately uniform width at all places where 
 the widths are excessive and the navigation bad. Wherever necessary, 
 therefore, the caving banks will be graded to a proper slope and protected 
 by suitable revetments against further erosion. 
 
 Where the widths are too great the channel will be narrowed by forces 
 developed in the stream itself, through the agency of high permeable dikes 
 placed either longitudinally or transversely to the channel, as circumstan- 
 ces shall require. By these light open works, constructed largely of poles, 
 wire and brush, the area to be raised will be converted into a series of silt- 
 ing basins, within which the water, constantly flowing through the barriers 
 with diminished velocity, will deposit its heavier materials. In this way 
 the bed of the stream will be gradually raised during the high-water 
 season, forming new banks and developing new shore -lines for the amended 
 channel. 
 
 These methods of improvement have been successfully applied at 
 various points on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, and are in no sense 
 experimental, except in the details of construction. 
 
 For beginning the work projected by this Commission, and for which 
 the sum of $1.000.000 was appropriated at the last session of Congress, an 
 efficient equipment has been ordered, and it is expected that active opera- 
 tions will be started within the coming month, upon the Plum Point reach, 
 above Memphis, and the Lake Providence reach, above Vicksburg. These 
 two reaches constitute an aggregate length of about seventy miles of the 
 worst navigation below Cairo. The works are expected to secure a low- 
 water depth of ten feet, with possibilities considerably beyond that limit. 
 
 Although this Commission have given especial attention and study to 
 the requirements of navigation on the main river below Cairo, they have 
 carefully inspected the plans of improvement now in process of execution 
 by the Engineer Bureau of the War Department upon that portion of this 
 stream between Cairo and St. Paul, and are of the opinion that their com- 
 pletion will establish a low-water navigation of not less than eight feet be- 
 tween Cairo and St. Louis, and not less than six feet between St. Louis and 
 St. Paul, with capabilities in both cases of greater depths, through an ex- 
 tension and enlargement of the works. 
 
 It is hardly necessary to add that the work thus undertaken is one of 
 unparalleled magnitude; that great difficulties are to be encountered: that 
 it is only by patience and perse verence, and upon the stepping-stones of mis- 
 takes corrected, that success can be hoped for. and that the final result will 
 depend as much on the support and co-operation of the people as on the 
 efforts of the Commission, or other agents of the Government. 
 
 Three members of the Commission, Judge R. S.Taylor, of Fort Wayne. 
 Ind.; Mr. B. M. Harrod, of Xew Orleans, La., and Major Chas. R. Suter. 
 Corps of Engineers, will be in St. Louis during the Convention, and they 
 have been constituted a committee to represent the views of the Commis- 
 
60 
 
 sion, should your Convention desire a conference, or further information, 
 beyond that set forth in this coininuniration. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 Q. A. GILLMORE, 
 Lieut.-Col. of Engineers and Bvt. Maj.-Gen., President of Commission. 
 
 The President. "I hold in my hand a communication 
 from James B. Eads. It will now be read." 
 
 The following was then read : 
 
 ST. Louis, October 18, 1881. 
 
 To the Executive Committee of the Mississippi River Im- 
 provement Convention : 
 
 GENTLEMEN : I am in receipt of your kind invitation to 
 address the Convention at its coming meeting upon the im- 
 provement of the Mississippi river. 
 
 I greatly regret being compelled to forego the pleasure of 
 accepting this invitation. On the 23d inst. I sail from New 
 Orleans for Mexico ; and were I to postpone sailing upon that 
 date I would be forced to abandon the trip during this year, 
 as I could not again secure a vessel in time to enable me to 
 carry out the purposes of my visit and return at the date 
 when my presence in this country is imperatively demanded. 
 
 I now go to Mexico for the purpose of crossing the Isth- 
 mus of Tehuantepec, arid inspecting in person the line of the 
 proposed ship railway. 
 
 I need hardly assure you of my deep interest in all matters 
 pertaining to the improvement of that great river which has 
 been the study of my life, and if any views I could present 
 would add, however little, to the great good which the Con- 
 vention will doubtless accomplish, I should be most happy. 
 
 Although I will be unable to attend the meeting of the 
 Convention, I will still be engaged in a work which is closely 
 connected with the improvement of the Mississippi river and 
 the successful consummation which cannot fail to be of untold 
 value to the commerce of the Mississippi Valley. 
 
 The removal of all obstructions from the mouth of the 
 river opened to our commerce the markets of the East, the 
 ship railway will open to it the markets of the West, ;m<l will 
 in effect be the opening of the Mississippi river into the Pacific 
 ocean. 
 
 Hence, while I cannot be with you, I will still feel that 1 
 
61 
 
 am working with you for the accomplishment of an end which 
 will result in the" greatest benefit to our commerce and the 
 increased wealth and happiness of our people. 
 
 I am, very respectfully yours, 
 
 JAS. B. EADS. 
 
 The President. "I have a letter from Hon. Randall L. 
 Gibson, member of the House of Representatives from 
 Louisiana, and Senator-elect, written from Paris, which will 
 now be read." 
 
 The letter was read as follows : 
 
 HOTEL D' OXFORD ET CAMBRIDGE, > 
 13 RUE D'ALGIER, PARIS. 5 
 
 HENRY LOUREY, Chairman. 
 
 SIR : I thank you for your courteous invitation to attend 
 the Mississippi River Improvement Convention, to be held in 
 St. Louis on the 26th inst. I sincerely regret my inability 
 to attend. 
 
 To all those who have sought to secure recognition of the 
 Mississippi river and its tributaries from the National Govern- 
 ment, and adequate appropriations for their improvement, it 
 is not necessary to say how indispensable is the cordial 
 union of the efforts of all the Representatives in Congress 
 from the Mississippi Valley and all the friends of river im- 
 provement. 
 
 Without harmony and union and great energy nothing 
 can be accomplished. This is not a new question, and before 
 proceeding further, or taking a new departure, it is import- 
 ant that the members of your Convention should know what 
 has been done and what is proposed in Congress. 
 
 The final measure for a scientific and comprehensive treat- 
 ment of the Mississippi river was proposed in the Forty- 
 fourth Congress, June, 1876, and the speech made by Capt. 
 J. B. Eads before the Committee on Commerce in support of 
 it marked the commencement of the struggle. You will find 
 it annexed to some remarks of mine on the subject in the 
 Congressional Record of February 5, 1879. 
 
 After several years of constant struggle, the bill offered 
 May 10, 1879, became a law, having been approved June 28, 
 1879. I enclose you a copy of the act entitled "An Act to 
 provide for the appointment of a Mississippi River Commis- 
 
62 
 
 sion for the improvement of said river from the Head of 
 the Passes, near the mouth, to its headwaters." Section 4 
 confers the powers upon the Commission. You will find 
 them ample for the purpose. I think that an effort should 
 be directed towards securing from the executive branch of the 
 Government intelligent supervision of the labors of the Com- 
 mission and recommendations in favor of adequate appropria- 
 tions. The President may make and unmake the Commis- 
 sion. Everything depends on the intelligence and energy 
 with which the Commission performs its duty and the Presi- 
 dent may see the law faithfully executed. Much of course 
 will depend upon the Secretary of War, who is especially 
 charged with the supervision of the work. You may ask 
 why it may be deemed necessary to establish a special Com- 
 mission for the Mississippi river? I answer that the nature 
 of the work itself required a systematic plan, embracing 
 every part of the river and all its phenomena. All the 
 parts of this great river are closely connected ; like the 
 members of a living organism, they are mutually interde- 
 pendent. The work that might confer great advantages at 
 one point might inflict intolerable injury to another. The 
 effort to remove the shallow waters, or sand-bar that causes 
 them, at Providence, will merely transfer them to a point 
 lower down, flooding the country below in seasons of high 
 water and presenting the same obstacles when the river is 
 low, unless the plan be so comprehensive as to include the 
 lower as well as the higher sections of the river. Every im- 
 provement of the tributaries, every channel deepened, every 
 furrow made and farm drained concentrates all the more 
 rapidly the rain-fall of the vast region extending from the 
 Alleghenies to the Rocky Mountains, and precipitates it into 
 the great basin from Cairo to the Gulf. 
 
 o 
 
 The report of the Commission shows that this vast basin, 
 overspreading its banks owing to these causes, is gradually 
 but surely filling up, having increased in width about seventy 
 per cent, since the first survey, and growing more shallow 
 year by year, until, as the lamented Garfield said in his letter 
 of acceptance, it has become a " terror to the people living 
 upon its banks, and the navigation more ha/ardous and expen- 
 sive and its trade and commerce more and more insecure." 
 
 Into this great basin, or inland sea, empty forty-three 
 mighty rivers, while the distance from Cairo to the Gulf is 
 
63 
 
 only about 500 miles in a direct line. By the river it is about 
 1,100 miles, presenting a coast line of over 2,200 miles. 
 
 While the tributaries should be improved, it must be appa- 
 rent that the main trunk-line should not be neglected ; that 
 that they are so intimately connected as to be interdependent. 
 
 In the second place, a Commission was necessary to secure 
 the support of any plan for the improvement of the Mississippi 
 river. The fact is, the Mississippi is in nobody's district. 
 No Kepresentative felt it to be his duty to secure appropriations 
 for it. Any appropriation to be expended in any one place on 
 the Mississippi river could be lost, for it involved the attempt 
 at piecemeal work, which, from the nature of the case, as I 
 have shown, could amount to nothing. And in point of fact, 
 it was only after the Commission was established and presented 
 its plan that we were able to induce Congress to vote a rea- 
 sonable appropriation. Before that we could get nothing. We 
 were divided in our views ; each member had his own plans ; 
 there was a diversity of opinion. Nothing could be done, and 
 nothing was done. The Commission suited us all, and we got 
 more for the Mississippi river and its tributaries the last ses- 
 sion of the last Congress than in any half-dozen sessions before. 
 In fact, it was the first time that Congress had ever recognized 
 the claims of the Mississippi Valley, every part of it. 
 
 The Commission having the power under the existing law 
 and ample appropriations, will do their work wisely and well. 
 If they do, Congress will vote every dollar you can fairly ask. 
 If they do not, it will be broken up, and we will fall back upon 
 the old plan, by which the members of Congress would secure 
 a small appropriation each for that part of the river, or more 
 likely for its tributary in his own district, or rival towns and 
 cities; or steamboat interests will send their "parliamentary 
 solicitor" or lobbyist to procure an appropriation for some 
 little local improvement. Our efforts should be to uphold the 
 Mississippi River Commission ; if necessary, to extend its 
 powers and to increase its members ; we should see that the 
 members are adequately paid, and that the best men in the 
 country are kept upon it. 
 
 I hope your Convention will have a successful session. We 
 need an earnest and enlightened public sentiment to sustain 
 the effort of your Representatives in Congress. 
 
 Yours, faithfully, 
 
 R. L. GIBSON. 
 
The President. "I have a letter from Hon . James B. Beck, 
 one of the Senators from the State of Kentucky, which will 
 now be read." 
 
 The following letter was read : 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER, ) 
 WASHINGTON, October 15, 1881. 5 
 
 GEORGE L. WRIGHT, ESQ. 
 
 DEAR SIR : My failure to answer your kind letter inviting 
 me to address the River Convention October 26th, was because 
 I wanted to be there, and could not see my way clear to accept, 
 because of this session. It is 'now clear that I cannot be with 
 you. I regret it. I regard the improvement of the Mississippi 
 river, from St. Paul to the mouth, and of the great tributaries 
 of your great river, as one of the most important questions now 
 before the country. Competing highways alone make cheap 
 transportation possible, and free water-ways make railroad 
 combinations very difficult. I hope to be able to be heard on 
 that question here next winter, as I can't be with you now. 
 Yours, truly, J. B. BECK. 
 
 The President. " A letter will now be read from Hon. 
 A. D. Gorman, one of the Senators from the State of Mary- 
 land." 
 
 The Secretary then read the following : 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C., October 7, 1881. 
 
 Mr DEAR SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the re- 
 ceipt of your invitation to attend the Convention to be held 
 in your State on the 26th of October, to deliberate on the 
 question of improving the condition of the Mississippi river 
 and its navigable tributaries. 
 
 I regret very much to say that my engagements are such 
 as to make it impossible for me to accept the same. 
 
 The question of cheap transportation is one that concerns 
 every section of our common country. That the improve- 
 ment of the great interior water-ways will go far towards the 
 solution of the problem, no- one who has considered the sub- 
 ject, will for a moment question ; what other steps are neces- 
 sary are not so well defined. 
 
 I regret that I cannot hear the views of your representa- 
 
65 
 
 tive men, but trust, however, to receive from you a copy of 
 your proceedings and debates. 
 
 Thanking you and your committee for your kind invita- 
 tion, I am yours, truly, 
 
 A. D. GORMAN, 
 
 United States Senator, Maryland. 
 
 The President. " A letter will now be read from Hon. 
 Abram S. Hewitt, of New York." 
 
 The Secretary read the following : 
 
 NEW YORK, September 21, 1881. 
 HENRY LOUREY,' ESQ., Chairman, St. Louis, Mo. 
 
 DEAR SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of 
 your invitation to attend the Mississippi River Improvement 
 Convention, to be held on the 26th of October, 1881. I regret 
 that the condition of my health will not permit me to be present. 
 I appreciate fully the value and necessity of making the Missis- 
 sippi river and its navigable tributaries thoroughly efficient 
 highways for commerce. I have always been in favor of their 
 improvement upon a well-devised system, which will insure 
 successful and permanent results. I am equally opposed to 
 all propositions designed for the promotion of private interests 
 or to furnish jobs for contractors, and I trust that the results 
 of your deliberations will be to put in intelligible form some 
 plan of improvement which will secure the favorable opinion 
 of competent engineers. You may count, therefore, upon my 
 cordial co-operation in Congress and out of it, in any move- 
 ment which shall tend to make our natural highways a check 
 upon the railways of the country, which, until they are 
 properly controlled by Government supervision, are liable to 
 be used merely for private ends, and not for the public wel- 
 fare . 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 ABRAM S. HEWITT. 
 
 The President. " A letter will now be read from Hon. B : 
 F. Jonas, a Senator from the State of Louisiana." 
 
 5 
 
66 
 
 The letter was read as follows : 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER, ) 
 WASHINGTON, October 17, 1881. J 
 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Corresponding Secretary, St. Louis. 
 $ DEAR SIR: I am in receipt of your postal of the 13th, and 
 also received your invitation in September. 
 
 I have delayed answering because of the uncertainty as to 
 the duration of the session of the Senate. 
 
 If it should adjourn on Saturday next (as seems probable), 
 or in time for the Convention, I shall be present, as I feel the 
 deepest interest in the subject of its deliberations. 
 
 Very truly yours, B. F. JONAS. 
 
 The President. " A letter will be read from Hon. Thomas 
 L. James, Postmaster-General of the United States." 
 The Secretary read the following : 
 
 POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, > 
 WASHINGTON, D. C., September 22d, 1881. 5 
 DEAR SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt 
 of your invitation to be present and participate in the delib- 
 erations of the Mississippi River Improvement Convention on 
 the 26th of October next, and to say, in reply, that I regret 
 my official duties will prevent me from being with you on that 
 occasion. Very respectfully, 
 
 THOMAS L. JAMES, 
 
 Postmaster- General. 
 
 The President. "A letter has been received from Hon. 
 George B. Loring, Commissioner of Agriculture, which will 
 be read." 
 
 The following was read by the Secretary : 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
 WASHINGTON, October 15, 1881 
 
 : 
 
 DEAR SIR : It would give me great pleasure to take part 
 in the deliberations of the River Convention to be held in 
 your city on the 26th inst, as I consider its object a very im- 
 portant one, and I regret that my engagements for that day 
 make it impossible for me to attend. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 GEORGE B. LOHING, 
 
 Commissioner of Agriculture. 
 
67 
 
 The President. * A letter will be read from Hon. Joseph 
 R. Hawley, Senator from the State of Connecticut." 
 The Secretary next read the following : 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATE, ) 
 
 WASHINGTON, October 15, 1881. > 
 
 DEAR SIR : I thank you for the invitation to the River 
 Convention, October 26th, and should find it both agreeable 
 and instructive to be there, but that is impossible, and I must 
 confine myself to the newspaper reports. 
 
 Yours, truly, Jos. R. HAWLEY, 
 
 United States Senator, Connecticut. 
 
 The President. " A letter will be read from Hon. R. G. 
 Horr, member of Congress from the State of Michigan." 
 Mr. Horr wrote as follows : 
 
 EAST SAGINAW, October 16, 1881. 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, Secretary. 
 
 DEAR SIR : Your kind invitation reached me in due time, 
 and I now write to say that it will be impossible for me to be 
 with you on the 26th inst. I need not say that the object of 
 your meeting meets my hearty approval, and I can assure you 
 that the improvement of your river will ever receive my active 
 support. Yours, most truly, 
 
 R."G. HORR. 
 
 The President. " A letter has been received from Hon. 
 Thomas Updegraff, a member of Congress from the Third Dis- 
 trict of Iowa." 
 
 The Secretary then read the following letter : 
 
 MCGREGOR, IOWA, October 18, 1881. 
 GEORGE L. WRIGHT, ESQ., St. Louis. 
 
 DEAR SIR : Great as I esteem the importance of improv- 
 ing and maintaining the navigation of the Mississippi and its 
 tributaries, circumstances prevent my attending the River 
 Convention soon to be held at your city. Wishing the Con- 
 vention abundant success, and thanking you for your kind- 
 ness, 
 
 I am, very truly yours, 
 
 THOMAS UPDEGRAFF. 
 
The President. " There are no other communications on 
 the table to be presented to the Convention/' 
 
 Mr. Hogan, of Missouri. *' Mr. President, at the request 
 of several gentlemen, members of this Convention, and in 
 accordance with the suggestion of General Gillmore, President 
 of the Mississippi River Commission, I respectfully suggest 
 that at this time it would be proper for this Convention to 
 hear from the delegated members of that Commission who 
 are now present, and, as General Gillmore says, will be pre- 
 pared to present to this Convention their thoughts on this 
 subject. I think the members of this Convention would be 
 glad to hear from at least one of the members of that Com- 
 mission now ; I therefore make that motion, sir, that they be 
 requested now to address the Convention." 
 
 The motion was seconded. 
 
 Mr. Roberts, of Illinois. " I wish to suggest to the gen- 
 tleman that there will probably be some resolutions to offer, 
 that, under the rules, will have to go the Committee on Reso- 
 lutions, and as that would be the next order of business, I 
 would suggest that the persons having these resolutions to 
 offer, put them in first so that the Committee can be consider- 
 ing them. I have a resolution myself that I wish to offer 
 and have read and referred to the Committee on Resolutions. 
 If the gentleman will withdraw his motion for the time " 
 
 The President. "The gentleman from Missouri moves 
 that the Convention now listen to some remarks from some 
 member of the River Commission. That motion has been 
 seconded. As many as favor the adoption of this motion 
 will say aye.' ' 
 
 A delegate. "Wouldn't it take a two-third vote of the 
 
 o 
 
 Convention to suspend the regular order of business?" 
 
 The President. " It probably would." 
 
 A delegate from Illinois. "I make that point of order, 
 that it requires a two-third vote to suspend the regular order 
 of business." 
 
69 
 
 Mr. Stanard, of Missouri. " I hope that my friend (Mr. 
 Hogan) will withdraw his motion for the time being ; not that 
 I would show any disrespect to the Commission at all, because 
 I am anxious to hear from them, but it seems to me there is 
 force in the suggestion of the gentleman from Illinois that it 
 will be eminently proper at this time that gentlemen of the 
 Convention have an opportunity to hand in their resolutions, 
 as the Committee on Resolutions have not reported, and 
 would like to know of any resolutions or papers gentlemen of 
 the Convention may have to present, and have the opportu- 
 nity of considering them, so that an early report maybe had 
 from the Committee on Resolutions. I hope the gentleman 
 who made the motion asking some member of the Commission 
 to speak, will withdraw that motion^temporarily, and that the 
 order of business may be proceeded with until the resolutions 
 have been presented." 
 
 Mr. Hogan, of Missouri. " I had not any idea of preclud- 
 ing resolutions. I didn't know there were gentlemen here 
 who might want to present resolutions to be referred. I had 
 forgotten about that. My sole object was to get the thought 
 of the Commission into the minds of the committee and of the 
 Convention before proceeding with business. I have no objec- 
 tion to deferring it until after the resolutions proposed are 
 referred to the Committee on Resolutions, and then hope the 
 other will be done." 
 
 The President. " The Chair understands the gentleman 
 to withdraw his motion, and next in order will be the reception 
 of resolutions to be referred to the Committee on Resolutions 
 without debate." 
 
 Mr. Roberts, of Illinois. "I have a resolution I wish to 
 offer, and ask that it may be read and referred to the Com- 
 mittee on Resolutions." 
 
 The resolution was read as follows : 
 
 Resolved, That it is the sense of this Convention that the 
 future policy of the government of the United States for the 
 improvement of the Mississippi river and its tributaries, should 
 
70 
 
 embrace the enlargement and deepening of the Illinois and 
 Michigan canal, and the improvement of the Illinois river, so 
 as to afford deep-water navigation from Lake Michigan to the 
 Mississippi river. 
 
 The President. " These resolutions, under the order, 
 will go to the Committee on Resolutions." 
 
 Mr. Roberts, of Arkansas. " I suggest that the States be 
 called alphabetically." 
 
 The President. "A gentleman has suggested that the 
 States be called in order and resolutions come from delega- 
 tions. The Secretary will read the list as printed." 
 
 The Secretary then read the list of States as printed. 
 
 Mr. Jones, of Tennessee, offered the following: 
 
 Resolved, That in constituting the commissions to adminis- 
 ter the appropriations to the Mississippi and its tribu- 
 taries, some recognition is due to the practical experience of 
 river men, who have spent their lives in navigation of the 
 streams to -be improved ; who have made the movements of 
 the waters the study of years ; who know their channels as the 
 faces of familiar friends, and have watched their changes and 
 pryed into the causes of them ; whose business makes them 
 most interested in practical improvements, and most com- 
 petent to advise upon the means to be adopted to make the 
 watercourses fit avenues of commerce. 
 
 Resolved, That the attention of Congress and the River 
 Commission is respectfully called to the fact that there are 
 now in existence certain railroad bridges which operate to 
 obstruct navigation, with draws of inadequate width, or not 
 properly placed as to the navigable channels, or placed diago- 
 nally across the currents, and that said bodies be requested to 
 make proper inquiry, and institute the 'proceedings necessary 
 to the removal or the correction of the evil. 
 
 Referred to the Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 When the Secretary called " Kentucky," Mr. Underwood 
 of that State said : 
 
 " We have at present no resolutions prepared, but mem- 
 bers of our delegation desire to have time yet to prepare some, 
 and I would like to a*k if it would bo in order to present 
 
71 
 
 resolutions from any of the respective delegations at any 
 future period of the deliberations of this Convention?" 
 
 The President. " Resolutions coming from delegations 
 or members might be referred directly to the Committee 011 
 Resolutions. There will, perhaps, be no occasion for their 
 presentation at any other than this time, if we follow strictly 
 the order of business." 
 
 Mr. Covington, of Ohio. "I would like to renew the 
 proposition of the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Under- 
 wood), and if you will allow me to explain a single moment, 
 since the calling for resolutions, it has occurred to me that 
 nothing has been presented, or probably will be presented, 
 referring to the light-house system as established on Western 
 rivers. It is, to my mind, one of the greatest aids to com- 
 merce, and it is a system that should be maintained, whatever 
 the cost may be. Every navigator of the Western rivers will 
 admit there has been nothing done for Western rivers from 
 which so much benefit has been derived, for the expense in- 
 curred, as from the light-house system. I would be pleased 
 if the Convention will allow me to draw up a resolution on 
 that subject, and present it. I think there would be no ob- 
 jection to it." 
 
 The President. " I hear no objection." 
 
 Mr. Gould, of Missouri. "In answer to the gentleman 
 from Ohio upon this subject of the Light-house Board, I have 
 prepared a resolution that I had designed to offer to the Con- 
 vention at the time Missouri should be called. You have 
 passed the <M's' and I didn't hear it; I was engaged, per- 
 haps. I would offer a resolution and ask that the same be 
 read." 
 
 The President. " Missouri will be called in order." 
 
 Mr. William T. Price, of Missouri, offered the following 
 resolution : 
 
 Resolved, That the several delegations in attendance on 
 this Convention are hereby declared committees, whose duty 
 it shall be to press upon the attention of the Congress of the 
 
72 
 
 United States the propriety and the necessity of liberal appro- 
 priations being made and prompt and vigorous efforts being 
 put forth to improve the navigation of the Mississippi river 
 and its navigable tributaries, by the publication of statistical 
 and other information, memorials of State Legislatures and 
 such other methods as to them may seem best calculated to 
 secure the result. 
 
 Referred to Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 Mr. C. E. Mears, of Wisconsin, offered the following: 
 
 WHEREAS, The United States Government has already 
 commenced the improvement of many of the navigable tribu- 
 taries of the Mississippi river, by appropriation of money by 
 Congress and the judicious expenditure of same by the United 
 States Engineer Corps, which expenditure is greatly benefit- 
 ing the entire Mississippi Valley ; therefore, 
 
 Resolved, That we recommend continued appropriations 
 by Congress for the improvement of the navigable tributaries 
 of the Mississippi river until they are in perfect condition, as 
 the importance of their commerce demands. 
 
 Referred to Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 Mr. Taylor, of Kansas City, offered the following: 
 
 Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to address a 
 letter to each Congressman whose constituency are interested 
 in the deliberations of this Convention, requesting him to 
 briefly define his position as to a liberal appropriation for the 
 improvement of the Mississippi river and its navigable tribu- 
 taries, and that they be published in the St. Louis daily 
 papers. 
 
 Referred to Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 Mr. Philo Parsons, of Michigan, offered the following: 
 
 Resolved, That it is the deliberate conviction of Michigan, 
 which, from her vast territory, contributed States bordered 
 by the Mississippi, that wise and liberal appropriations, 
 ample in amount, should be appropriated for the improve- 
 ment of the great Father of Waters and the splendid tribu- 
 taries. 
 
 Same reference. 
 
73 
 
 Mr. McPike, of Illinois, offered the following, which were 
 also referred to the Committee on Resolutions : 
 
 WHEREAS, The general and thorough improvement of 
 the Mississippi river and its navigable tributaries are properly 
 recognized of national importance, and, 
 
 WHEREAS, To give practical force to the efforts now being 
 made to accomplish such end, this Convention hereby pledges 
 its combined and earnest energies to urge upon Congress and 
 our representative men the propriety and necessity of early, 
 concentrated and persistent action to secure its achievement ; 
 therefore, be it 
 
 Resolved, By this Convention assembled, that we urge upon 
 Congress the adoption of a regular system of national improve- 
 ment of said thoroughfares, to deepen that channel and render 
 them a great highway, over which the freighted wealth of this 
 unequaled valley its cereal and mineral products in their 
 varied forms may find not only an easy and cheap, but also 
 a safe transit to the markets of the world. 
 
 Resolved, That recognizing its overshadowing importance 
 to all other or integral parts of public improvement proposed 
 or possible, ask we from Congress definite and specific ap- 
 propriations disconnected from any other system or policy of 
 public expenditures. 
 
 Mr. John I. McBride, of Illinois, offered the following: 
 
 WHEREAS, The washing in of the alluvial lands along the 
 Mississippi river tends to widen the same and create bars, 
 and thereby causing shallow water and impeding navigation : 
 therefore, be it 
 
 Resolved, That it is the sense of this Convention, that after 
 the work of keeping the snags removed and maintaining the 
 signal light-house service, the next work of first importance 
 which should receive attention, is that of preventing the wash- 
 ing in of the banks, and, secondly, the narrowing of the channel 
 in the most necessary places, as has been recommended by 
 the River Commission. 
 
 Referred to Committee on Resolutions. 
 Mr. Thistlewood, of Illinois, offered the following resolu- 
 tion : 
 
 Resolved, That this Convention, imposing implicit faith in 
 the wisdom and the ability of the present Mississippi Com- 
 
74 
 
 mission, as organized by act of Congress, does hereby in- 
 dorse their plans for the improvement of said river, and would 
 most earnestly petition our representatives in Congress to use 
 all honorable means to secure such a liberal appropriation as 
 will enable said Commission to vigorously prosecute their im- 
 portant work, in a manner commensurate Vith the magnitude 
 of so important a public highway. 
 
 Referred to Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 Mr. Fishback, of Arkansas, presented the following reso- 
 lutions,* which were referred to the same committee : 
 
 WHEREAS, The preamble to the Constitution of the United 
 States declares that one of the objects of our Union is to pro- 
 mote the general welfare by a combination of effort of all the 
 States and through the General Government. 
 
 WHEREAS, The enormous development of our internal 
 resources and the rapidly expanding increase of our foreign 
 commerce render cheap and easy transportation from the 
 interior to the seaboard one of the chief elements of our gen- 
 eral welfare ; and 
 
 WHEREAS, Of the two leading methods of transportation 
 one is artificial, constructed at enormous cost, and operated 
 at heavy expense, while the other is furnished by nature free 
 of cost ; the former owned by private individuals and subject 
 to private control and private avarice or caprice ; the latter 
 free to the competition of all and subject to the exclusive con- 
 trol of the United States Government ; and 
 
 WHEREAS, The Congress, while it has given to these artifi- 
 cial highways, which are the property of private individual-, 
 nearly one hundred millions of money, and nearly two hun- 
 dred millions also of acres of our national lands, has left the 
 great natural and national highways of the Mississippi Valley 
 with appropriations totally inadequate to the purpose of ren- 
 dcrin!_ r their navigation certain ; and 
 
 WHEREAS, It is inconsistent with the general welfare that 
 the large interior basin lying between the Rocky Mountains 
 and tin; Alleghenic*, comprising upward of one-half, and iy 
 tar the most fertile part of our national domain, with 1(1, 000 
 miles of navigable >1ivam<, and nearlv 20,000,000 of people, 
 and yielding more than half of the agricultural products of the 
 country, >hould le forced to abandon its natural and cheaper 
 highways Ix-i-m-i- of their uncertainty, and to carry its best 
 
75 
 
 and rapidly increasing productions to the seaboard across 
 mountain ranges, over artificial highways, and at such heavy 
 expense as to sometimes amount to a total interdiction, and at 
 all times to a serious detriment both to the consumer and the 
 producer ; therefore, 
 
 Resolved, first. That in the opinion of this Convention the 
 general welfare of our country can in few other ways be so 
 largely promoted as by a systematic and comprehensive plan 
 of opening the navigable streams of the United States, and 
 keeping them open at all seasons, thus rendering impractica- 
 ble those capricious or avaricious combinations among com- 
 mon carriers which in the past have proven so disastrous to 
 legitimate commerce. 
 
 Second. That, as the initial part of such a plan, it is of 
 especial and commanding importance both to the foreign and 
 domestic commerce of our country, that the Mississippi river, 
 from St. Louis to its mouth, be made to afford unfailing nav- 
 igation at all seasons, and as early as practicable, and that at ' 
 the same time the navigation of its upper waters and tributa- 
 ries be opened and improved more or less rapidly, as the traf- 
 fic of their adjacent territories respectively may demand. 
 
 Third. That these natural highways being subject to the 
 exclusive control, and by our Constitution confided to the pe- 
 culiar care of the General Government, it is the duty of the 
 Congress of the United States to make whatever appropria- 
 tions may be necessary to carry out objects of such vital impor- 
 tance to the general welfare. 
 
 Fourth. That a committee consisting of one from each State 
 represented in this Convention, and five from the city of St, 
 Louis, be appointed by the Chair, whose duty it shall be to col- 
 late and tabulate statistical information in regard to : First, the 
 probable cost of rendering permanently navigable the Missis- 
 sippi river from St. Louis to its mouth. Second, the probable 
 cost of rendering permanently navigable its tributaries respect- 
 ively from their mouths to their heads of navigation. Third, the 
 amounts, both in value and quantity, of produce which are now 
 carried across the country out of their natural courses by rail- 
 ways and which would seek the seaboard by rivers if naviga- 
 tion were rendered certain at all seasons. Fourth, the amounts, 
 both in value and quantity, of productions now transported 
 along the respective routes of our rivers, both by the rivers 
 themselves and by the parallel railways along their respective 
 valleys. Fifth, the relative cost of river and rail transporta- 
 
76 
 
 tion. Sixth, the comparative amounts which have been appro- 
 priated by the Congress to the natural and peculiarly national 
 highways of the Mississippi Valley for their improvement, and 
 to private corporations for constructing artificial transporta- 
 tion lines from the interior to the seaboard, and such other 
 information as may seem to them advisable, and report the 
 same to this Convention to-morrow at 12 M., to the end that 
 it be laid before the people and the Congress of the United 
 States. 
 
 Mr. Hartwig, of Missouri, offered the following: 
 
 WHEREAS, The rapid progress made in this country during 
 the past forty years is in a great measure due to the skill of 
 American inventors and American engineers ; and, 
 
 WHEREAS, There is a growing feeling among the people of 
 
 the great Mississippi Valley, and especially among our old and 
 
 m experienced river navigators, that some mechanical device 
 
 "could be adopted that would cheaply and rapidly deepen the 
 
 water in the channels of our Western and Southern rivers, and 
 
 thereby give relief at once to the river commerce of the West 
 
 and South ; and, 
 
 WHEREAS, The unprecedented increase of produce ship- 
 ments by the Mississippi river during the last twelve months 
 makes it the imperative duty of the General Government to 
 test any plan or device that in the opinion of practical river 
 navigators promises good results ; therefore, be it 
 
 Resolved, first. That the Congress of the United States 
 is hereby urgently requested to appoint a commission consist- 
 ing of twelve old and experienced Western and Southern river 
 navigators, whose duty it shall be to investigate any and all 
 mechanical devices for improving navigation that may be 
 brought to their attention for cutting or dredging through and 
 deepening channels across sand-bars, and after a careful and 
 exhaustive examination into all the details, report to Congress 
 the device or character of machinery which in their judgment 
 is host adapted for that purpose and which promises the best 
 results. 
 
 Resolved^ That Congress is hereby requested to make 
 sufficient appropriations to test any mechanical device reported 
 on favorably by said conuni-sion and put same to work on the 
 Mi-si>>ippi or Missouri river during the summer of 1882. 
 
 Referred to Committee on Resolutions. 
 
77 
 
 Mr. Stanard, of Missouri. " I hold in my hand a preamble 
 and a set of resolutions prepared by the delegation of the 
 Merchants' Exchange of the city of St. Louis, representing as 
 they do their views upon this important subject, the subject 
 under consideration. I ask that the resolutions be read." 
 
 The resolutions were read as follows : 
 
 To the representatives of the commercial communities of the 
 Mississippi VaUey in convention assembled at St. Louis, Mo. 
 
 Believing that the Mississippi river and its navigable tribu- 
 taries, the great inland water-ways prepared by the Creator 
 for the use of the people, are a most important and valuable 
 part of the national domain, free to all, beyond the reach of 
 monopoly and affording to the whole people that competition 
 in transportation which benefits producers and consumers 
 alike ; and further, that cheap transportation is the great 
 necessity of an agricultural people, the indispensable condi- 
 tion of 'the easy conveyance to distressed markets of their 
 staple products, bulky in proportion to value ; that the famil- 
 iar economical truth that the cheapest transportation of such 
 products is by water, is especially applicable to these great 
 water-ways of the West ; provided, the same be kept free 
 from snags, sand-bars, treacherous banks and other obstacles 
 to navigation, do therefore resolve and declare 
 
 First. That it is the manifest and imperative duty of the 
 government of the United States to cause to be made such 
 improvements of the great rivers of that valley, to wit, the 
 Mississippi, the Missouri and the Ohio, neither of which is 
 within or subject to the jurisdiction of any one State, as will 
 permanently secure the safety and ease of the navigation 
 thereof from source to mouth ; thereby cheapening freights, 
 reducing insurance and other burdens and expenses, promot- 
 ing the vast inland commerce of the nation and creating new 
 avenues of foreign trade, and thus not only inviting increased 
 production and population, but assuring greater prosperity to 
 the whole people, 
 
 Second. That the appropriations for such improvements 
 should be separately made for each river, and be adequate to 
 the continued prosecution of work once begun until the same 
 is finished, so as to avoid the wasteful destruction of work 
 partially completed, by reason of the delay or stoppage there- 
 
78 
 
 of for want of sufficient appropriations ; and be it further re- 
 solved, 
 
 Third. That this Convention recognizes with extreme 
 satisfaction and emphatic approval, in the passage of the acts 
 of Congress of June 28, 1879, " for the appointment of a 
 Mississippi River Commission," and in the comprehensive and 
 scientific surveys and important recommendations made by 
 the distinguished engineers appointed on that commission, as 
 set forth in their reports of February 17, 1880, and January 8, 
 1881, the first well-considered and effective step towards 
 the complete and permanent opening of the Mississippi Val- 
 ley to the markets of the world : but would also strongly 
 express its regret at the refusal of the last Congress, after 
 creating the Commission, and notwithstanding the deliberate 
 and emphatic approval of their plans by the House Commit-* 
 tee on the improvement of the Mississippi river, to appropri- 
 ate the amount estimated and recommended by the said Com- 
 mission for doing the work by them carefully laid out and 
 prepared ; and be it further resolved, 
 
 Fourth. That in the deliberate and earnest judgment of 
 this Convention, delegates to represent the interests in that 
 behalf of more than one-half the States and Territories of 
 the Union, inhabited by more than one-half of its entire pop- 
 ulation, from whom is collected seventy-two per cent, of the 
 entire internal revenue of the nation, whose internal commerce 
 is already one-half that of the whole United States, more 
 than twelve times greater than the total foreign commerce of 
 this nation, and larger than the total foreign commerce of the 
 world ; but upon whose industry is each year levied, by the 
 obstacles to the safe and easy navigation of the Mississippi 
 river and its navigable tributaries, a needless direct tax- 
 by way of increased freights and insurance, demurrage, 
 wreck and repairs, of not less than ten millions of dollar- 
 ($10,000,000), it is the important duty of Congress and the 
 right of the people for whom this Convention is authorized to 
 speak, that the legislation thus wisely begun be made effectual 
 and permanent by enlarging the powers of the River Com- 
 mission to include the active prosecution of the works already 
 recommended by them, and by the regular and separate 
 appropriation from year to year of such sums as said Com- 
 mission, acting under the reasonable supervision of Congress, 
 shall report as necessary to that end, so that this great and 
 
79 
 
 indispensable work, material in every sense, shall no longer 
 be delayed. 
 
 Fifth. And be it further resolved, that the comprehensive 
 and scientific scheme of river improvement thus inaugurated 
 should as rapidly as possible include the complete and perma- 
 nent improvement and maintenance of all the navigable tribu- 
 taries of the great national water-way aboved named. 
 
 The resolutions were referred to the same committee. 
 
 Mr. Bernheimer, of Missouri. "Recognizing the fact in 
 one section that the improvement of the Mississippi river 
 means the improvement of its channel and the facilitating of 
 commerce, I ask the Convention to recognize the fact for the 
 South, that it deserves the improvement and protection of the 
 banks bordering on it, for the protection of the surrounding 
 country. For that purpose I beg to offer a special resolution 
 for levees, as follows : 
 
 Be it resolved, By this Convention that we deem it not 
 only eminently fitting, but urgently the duty of the General 
 Government to afford relief and render protection to those 
 sections to the great Mississippi Valley which are annually 
 subjected to inundation by the floods of this great river, the 
 national highway to the sea. 
 
 We deem this work of national importance, and urge upon 
 Congress to make special provision for the building and main- 
 tenance of a perfect system of levees throughout the sections 
 requiring the same, thus reclaiming many millions of acres of 
 valuable lands, public as well as private, which will otherwise 
 be left an idle waste, to the detriment of the whole country. 
 
 Referred to the same committee. 
 
 Mr. C. H. Mansur, of Missouri. " We have heard a good 
 deal, both by resolution and in speeches, of the importance 
 of unity of action, and I want to see if members will abide 
 by what they propose, and pledge themselves not to support 
 any man for office who is not in sympathy with Mississippi 
 river improvement, and will ask their friends to refrain from 
 
80 
 
 supporting all such candidates. [Cheers.] I offer the follow- 
 ing resolutions : 
 
 WHEREAS, The United States is in a condition of profoun'd 
 peace, at home and abroad ; and 
 
 WHEREAS, The year A. D. 1882 is an off-year in politics ; 
 and 
 
 WHEREAS, The improvement of the Mississippi river and 
 its tributary streams is a subject of vital importance to the 
 present, as well as future welfare of the tens of millions of 
 people inhabiting and to inhabit its great valley, transcending 
 far questions of mere party politics, which it should be above 
 and beyond ; and to the end that our members in Congress, 
 as well as the people of the whole country, may know that 
 this Convention is in earnest ; therefore, be it 
 
 Resolved, That the members of this Convention hereby 
 pledge their honor, each to the other, that in A. D. 1882, 
 within our respective districts and within our party allegiance 
 and lines, we will neither support for a nomination, or if nom- 
 inated, will neither work for, nor support for any election any 
 person who will not pledge himself, if elected, to abide by, 
 work and vote for, on the floor of Congress, such measures 
 and appropriations as may be adopted and recommended by 
 this Convention. 
 
 Resolved, That this Convention recommend to the voters 
 of the Republican and Democratic parties of the several Con- 
 gressional Districts lying within the area of the Mississippi 
 galley, to pursue the same line of policy outlined in the above 
 resolution. 
 
 Referred to same committee. 
 
 Mr. Given Campbell, of Missouri, offered the following: 
 
 Resolved, That this Convention suggest to the Governors 
 of each of the States of this valley the propriety and import- 
 ance of the appointment and maintenance by each State of at 
 least one agent who shall actively promote the objects of this 
 Convention. 
 
 Referred to same committee. 
 
 Mr. Gould, of Mi-.-ouri. ''Are resolutions still in order 
 from Missouri? " [Laughter.] 
 
81 
 
 The President. "Resolutions are still in order from 
 Missouri." 
 
 Mr. Gould . "I hold in my hand two resolutions . [Laugh- 
 ter.] As I see the Secretary has some difficulty in deciphering 
 resolutions that are sent up, and is somewhat embarrassed, 
 by permission of the President, I will read the resolutions. 
 I would remark, in the first place," 
 
 Cries of "Read!" "read!" 
 
 Mr. Gould. " I will read, then ; don't be alarmed ; Mis- 
 souri is still in order. Resolutions of this character" 
 
 Renewed cries of " Read ! " 
 
 Mr. Gould then read the following : 
 
 WHEREAS, The Government has within the last few years 
 extended the benefits of the light-house system to Western 
 and Southern rivers to a limited extent, thus adding greatly 
 to the facilities of navigation, so far as it has extended, and 
 showing the necessity of increased service ; therefore, 
 
 Resolved, That this Convention, looking to the immediate 
 improvement of the navigation of the Mississippi river and its 
 navigable tributaries, recommends to Congress the pressing 
 necessity of adding another district to the present number, 
 the same to extend from Cairo to New Orleans and embrace 
 the Southern tributaries, thus enabling the present force to 
 devote much needed service to the upper streams above Cairo, 
 which cannot now be accommodated, with the amount of ser- 
 vice granted by Congress. 
 
 Mr. Gould. " As the Convention is entertaining proposi- 
 tions a little wider than was apprehended when these resolutions 
 were drawn, they have not been drawn with very much care ; 
 simply suggestions, as it were, and as I see the Convention 
 is receiving various propositions outside " 
 
 Cries of "Read!" "read!" 
 
 Mr. Gould. " With your permission I will read this." 
 
 The President. " Observe order, gentlemen. The gentle- 
 man is in order. Proceed with the reading." 
 
 6 
 
82 
 
 Mr. Gould (reading) 
 
 WHEREAS, Congress has enacted a general bridge law, 
 whereby railroad and other companies are authorized to bridge 
 navigable streams without properly protecting the passage- 
 ways through bridges built with draws, thus often causing 
 loss of life to raftsmen while attempting to pass through the 
 draw, and a great loss of time to steamboats and barges, and 
 not unfrequently the loss of the same when attempting to pass 
 them in windy weather and dark nights, thus increasing the 
 risk and causing additional cost in insurance to the transpor- 
 tation of the products of the country ; therefore be it 
 
 Resolved, That inasmuch as it is entirely practicable to 
 protect? such draws, and at small cost, by building cribs or 
 sheer-booms, or driving spiling above the opening and along- 
 side the draw-pier, thus rendering the passage of all kind of 
 water-craft comparatively safe, by dropping through with 
 lines, when necessary, we therefore respectfully ask that 
 Congress will, at. its next session, enact a law compelling all 
 owners of bridges across navigable streams, that are built as 
 draw-bridges, to furnish the necessary protection, within a 
 reasonable time. 
 
 The resolutions were referred to the Committee on 
 Resolutions. 
 
 Mr. George H. Shields, of Missouri. "If Missouri is 
 still in order I desire to offer some resolutions, and as I don't 
 write very well, I will read them : 
 
 "Resolved, That the immediate and comprehensive improve- 
 ment of the Mississippi river and its navigable tributaries to 
 the fullest extent of their improvable capacity, in order to 
 secure safe, permanent and reliable channels of sufficient 
 depth and breadth to afford, at all seasons of the year, am- 
 ple facilities for the water transportation of the immense pro- 
 ductions of the great Mississippi Valley, is demanded of the 
 Government of the United States by every consideration of 
 commercial, agricultural and society advancement, and by 
 justice and an enlightened policy of promoting the prosperity 
 and defence of the whole nation. 
 
 "Second. That we favor any meritorious project for in- 
 creased water transportation facilities, by which the general 
 interests of the whole country may be conserved, and we 
 
83 
 
 commend all such schemes to the careful consideration and 
 intelligent support of Congress, if truly worthy ; but we deem 
 the immediate and permanent improvement of the Mississippi 
 river and its navigable tributaries, according to some compre- 
 hensive plan, embracing the whole subject, of paramount 
 importance, and we demand of Congress that the matter be 
 considered on its own merits, and free from all complications 
 or connection with other internal improvements. 
 
 "Third. That we believe the appointment, under the act 
 of Congress, of the " Mississippi River Commission," a step 
 in the right direction, and we earnestly demand that the 
 reasonable requests of that body, which we believe to be com- 
 posed of wise, scientific and practical men, for public moneys 
 to carry out the needed improvements, under a general and 
 comprehensive plan, should be cheerfully granted." 
 
 Referred to Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 Mr. Livingstone, of Illinois, offered the following resolu- 
 tion, which was referred to the Committee on Resolutions : 
 
 Resolved, That there be appointed by this Convention a 
 permanent executive committee to further the objects of this 
 Convention, to consist of at least one from each Congressional 
 District which is represented here, which will have power 
 to collect and publish information on the subject, and to ap- 
 point committees to attend the sessions of Congress from 
 time to time, to urge upon that body ample appropriations 
 for the improvement of the Mississippi river and its tributa- 
 ries, and to take such measures as they may deem necessary 
 to secure the objects embraced in the call of this Convention. 
 
 Mr. McEnery, of Louisiana. " These resolutions are 
 offered by the entire delegation." 
 
 Resolved, That we heartily approve the expressed deter- 
 mination of the Federal Government to improve navigation by 
 adequately constructed levees, preventing destructive floods 
 and giving ease and safety to trade, commerce and the postal 
 service on the great national highway, the Mississippi river. 
 
 Also, that we approve the steps already taken in the 
 appointment of a mixed commission of engineers from the 
 scientific corps of the Government and from civil life, to plan 
 and execute this great work, and in appropriating sums of 
 
84 
 
 money, both for the necessary surveys and examinations and 
 for commencing work under the plan proposed by them ; and, 
 in view of the greatness of the object sought, the necessity of 
 uniformity of system and administration to the success of such 
 work, and in the interests and rights of 30,000,000 of citizens, 
 we demand that the efforts of the Government shall be both 
 persistent and liberal. 
 
 That the course indicated by the legislation of the last 
 Congress should be maintained on the Mississippi river, and 
 extended over the tributaries, and that appropriations shall be 
 adequate to the magnitude of the work and the necessity of 
 pushing it forward as rapidly as the increased commercial 
 necessities demand. 
 
 Finally, in exemplification of the wise appropriation and 
 judicious expenditures of the public money, under a system 
 and in an enterprise similar to that which we are now advo- 
 cating, we point to the triumphant success and the great 
 commercial results of the Jetties of the South Pass. This 
 great work has already established new and more extended 
 lines of commerce, giving freer access to the ports of the world 
 and saving many times their cost as profit to the producer in 
 reduced rates of transportation. 
 
 The full development of their benefits will only be attained 
 when similar improvements are extended to the entire length 
 of the Mississippi river and its great tributary streams and full 
 protection be given to the dwellers on the banks. 
 
 The resolutions were referred to the Committee on Resolu- 
 tions. 
 
 Mr. Loyal, of Louisiana. " Mr. Chairman, I had prepared 
 an article to be read before this Convention, and submitted it 
 to the delegation of which I am a member ; they advocated 
 my not pushing the question ; I therefore have not done it, 
 but inasmuch as I have devoted considerable attention to the 
 subject, I filed it with the Secretary ; I wish it, if so ordered, 
 to be referred to the Committee on Resolutions. " 
 
 The Chairman. " There will be no objection." 
 
 Mr. D. C. Basey, of Missouri, offered the following: 
 
 Resolved, That the Chairman of this Convention appoint 
 a committee of three from each Congressional District to 
 
85 
 
 petition their Congressmen to use their influence and vote for 
 as liberal appropriation as may be asked by the Kiver Commis- 
 sion, which was appointed by last Congress, to improve the 
 Mississippi river and its tributaries. 
 
 Referred to Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 Mr. J. C. Livingstone, of Louisiana, offered the following : 
 
 Resolved, That the protection and improvement of the 
 river transportation of the Mississippi Valley means a confined 
 channel of sufficient depth from navigable headwaters to the 
 sea. 
 
 Referred to Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 The following was presented by James F. Robinson, of 
 Arkansas : 
 
 Resolved, That the purposes of this Convention can be 
 best attained by simply indorsing the law creating the Missis- 
 sippi River Commission, approving the plans of the Com- 
 missioners, and using all legitimate means to procure from 
 Congress the necessary appropriations to carry out their plans. 
 
 Referred to the Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 The following was offered by Mr. Walker, of Minnesota : 
 
 Resolved, That for the purpose of expediting the great 
 work of improving the 16,000 miles of water-way comprising 
 the Mississippi and its navigable tributaries, we do most earn- 
 estly insist and recommend that Congress make immediate 
 provision for the rapid progress of the work by adding to the 
 Mississippi River Commission at least eight more members, 
 five of whom shall be from the regular corps of engineers of 
 the War Department of the United States, so that it may be 
 susceptible of division into three working parties of five each, 
 three of whom shall be United States engineers. 
 
 Referred to Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 Mr. P. J. Kennedy, of New Mexico. " Coming as I have 
 come some fifteen hundred miles to represent the Territory of 
 New Mexico, I desire .to say that previous to going to New 
 Mexico I spent twenty-seven years of my life on the Mississippi 
 river building levees, confining the water to its channel, and 
 
86 
 
 keeping the country, as well as I could, protected from over- 
 flow. I have a report, which I have made out in the form of 
 resolutions. As resolutions are now in order, I present them 
 to this Convention, and ask the Secretary to read them. 
 
 The Secretary then read the resolutions as follows : 
 
 JResolved, That the importance of the subject of reclaim- 
 ing and protecting from overflow, by the annual floods 
 of the Mississippi river, of the great region within its delta, 
 cannot be overestimated. The Mississippi river is the natural 
 drain of a vast area of our territory between the Rocky 
 and Allegheny mountains, and from our northerly boundary 
 to the Gulf of Mexico, and embracing over 1,200,000 square 
 miles. It embraces portions of the States of Missouri, Illi- 
 nois, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, and 
 contains about 38,700 square miles, or, in acres, in the aggre- 
 gate, 24,768,000 ; of this amount there are 4,000 miles of sea- 
 marsh, and irreclaimable, leaving 22,208,000 acres of fertile 
 land, wholly idle and useless, on account of its annually be- 
 ing inundated by the waters of the Mississippi. 
 
 The soil is rich alluvial deposit and inexhaustible. Plan- 
 tations so situated as to be free from the invasion of the 
 floods, without fertilizers, produce crops of sugar, cotton, 
 rice and corn, as when first redeemed from the [forest. The 
 land subject to overflow, if protected by levees and reclaimed, 
 is capable of sustaining not less than 20,000,000 people. Its 
 productions would be the richest in the world, averaging two 
 bales of cotton to the acre ; 2,000 pounds of sugar, besides 
 molasses, etc., to the acre, and forty bushels of corn ; and 
 other cereals, as well as vegetables and fruits, grow in pro- 
 fusion. In fact, the wealth of the overflowed lands of the 
 Mississippi Valley are exhaustless and inexhaustible, and yet 
 this favored region is decaying, becoming a waste and a wil- 
 derness, because of the annual floods of the river which di- 
 vides its centre. 
 
 The work to reclaim this vast region should be the solemn 
 and immediate duty of the General Government, and to 
 restore them to the hands of the husbandman. 
 
 First. Because the work is one national in its character. 
 The Government, to be just, should control its floods, so that 
 the natural servitude owed by the Delta regions, should not 
 
87 
 
 operate injuriously to citizens, because of their being located 
 in that region. 
 
 ^Second. The work is national in its character, because it 
 affects the safety and fortunes of five States, and indirectly 
 affects the people of the entire Mississippi Valley. It cannot 
 be called a sectional improvement, as it is designed at once 
 to confer benefit upon the people who live in the lands sub- 
 ject to overflow, render safe their lives and property, and to 
 improve a region which will, in a few short years, repay a 
 hundred-fold the appropriation the Government should give. 
 
 Third. It is national, because the more perfect levee sys- 
 tem of one State is useless unless there are equal and uniform 
 levee systems in other States. 
 
 In the language of Prof. C. G. Forshey, a distinguished 
 engineer, who made a study, for more than thirty years, of 
 the Mississippi, its currents and levees: "No State alone 
 can build its levees, because of the independence of its topog- 
 raphy. A system to be efficient in one, must comprehend 
 them all. The interior is a basin, or series of basins : the 
 water, whenever let in, submerges the basins alike. These 
 States, then, must share a common fortune, and hence it 
 must appeal to a power that comprehends many States in its 
 operations. Congress alone has that power." 
 
 Congress can provide for the general welfare. Scarcely a 
 river harbor or bay upon our coast but annually receives its 
 thousands that the highways of commerce may be safe and 
 open. In building the levees of the Mississippi, Congress 
 will promote and render safe the vast commerce of the great- 
 est river of the world, by removing its bars, deepening its 
 channel, and by expediting the transportation of freight, 
 mails and passengers. 
 
 If the levee system became general, and the waters of the 
 river were confined to its channel, bars would be washed out 
 and the channel deepened. According to the opinion of 
 Captain Eads : "It (the river) scours out increased room for 
 itself wherever its current is accelerated, and its deposits are 
 everywhere found where its current is retarded." He cited, 
 to prove his assertion, that "when the Bonne Carre ' cre- 
 vasse occurred in 1874, that when the current is checked by 
 the depletion of the river by a crevasse, deposits of sediment 
 will occur below the crevasse, because the slackening of the 
 current, caused by the channel below being then too large for 
 the diminished needs of the river, would cause the water to 
 
88 
 
 deposit a part of its sediment, and thus raise the bottom of 
 the river below the crevasse until, by the contraction, the 
 natural current was restored." He also says that " we know 
 that shoals are produced below crevasses, etc., and that they 
 will disappear when crevasses are closed." 
 
 There can be no doubt that crevasses are forming bars 
 constantly and obstructing the commerce of the river, and 
 the outlets, if not closed, will deepen and widen and the bars 
 will grow and become more serious by their obstructions. It 
 is well known that the transportation and delivery of mails, 
 freight and passengers are hindered and delayed by the floods 
 for want of landings. Many ideas have been advanced as to 
 the best methods of relief from overflows, to wit: One, res- 
 ervoirs ; two, straightening the channel ; three, outlets ; and 
 four, levees. 
 
 The reservoir system is to hold back by a system of arti- 
 ficial lakes during floods, the volume of water held back to 
 be retained for improving low-water navigation ; but th^ 
 Board of Engineers appointed by the Government to examine 
 and report a permanent place for the reclamation of the allu- 
 vial basin of the Mississippi river, says: "In theory this 
 system is very attractive, but in practice it promises no relief 
 for the lowlands of the Mississippi, simply because there are 
 no available sites for reservoirs sufficiently large to produce 
 the desired effect." 
 
 Secondly. Straightening the channel is the idea of dimin- 
 ishing the natural resistance opposed to the flow of the water 
 by cutting off the bends of the river, and thus lowering the 
 surface. There are good reasons why cut-offs, judiciously 
 located, should be made ; among others is, that caving banks 
 are caused by a curved channel, and if the channel is uniform, 
 or nearly so, in width, the caving caused by the curving will 
 be trifling. 
 
 Thirdly. Is that of making or creating outlets to drain the 
 surplus water from the river and discharging it through new 
 channels. Though there are many objections to them, i.e., 
 that they may deluge the adjacent country ; that great depos- 
 its will be left in the lakes in which the deposits are withdrawn, 
 thereby destroying the navigation of the lakes, and may even 
 change the channel of the river, and also cause a diminution 
 of the velocity of the current, and thus perhaps increase the 
 height of the floods. 
 
 Fourthly. Is that of a system of protecting by artificial 
 
89 
 
 bunks erected in the natural banks of the river. We all know 
 that great good has resulted from the levees already built. 
 There is no doubt that the plan is the best to be adopted in 
 the Valley, to the exclusion of all others. The history of 
 other countries shows that the levee system is the only one ; 
 for instance, those in the Rhine, below Arnheim, protect the 
 most fertile part of Holland. They are exposed at high 
 water to as strong a current as the floods of the Mississippi, 
 and the occurrence of crevasses, as they take place during 
 high water on the Mississippi, are not known there. 
 
 The levees as now existing, compared with the interests 
 they protect, are insignificant to those of the rivers like the 
 Po, Rhine, and Vistula, and yet they have done great good 
 and benefit to the lands protected. There is no doubt that 
 the location of permanent levees, made to conform to a plan 
 for straightening and correcting the channels, even using the 
 cut-offs, will save thousands of square miles from inundation 
 and overflow, and add most vastly to the glory and wealth of 
 the country. 
 
 All the engineers appointed by the Government agree and 
 advise, however they may differ upon plans or other points, 
 that it is of the highest importance to repair the present levees 
 and build additional ones, so that the commerce of the great 
 region of the Valley, and the lands embraced therein, be pro- 
 tected. Every section of our country demands that this work 
 be immediately done ; then there will be reopened plantations, 
 farms will be worked, and farming utensils of all kinds will be 
 needed, factories will start, and the people inhabiting these 
 reclaimed lands will want the thousand articles produced by 
 Northern skill and industry. Therefore I would ask this 
 Honorable Convention that they request their members of 
 Congress that a bill be introduced that $50,000,000 be appro- 
 priated for making and repairing outlets and levees in the 
 Mississippi Valley ; the work to be done under the direction of 
 the Secretary of War and the Engineers of the United States, 
 also that the work be completed within five years. And I am 
 thoroughly convinced, that if such a bill be passed, and the 
 work done as it should be, that it will repay the country a 
 hundred-fold for the expense. 
 
 Referred to Committee on Resolutions. 
 
90 
 
 The President. " A communication has been sent to the 
 President of this Convention from the Hon. James S. Rollins, 
 of Missouri." 
 
 The communication was submitted as follows : 
 
 COLUMBIA, Mo., October 24, 1881. 
 To the President of the Mississippi River Improvement Convention: 
 
 DEAR SIR : Having been appointed by Gov. Crittenden a delegate at 
 large to the convention over which you preside, I may not be able to attend 
 on account of the delicacy of my health, and beg therefore to present 
 through you to the convention this communication. 
 
 Fort-five years ago I was a delegate from Boone county to a conven- 
 tion held in the city of St. Louis on the 20th day of April, 1836, for the pro- 
 motion of internal improvements within the State of Missouri. This was 
 the first Convention ever held in the State for this object, and so far a- I 
 have knowledge, the first Convention of the kind ever held west of the Mis- 
 sissippi river. 
 
 The following were the delegates from the county of Boone : R. W. Mor- 
 ris, Wm. Hunter, John W. Keiser, Dr. James W. Moss, D. M. Hickman, 
 John B. Gordon, James S. Rollins, and Granville Branham ; and of these I 
 am the only survivor. 
 
 The following gentlemen were the delegates from the county and city of 
 St. Louis : Edward Tracy, John O'Fallon, Archibald Gamble, M. Lewis 
 Clark, Henry Walton, Henry Von Phul, Wm. Ayres, S. B. Grant, Samuel 
 Merry, James C. Laveille, Thornton Grimsley, Le welly n Brown, George K. 
 McGunnegle, and Pierre Chouteau, Jr. ; and of these M. Lewis Clark, now of 
 Louisville, Ky., is the only one living; and of all the members composing 
 that body, so far as I can ascertain, there are not more than four or five of 
 the number living. At that time the Hon. John F. Darby was mayor of the 
 city, and aided largely in dispensing its generous hospitality. He lives to a 
 green old age, an historic wonder, abounding with pleasant recollection^, 
 observations and anecdotes of the city from the time it was a small French 
 village to the present day. 
 
 Great changes have occurred since the holding of this convention in the 
 city of St. Louis, containing at that time a population not exceeding lO.Ooo, 
 and the State itself a population of about 250,000. Missouri was at that time 
 a frontier State. 
 
 The country between the western border of the State and the Rocky 
 Mountain-, and which now comprises the Indian Territory, the gn-at States of 
 Kan-a-. Xebraska and Colorado, was regarded a- a -andy and sterile desert. 
 The States of Iowa. Minnesota, and the great territories lyin^ west of tin-in, 
 and stretching beyond the Rocky Mountain-, extruding to the month <>t the 
 Columbia river. emhraeing Oregon and Washington Territory, \\ere almost 
 wholly uninhabited, save by hostile Indian-, vast herds of buffalo and other 
 wild game that roamed over the plain- ami through the mountains. It \\a- 
 
91 
 
 only now and then that the puff of the steamboat was heard upon our rivers, 
 and the shrill whistle of the locomotive had never yet startled the denizens 
 of the forest in this almost boundloss valley. Since that time the empire of 
 has been added as a State of the American Union: Xew Mexico, Ari- 
 zona, and California with its 700 miles of coast upon the Pacific ocean, not 
 to speak of the still further off territory of Alaska, have since been added to 
 the domain of the United States. 
 
 In the proceedings of the convention above referred to I had the honor 
 to introduce a resolution asking the appointment of a committee to memo- 
 rialize Congress for a donation of public lands to be appropriated 
 under the authority of the Legislature of Missouri to those objects 
 of internal improvement contemplated by the convention. This reso- 
 lution was unanimously adopted. The Hon. Hamilton R. Gamble, Edward 
 Bates and myself were appointed upon this committee; and. so far a* I 
 know or now remember, this was the first memorial ever presented to Con- 
 gress asking a grant of land to aid in promoting objects of internal im- 
 provement in the Mississippi Vail ey; and allow me to say with becoming 
 modesty that I have stuck to this text with unflinching fidelity from that 
 day to this ! 
 
 It would be an interesting and illimitable theme to point out what has 
 been accomplished in this direction in the way of population, development 
 and progress in the western half of our country during these forty-five 
 years. To do so would far exceed the appropriate limits of a letter like 
 this. Let the imagination of intelligent minds fill in the gap and be amazed 
 at the wonderful growth and grandeur of our country. So much for remi- 
 niscence. 
 
 Allow me to say, according to my poor view, and judging of the future 
 by the past, with the increased intelligence and enterprise of the people, the 
 impulse to public improvements which science has wrought in the applica- 
 tion of steam and electricity in every department of human labor and in- 
 dustry; in the art of navigation, in the building of railroads and telegraph 
 lines, in leveling and tunneling the mountains, in improving and utilizing 
 every species of machinery, and removing obstacles seemingly insurmount- 
 able, opening up the way for the effective and rapid development of all the 
 hidden sources of our vast internal wealth, that the American people are 
 just entering upon another stage of change, improvement, amelioration and 
 expansion which in the closing years of the nineteenth century will insure 
 for them a transcendent power that will eclipse all their achievements hith- 
 erto in advancing civilization, intellectual and moral growth, material 
 wealth and political power. So much for prophecy. 
 
 The intelligent Convention over which you preside, composed of a rep- 
 resentation from eighteen States and Territories bordering upon and di- 
 rectly interested in the improvement of the navigable waters of the Mi--i-- 
 sippi Valley, has a great work before it in devising a scheme which will he 
 acceptable to the people of every part of our country, and whereby the 
 national Congress may be induced to make such appropriations from the 
 
92 
 
 national treasury, under a systemized plan of improvement of the great 
 river>. ^ hich in the end will afford to all the people who inhabit it the 
 ea-icst and cheapest outlet through these natural channels of commerce for 
 the products of their toil and labor to the markets of our own country and 
 of all other countries where there are such exchanges of production neces- 
 sary to meet the wants and add to the comforts of peoples living in distant 
 parts of the habitable globe. Your enlightened body will not be without 
 guidance upon this important subject. Superadded to the great intelli- 
 gence of its large representation you will have the experience, the wisdom 
 and the recommendations of other similar bodies who have gone before you, 
 the reports of learned scientific men showing the necessity and feasibility of 
 these improvements, with statistics of the population, the present wealth 
 and the production of that vast and fertile area of our country, showing the 
 interests to be subserved and benefited by these appropriations and im- 
 provements, as well as the still greater wealth to be added to the aggregate 
 wealth of the nation. It is not necessary for me, in this short communica- 
 tion, to present these statistics here. You will have before you the able and 
 admirable address of the Commission appointed by the Governors of States 
 upon the commerce and improvement of the rivers of this valley, including 
 also the address of the Hon. Eugene Underwood, President of the Commis- 
 sion, presenting in a very able manner the considerations and arguments in 
 favor of the National Government taking hold and devising a plan whereby 
 the improvement of the navigation of these great rivers may be accom- 
 pli-hed and perfected. 
 
 The arguments presented in the able papers to which I have referred 
 have not been, nor can they be answered. 
 
 To accomplish this great work the aid of the General Government is 
 absolutely essential, and without which it cannot be done. For the attain- 
 ment of this object we cannot rely upon the separate and sometimes con- 
 flicting action of independent States. To achieve so great a work we need 
 the united effort of the whole people of our great country. 
 
 These are two great and vital schemes, which must in the future 
 command the attention and unite the energies and intelligence of the 
 National Legislature. These are for the General Government to make Un- 
 necessary appropriations to improve and make safe and easy the commerce 
 of those rivers, national in character, and in which a large majority of the 
 people are interested. The other is to make similar and needed appropria- 
 tions from the National Treasury in aid of the varied system of free public 
 duration existing under the laws of different States and established for tin 
 enlightenment of the entire youth of the country without regard to sex, 
 color or condition. 
 
 Without intelligence, and that enterprise which intelligence brin--. 
 neither the commerce nor the phy.-i<-al condition of the country can ever lie 
 properly improved ; and without the maintenance of a free sy-tem of public 
 -ehools established in all the States, and with the aid of the National Gov- 
 ernment, we cannot have that general intelligence so essential to the enjoy- 
 
, 93 
 
 rnent of rational freedom and the upholding of the free Government under 
 which we live. 
 
 By the omnipotent aid of this system of free public schools we mu>t 
 wipe from our escutcheon the dark stigma of having one million five hun- 
 dred thousand free men (according to our last census) entitled to the ballot. 
 the sacred right of suffrage, who can neither read nor write. 
 
 We are ever to remember that our possibilities and capabilities as a 
 country do not lie merely in our river.-, though affording more miles of nav- 
 igation than any other nation ; nor in our independent and magnificent cen- 
 tral position; nor in our soil, though richer than that washed by the Nile 
 itself; nor in our mountains of iron, or our fields of coal, or mines of lead, 
 and the precious metals, or quarries of marble, or in any other natural ad- 
 vantage, however great and wonderful. But they do consist far more in 
 the people we are to have, in our children and youth, those who. in fact, are 
 soon to make up and constitute the nation itself (for let it be forever re- 
 membered that the people are the State, and nothing else) , those who are 
 to possess and use all its vast and untold resources and means of enjoy- 
 ment, who are to develop its civilization, and to create for it the name and 
 glory which it is to have among the nations of the earth. 
 
 But we must not lose sight of our theme the improvement of the navi- 
 gation of the Mississippi river and its tributaries. It is a vast enterprise. 
 The danger is that we may ask too much by attempting too much at the 
 same time. It occurs to me. that if the Convention would recommend to the 
 Congress of the United States the improvement of the navigation of the Mis- 
 sissippi river from its source to its mouth, with appropriations sufficient to 
 enter vigorously upon the work, as an entering wedge for the improvement 
 of its larger tributaries in the future, it would be far better than to attempt 
 any log-rolling scheme, by which bills are often loaded down and de- 
 feated. The strength of the friends of the measure would not then be frit- 
 tered away, for there is no man who will ever in the future wend his way 
 into the hall of either house of Congress from this valley who will deny that 
 the Mississippi river is a national stream and entitled to this recognition by 
 making necessary appropriations for its improvement. Any one who would 
 vote against a proposition like that may at once be set down as incorrigible 
 and opposed to all schemes and appropriations by the General Government 
 for the improvement of the navigation of any river, whether it be local or 
 national in its character. With the main river properly improved under the 
 direction of able and enlightened engineers, and with its banks made secure 
 from the Jetties to St. Paul, its navigation made easy, safe and economical, 
 the commerce of this great valley would seek its outlet mainly through this 
 channel, and it would force at once the improvement of the navigation of all 
 it> tributaries worthy to receive such aid. and which would be promptly 
 afforded either by the government of the States through which these rivers 
 flow, or both by the State and the General Government. In other words, the 
 improvement of the MN-is~ippi river proper would lead quickly to the im- 
 provement of all its tributaries, whose people living along its line would seek 
 an outlet for the products of their labor, and the furnishing of their supplies 
 
94 
 
 through the common channel. My suggestion would, therefore, be, in order 
 to obviate any objection, to concentrate all your forces upon the question of 
 obtaining a sufficient appropriation for the improvement of the entire length 
 of the Mississippi river proper, and as far as the main stream may be made 
 navigable. It can never be out of place, nor can the quotation be too often 
 repeated, the description given of this river by our former great Senator, 
 }Ir. Benton, many years ago, in which he says : '-Wonderful river! connected 
 with seas by the head and by* the mouth, stretching its arms towards the 
 Atlantic and the Pacific, lying in a valley which is a valley from the Gulf of 
 Mexico to Hudson Bay; drawing its first waters not from rugged mountains, 
 but from the plateau of the lakes in the center of the continent, and in com- 
 munication with the sources of the St. Lawrence and the streams which take 
 their course north to Hudson's Bay ; draining the largest extent of the richest 
 land ; collecting the products of every clime, even the frigid, to bear the 
 whole to market in the South, and there to meet the products of the entire 
 world. Such is the Mississippi, and who can calculate the aggregate of its 
 advantages and the magnitude of its future results?" 
 
 But I need not go further. The time is at hand when the claims of 
 the Mississippi Valley can no longer be ignored. The sceptre has already 
 departed from Judah ! The potent voice of the Senators and Representa- 
 tives from eighteen States lying within and bordering upon this great 
 valley can no longer be stifled or silenced. Whatever may be the result of 
 the action of this Convention, it is a mere question of time as to when the 
 voice of the people of this valley will be heard and obeyed. Every intelli- 
 gent mind must see and feel that the political power of the Government is 
 rapidly concentrating here; that here is to be the seat of empire, from 
 whence will emanate your laws, your great national politics, and whereby 
 the destiny of the continent will be directed and controlled. A lack of con- 
 cert of action, temporary causes, the division of trade and commerce by 
 artificial means, may hinder and prevent for the time being the ultimate con- 
 trol, as I have predicted it; but this mountain- and lake- and gulf -locked 
 valley, unsurpassed in the extent of its resources and undeveloped wealth. 
 capable within itself of sustaining a population ten times greater than tin- 
 population of the United States, this great valley of the Mississippi, which 
 drains a thirty r sixth part of the land surface of the globe itself, and which, 
 ri-ing near the lakes of the north, so near as to make their shores tributary 
 to its valley, and flowing through more than twenty decrees of latitude, 
 a fiords a variety of production for commercial interchange, compared with 
 which the productions of the Amazon, the shores of the Mediterranean, or 
 the valley of the Danube, or the Black and Baltic seas, must, under the 
 highest development, remain utterly insignificant. The Mediterranean 
 system and the valley of the Amazon, of the Baltic and Black seas, are 
 limited in their products by the climatic uniformity of a -in^le /one. But 
 here is a valley developing north and southward, almost from the frigid io 
 the torrid zone, in extent of area 2,231,000 square miles, all of it a part Of 
 our great country, and under the jurisdiction of the Congress of the United 
 States, a land upon whose distant mountain-tops the >m.w never melts, and 
 
95 
 
 in whose green valley beautiful flowers never cease to bloom. This vast 
 valley, with its inconceivable riches from the soil, and beneath its soil; from 
 its cereals, its cotton, tobacco, hemp, fruits ; from its ores, timber, its water- 
 power, its Bailie, its populous towns and cities, its growing manufactories, 
 with everything, in fact, needed for human sustenance, comfort, happiness 
 and civilization, with possibilities even beyond conception or comprehen- 
 sion ; lying, too, in the centre of the continent, with no Alpine barriers to 
 oppose its outlet, what to-day is its chief want, its commanding necessity? 
 It is that the very channels which the Almighty has furnished shall be im- 
 proved and made available by man's skill and labor. Why, it w^ould seem 
 to be in the very order of Providence that the National Government should 
 do its part! And it must be done in order to enable the people to enjoy the 
 very beneficence of our Creator; and that it will be, there cannot be a 
 rational doubt. 
 
 The people, gentlemen, of this great valley, nay, I say of the entire 
 country, and of all who are well-wishers of the success of free government 
 on the American continent, look with hope, and anxiety and with confidence 
 to the deliberations of your body, so to direct the legislation of the country 
 as to insure the success of these great enterprises at the earliest practicable 
 time. 
 
 I am, with very high regard, your obedient servant, 
 
 JAMES S. ROLLINS. 
 
 The President. " This communication will become a part 
 of the proceedings of the Convention if there is no objection. 
 The Chair hears none." 
 
 The Secretary read the following communication : 
 
 ST. Louis, October 24. 
 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, Corresponding Secretary River Improve- 
 ment Convention : 
 
 DEAR SIR The Committee on Exhibition of the St. Louis 
 School and Museum of Fine Arts desires to extend to the 
 delegates attending the Convention a cordial invitation to 
 visit the galleries of the Museum. 
 
 It is the desire of the officers and members of the Board 
 of Control that the Museum should be known as it really is, 
 as an institution established for the advancement of the West 
 and South, and not for local use alone. 
 
 I send herewith a package of tickets, which may be made 
 use of by those who wish. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 HALSEY C. IVES, Director, 
 
 W. G. ELIOT, For the Committee on Exhibition. 
 
 Chancellor. 
 
96 
 
 The following communication was also read : 
 
 MERCANTILE LIBRARY, 
 ST. Louis, Oct. 26, 1881. 
 The St. Louis Mercantile Library Association extends a 
 cordial invitation to the delegates attending the Mississippi 
 River Improvement Convention to visit its rooms during their 
 sojourn in the city. 
 
 The reading-room is supplied with the principal news- 
 papers from all parts of the country, and is open from nine 
 o'clock A. M. to ten o'clock p. M. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 JOHN N. DYER, 
 
 Librarian. 
 
 Mr. Roots, of Arkansas. " I move that the thanks of this 
 body be returned to the bodies extending these cordial invita- 
 tions, and that as many members as can conveniently, accept 
 the same." 
 
 The motion was seconded and carried. 
 
 A delegate. "A gentleman from Kentucky, high in the 
 position he occupies, has requested me to present these reso- 
 lutions to the Convention, and have them referred. I now 
 make the motion if there is no objection." 
 
 The resolutions were read as follows : 
 
 Resolved, That the attention of Congress and the River 
 Commission is hereby directed to the advantages to be de- 
 rived from slack-water navigation from the Ohio river to the 
 Atlantic seaboard, by connecting by canal the waters of the 
 Kentucky river and the Cumberland river (via Cumberland 
 Gap) with the waters of the Tennessee river, and of the Sa- 
 vannah river ; and 
 
 Resolved, Furthermore, that the Congress of the United 
 States be and is hereby requested to make adequate appropri- 
 ation for surveying and determining the cost of construction 
 of the aforesaid important cheap transportation water-way 
 from the mouth of the Kentucky river to Savannah, Georgia. 
 
 A delegate. " I wish to make the point of order that it is 
 not germain under the call of this Convention." 
 
97 
 
 m 
 
 The President. " The resolutions can be referred. I over- 
 rule the point of order." 
 
 Mr. Osborne, of New York. " I offer the following : 
 
 "Resolved, That we, as a Convention, protest against the 
 pernicious practice of indiscriminate Congressional appropria- 
 tions to brooks, mill-streams, puddles, ponds, clam-bays, 
 oyster-harbors, and all classes of imaginary, useless and unim- 
 portant bodies of unnavigable water." [Cheers and laughter.] 
 
 The resolution was referred. 
 
 A delegate from Nebraska offered the following : 
 
 Resolved, That in the opinion of this Convention the Mis- 
 souri river, with its 3,000 miles of navigation and flowing past 
 and through four States and three Territories, should be 
 placed by the Government in charge of a commission of engi- 
 neers, organized as is the Mississippi River Commission. 
 
 Mr. Roots, of Arkansas, offered the following: 
 
 Resolved, That the permanent Secretary of this Conven- 
 tion, acting in connection with the Committee which issued 
 the call for this Convention, be and hereby is authorized to 
 print and distribute ten thousand copies of the proceedings of 
 this Convention, and to also print and distribute such other sta- 
 tistics and information as may in his judgment be considered 
 sufficiently worthy and important. 
 
 Mr. Roots. "It seems to me this should be adopted with- 
 out reference ; I suggest its immediate consideration ; I don't 
 propose to discuss it." 
 
 Mr. Kenner, Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions. 
 "I would state on behalf of the Committee on Resolutions, 
 that they have a resolution of a similar character under con- 
 sideration, and they would ask this be referred to that Com- 
 mittee." 
 
 Mr. Roots. " I have no objection to its reference." 
 
 The President. " It will be referred." 
 
 Mr. Birch, of Missouri. "I was not present when my 
 
 7 
 
98 
 
 State was called. I desire to offer a resolution. With the 
 permission of the Chair I will read it : 
 
 "Resolved, That the improvement of the Mississippi river 
 and its navigable tributaries is the highest practical politi- 
 ical duty of the people who inhabit the Mississippi Valley ; 
 and that, until it shall be fully resolved upon on a scale com- 
 mensurate with the great agricultural and commercial inter- 
 ests involved, the citizens of this valley should subordinate all 
 other business politics and act as a unit in the enforcement of 
 this imperative necessity ; and be it further 
 
 "Resolved, That as a means for its inauguration and com- 
 pletion, we recommend the levy of an export duty upon the 
 agricultural products of the country of one per cent, as a 
 special improvement fund, with which, within twenty years, 
 we will be enabled successfully to solve this great problem." 
 
 Referred to Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 Mr. Childs, of Missouri, offered the following, which was 
 also referred to the Committee on Resolutions : 
 
 Resolved, That it is the sense of this Convention that any 
 system of improvement of the Mississippi river and its tribu- 
 taries that may be adopted by this Convention, or by Con- 
 gress, shall commence at the mouth of the river and follow 
 the same to the sources of the streams improved. 
 
 Mr. Kenner, of Louisiana. "As Chairman of the Com- 
 mittee on Resolutions I ask that we be allowed to withdraw 
 to a room in another part of the building, in order to take 
 into consideration the various matters which have been sub- 
 mitted to us this morning." 
 
 Leave was granted. 
 
 Mr. Hogan,of Missouri. "Resolutions having been offered 
 and referred, I now renew the motion which I made a while 
 ago, that a member of the River Commission now be heard 
 from, in explanation of their plans, if they wish." 
 
 Mr. Stanard, of Missouri. " I second the motion." 
 
 The motion was put and carried. 
 
99 
 
 The President. " The Convention has voted to hear a 
 statement from the Mississippi River Commission, and any 
 gentleman from that Commission will now be in order." 
 
 Judge R. S. Taylor, of Fort Wayne, Ind., a member of 
 the Mississippi River Commission, then came forward, and 
 having been introduced by the President, spoke as follows : 
 
 MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION : It is with a 
 real sense of embarrassment that I appear in your presence in response to 
 your kind invitation. I feel an intense solicitude with regard to the delib- 
 erations of this Convention, but being here as your invited guest merely. I 
 do not feel at liberty to say the thoughts that are in my mind quite as freely 
 as I otherwise might. I can, however, without impropriety, congratulate 
 you upon the success which has thus far attended your meeting, and par- 
 ticularly upon the number and variety, and the general excellency of the 
 resolutions that we have heard read. It is an old saying, you know, that 
 the road to hell is paved with good resolutions." [Laughter.] We have 
 had enough of them to-day to macadamize the whole route. [Laughter.] 
 But when it is done we will travel the road the other way. 
 
 The members of the Mississippi River Commission look with interest 
 upon the outcome of this Convention. Two years ago they entered upon 
 the discharge of the duties imposed upon them by law. They have been 
 during those two years engaged in work preparatory only. They have 
 been engaged in an extensive system of surveys, in careful examination and 
 observation, in the comparison of all the data that could be gathered from 
 previous surveys and observations, in consideration of all that was known 
 about the river by engineers, by river men, and by all. Upon some of the 
 great questions involved they have reached definite and final conclusions. 
 They have adopted a plan of improvement, which has been laid before 
 Congress, and approved by that body. An appropriation of one million 
 dollars has been made for the purpose of commencing the improvements 
 thus recommended. The Commission have made extensive preparations 
 for the execution of the work thus committed to them. They have in hand 
 a fleet of nearly two hundred boats, great and small, finished, or in course 
 of construction, together with a vast collection of machinery, material, and 
 equipment. They stand to-day upon the threshold of their work. Whether 
 that work shall be carried forward to completion and usefulness, or aban- 
 doned at its inception, with the loss of all the costly preparation which has 
 been made for it, will depend upon the measures that may be taken by 
 Congress. Congress, however, is a body which, like many others, moves 
 as it is moved upon. And in this Convention is easily recognized a force to 
 move upon Congress as no other influence can. There are some things, 
 therefore, which I would like to say. if I felt at liberty to do so, as to that 
 which I would like to see done, and that which I hope may not be done by 
 this Convention. [Several voices : " Go on ! go on ! "] 
 
100 
 
 There is one thing which I need not hesitate to say, and that is this : 
 The mere assembling of this Convention is its greatest success ; and its in- 
 fluence will be sensibly felt in the formation of public opinion, in the legis- 
 lation of Congress, and in the progress of the improvements contemplated, 
 if it shall make no mistake hereafter. Your work was half done when you 
 met in this hall. The presence, in this city, of this vast body of represen- 
 tative men, coming together from sixteen States of the Union, is itself the 
 mountain in the landscape, dwarfing all else by the breadth of its base, and 
 the sublimity of its height. You could return to your homes without having 
 said a word of formal utterance, and yet feel that your coming had not 
 failed of its purpose. How greatly, therefore, is it to be hoped that that 
 which has been so grandly and wisely done already, may not be marred by 
 one unwise word. 
 
 It is most important of all things, that in the proceedings of this Con- 
 vention there shall be final unanimity and harmony. Its voice, to be effec- 
 tive, must be like the verdict of a jury, unanimous. You heard from ttie 
 distinguished gentleman who delivered the eloquent address of welcome 
 yesterday, a beautiful illustration drawn from the great river itself. Let me 
 borrow it, and carry it a little further. The Father of Waters, having 
 traversed the continent, and created in its course an inland sea twelve 
 hundred miles long, made one fatal mistake at last, it divided at its mouth 
 into four or five shallow channels, and so shut the gate between itself and 
 the great sea. Let me hope that this Convention will form no delta at its 
 mouth, and that the voice of it shall come forth from one throat, and speak 
 with one tongue. 
 
 There are some other things, gentlemen, to which I might, perhaps, 
 w r ith propriety allude for a moment. My personal connection with this 
 work is of recent duration. Coining to it, I find that the Mississippi river, great 
 among rivers as the Bible among books, is, like the Bible, the subject of 
 great difference of opinion among those who have studied it much. I have 
 brought to my study of the question one qualification which is deemed to be 
 absolutely necessary in a juror, and that is, a profound ignorance of the 
 subject. [Laughter.] And so as an ignorant and impartial juror, I have 
 endeavored to consider dispassionately all sides of what I have found to be 
 a great controversy, t have heard many very contradictory views expressed. 
 I have heard a score of different plans proposed for the improvement of the 
 river. I have been told, for example, that the thing to do is to straighten 
 the crooks, and run the water from St. Louis to the Gulf by the shortest line 
 po>>ibli-. I h;w- bcon told, on the other side, that every cut-off i> a calamity, 
 that it increases the velocity above and below, and so aggravates the caving 
 of banks, enlargement of bends, and formation of bars, as to result finally in 
 restoring the river's original length. I have been told on one side that the 
 only relief for the; lower river consists in letting off the water of its great 
 floods by side cuts into the swamps and bayous, through which it can find 
 its way to the sea by other channels. I have been told on the other side 
 that then-suit of thN would b- lik<- taking blood from tin-arm of a strong man ; 
 
101 
 
 that the enfeebled current would be no longer able to carry its load of sedi- 
 ment, and would drop it in shoals and bars. I have been told on the one side 
 that the great want of the river is levees; that by the erection of a complete 
 >\ -inn of levees along the entire river, the water will be confined in one 
 fixed channel, the current increased in depth and velocity, and so enabled to 
 scour its own bed deeper and deeper. On the other side I have been told 
 that the sure consequence of levees is to cause increased deposit of sediment 
 on the bottom of the river ; that by that means the whole river bed, water 
 and banks will be bodily lifted up, higher and higher, -until the Mississippi 
 will run down to the sea on the top of a great embankment, from which it will 
 be in perpetual danger of slipping off into the cotton fields and sugar plan- 
 tations adjacent. 
 
 Xow, in the midst of such a maze of contradictory theories what is an 
 ignoramus like me to do? The thing that seems to me wisest is this : I go 
 back to the safe analogies of theology and religion ; I look to see who have 
 studied these questions most, and with best opportunities to understand 
 them. I find upon the river and its tributaries engineers sent out by the 
 Government for the express purpose of studying their phenomena, and de- 
 vising methods for their improvement. Among them are men who have 
 given the better part of their lives to the study of these great questions, and 
 who have conducted extensive and costly experiments in practical works of 
 improvement. I find upon the Commission military engineers of world- 
 wide celebrity, who come to it from other fields of labor, rich in learning 
 and experience, and unembarrassed by previous prejudices in relation to 
 this particular work. I also find upon the Commission two civil engineers 
 of the greatest ability, who have made the Mississippi river one of the chief 
 studies of their lives : Mr. B. M. Harrod, of Xew Orleans, and your own 
 illustrious fellow-citizen. Mr. James B. Eads [Cheers.]. a man to whom 
 the city of St. Louis owes a debt of gratitude which she can never repay ; 
 who has brought to your doors the commerce of the laud by the beautiful 
 bridge that stands upon your wharf, and the commerce of the sea through 
 the Jetties at the Gulf. To these I may add the Chief of Engineers at 
 Washington, whose official duties have required him to investigate all the 
 questions involved as carefully as though he had been personally in charge 
 of the work. 
 
 Xow, I find, on examination, that all these men. on the Commission 
 and off of it, while disagreeing on some matters of detail, as do good and 
 wise divines upon infant baptism, perseverance in grace, and the like, are, as 
 to the great plan of salvation, in entire harmony. [Laughter and applause.] 
 I say to myself , therefore : These are the orthodox leaders, and to their 
 mat-tails I will pin my faith." When I find such men as Gillmore, Corn- 
 stock. Mitchell, Suter, Benyuard. Ernst. Harrod and Eads. men who have 
 brought to the investigation of these great problems every prerequisite of 
 genius and education, and who have pursued it by separate and independent 
 paths, concurring at last upon all the fundamental principles involved. I am 
 bound to believe that the conclusions which they have reached are entitled to 
 
102 
 
 our confidence, as the best that are attainable in the present state of human 
 knowledge. 
 
 If you will allow me, gentlemen, I will go a little further on the subject 
 of the plans of the Commission. I am not an engineer, and therefore I can 
 speak of those plans, and of their merits, with a degree of propriety which 
 would illy become, perhaps, any other member of the Commission. My 
 place upon it is peculiar. It is like that of one member of a committee 
 appointed by the Governor of a State not ten thousand miles from here, to 
 revise the laws. The Constitution required that the laws should be made so 
 that they could be understood by a man of ordinary intelligence. [Laugh- 
 ter.] The Governor appointed a committee of three to revise them ; two of 
 them were lawyers and the other was a man who didn't know anything 
 about law, and not much about anything ; and in explanation of the appoint- 
 ment the Governor said if the two lawyers could make the laws so the other 
 man could understand them, the object would be attained. That is my 
 place upon this Commission, to see whether the engineers can lay their 
 plans so that I can understand them. [Laughter.] 
 
 I will not detain you, gentlemen, by going into details, but will confine my- 
 self to a few very general observations. All the plans of the Commission rest 
 upon this primary proposition : that the improvement of the river consists 
 essentially in so regulating the width of its channel that it shall bear a 
 proper ratio to the volume of water discharged, and in confining the water to- 
 such regulated channel, so that it shall, by its own force and velocity, keep 
 its bed scoured out clean. Upon this, as the final desideratum in every such 
 case, all engineers in the world agree, so far as I know. 
 
 The problem presented in the application of this principle of improve- 
 ment to the Mississippi river is a little different from any that ever before 
 taxed the ingenuity of men. There is not on the face of the earth any other 
 river having a channel so long and wide, carrying a volume of water so 
 great, through banks composed of such soft and friable material. To regu- 
 late the banks of the Mississippi river by means of any solid wall, or stone 
 revetment, or any structures of plank or timber, which could by their 
 strength and solidity resist the force of the current, is impossible. That 
 which cannot be done by force or strength, must be done, if at all, by 
 stratagem. The forces of the river, so mighty to tear down, must be taught 
 to build up. The water must be made not only to dig its own channel, 
 but to construct its own banks. The material for this work is the sand 
 and soil borne down by the current. To compel the water to drop this 
 sediment just when and where it is needed to build ne\v banks, and 
 nowhere else, is the task which challenges the strategy of the engineer. 
 
 While the Mississippi river has the strength of Samson, and tosse> i.-la nl< 
 and bars from side to side, as though they were li#l it asrhatf. it hasai ihoamr 
 time the ueaknessofSamson, it is easily seduced. You remember how Deli- 
 lah came it over him. [Laughter.] Tin- amount of snliil matter which tin* 
 river hold- in -olntion i- enormous, and it carrier it, from mountain to -.-a 
 without exertion or fatigue. But one inexorable la\v follows it like :t 
 
103 
 
 decree of fate, it must run with its load, or let it fall. If it slacken its 
 speed but for a moment, the specks of earth which it carries trickle to the 
 ground thick as flakes of snow. And it is by the knowledge of this weak- 
 ness, and by skilfully taking advantage of it, that the engineer is able to 
 make the tremendous forces of the river obedient to his will. The devices 
 proposed for this purpose are very simple and very cheap. They consist 
 of slight structur.es of piles, of wire, and of brush, combined and applied 
 in various forms, structures so slight that you would hardly believe it 
 possible that they could produce the great results expected from them. 
 
 It was not my intention, gentlemen, to enter into any detailed account 
 of these devices ; but I am tempted by your forbearance, and your manifest 
 interest in the subject, to go a little farther in that direction. And I will, if 
 you please, take one example of common occurrence on the river, and one 
 method of improvement applied to such a case, and explain the process to 
 you so minutely, that any one of you could do it himself, if he had the 
 money. 
 
 I will suppose the case of a portion of the river five or ten miles long, 
 and two miles wide, with a bed so broad and level, that in extreme low 
 water it will not show a depth anywhere exceeding four feet. The problem 
 is to convert this broad shallow stream into a narrow deep one. The engi- 
 neer determines first upon a width of, say, three thousand feet for the new 
 channel, which he then locates upon such lines of direction and curvature 
 as seem to conform best to the courses of the current above and below, and 
 the laws that control the movements of flowing water. I will suppose the 
 entire space across the river-bed to be represented by the width of this 
 hall, and the proposed new channel to be represented by the central tier of 
 seats in front of me. The two aisles on the right and left will then repre- 
 sent the shore lines of the improved river, and the side tiers of seats the 
 spaces to be built up with earth to form the new banks. In the example 
 supposed, these spaces will be each about three-quarters of a mile wide. 
 
 These must be filled with earth over their whole surface to a depth of 
 thirty or forty feet, a pretty extensive undertaking, as you will readily 
 perceive. The next step in the work is to drive a row of piles along each 
 side of the proposed new channel, which I have represented by these two 
 aisles. Among these piles are interwoven long, slender, willow poles, in and 
 out, from pile to pile, like gigantic basket work, and extending fifteen or 
 twenty feet above low water mark. The proposed new channel is thus in- 
 closed on each side by a strong, coarse screen, through which water will 
 flow quite freely, but with much diminished velocity. At right angles with 
 these screens, and at intervals of three or four hundred feet, transverse 
 screens of exactly the same character are constructed to the bank on each 
 side of the river. 
 
 Thus the space which it is desired to cover with earth is all fenced in 
 with these permeable screens, and subdivided into compartments by par- 
 titions of the same kind, so that it resembles, in a vague way, a vast beer- 
 garden, a thousand acres in size, and cut up with rustic trellises and arbors. 
 
104 
 
 Then, as the dirty water of the Mississippi comes meandering along, it slips 
 through those screens, into this garden, as innocently as any country green- 
 horn was ever taken in in St. Louis. [Laughter.] But the moment it 
 passes the screen, it finds its velocity slackened, the law of its being is 
 upon it. and it must let go part of its load. So down go the little particles 
 of sand and loam to the bottom. And by the time the water wanders round 
 through all the compartments of the beer-garden, and gets out at the lower 
 end, it finds itself, like a good many men who venture into strange places, 
 minus a good share of its portable property. [Laughter.] 
 
 Xow, I have no doubt, this strikes you as a very whimsical and trifling 
 scheme for the accomplishment of so great a work. And I am sure you 
 would be amazed, as I have been, to see the results produced by it. I un- 
 derstand that you are going to take an excursion down the river to-morrow. 
 J am sorry it is so high, because if it were not, you could see on that occa- 
 sion the very thing which I have been describing to you. At Horsetail Bar, 
 where Capt. O. H. Ernst, of the United States Engineers, has been at work 
 about two years, you could see a space several miles long, embracing more 
 than a thousand acres of land, which has been filled from fifteen to twenty 
 feet deep with solid earth, all coaxed from the Mississippi river by tickling 
 its flanks with willow brush. At the same time, the river, being confined by 
 these contraction works to a three thousand feet channel has scoured several 
 additional feet of depth in its own bed. You will understand, of course, 
 that the description I have given you is but an illustration of one mode of 
 dealing with one form of river-bed in which improvement is required. 
 
 As the general question presents itself to me, it is reduced to these 
 very small and narrow limits : the plans now proposed for the improvement 
 of the Mississippi river are the best that the knowledge, experience and 
 skill of the present age can suggest; if they cannot be made successful, no 
 man knows now where to turn for success ; and if the river can be controlled 
 by some such simple and inexpensive means as those now proposed, then its 
 improvement is possible; if not, not. 
 
 There are some other topics, gentlemen, connected with the duties of 
 tht- < 'ommission, to which I would allude if time permitted. The Commis- 
 sion is required by law to consider specifically the subjects of reservoirs, 
 of outlets, and of levees. These have all received the attention of the Com- 
 niN-ion. Their views upon them, so far as matured, have been expressed 
 in th'-ir reports to Congress. One of those subjects that of levees has 
 been, and must continue to be, a topic of special study and investigation. 
 The Commission have collected and pre-<-nt<-d in their reports many 
 important facts bearing upon it, and others will follow. It is a subject too 
 vast in importance to !>< lightly <-on-idered, or hastily disposed of. It 
 remains in the hands of the Cominiion. to be dealt with as experience, 
 future emergencies, and the appropriations made by Congress shall indi- 
 cate. 
 
 'ntlemen, if you will allow me. I will add one other thought. It is 
 not alone in its relations to commerce, trade and wealth that 1 see the 
 
105 
 
 importance of, this river improvement. When the finger of the Almighty 
 outlined this great valley, it pointed to the seat of empire [cheers], and that 
 which was predestined by Nature has been, and is being, fulfilled by man. 
 It has been decided, not without contention and bloodshed, and yet, as I 
 believe, with final unanimity, that all the vast area of that valley shall be 
 inhabited by one people, speaking one tongue, owing glad and proud alle- 
 giance to one government [applause], and bound together by the nearer ties 
 of one common brotherhood. And to all its people, from the eastern moun- 
 tain tops to the western, from Lake Itaska to Port Eads, this great central 
 river is a common pride and a common charge ; and that it shall be so 
 regulated as that its utmost advantages shall be derived for all, and that the 
 burden which it imposes shall be shared by those who share its benefits, is 
 a problem worthy of the solicitude of the nation. 
 
 Passing down the river not long ago, I floated on its broad, smooth 
 channel over the very spot where the batteries of Island No. 10 bellowed 
 forth the awful notes of war. Further below, at the very spot where the 
 Sultana went down, her decks crowded with Union prisoners, their faces 
 turned towards liberty, friends and home, I saw a green island, built up 
 by the river, where the cypress and cottonwood wave over the grave of 
 those ill-fated heroes. 
 
 Xot long since a party of gentlemen of my acquaintance, two of them 
 distinguished actors in the siege of Vicksburg, one of them in the army 
 of the besiegers and the other in the army of the besieged, went out 
 together to look, with the critical eyes of army engineers, upon the lines of 
 defense and attack in that memorable contest. They came back after 
 several hours' absence, tired and dusty, having been utterly unable to find 
 the place for which they sought. Thus do the elements themselves, the 
 river with its flood, the sky with its rains, and the green grass with its sod, 
 seek to obliterate and cover the scars and memories of war. [Applause.] 
 And shall not we, following the example of inanimate nature, say in our 
 hearts : ; ' The war is over with all its bitter memories and resentments for- 
 ever." [Applause.] 
 
 I say, therefore, that it is a good time for the people of the great North- 
 west and the great Southwest to join their hands in the great work of im- 
 proving the noble river which is their common inheritance and their com- 
 mon benefactor. From such a partnership, in an enterprise so truly benefi- 
 cent and national, we shall have good reason to expect, not only extended 
 commerce, great material prosperity, and increased wealth, but, what is 
 more and better, that unity of hearts, and hopes, and interests, in which 
 are the sure guarantees of the indissoluble unity of the States and the na- 
 tion. [Prolonged applause.] 
 
 Mr. Hogan, of Missouri. "1 move that the Convention 
 return a vote of thanks to the gentleman for his eloquent 
 address, and to the Commission he represents." 
 
 The motion was carried by a rising vote. 
 
106 
 
 Mr. Murphy, of Iowa. " If we can resolve ourselves out 
 of the day of resolves, I suggest that before the benediction 
 is pronounced we ascertain who are members of this Conven- 
 tion. Hence I think it would be in order to hear from the 
 Committee on Credentials, and their report. I make the 
 motion that we hear from the Committee on Credentials." 
 
 The President. " I understand from the Secretary, that 
 on yesterday the Convention decided to accept the roll as it 
 was called yesterday in the Convention, as containing the 
 names of the members of the Convention." 
 
 A delegate from Missouri. " The gentleman was out 
 yesterday getting a drink, when the Convention disposed of 
 this question." 
 
 Mr. Murphy. "I confess the soft impeachment, and the 
 gentleman from Missouri was with me." [Laughter.] 
 
 A delegate. " There are a number of delegates who came 
 in since yesterday whose names should be recorded." 
 
 The President. "I am informed that all those to whom 
 the gentleman alludes have been enrolled, and have received 
 their badges." 
 
 Mr. Kennedy, of New Mexico. " I move that we adjourn 
 to half-past three." 
 
 The motion was put and lost. 
 
 Mr. Hogan, of Missouri. " I don't wish to be regarded 
 as obtrusive at all, but I wish to employ all the time we have 
 got as advantageously as possible. The Cominittee on Reso- 
 lutions are now out ; we can do nothing permanently until 
 they report ; but, sir, there are a number of distinguished gen- 
 tlemen here from various States and places, who have been 
 invited some of them I know to address this Convention ; 
 and I would like now if they could be invited to occupy the 
 time not otherwise employed." 
 
 Mr. Walker, of Minnesota. " I second the motion. We 
 have engineers in attendance who are engaged on the great 
 work going on between St. Louis and St. Paul eight him- 
 
107 
 
 dred miles of river in charge of Capt. McKenzie, who is 
 here, and in connection with the remarks of the River Com- 
 mission we should like to hear from Capt. McKenzie as to 
 what progress is being made on the work in his charge. I 
 move he be invited to address the Convention." 
 
 Mr. President. "The Chair would state that next in 
 order is speeches limited to ten minutes, unless extended by 
 the Convention. In the absence of any motion, Capt. Mc- 
 Kenzie will now be heard, if there is no objection." 
 
 Capt. McKenzie. " I consider myself a little out of place 
 as a speaker. I consider my part the practical part of carry- 
 ing out the work. It would be unnecessary for me to speak 
 with regard to the expectations of the work which is going 
 on. I would merely say in a few words, that the work which 
 has been going on for the past three years between the mouth 
 of the Illinois and St. Paul, has now passed the experimental 
 stage. The work that has been done has proved that the 
 plans that have been adopted will, in time, give a good and 
 permanent channel, and that all that is now required is the 
 means with which to carry on this work. [Applause.] VTe 
 have, at many places, already deepened the channel, and, in 
 fact, removed what were, a few years ago, considered the 
 most troublesome obstructions on the upper river. The 
 general plans we are following are simply to confine the river 
 in one uniform channel, and when this is accomplished we 
 shall have a permanent channel of six feet from St. Paul to 
 St. Louis. I thank you, gentlemen, for having expressed a 
 desire to have me address you, but I would ask that with these 
 few remarks I have made, I be excused, inasmuch as I would 
 greatly prefer, as heretofore, to carry on the practical work, 
 than to appear as a public speaker." 
 
 Mr. Stanard, of Missouri. "I move to cut off speech- 
 making; I believe time will be saved. I move that we ad- 
 journ till half-past two o'clock, for a session this afternoon." 
 
 The motion was put and carried, and a recess was taken 
 till the time mentioned. 
 
108 
 
 AFTER RECESS, October 27, 1881. 
 
 The Convention re-assembled at half-past two, President 
 Dunuell in the chair. 
 
 Mr. Hogan, of Missouri. "I suggest that, inasmuch as 
 the Committee on Resolutions are not ready to report, we 
 have some few speeches from gentlemen that I am satisfied 
 will interest the Convention. I would like, if I am in order, 
 to make a motion to that effect." 
 
 The President. " The Convention will naturally at this 
 stage proceed to the order, which says * Speeches limited to 
 ten minutes, unless extended by the Convention ;' this is a 
 part of the order, and speeches of ten minutes are now in 
 order." 
 
 Mr. Hogan. " I suggest that the Convention call on Mr. 
 Cannon, of Illinois." 
 
 The President. " Hon. Joseph G. Cannon, of Illinois, is 
 present, and we shall be glad to have him address the Conven- 
 tion." 
 
 Mr. Cannon said : 
 
 GENTLEMEN: I am here as a looker-on in Venice, and did not come 
 with the intention of addressing or making suggestions to this Convention. 
 And what I may say now will be exceedingly brief. I could not hope, from 
 a general standpoint, to give so happy a discussion of the matter before the 
 Convention as the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Taylor, who addressed you 
 before lunch, and certainly I am not competent to give a close and scientific 
 discourse touching the matter of interest before you. I am here to look on 
 and gather the temper of this Convention, first, from personal observation ; 
 second, I am here because my interest, and the interest of the people \\ith 
 whom I live, demand that some action shall be had to settle the transportation 
 question. [Applause.] Iliveovei in Illinois, on the extreme eastern border, 
 one hundred and thirty miles south of Chicago. The interests of my people 
 primarily, from a commercial centre, are with Chicago and not with 
 >t. Louis, yet after all that is said and done, wherever we can go to trade, our 
 interests are the same in the Mississippi Valley, and that includes the whole 
 of the valley. Somebody said yesterday, and he didn't get it large 
 enough, that there were twenty-four hundred millions of bushels of cereal- 
 produced in this country per annum. The census report shows, that of the 
 twenty-seven million*, my own State of Illinois produced one -i\th: our 
 sister State of Iowa produced one-eighth, and our sister state of Missouri 
 
109 
 
 one-ninth. I need not specify farther; it was nearly all produced in the 
 Mii<sippi Valley. I am reminded in connection with this. from my resi- 
 dence in Illinois and the West, in fact having resided here nearly all my life, 
 from boyhood, that after navigation opens in the spring, for us who are a lit- 
 tle farther north and east, that then we get reasonable freight rates brought 
 about by competition, by lakes and canals. When the ice king lays his 
 strong hand upon those northern waters, then we are at the mercy of those 
 who transport by rail. Thej- are human; they propose to make all they can 
 when they have not full and free competition ; perhaps anybody would do 
 that. I am not here to abuse them. I suppose it is natural that they should. 
 Xow, then, my interest and your interest is to devise a means, if we can. by 
 which this competition shall not be for six months in the year, but per- 
 petual. [Cheers.] The w r ater for a large portion of the year above you on 
 the Mississippi to the Gulf is open, and for twelve months in the year. and 
 I feel that is about all the months there are in the year. from Cairo south, 
 the Mississippi never closes, if I am correct as to my facts. Now, then, if 
 we can have a line of transportation that way. we will soon have all the 
 necessary railroads to reach Cairo or to reach other points, Why, here is 
 this great Wabash system that is reaching out throughout the length and 
 breadth of the country. In the last three years, the Wabash system has got 
 a line from my town in Illinois, Danville, to Cairo, so you will see other 
 roads reaching, not only to Cairo, but to St. Louis, and in that way I think 
 the question will be solved. 
 
 Xow. then, there has been something said in resolutions that have been 
 read to-day, and something otherwise, that to make yourselves practical 
 you ought to demand that appropriations for the Mississippi river, and per- 
 haps its principal tributaries, should be made separate ; that is, that you 
 should have strength enough in the American Congress representatives 
 enough to make appropriations for these improvements, without reaching 
 out and taking in other rivers or harbors. Xow, then, if 3-011 had the strength 
 that would be a very desirable thing to do ; in fact, if I had my way about it, 
 and it were practical, I would have each appropriation, everywhere and for 
 everything, stand upon its own merits. If you have not strength, then you 
 have to do the next best thing. And let me tell you about the river and har- 
 bor bill last winter. I have been a representative for my people up here in 
 Illinois for eight years, and am now upon my fifth term. Last winter the river 
 and harbor bill that was reported was the first and only bill I ever voted for. 
 The manner in which they make up ordinary bills for all appropriations 
 was to have them go into one bill, and they generally made them strong 
 enough that the bill could command two-thirds of the votes of the House, 
 and thereby suspend the rules and pass it. This bill was so good it could 
 not command the necessary two-thirds; and it was a more liberal bill to the 
 Mississippi river and her important tributaries, than was ever before re- 
 ported. It was by the Commerce Committee; and I believe you have a 
 citizen of your own State, Mr. Clardy, who was on that Committee and 
 worked faithfully for your interests and the interests of your country. We 
 
110 
 
 had a representative from Illinois, Mr. Henderson, We want these appro- 
 priations, and the people demand them. They demand a settlement of this 
 question, and if they can't get it settled one way they will another. Many 
 advocates throughout the country say, " Lay the positive arm of positive law 
 on railroad corporations and regulate them in that way." That can be 
 done, provided it is practical; puhlic opinion that is intelligent and deter- 
 mined, and born of necessity, always makes the laws and judicial decisions. 
 If any man had said ten years ago that the Granger decision, so called, 
 made by the Supreme Court of the United States, ever would have been 
 made, the whole legal profession everywhere would have said "No. that 
 never will be." Yet an intelligent public opinion in this republic of ours 
 brought about those influences; and it is right and proper they should have 
 done so. Yet, after all, it is possibly, it is probably, not practical to regii- 
 lat- this whole thing by positive law. We had better bring the forces of 
 trade and competition to bear, if we can, and never resort to positive law 
 until other things have failed, touching the regulation of these great ques- 
 tions. Why, your own great engineer of world-wide fame is helping to set- 
 tle this question; and he is working, and you have worked with him, and 
 the country has worked with you all in harmony with the forces of Nature, 
 and of trade, in settling it. I recollect very well that in 1873 I attended a 
 Convention here ; the first one and the last one I ever attended, until this. I 
 recollect a number of gentlemen went from here to Galvestou and down to 
 the mouth of the river and back home ; a number of members of Congress 
 needed to be informed, and were informed, and this question was pressing 
 upon the country. The first result was the Eads' Jetty bill, and you have 
 the Jetties in successful operation. Now that Convention has accomplished 
 great things, and will accomplish still greater; so I say it is policy to work in 
 harmony with the forces of Nature in improving the great water- way. and be 
 in harmony with the forces of trade underlying the law of demand and 
 supply. And I think you are starting out in that way. and I bid you God- 
 speed, because this fair Mississippi Valley of ours, that produces this wheat, 
 and this corn, and this hay, and this cotton; that produces almost anything 
 and everything that can be produced almost anywhere else in the world, 
 also produces fair women and brave and intelligent men. Is my ten 
 minutes up? 
 
 The President. " Nearly." 
 
 Mr. Cannon. " Then I yield the balance of my time to 
 the next good-looking man that shall address you." 
 
 Mr. Childs, of Missouri. " We have here a delegate, 
 Gen. Rozier, who was a member of the Convention in 1845, 
 and we should like to hear from him." 
 
 The President. " Gen. Rozier is called upon." 
 
Ill 
 
 Gen. Rozier said : 
 
 MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THIS CONVENTION: I feel pro- 
 foundly grateful to you for your kindness on this occasion. L suppose that 
 the interest felt in the improvement of this great valley of the Mississippi 
 may have occasioned, probably, that my name should have been suggested 
 to you. I believe to-day, though somewhat of a young man. that I am the 
 only delegate, with the exception of one man in the city of St. Louis, who 
 was at the great convention that took place in Memphis in 1845, when John 
 C. Calhoun presided. Gentlemen, the questions there were what you have. 
 The great principle in question was whether the General Government could 
 appropriate any money for the improvement of rivers and other improve- 
 ments. It was well discussed. They had reports not only upon the naviga- 
 tion of the rivers West ; but the railroad questions came up, the hospital ques- 
 tions came up, improvements of the great river of the West, and other matters 
 in that line, and the improvements of levees, and the reclamation of vast 
 quantities of swamp lands. Gentlemen, the same principle came there that 
 is now agitated in the valley of the Mississippi. The question with Mr. Cal- 
 houn and his Democratic friends at the time was whether the Constitution 
 permitted of any improvement upon the country by Congress. How was 
 that decided? There w r ere there such men as Gov. Jones of Tennessee, John 
 Bell of Tennessee, C. C. Clay of Alabama, men of genius representing Ken- 
 tucky and Ohio, and Western States; there it was declared that in a national 
 point of view, that the great national rivers, which, by the act of 1789. by 
 Congress adopted that those highways were only subject to improvement 
 and appropriation by Congress. We heard them speak of the Balize; 
 Mr. Calhoun, in that Convention, declared then, as we declare to-day, that 
 the Balize had to be opened for the commerce of the vast Mississippi with 
 the commerce of the world, and it had to be done at what cost it might be. 
 That was the understanding ; and not only that : Mr. Calhoun and the con- 
 vention took the ground that the great national highways came under the 
 charge of the Government just like any other seaport upon the coast, for the 
 protection of the General Government ; and that was the doctrine ; and yet 
 to-day this question is advocated, Are we to go beyond the great national 
 rivers? Your map points out exactly the grand Mississippi that flows from 
 the north to the Gulf of Mexico, and the Ohio, and the Missouri; they are 
 the great national highways we can only protect, and not run into every 
 small rivulet of the country for an appropriation. Xo, I will not delay this 
 Convention, and I cannot delay it; as I suggested here to-day, there are only 
 two members living of that Convention, and that is myself and the Hon. 
 James E. Yeatman, of St. Louis. 
 
 Gentlemen, there is one practical thing, and I will not delay you. 
 There was a very respectable and highly intellectual man in Missouri, who 
 ha- been connected with the Marine Department from the time Com- 
 modore Peny ruled upon the Lakes, and I recollect well his remark- 
 in 1873, when in the Senate of Missouri, I reported there on the commerce 
 and the tonnage and losses upon Western rivers. He wrote this in answer : 
 
112 
 
 " The great Benefactor has intrusted us with the great plan of improving 
 Western rivers for the benefit of mankind." We not only contemplate to- 
 day the vast resources of the valley of the Mississippi; here we are with 
 sixteen millions of people, with one hundred and twenty-nine members of 
 Congress in the Lower House and thirty Senators, and yet the valley of the 
 Mississippi has been unprotected, and those improvements which are neces- 
 sary to be made have not been made. In the last twenty years we have 
 lost three million dollars by the destruction of steamers on Western rivers 
 annually, which would amount to sixty millions; besides that, in the esti- 
 mates for the twenty years, we have had four hundred and sixteen individu- 
 als lost by casualties of the river. There are only three modes by which 
 you can improve these vast Western rivers; and how is that, sir? By these 
 gunboats, that is, the boats for the purpose of extracting snags from the 
 river, which is practical in all its operations. I recollect here but a few 
 years ago that fifty miles from your city one log lay above an island, and nine 
 boats were wrecked on it within six months, and yet the snag-boats came 
 there, and they removed this thing in tw r o hours. That is not all. We want 
 the channel improved and deepened, and we can only do that by following 
 the natural course of the river, and trying to put, likewise, improvements 
 upon this alluvial soil, and hugging the bluff shore of Missouri from here 
 and to the Balize, that is the shore on this side of the river. Isn't it a re- 
 markable fact after you pass St. Louis and go down to Benton, in Scott 
 county, that on the whole western side of the Mississippi there is not a 
 bluff that stands there ; it is alluvial soil. I don't want to go into this mat- 
 ter any further than this, to say that I have always felt a vital interest in 
 the improvements of the West ; and this great and magnificent river we 
 have to-day, ought to have the attention of Congress, and appropriations 
 ought to be made for that purpose, and the time has come. I care not 
 whether the present members of Congress are in favor of it or not, you can- 
 not stop the vast commerce and agricultural interests of the country. You 
 might afe well say it is feasible to build a dam and stop the waters that wash 
 your city, as prevent the progress of this country, and improvement of the 
 great Mississippi. I will go further than this. The city of St. Louis to-day 
 ought to raise a monument to Capt. Eads' name. You ought to have a 
 monument to Fulton, pointing to the great river of the West, in the applica- 
 tion of steam ; it has done so much for the West. You ought to have a 
 monument to Capt. Eads, pointing to the Balize, opening commerce, not 
 only to the Gulf of Mexico, but to the world. I have said enough. 
 
 Mr. Hogan, of Missouri. " We have with us Hon. H. S. 
 Shallenberger, of Pennsylvania, and I would like to have him 
 say a few words to this Convention. I would like to have 
 him make a few remarks." 
 
 A delegate from Illinois. " Some of us want to go home 
 to-night ; we want to hear the resolutions ; we will, of course, 
 
113 
 
 
 
 remain here as long as we possibly can to hear speeches, and 
 hope they will be made, but we would like to hear the reso- 
 lutions and act upon them, or at least have them before the 
 Convention, so that we may go home satisfied of what will be 
 its results ; therefore I suggest that we have the resolutions. 
 I will move that the Chairman of the Committee on Resolu- 
 tions be now requested to make his report. 
 
 The motion was seconded, put, and carried. 
 
 D. F. Kenner, of New Orleans, Chairman of the Com- 
 mittee on Resolutions, then presented the following report. 
 
 MR. PRESIDENT : The Committee on Resolutions, after 
 careful consideration of the objects of the Convention, as set 
 forth in the call under which it has assembled, and of various 
 resolutions which have been submitted to the Committee as 
 expressing the views, not only of individual delegates, but of 
 delegations from widely distant parts of the Mississippi Val- 
 ley, touching those objects and the best mode of promoting 
 them, have instructed me on behalf of the unanimous Com- 
 mittee to report to the Convention the preamble and resolu- 
 tions herewith submitted, with the recommendation that the 
 same be adopted by the Convention. 
 
 [Signed] DUNCAN F. KENNER, 
 
 Chairman Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 The representatives of the commercial interest and agri- 
 cultural and other productive industries of the Mississippi 
 Valley, in convention assembled, at St. Louis, Missouri, be- 
 lieving that the Mississippi river and its navigable tributaries, 
 the great inland water-ways, prepared by the Creator for the 
 use of the people, are a most important and valuable part of 
 the national domain, free to all, beyond the reach of mo- 
 nopoly, and affording to the whole people that competition in 
 transportation which benefits both producer and consumer 
 alike ; and further, that cheap transportation is the great ne- 
 cessity of an agricultural people, the indispensable condition 
 of the easy conveyance to distant markets of their staple pro- 
 ducts, bulky in proportion to value, and that the familiar 
 economical truth, that the cheapest transportation of such 
 products is by water, is especially applicable to the great 
 water-ways of this country, provided the same be kept free 
 
114 
 
 from snags, sand-bars, treacherous banks and other obstacles 
 to navigation, do therefore resolve and declare : 
 
 First. That it is the manifest and imperative duty of the 
 Government of the United States to cause to be made such 
 improvement of the Mississippi river, and its navigable tribu- 
 taries, as shall permanently secure the safe and easy naviga- 
 tion thereof, thereby cheapening freights, reducing insur- 
 ance and other burdens and expenses ; promoting the vast 
 inland commerce of the nation and creating new avenues of 
 foreign trade, and thus not only inviting increased production 
 and population, but assuring greater prosperity to the whole 
 people. Especially is this duty obvious, and our demand 
 justified, in view of the donations already made by Congress 
 in land, amounting to nearly 200,000,000 acres, and in bonds 
 issued or guaranteed, nearly $100,000,000 more, in aid of 
 artificial highways, the property of private individuals, and 
 necessarily furnishing, even at lowest rates, the most costly 
 form of transportation on a large scale, as compared with ap- 
 propriations not yet amounting to $25,000,000 in all, for the 
 improvement of 15,000 miles of natural water-ways, whose 
 freedom from tax imposed or monopoly is protected by Con- 
 stitutional guarantees, while the cheap' service and unre- 
 stricted competition they afford is the most effectual correc- 
 tive of exorbitant charges by any route to the seaboard. That 
 the appropriations for such improvements should be sepa- 
 rately made, with due provisions for assuring the people of 
 their faithful applications to the same, and should be adequate 
 to the continued prosecution of the work once begun until the 
 same is finished, so as to avoid the wasteful destruction of 
 work partially completed by reason of the delay or stoppage 
 thereof for want of sufficient appropriations ; and be it further 
 
 Resolved, That this Convention recognizes with extreme 
 satisfaction and emphatic approval in the passage of the act 
 of Congress of June 28, 1879, "For the appointment of a 
 Mississippi RiverCommission," and in the comprehensive and 
 scientific surveys and important recommendations made by 
 the diatinguished engineers appointed on that Commission, as 
 set forth in their reports of February 17, 1880, and January 
 8, 1881, the first well-considered and effectual step toward 
 the complete and permanent opening of the Mississippi Val- 
 ley to the markets of the world ; but would also strongly ex- 
 press its regret at the refusal of the last Congress, after 
 creating said Commission, and, notwithstanding the deliberate 
 
115 
 
 and emphatic approval of their plans by the House Committee 
 on Improvement of the Mississippi, to appropriate the amount 
 estimated and recommended by said Commission for doing the 
 work by them carefully laid out and proposed ; and be it fur- 
 ther 
 
 Resolved, That in the deliberate and earnest judgment of 
 this Convention, delegated to represent the interests in that 
 behalf of more than one-half the States and Territories of the 
 Union, inhabited by more than one-half of its entire popula- 
 tion, from whom is collected above 70 per cent, of the internal 
 revenue of the nation, whose internal commerce is already 
 one-half that of the whole United States, more than twelve 
 times greater than the total foreign commerce of the nation, 
 and larger than the total foreign commerce of the world 
 but upon whose industry is this year levied, by the obstacle to 
 the safe and easy navigation of the Mississippi river and its 
 navigable tributaries, a needless direct tax, by way of in- 
 creased freights and insurance, demurrage, wrecks and re- 
 pairs of not less than $10,000,000. It is the imperative duty 
 of Congress and the right of the people, for whom this Con- 
 vention is authorized to speak, that the legislation thus wisely 
 begun, be made effectual and permanent by enlarging the 
 powers of the River Commission to include the active pros- 
 ecution of the works already recommended by them, and by 
 the regular and separate appropriations, from year to year, of 
 such sums as said Commission, acting under the reasonable 
 supervision of Congress, shall report as necessary to that end ; 
 so that this great and indispensable work, national in every 
 sense, shall no longer be delayed ; and be it further 
 
 Resolved, That the scientific and comprehensive system of 
 river improvement, by a competent commission, thus inaugu- 
 rated, should be applied to the complete and permanent im- 
 provement and maintenance of all the navigable tributaries of 
 the great river ; and be it further 
 
 Resolved, That this Convention recognizes, with great sat- 
 isfaction, the benefits already resulting to the navigation of 
 the Mississippi river and its principal tributaries by the ex- 
 tension of the light-house system thereto ; and expresses the 
 earnest hope that the partial lighting of those rivers may be 
 speedily enlarged, by increasing the number of districts and 
 lights to such an extent as the Light-house Board, in consulta- 
 tion with the River Commission, shall find necessary to render 
 such service completely efficient ; and be it further 
 
116 
 
 Resolved, That the President of this Convention be and 
 he is hereby authorized and requested to appoint, at his early 
 convenience, a committee of twenty-one, who shall be charged 
 with the duty of preparing, as soon as practicable after the 
 Convention adjourns, a memorial to the Congress of the United 
 States, on behalf of the delegates composing this Convention, 
 and the people whom they represent, in support of, and in 
 accordance with, the foregoing resolutions, embodying such 
 statistics and information as said committee may deem ex- 
 pedient ; that they cause to be printed a sufficient number of 
 copies of said resolutions and memorial, together with the 
 proceedings of this Convention, for wide distribution, and 
 that a copy thereof be placed in the hands of each member of 
 the United States Senate and House of Representatives, as 
 soon as practicable ; and that said committee be, and they are 
 hereby authorized to take such further action touching the 
 proper presentation of said resolutions and memorial to Con- 
 gress, and procuring the due consideration thereof as they may 
 deem best. 
 
 Mr. Hardin, of Missouri. " I move that the report be 
 adopted." 
 
 The motion was seconded. 
 
 Mr. Roberts, of Illinois. " Before that is adopted, I wish 
 to say, I offered a resolution before recess, in regard to the 
 deepening of the Illinois and Michigan canal, which the Com- 
 mittee seems not to have reported on. I want to offer this 
 again before the Convention, and offer it as an amendment 
 'before this Convention. I ask to read it, and if necessary, 
 Illinois wants to be heard upon it. 
 
 "Resolved, That it is the sense of this Convention that the 
 future policy of the Government of the United States for the 
 improvement of the Mississippi river and its navigable tribu- 
 taries should embrace the enlargement and deepening of the 
 Illinois and Michigan canal, and the improvement of the Illi- 
 nois river, so as to afford deep-water navigation from Lake 
 Michigan to the Mississippi river. 
 
 " Now, if I am in order, I want to present a few reasons 
 why I think this should be adopted as the sense of this Con- 
 vention." 
 
117 
 
 The President. " The gentleman moves, as I understand 
 him, the resolution which he has read, as an amendment to 
 the report of the Committee on Resolutions." 
 
 Mr. Roberts. " Yes, as an amendment to the report." 
 
 Mr. Doniphan. " I rise to a point of order, that there is a 
 supplementary report yet to be brought to the attention of 
 the Convention." 
 
 Mr. Roberts. " There is a motion to adopt the report as 
 it has been read. Whatever may come afterwards I don't 
 know, but I suppose it is in order now to offer this as an 
 amendment to the report that has already been read." 
 
 The President. " I think the gentleman is in order." 
 
 Mr. Doniphan. "My point was, I would like to have the 
 full report of the committee." 
 
 The President. "That is another question; the report 
 was read as a whole, and the motion was made to adopt it, 
 and it was in order ; then a gentleman makes an amendment to 
 that report ; the gentleman, therefore, is in order." 
 
 Another delegate. "I rise to a point of order, that that 
 subject is not within the call of the Convention ; to make a 
 recommendation for this canal would be going beyond the 
 navigable streams and tributaries of the Mississippi river. 
 [Applause.] The point is that this seems to bring in a recom- 
 mendation that would extend beyond what I understand to be 
 the scope of this Convention ; that the whole extent is the 
 Mississippi river and its navigable tributaries." 
 
 Mr. Kenner, of Louisiana. "If the gentleman will allow 
 me to make an explanation in justice to the Committee, I 
 would be obliged to him. I mislaid an additional resolution 
 which the Committee had authorized me to report to the Con- 
 vention ; I could not put my hand on it. If you will allow 
 me, I will read that resolution." 
 
 Mr. Roberts, of Illinois. " I will yield for that purpose." 
 
 The President. "As I understand, this resolution was in- 
 tended to be a part of the resolution." 
 
118 
 
 Mr. Kenner, Chairman of Committee on Resolutions. 
 44 Yes, or as a separate report." 
 
 The Secretary then read the following supplemental re- 
 port of the Committee on Resolutions : 
 
 MR. PRESIDENT : Your Committee on Resolutions have 
 also instructed the undersigned, its chairman, at the request 
 of the member of the committee from Iowa, to submit to the 
 Convention, without recommendation, the following resolu- 
 tion : DUNCAN F. KENNER. 
 
 Resolved, That, in the interest of cheap transportation, and 
 to afford a choice of water routes to the seaboard, we regard 
 connections between the navigable waters of the Upper Missis- 
 sippi river and the great lakes, as of great importance ; and 
 that Congress, in making the appropriations to improve the 
 navigation of the Mississippi river and its tributaries, ought 
 not to overlook or disregard the e tablishment of free water 
 communication between the valley of the great river of the 
 West and tide-water of the East . 
 
 Assistant Secretary, Bell. "The chairman of the com- 
 mittee directs me to state that it is offered by the member of 
 the* committee from Iowa, and is placed before the Convention 
 by the committee without recommendation." 
 
 Mr. Roberts, of Illinois. " If I am in order, I would like 
 to be heard upon this resolution." 
 
 The President. "A gentleman has raised a point of order. 
 The Chairman is not familiar with the phraseology of the call, 
 and hence could not now rule upon the point of order that has 
 been raised." 
 
 A delegate. " I would like to say this much in explana- 
 tion of my motion. I think it is clearly not within the scope 
 of the Convention to admit that resolution. I simply do this 
 to expedite the business of the Convention. If that resolution 
 is allowed to come in, there may be hundreds of others just 
 like that. I understand that this Convention was called to- 
 gether for a particular purpose. I am for that resolution, but 
 I am satisfied that the callers of this Convention did not in- 
 
119 
 
 tend the scope to be so great, therefore I insist upon my 
 point of order." 
 
 A delegate from Illinois. " The gentleman in making his 
 point of order claimed that the gentleman from Illinois was 
 outside the call of this Convention. The geographer in pre- 
 paring the map for this Convention left off a city which we of 
 Illinois, and all members from the Northwest, are a little proud 
 of, a city called Chicago. [Laughter.] It is a small place ; 
 it does very little business." 
 
 A voice. " Where is it? " 
 
 The other delegate. " I can't tell you ; it is not on the 
 map. It does very little business ; but that city, small as it 
 is, too insignificant to be represented upon that map, has al- 
 ready expended three million dollars in making a canal for the 
 passage of the waters of Lake Michigan through the Illinois 
 river into the waters of the Mississippi. In connection with 
 that, and in carrying out that measure for the improvement of 
 the Illinois river, the State of Illinois has already expended 
 one million dollars in the construction of a lock and dam at 
 one point, and another lock and dam at another point, making 
 one hundred miles of slack- water navigation. And that they 
 have received no aid from the Government, but, in place of 
 that, money has been expended on the lower end of the Illi- 
 nois river, and not one particle of good has been accomplished 
 by it. Now, then, we wish to have this matter brought before 
 the National Government. In the river convention held at 
 Quincy two years ago a resolution was adopted, and some 
 appropriations have been made by Congress, to establish res- 
 ervoirs in an unknown region of Minnesota." 
 
 A delegate. " I rise to a point of order. Is the gentle- 
 man speaking upon the point of order, or discussing the merits 
 of the proposition? " 
 
 The delegate from Illinois. " I am speaking to the point 
 of order; I propose to make this point, that the Illinois river 
 is a navigable tributary of the Mississippi river, and it is 
 within the purview of this call." 
 
120 
 
 A delegate. " I rise to a point of order, that the gentle- 
 man is not speaking to the point of order, but discussing the 
 merits of a proposition not before the Convention as yet." 
 
 Mr. Simrall, of Mississippi. " I rise simply to explain 
 what I understood to be the sentiment of the Committee on 
 Resolutions on that subject, and my own as a member of that 
 committee. We did not undertake to pass judgment upon 
 the merits of the proposition. We rather thought that the 
 scope of the resolution was outside, probably, of the object 
 of this body ; but, inasmuch as the subject referred to in the 
 resolution is one of a vast importance to the commerce of 
 this valley, we thought it best to remit the resolution to the 
 judgment and decision of the whole Convention. I make this 
 suggestion as to the order of procedure : Some of us are 
 very far from home, and at considerable personal inconven- 
 ience have come to this body. The body of that report met 
 the unanimous vote of every member of the committee from 
 all parts of this valley. Let us at this time dispose of the 
 body of the report the resolutions assented to and recom- 
 mended by the committee ; when that is done let this debata- 
 ble proposition, about which contrarity of opinion may arise, 
 come before this body and be disposed of upon its own merits. 
 I have said more now than I intended. I have but a single 
 word more to add, if it is in order ; therefore, I would move 
 that this body proceed to consider that part of the report of 
 the committee, in which the committee reported to this Con- 
 vention certain resolutions for its adoption." 
 
 The President. " That motion is now pending, and the 
 gentleman from Illinois has moved to amend that report, and 
 the gentleman upon the left has raised the point of order that 
 the resolution is not in order, and the Chair sustains the point 
 of order." [Loud applause.] 
 
 Mr. Roberts, of Illinois. " I was speaking on the point 
 of order. I suppose it would be fair that I should be heard." 
 
 The President. " If the gentleman was speaking on the 
 point of order he will be heard, and the ruling withheld." 
 
121 
 
 Mr. Koberts, of Illinois. " I understand this call embraces 
 the improvement of the Mississippi river and its navigable 
 tributaries. I believe it has been known for more than half a 
 century that the Illinois river is a tributary of the Mississippi, 
 and that it has been navigable, and is a much better stream for 
 navigation to-day than any stream of its size in the United 
 States." 
 
 A delegate. " I ask whether a point of order is debata- 
 ble." 
 
 The President. " Yes, the point of order is debatable. 
 The gentleman is now speaking by permission of the Chair." 
 
 The delegate. "The gentleman can state his point of 
 order, but not discuss other questions." 
 
 The President. "The gentleman is right in that; the 
 gentleman (Mr. Roberts) must confine himself to the point 
 of order." 
 
 Mr. Roberts. " The question whether the Illinois river is 
 a navigable stream and is a tributary, is a question, and I sup- 
 pose we have a right to be heard upon that. This call does 
 not designate what streams are tributary to the Mississippi, 
 what are navigable. If this call had outlined and given us 
 the names of certain streams that this Convention was called 
 to take into consideration, that might have been excluded, but 
 it did not elect to do that ; it says all of the navigable tribu- 
 taries. Now, the question is, whether the Illinois river is a 
 navigable tributary ; and that is a question of fact, and gen- 
 tlemen have a right to have that passed upon ; and have I not 
 the right to discuss the question now from that standpoint, as 
 to whether it is a navigable tributary of the Mississippi river? 
 If it is a navigable tributary, then my resolution is germain. 
 Now, I have offered this as one of the representatives of Illi- 
 nois upon this floor ; Illinois is something of a State ; Illinois 
 has something of a representation upon the floor of Congress ; 
 she has a voice there that will be heard when these reso- 
 lutions, to which I can give my hearty support, come to be 
 considered before the Congress of the United States. Does 
 
122 
 
 this Convention want to stifle the voice of the State of Illi- 
 nois, the great State of the valley of the Mississippi river? 
 Do you want to say to the representatives that represent the 
 people of Illinois upon the floor of Congress, that you wouldn't 
 even consider a resolution that is of vital importance to Illi- 
 nois and the valley of the Mississippi river? Now, I am only 
 asking for the sense of the Convention, that in future the Gov- 
 ernment of the United States shall take into consideration 
 this question. It is well known that the State of Illinois, 
 after spending one million dollars in making the Illinois and 
 Michigan canal, and improving the Illinois river last year, pro- 
 vided for the cession of that great highway to the Government 
 of the United States. Now this question of fact " 
 
 A delegate from Indiana. " I rise to a point of order, that 
 any member stating a point of order, has not a right to dis- 
 cuss the question at issue. I hope the Chair will so rule, 
 otherwise there will be no end." 
 
 The President. " The point of order is well taken. The 
 member from Illinois must confine himself to the point of 
 order." 
 
 A delegate from Missouri. " If the Illinois river rs naviga- 
 ble, it is already included in the resolution, and it is not 
 necessary to go over the ground again." 
 
 A delegate from Arkansas. "I would like to ask if the 
 canal you speak of is a tributary, why is it any more neces- 
 sary to mention it than the river I live upon?" 
 
 Mr. Roberts, of Illinois. " I will reply to that, if I am in 
 order." 
 
 The President. " Will the gentleman allow the Chair to 
 state, there are a large number of delegates who desire to 
 
 li upon the body of the report as first read. The supple- 
 mental resolution will give to the gentleman from Illinois an 
 opportunity then to present his resolution. The Chair de- 
 cided upon the point of order, perhaps, with haste ; but it 
 was inclined to do so that this course now indicated by the 
 
123 
 
 Chair might be pursued for the comfort and convenience of 
 all." 
 
 Mr. Roberts, of Illinois. "I will yield, with the under- 
 standing that I may have the floor for this resolution when 
 the report of the committee is passed upon." 
 
 The President. " The gentleman will have the opportu- 
 nity. He shall be recognized for that purpose." 
 
 Mr. Chase, of Nebraska, arose in the rear of the hall and 
 secured recognition by the Chairman, amid constant calls for 
 the " Question ! question !" 
 
 He said : * < Final action upon the resolutions is an im- 
 portant matter too important to be taken without further 
 debate. Upon one proposition the one generally received 
 that the Missouri is tributary to the Mississippi, they sound 
 all right. But, sir, when and how, is this grand and reverend 
 assemblage, who do not entertain this proposition those who 
 claim that, as a matter of fact, the Mississippi is a tributary 
 of the Missouri. [Laughter.] These audible smiles, gentle- 
 men, are no answers to this proposition. Let us see whether 
 there is not sense in it. The two rivers vary but little in 
 length. The Mississippi, from its source to its mouth, is put 
 down as 3,160 miles long. The Missouri, before it reaches 
 the Mississippi, is 3,100 miles long, while the Mississippi, 
 when joined by the Missouri, has only traveled less than 
 half that distance. Surely, if the Mississippi is the ' Father 
 of Waters,' the Missouri is the mother. [Laughter.] And then 
 the Missouri gives its own caste to the Mississippi after their 
 junction. The Missouri, brought into existence by those beau- 
 tiful springs and most beautiful cascades of the far-off Rockies, 
 which hang like so many silver ribbons from those craggy 
 peaks, speeds on to the embrace of the Mississippi, and greet- 
 ing her with a kiss, imprints upon her cheeks, never more to 
 be eradicated, her own dusky hue, the hue of an incompara- 
 bly rich soil a hue which a thousand Indian summers has 
 never faded. That complexion the Mississippi carries with 
 her to the Gulf of Mexico, and for several miles from its 
 
124 
 
 mouth, ere it is retouched by the deep blue of the ocean wave. 
 I have, myself, .many times witnessed this fact. Even the 
 Ohio noble stream that it is when it joins the Mississippi 
 mingles with this Missouri tint, only to be engulfed by it. 
 Which river, then, is the tributary? Is it the Missouri, which 
 joins the Mississippi with 3,000 miles of water, or is it the 
 Mississippi, which joins the Missouri with 1,200 miles?" 
 
 A member. "You are not speaking to the question. I 
 call the gentleman to order." 
 
 Mr. Chase. " State your point of order, sir. I am in 
 order." [Laughter.] 
 
 The same member. " Mr. President, I call the gentleman 
 to order. He is not speaking to the point." 
 
 The President. " The gentleman from Nebraska is in 
 order." 
 
 Mr. Chase. " We, of the Missouri valley, have always 
 treated you and the entire delegation from Missouri with gen- 
 erous consideration. St. Louis has no warmer friends than 
 she can find in the Nebraska delegation. I have spoken on 
 several occasions, years ago, before the Merchants' Ex- 
 change, on matters of mutual interest to our people, and your 
 people, and I appeal to my long-time friends, Mr. Hogan, Mr. 
 Stanard and other St. Louis gentlemen, to say whether 
 Omaha and St. Louis have not always been friends. Why, 
 then, does Missouri object to the tenor of my views?" 
 
 A member from Missouri. You are charging this on 
 Missouri, and the point of order was raised by a member from 
 Indiana." 
 
 Mr. Chase. " It might probably come from Indiana, but 
 I was surprised that it should come from Missouri. [Ap- 
 plause.] The gentleman from Indiana may yet find out that 
 I am no novice at this convention business. I have been in 
 many gatherings similar to this. While scarcely out of my 
 minority I wa.s a delegate from Buffalo, where I was then 
 reading law, to the famous river and harbor convention at 
 Chicago, in 1847, and always since have taken a deep interest 
 
125 
 
 in works of internal improvement, which I believe, when sev- 
 eral States are interested, should be aided by the National 
 Government. I have noticed the apparent drift of this Con- 
 vention from the beginning the Mississippi drift but I know 
 St. Louis and Missouri too well to believe they could be other- 
 wise than generous to the Missouri river country. The Ne- 
 braska delegation came here to represent that country so far 
 as our State is concerned. We have a large amount of grain 
 and other products to ship, and we demand cheap transporta- 
 tion for them, both for the benefit of the consumer, as well as 
 the producer. We raised in that State this season 100,000,- 
 000 bushels of cereals, young as we are, and a very large por- 
 tion of this finds a market outside the State. While we do 
 not desire to antagonize railroad interests, we will barge our 
 grain to you down the Missouri, if you will carry it that way to 
 market at a lower freight tariff than any other route. Our 
 grain interests, too, are largely supplemented by cattle and 
 hogs, and other bulky marketable products, which, if reduced 
 to the barrel, could as well be barged as railed. What we 
 want, and what we intend to have, at all hazards, is fair play 
 for the new Northwest. 
 
 "Improve the Missouri and give her waters a chance, and 
 she will soon shovel out a feasible channel for all your com- 
 merce on the Mississippi. 
 
 "Mr. President, I notice my time, ten^minutes, is almost 
 up ; I beg pardon for using even that short time in a Conven- 
 tion like this, of so many hundred men, many of them men of 
 practical experience in river navigation. I believe in the as- 
 sertion that no one present has ever before, in a commercial 
 convention in this country, looked upon so many^ray heads, 
 shall I say, to speak the truth, bald heads [laughter] , grown 
 bald in studying out a way to readily navigate the great in- 
 land seas of the West? But, sir, we could not answer for 
 silence ; how should we go home, and the Missouri valley 
 remain practically unprovided for. Had I not been interrup- 
 ted, I would have had time to tell you more about Nebraska, 
 
126 
 
 as well as something about her chief city, Omaha, a city now 
 of 40,000 people, and from whence we shipped last year ]0,- 
 000,000 bushels of grain, 160,000 beef cattle, and transacted 
 a commercial city business of $50,000,000. But time forbids. 
 Come and see us, and when you leave our productive acres, 
 you will all be Missouri valley men , I assure you . ' ' [Cheering. ] 
 
 The President. "The Chair is compelled to state that 
 this hall can be had but thirty minutes longer by this Con- 
 vention to-day, and I trust the gentlemen will not unneces- 
 sarily consume the time of the Convention/' 
 
 A delegate. " The subject-matter of the amendment of 
 the gentleman from Illinois is embraced entirely in the sup- 
 plemental report." 
 
 Cries of" Question!" 
 
 The President. "The question before the Convention is 
 upon the adoption of the report of the Committe on Resolu- 
 tions." 
 
 A delegate. " I ask for the reading again of that portion 
 having reference to the enlargement of the powers of the 
 Mississippi River Commission, so far as it refers to the exten- 
 sion of those powers to the navigable tributaries of the Missis- 
 sippi." 
 
 The portion was then read. 
 
 The President. "It is moved and seconded that the 
 report of the Committee on Resolutions be adopted. As 
 many as favor this motion will say *aye.' ' 
 
 The question was then put, and the report was unani- 
 mously adopted. 
 
 The President. " The Secretary will now read the sup- 
 plemental report." 
 
 The Secretary then read the supplemental report of the 
 Committee on Resolutions, as printed on page 118. 
 
 A delegate from Arkansas. "I offer an amendment to 
 that: that the Arkansas river, from Fort Smith, be opened 
 clear to Wichita, Kansas." 
 
 The question was put on the amendment, and it was lost. 
 
127 
 
 Mr. Hardin, of Missouri. " I think the report has not 
 been adopted, because the rules require a call by States." 
 
 The President. " If the gentleman is correct, the States 
 should be called. The present Chairman was not a member 
 of the Convention yesterday, and was not aware of that rule." 
 
 Mr. Kozier, of Missouri. " I move the suspension of the 
 rule, so that the report of the Committee on Resolutions be 
 adopted." 
 
 The question was put on the motion, and it was carried. 
 
 The question was then put on the adoption of the report 
 of the Committee on Resolutions, and it was adopted unani- 
 mously. 
 
 The President. " The question before the Convention is 
 the supplementary report, which has been read, and the gen- 
 tleman from Illinois (Mr. Roberts) is in order." 
 
 Mr. Roberts, of Illinois. " I now offer this resolution of 
 mine." 
 
 The President. " You offer it as an amendment or a sub- 
 stitute?" 
 
 Mr. Roberts: " I offer this as an amendment to the reso- 
 lution : 
 
 " Resolved, That it is the sense of this Convention that 
 the future policy of the Goverment of the United States for 
 the improvement of the Mississippi river and its navigable 
 tributaries, should embrace the enlargement and deepening of 
 the Illinois and Michigan canal, and the improvement of the 
 Illinois river, so as to afford deep-water navigation from Lake 
 Michigan to the Mississippi river." 
 
 Mr. Roberts. "Now, in advocacy of this, I have only 
 one word to say." 
 
 A delegate. " I rise to the same point of order. I have 
 no objection to his speaking of the Illinois river, but when he 
 speaks of the Illinois and Michigan canal, I rise to a point of 
 order." 
 
128 
 
 Mr. Roberts. " If the gentlem.an has ever traveled over 
 that country he will see that the Illinois river runs to the city 
 of Chicago and the lakes. It seems to me there is a disposi- 
 tion, in common parlance, to sit down on this resolution, but 
 Illinois wants to be heard or part of it at least. Now, the 
 little town at the head of navigation on the Illinois river is the 
 city of Peoria, the second city in the State of Illinois. It 
 pays more revenue into the treasury of the United States to- 
 day than the city of St. Louis." 
 
 Cries of "Whisky! " 
 
 Mr. Roberts. " Yes, I want to see whether Illinois has a 
 right to be heard. I will call the attention of the Convention 
 for one moment to the receipts of grain in the city of Peoria, 
 saying nothing of the receipts at other towns bordering on 
 the Illinois river. The receipts of grain for the year 1880, 
 were 26,041,335 bushels. There was shipped off 20,666,225 
 bushels. She paid into the Treasury of the United States, in 
 revenue last year, $10,752,319. She manufactured 18,475,- 
 565 gallons of whisky. Now, I know this is a cold-water Con- 
 vention, but I don't believe that this cold-water Convention 
 would object to getting the product of the taxes that is col- 
 lected from whisky to furnish money to carry out the views of 
 this Convention. Therefore, I shall not detain this Conven- 
 tion. I want this Convention to understand that Illinois is on 
 the map ; that the city of Chicago is on the map ; that the 
 Illinois river, from the Mississippi to Chicago, demands the 
 attention of this country, as well as other tributaries to the 
 great river, and I move the adoption of this resolution." 
 
 The President. " As many as favor the adoption of the 
 amendment will say aye.' ' 
 
 The question was put, and the vote was taken by division. 
 
 The President. "It is evident there is a very large majority 
 airainst the adoption of the amendment." 
 
 Mr. Stanard, of Missouri. " Mr. Chairman, and gentle- 
 
129 
 
 men of the Convention ; I desire to make an announcement 
 while the Convention is full . [Laughter, and a voice Peoria . ' ] 
 You remember I was instrumental in your getting lunch two 
 hours ago. I desire to make this announcement on behalf of 
 the Local Executive Committee, relative to the plan of enter- 
 tainment, which will be given in honor of this Convention here 
 in this theatre this evening. There has been some confusion 
 relative to the tickets, and I desire to announce on behalf of 
 the Executive Committee, in charge of this and other matters 
 of detail relative to your entertainment, that those members of 
 the delegation who have not already received their tickets, or if 
 they find it inconvenient for them to get them, that they will 
 be admitted here to-night on their badges. I am requested to 
 make, also, an announcement that concerns the citizens of St. 
 Louis, more than the Convention, that those who have sub- 
 scribed for the expenses of the Convention and entertainment, 
 I refer to the merchants of the city of St. Louis, that their 
 tickets have been sent by messengers to their stores this after- 
 noon, and should they not receive them, that they will be ad- 
 mitted at the door, Mr. George Bain, being Chairman of the 
 Entertainment Committee, and having the list, and knowing 
 who are entitled to admission. I desire to make another state- 
 ment on behalf of the Local Executive Committee. It is this, 
 that to-morrow at 12 o'clock it is the design of the merchants 
 of the city of St. Louis, that there shall be a grand excursion 
 take place on the river, on barges and boats, etc., on which 
 occasion a collation will be served, and we want every dele- 
 gate to this Convention to remain and attend that excursion, 
 and we will make it as agreeable as it possibly can be." 
 
 Mr. Kennedy, of New Mexico. " I move the adoption of 
 the resolution the supplemental report." 
 
 The question was put. 
 
 The President. " The ayes ' appear to have it." 
 
 Mr. Rowland, of Missouri. " I wish to say that an invi- 
 tation is extended to the People's Theatre. The delegates 
 will require nothing but their badges." 
 
130 
 
 A delegate. " I move you, that inasmuch as there is a dif- 
 ference of opinion as to whether the supplemental report was 
 adopted, that that matter be laid on the table. " 
 
 The question was taken by division. 
 
 The President. " The * noes' have it, and the resolution is 
 still before the Convention." 
 
 The question was put on the adoption of the resolution, 
 and it was not adopted, the vote being, ayes 84 ; noes 131. 
 
 Mr. McEnery, of Louisiana. " I give notice that on to- 
 morrow I will move a reconsideration of the vote by which 
 this resolution was defeated." 
 
 Mr. Kowland, of Missouri. " I move that the Conven- 
 tion adjourn till ten A. M., to-morrow, October 28, 1881." 
 
 The motion was carried, and the Convention adjourned. 
 
SECTION 3 THIRD DAT. 
 
 OCTOBER 28, 1881. 
 
 The Convention was called to order by the President at 
 ten A. M. 
 
 The President said. " By a mistake yesterday, the Vice- 
 Presidents who were elected were not invited to take their 
 places upon the stage ; if there are those in the audience now 
 who were elected as Vice-Presidents, they will please come 
 forward and take their places with those that are now on the 
 stage." 
 
 A delegate from Iowa. " There was a mistake in our 
 delegation. Hon. Mr. Craig, of Dubuque, was elected Vice- 
 President. " 
 
 Mr. Chase, of Nebraska. "Does taking seats on the 
 platform preclude us from taking part in the debate?" 
 
 The President. "It does not. Gentlemen of the Con- 
 vention, the following telegram has been received, which I 
 will now read : 
 
 "WASHINGTON, D. C., Oct. 27, 1881. 
 
 " To MICHAEL McENNis, President: 
 
 "I sincerely regret that I cannot visit St. Louis at this time 
 and take part in the proceedings of your Convention. The 
 measure which you assemble to consider is one of great national 
 importance, and is entitled to prompt and favorable considera- 
 tion by Congress. Official engagements imperatively detain 
 me here, and deprive me of the privilege of enforcing my 
 views by public address. 
 
 " JAMES G. ELAINE." 
 
 The President. "Just before the adjournment of the 
 Convention yesterday, a motion was made to reconsider 
 the vote of the Convention rejecting the supplemental reso- 
 
 [131] 
 
132 
 
 lution reported by the Committee on Resolutions ; that was 
 entered, and if there be no objection, that motion will now be 
 entertained." 
 
 Mr. McEnery, of Louisiana. "Just before the Conven- 
 tion adjourned yesterday, I notified the Convention that on to- 
 day I would move a reconsideration of the vote by which this 
 supplemental resolution was lost ; and now, sir, I move a re- 
 consideration of that vote ; and in making that motion, I 
 desire to submit to the Convention one or two reasons that 
 induced me to make this motion." 
 
 The President. " Will the gentleman allow the resolution 
 first to be read, and then his remarks will be in order." 
 
 The resolution was then read as follows : 
 
 Resolved, That, in the interest of cheap transportation, 
 and to afford a choice of water routes to the seaboard, we 
 regard connections between the navigable waters of the Upper 
 Mississippi river and the great lakes, as of great importance ; 
 and that Congress, in making the appropriations to improve 
 the navigation of the Mississippi river and its tributaries, 
 ought not to overlook or disregard the establishment of free 
 water communication between the valley of the great river 
 of the West and tide- water of the East. 
 
 Mr. McEnery. " Now, Mr. President, after the adjourn- 
 ment of the Convention yesterday, I met several delegates, 
 not only among my own delegation, but from other States, 
 who informed me that they had misapprehended the resolution 
 which had been read to the Convention, and rejected by the Con- 
 vention ; they had confounded it with the resolution intro- 
 duced by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roberts), that 
 singled the Illinois river out of the tributaries to the Missis- 
 sippi river that should receive the favorable consideration of 
 Congress ; and, as a matter of course, acting under that con- 
 viction, they voted against this resolution. Now, gentlemen 
 of the Convention, this resolution announces the abstract 
 proposition that it is to the interest of the commerce of the 
 Mississippi Valley that that commerce may be extended to the 
 
133 
 
 Atlantic seaboard by water communication, thus connecting 
 the Mississippi river with the great lakes to the Northwest, 
 and consequently with the commerce of the Atlantic seaboard. 
 Now, sir, I want to know whether this Convention desires it 
 to go forth to the country that they are opposed to the con- 
 nection of the Mississippi Valley with the great commerce 
 which lies along the great lakes of the great Northwest. I 
 don't believe, gentlemen of the Convention, that that is the 
 sentiment of the Convention, and hence it is I move a recon- 
 sideration of that vote, in order that we may take deliberate 
 action upon it, and not act in the hasty manner we did yester- 
 day, when a vote was registered against it, just on the eve of 
 the adjournment of the Convention." 
 
 Mr. Murphy, of Iowa. " I second the motion of the 
 gentleman from Louisiana. It seems to me, Mr. President, 
 that if we would consider carefully and prudently not only the 
 primary objects of this Convention, but the scope and exact 
 meaning of that resolution, we would have no hesitation as 
 to our action. As I understand it, this Convention is called 
 primarily in the interest of cheap transportation ; for it is 
 cheap transportation or not cheap transportation. That is the 
 question in which we are all interested. We, sir, are not, in 
 Iowa, wedded to any particular route. If the market of New 
 Orleans, by the establishment of barge lines, furnishes, in the 
 competition for trade, a better market for the products of 
 Iowa and the Northwest, she will obtain them ; but if it does 
 not, she will not ; and it is due to this Convention to state 
 this, speaking for myself individually, and I believe I reflect 
 the sentiment of Iowa, that if the question before this Con- 
 vention was whether the Mississippi river should be improved, 
 or not, we would favor the improvement of the Mississippi 
 river, and retire all other projects. [Cheers.] That is the 
 way we feel ; but, sir, we do not think that because we ask 
 mark you, only an expression of this Convention in favor of 
 a water route upon the Northern Mississippi, indicating no 
 particular route, but saying that it is in the interest of the 
 
134 
 
 commerce of the Northwest that we shall have a choice of 
 routes to the seaboard, and that is all we ask. We think that 
 we are not antagonizing an interest either the primary in- 
 terest, for which this Convention was called, or any other. 
 Now, it is a well-known fact, as a part of the history of these 
 conventions, Mr. President, that a convention was called at 
 Davenport, in May last, for the purpose of considering a water 
 route, connecting the Northern Mississippi with the Eastern 
 seaboard, by way of the great lakes ; and it is also a part of 
 the history of that convention, that the people of the Missis- 
 sippi Valley, south of the Des Moines rapids, came to that 
 convention and earnestly pressed and asked for an expression 
 in favor of the improvement of the Mississippi river. They 
 were treated kindly ; they were treated generously, and, al- 
 though that convention was called for another and an express 
 purpose, a resolution in favor of the improvement of the Mis- 
 sissippi river was entertained and passed unanimously. Now, 
 while I do not desire to say anything to this Convention in 
 the way of menace, or in the way of inducing, or using any 
 means to induce, an opinion other than is perfectly legitimate 
 and proper, permit me to say that the history of Congres- 
 sional action in the past warrants me in making the statement 
 that the friends of the Mississippi river had better poll every 
 vote they possibly can, to the end they may secure a liberal 
 appropriation in Congress. [Applause.] And it is a fact, 
 not to be denied or disguised, that New York, Michigan, Ohio, 
 Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa are all directly inter- 
 ested in the principle asserted by the resolution. Those States 
 are represented in Congress. New York and Chicago are to- 
 day jealous of the trade that they believe legitimately be- 
 longs to them, that is drifting down the Mississippi river ; and 
 mark you, their representatives in Congress feel that jealousy, 
 and perhaps it is well, here and now, for us to recognize they 
 are an important factor in the improvement of the Missis- 
 sippi river. [Cheers.] Mr. Chairman, I have detained you 
 longer than I intended. I hope that this motion will pre- 
 
135 
 
 vail, that the vote will be reconsidered and the resolution 
 passed." 
 
 Mr. Stanard of Missouri. "Mr. President and gentlemen 
 of the Convention, I do not desire to detain you more than 
 a moment, or but a very few moments. I believe, as was 
 stated by the gentleman from Louisiana, that this resolution, 
 reported from the Committee on Resolutions without recom- 
 mendation, was not thoroughly understood by this Conven- 
 tion. I believe that I understood it ; I voted for the resolution. 
 I did not then know how the Missouri delegation would vote, 
 and I do not now know how they will vote upon the question 
 under consideration. But as for me, I propose to vote for the 
 reconsideration of this resolution ; and if it is reconsidered, 
 then I propose to vote for it on its final passage ; and I would 
 like to give a reason or two why I do this. I appreciate the 
 fact most highly, that has been suggested by my distinguished 
 friend from Iowa (Mr. Murphy), that if adequate appropria- 
 tions are secured for the improvement of the Mississippi river 
 and its great tributaries, that we have got to have the votes of 
 Western members in Congress, members who live in Michigan, 
 members who live in Wisconsin, members who live in Iowa 
 and Minnesota, who are more largely interested in the com- 
 merce of the lakes, by virtue of their location, than they will 
 be in the commerce of the Mississippi river, through the Mis- 
 sissippi, and through the Jetties to the Gulf, and from thence 
 to the markets of the world. Because we cannot expect, 
 while we may get the votes of many distinguished patriots of 
 the East for the improvement of these great water-ways, there 
 are many votes that we cannotget. My mind this moment recurs 
 with pleasure to the conduct of the Davenport convention, 
 which was referred to by my friend from Iowa (Mr. Murphy), 
 a convention called for the purpose of facilitating the improve- 
 ment of water-way communication between the lakes and the 
 Mississippi river. I shall not forget their treatment there, 
 and their unanimous votes in favor of a strong resolution for 
 the improvement of the Mississippi river, and that these ap- 
 
136 
 
 propriations should stand for this purpose, separate and dis- 
 tinct, and upon their own merits, without any other appropria- 
 tion tacked upon the bill. And when a voice rang out so 
 clearly the other morning, from a back seat, stating he repre- 
 sented Michigan, I remembered how they voted ; how the 
 Representatives in Congress and Senators of that State were 
 to the appropriation for the improvement of the mouth of the 
 Mississippi river, by the Jetty system, in the Forty-third Con- 
 gress. [Cheers]. I doubt whether that would ever have been 
 passed and I was there and know something of what I speak 
 had it not been for the co-operation of Senator Conger, 
 Representatives Burroughs and Williams of Michigan, and of 
 Williams of Wisconsin, and also of the earnest co-operation 
 of now United States Senator, Sawyer, from Wisconsin ; and 
 it seems to me we cannot afford to do anything that would 
 antagonize any of the people from the Northwest. Now what 
 does this resolution ask ? It does not ask that the Hennepin 
 canal be constructed ; it does not ask that the Michigan canal 
 to the Illinois river shall be constructed, or that adequate im- 
 provements shall be made there, but it simply asks the people 
 here in this central city, congregated in this Mississippi Valley, 
 to recognize the fact that it will be for the interest of the people 
 for many of the people of this great Mississippi Valley that 
 there shall be communication between the Mississippi Valley 
 and the lakes, and thence to tide-water. It seems to me there 
 is nothing unreasonable in this. There may be said to be 
 jealousy between the cities of St. Louis and Chicago. There 
 is, but the rivalry has been a healthy one, and it has helped 
 us, and I hope it has helped them also. I have none of that 
 parsimonious feeling, so far as I am concerned ; and if 'I had, 
 and if you had, what difference would it make ? The man who 
 ascends the mountain, and struggles with all his might and 
 attains the summit, lias ;i right to view the beautiful scenery 
 around about him, and expand his lungs, and take in the air, 
 while the laggard who undertook to go with him rests beneath 
 the shadow of some friendly rock. And the city that uses its 
 
137 
 
 greatest exertion, puts forth its best energy, and is worthiest 
 of the emoluments coming from energy and patriotism, and 
 fidelity to the public interests, has a right to the enjoyment of 
 those facilities which come to it. I hope that the vote will be 
 reconsidered." 
 
 Mr. Hitchcock, of Missouri. " I do not think it necessary 
 to add in the way of persuasion anything to what has been said 
 from the extremes of this continent, on the part of the North, 
 and by my colleague, the chairman of the delegation from St. 
 Louis. I desire the privilege of saying for myself, and I 
 know that I reflect also the sentiments of gentlemen who are 
 representative men of the commercial interests of St. Louis, 
 as the last speaker is, that I hope this resolution will be re- 
 considered, and that it will be passed. I desire to call the at- 
 tention of the Convention in addition to the reasons given by 
 the last speaker, to the simple proposition that this resolution 
 avoids that which we all felt might be a source of danger or 
 objection undue prominence to any particular plan or inter- 
 est, and simply sets forth a general universal expression of a 
 spirit which will be in strict accord with the spirit and action 
 of this Convention to-day." 
 
 Mr. Benton, of Minnesota. "I am convinced that the 
 Convention made a mistake yesterday afternoon. The record 
 of the Convention will read as now, < Resolved, that in the 
 judgment of this Convention, Congress should not consider 
 the question of water-way between the Mississippi river and 
 the great lakes ; it ought to overlook and disregard these 
 questions.' Now, Mr. President, I don't believe that this is 
 the record this Convention wants to make here. I don't be- 
 lieve that this Convention wants to put the West in hostility 
 and antagonism to the East. If it had been simply the ques- 
 tion of adoption of one particular route the Hennepin canal, 
 or any other scheme, I would not have been content ; if it had 
 been simply a question of rivalry between these two great 
 cities, in view of the magnificent reception we have had here, 
 I would have voted for St. Louis every time. But, Mr. Pres- 
 
138 
 
 ident, this is not a special scheme ; it does not commit the 
 Convention to any one scheme, or to any one project ; it simply 
 asks that all these questions have a fair consideration. If there 
 be objections, as I am told there are, to the Hennepin canal, 
 er to any other improvement offered for consideration, they 
 should be fairly considered. But the record of this Conven- 
 tion, as it stands now, is one of hostility ; and it is not wise, 
 when you go to present the action of this Convention, to have 
 to say that the deliberate resolution of the Convention was 
 that we want to put ourselves in hostile relations towards the 
 very men we need to help us. It is not only inexpedient, but 
 it is not right ; we must not permit sectional jealousies ; we 
 have had enough of that ; the time is past. Let us hope the 
 West will never be put in hostile relations to the East. Many 
 of us remember the East with pride ; it is the home of our 
 boyhood ; we love it still ; we respect the men, we love the 
 citizens of the East, and we hope we shall never be put in 
 hostile relations to them. I hope the motion will prevail." 
 
 Mr. A. W. Slayback, of Missouri. "Mr. President, as a 
 member ot the St. Louis delegation not yet heard from, and 
 whose own chairman don't know where he stands, I wish to 
 say that I am in favor of the reconsideration of this resolu- 
 tion, and for its adoption when it is put to the vote. I would like 
 to inquire, Mr. President, what this Convention is afraid of. 
 They seem to be timid about asking for what they want. Are 
 we afraid because other bills have been loaded down with 
 appropriations for Goose creek or some other little unknown 
 stream, that it will always be the case? Is there nothing to 
 be expected of Congressmen? Shall we assume that they will 
 not learn to progress and advance ; will they never learn 
 what the people expect of them? They ought to know by 
 this time that the Mississippi river is an arm of the sea, and 
 has with great propriety been called an inland sea, and 
 not only through the Jetties at the mouth, but through 
 the fountain and source there shall be an outlet to Liverpool, 
 and other markets of the world. We are not here to discuss 
 
139 
 
 the local advantages of the recommendations of this Conven- 
 tion. I have gone to Minnesota every summer for several years, 
 and I find up at that end of the river there are interests 
 growing every year, just as vast as those at the southern end, 
 vaster if possible in the future, because in that northwest 
 region there is a class of men, vigorous, brave ; men of energy, 
 pushing ahead, making fortunes, and opening up a country so 
 vast and so rich that it almost makes the South ashamed 
 to see the progress that has been made in the golden 
 Northwest in the last decade, as compared with our own 
 progress, considering the advantages of climate and soil. 
 Now, those people are interested in this question. I 
 would have you open a way from the sources of the river, 
 through the lakes by the way of Chicago, if you please. I 
 regard Chicago as a whole-souled young village that ought to 
 have more commerce than it has had in the past. I regard the 
 northern lakes as but feeders to Mississippi river commerce ; 
 we want to have through that avenue to the ocean a greater 
 volume of trade than we have had. This is not whether it 
 would benefit one city or another. The cities are not the people 
 to be heard from. The people of this magnificent valley the 
 agriculturists, the thinkers, the toilers, the farmers, founders, 
 manufacturers, the men who are developing the resources of 
 the field and forest they are the men that want to speak 
 through this Convention, because city men can speak almost 
 any time through the town meeting or the newspaper. 
 
 But to speak through a Convention, it is expected that 
 voices shall be heard from the whole of the interests repre- 
 sented in the Convention ; and I would not wish to sit in this 
 Convention, if I thought we simply represented St. Louis or 
 the southern portion of the Mississippi river. We are 
 representatives here of a broader thought, of a wider 
 idea, of a greater question : that is, shall we, inhabitants 
 of this Mississippi Valley, act in the future as we have 
 in the past, letting the eastern portion of this country out- 
 strip us in wealth, and having their way about appropria- 
 
140 
 
 tions for harbors and other improvements ? Is it not about 
 time that we ought to have our way? If we are to have it, we 
 must bring all the aid, all the help that is interested alone: 
 with us, and obtain the necessary appropriations. Thankful 
 for the patience with which I have been heard, I wish to call 
 upon every gentleman of the delegation to which I belong, to 
 widen himself out and come up to the emergency, by seeking 
 upon this occasion to forget St. Louis for a minute, and 
 remember the Mississippi Valley." 
 
 Mr. Parsons, of Michigan. " I want to say one word in 
 connection with this matter. I represent the great State of 
 Michigan. We owe no debt ; we are rich in all that makes 
 wealth of empire, and yet we know no State lines, no local 
 lines. Whatever promotes the glory of the Mississippi Val- 
 ley promotes the grandeur of Michigan. I know and the 
 allusion by Gov. Stanard struck my notice he said Michi- 
 gan acted intelligently on the subject. In a conversation with 
 Mr. Conger a few days ago, he told me that for forty days 
 and forty nights he sat by the side of Mr. Eads before he 
 made up his mind to vote in favor of an appropriation for the 
 improvement of the mouth of the Mississippi. Let me say 
 simply, I have changed my sentiment in connection with 
 Michigan's relation to this great subject. I said yesterday 
 we had no immediate interest in the improvement of the Mis- 
 sissippi river. We have an interest. The whole western part 
 of our State is interested. Twenty years ago the trade be- 
 tween Michigan and New Orleans was immense ; it is nothing 
 to-day. I voted against the resolution before us yesterday, 
 and yet I was thankful it was projected upon this Convention. 
 But I want nothing to stand between the improvement ; I 
 desire that this should not stand in the way of the resolution 
 for the improvement of the Mississippi river ; that was first 
 and foremost ; but this is appropriate, and it should be recon- 
 sidered and passed unanimously. It will interest the entire 
 delegation of Michigan, who are a unit, 1 think, in favor of 
 the improvement of the Mississippi river." 
 
141 
 
 Mr. Thomas B. Taylor, of Alabama. "Alabama has not 
 been heard. I come from Alabama, Montgomery county. I 
 solicited an opportunity to come here as a member from the 
 mayor of the city, under your invitation. I come here with 
 the deep interest I have always had in the Mississippi Valley. 
 I come not representing Alabama, but I corneas an American 
 citizen, representing the United States, and all concerned. 
 When I traveled through Tennessee, I rejoiced to see it 
 flourishing. I rejoice at everything I see progressing in St. 
 Louis. I correspond with Mr. Eads. I am delighted to hear 
 his name mentioned. I have been corresponding with Mr. 
 Eads to bring about the state of improvement of the river 
 which I have been considering for fifty years. I voted yes- 
 terday in favor of this proposition. I don't represent Ala- 
 bama alone ; I came here to consider the welfare of my 
 country. I don't represent Alabama alone ; I represent the 
 interests of every man I see here. I believe there is a way 
 by which the natural forces of the river can be utilized so as 
 to manufacture all the cotton manufactured in the North, to 
 grind all the wheat ground in the North, and to saw all the 
 lumber necessary. I recognize the right every man has to 
 his individual opinion. I think every man should act for him- 
 self, and not be intimidated by threats that if he don't go for 
 such and such a section, they will not go for his section. The 
 impulses which actuate me are the grandeur and welfare of 
 my country. I recognize no other power ; I am for the peo- 
 ple at large. I said I represented all concerned. I scratch 
 " all concerned " out ; I wish to be here as a delegate repre- 
 senting the whole interests of this country. I have been in 
 favor of that resolution which was offered yesterday, and I 
 shall vote for it now without fear of intimidation ; and when 
 threats are made of what one section will do, I hope such 
 considerations will never be entertained by this Convention." 
 
 Mr. Underwood, of Kentucky. " I want to express my 
 exceeding gratification at the broad, liberal and statesman- 
 like views that have come from these gentlemen all over this 
 
142 
 
 floor this morning upon this question, and above all am I grat- 
 ified with the sentiments that flowed from the hearts and judg- 
 ments of these men from the city of St. Louis, and from Ala- 
 bama, and from this whole valley. Their fraternity is so 
 manifest, the purpose to do equal justice to all parts of this 
 valley, and leave no part of it untouched, and to give every 
 part of it a fair show, is a circumstance that I have great 
 cause to congratulate myself and this Convention upon. It 
 shows the purpose of this Convention ; it shows the unanimity 
 of purpose, the unanimity of feeling ; it shows that we are 
 beginning, throughout this valley, to comprehend the broad 
 position we occupy in the valley of the Mississippi. Allow 
 me, gentlemen, for one moment although it is a subject, 
 doubtless, which has been contemplated by every man here 
 to invite you to a consideration of the position of the Missis- 
 sippi Valley in its relation to the balance of the United States. 
 The proper boundaries of the Mississippi Basin are the lakes 
 on the north, the gulf on the south, the Alleghanies and the 
 Rocky mountains on the east and west ; that is the natural 
 topography and geography of the country. The condition of 
 this valley, and the identity and unity peculiar to itself, are 
 also related to other parts of this country. This great basin 
 occupies a position, in reference to our whole country, as the 
 body occupies to the limb ; and so long as heart and lungs and 
 vitality exists here in this great body, so long as we continue 
 to be the great feeder, not only of our own country, but of 
 the world, shall we continue to command the power to influ- 
 ence, and become the great seat of the empire of this region 
 of the world. Now, to come back to the point in question, 
 there is no reason why the counterpart of the Mississippi 
 system that of the lakes should not be considered ; why is it 
 not part and parcel of the great nation whose interests we are 
 considering to-day ? Aside from the question that it is im- 
 portant to have the full vote and strength of the Illinois dele- 
 gation, both upon this floor and in Congress ; aside from that 
 for that is a question of expediency there is every reason 
 
143 
 
 growing out of the material wants of our valley, and the 
 whole country, why we should contemplate and consider the 
 interest of a communication between the system of waters in 
 what we call our Mississippi Valley, with our lake system. 
 Aside from the consideration of the vastness of the commerce 
 of the great lakes, as well as that going to the mouth of the 
 Mississippi river, it is important to remember that there are 
 national considerations. These considerations strike my mind 
 with a great deal of force, why we should connect our great sys- 
 tem of rivers with our lakes, and I want to present them in a few 
 words. It is not at all impossible I hope and pray it may never 
 occur that we should have another war with Great Britain 
 God forbid ; God grant that it may never occur. But I in- 
 vite your consideration, gentlemen, to the fact of such a calam- 
 ity both to us and to Great Britain alike. Great Britain is 
 the owner of the other shore of the lake system : it com- 
 mands the mouth of the St. Lawrence ; with her vast marine 
 power she could place a single man-of-war at the mouth of 
 the lakes, and at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, and prevent 
 any ingress or egress on the part of our vessels ; she could 
 send another man-of-war to sweep the lakes, and drive all our 
 marine from those waters. It is very possible, and it is plain 
 to be seen, how vulnerable our whole lake-shore system would 
 be under those circumstances. Though you might fortify 
 Chicago and Milwaukee and Detroit with our guns stationary, 
 it wouldn't be at all difficult, on the part of Great Britain, to 
 send a single man-of-war, and being sustained from their base 
 of supplies in their own country, to burn and devastate our 
 entire lake shore. I am not general enough ; I am not pre- 
 pared to pronounce upon the necessities of the thing as to 
 military system, but it does strike me as common sense that 
 the best possible plan of relief to operate from the lakes is 
 through some canal, to send resources of this great valley, in 
 the shape of gunboats and iron-clads and men-of-war, to the 
 relief of our lake shore. Aside from all that again, may it 
 not be possible that the idea of a reservoir system, much 
 
144 
 
 thought of in Minnesota, is very desirable ; it is very much 
 thought of by some high in the Engineer Corps, and though 
 we do not know whether it may ever be demonstrated, it may 
 IDC possible in the absence of sufficient water ; if it becomes 
 necessary, there may be sufficient elevation in these broad lake 
 reservoirs to furnish water as feeders to this great river. It 
 is a question worthy of consideration and examination. I 
 thank you very kindly for the attention you have given me.'* 
 
 Cries of "Question! " 
 
 A delegate moved the previous question. 
 
 Mr. Rozier, of Missouri. " I do not desire to detain this 
 Convention, and merely ask it to pause for a moment, and see 
 what we are going to do in a national point of view. You 
 may destroy all the action of this Convention. I have taken 
 the broad ground, like we did over thirty-six years ago, taken 
 by the ablest men of this country, that the Constitution of 
 the United States does not permit the appropriation of public 
 money for local matters. It is against every principle of our 
 Government. The only question to be decided by this Con- 
 vention [Cries of "Question!"] I see the popular senti- 
 ment is so strong against any movement in this direction that 
 they do not wish to listen to any argument in the case, in 
 violation of everything. The honorable gentleman himself 
 from the Chamber of Commerce presented just the very 
 proposition I am going to maintain. The very committee of 
 this Convention have reported a set of resolutions, and yet 
 to-day, in violation, in the teeth of those very principles, they 
 wish to adopt a principle that involves a local improvement. 
 Gentlemen may flatter themselves that they may succeed. 
 On the contrary, they may have the ability to carry a few 
 members ; but, in a national point of view, you will find in 
 time that if you admit this principle of building a canal from 
 the northern part of Illinois, you will have to admit it in 
 South Carolina, and every State in the Union, and where will 
 be the termination of this matter? We have but one great 
 
145 
 
 object, and I wish this Convention to pause. It is the im- 
 provement of a great national river that has brought you here, 
 and I hope you will not weigh it down with other matters. I 
 hope this Convention will not make this fatal error. It. will 
 be fatal ; it will hinder you ; it will not aid you." 
 
 The President. " The question is, shall the vote of yes- 
 terday, by which the supplementary report of the Committee 
 on Kesolutions was rejected, be reconsidered. Are you ready 
 for the question? [Cries of " Question !"] As many as 
 favor reconsideration will say ' aye/ ' 
 
 The vote was then taken. 
 
 The President. " The * ayes ' have it by a large majority, 
 and the motion prevails. The motion is now in order, and 
 made, that the resolution as offered be adopted. That is the 
 question before the Convention." 
 
 Mr. George H. Shields, of Missouri. "I have listened 
 to remarks made by gentlemen representing the extremes of 
 this continent, and I am willing to say that I endorse every 
 word that they have said. I believe that the improvement of 
 the great Mississippi and its tributaries is of paramount im- 
 portance to fall other internal improvement schemes now 
 before the people, or that ever have been before the people. 
 I believe, sir, that the improvement of each of these rivers is 
 absolutely necessary ; but I believe that each and every one of 
 those propositions ought to stand upon its own merits, to go 
 before Congress asking appropriations for such schemes as 
 meritorious, and for those only. I want it distinctly under- 
 stood that I believe that the Hennepin canal, or any other 
 canal that offers additional facilities for water transportation, 
 and cheapens the rates to the great seaboard of this country, 
 ought to be supported by Congress, and by the people all 
 over the United States. I believe that every brick that is laid 
 upon another in the city of Chicago redounds to the benefit of 
 the city of New Orleans, as well as the city of New York. I 
 believe that every acre of this country that is turned up by the 
 
 10 
 
146 
 
 plow, whether it is in the Southern States, or whether it is in 
 the beautiful wheat fields of the Northwest, redounds to the 
 general good of the whole nation, and this Convention ought 
 to be broad enough to take into consideration any proposition 
 that legitimately comes before it. But, sir, at the same time, 
 I insist that all of these propositions ought to stand exclu- 
 sively on their own merits. If this tide-water scheme referred 
 to by Col. Slay back is of sufficient importance to attract the 
 attention of Congress, I want Congress to make an appropri- 
 ation for that improvement without being weighted with 
 appropriations for the Missouri, Ohio, Red river, Arkansas 
 river, or Mississippi river. I ask the gentleman from Illinois 
 (Mr. Roberts), in view of the fact that this Convention has 
 already laid down a proposition that these appropriations 
 ought to be made separately ; in view of the fact that this 
 Convention was called to take into consideration the improve- 
 ment of the Mississippi river and its navigable tributaries ; in 
 view of the fact that we have brought to bear all the talent of 
 this Convention in that one direction, if he is not willing to 
 accept an amendment to the resolution, amend by striking 
 out the words in making the appropriations to improve the 
 navigation of the Mississippi river and its tributaries?' If 
 that was adopted the resolution would read : 
 
 " Resolved, That in the interest of cheap transportation, 
 and to afford a choice of water routes to the seaboard, we re- 
 gard connections between the navigable waters of the Upper 
 Mississippi river and the great lakes as of great importance, 
 and that Congress ought not to overlook or disregard the 
 establishment of free water communication between the valley 
 of the great river of the West, and the tide-water of the East. 
 
 " Now, Mr. Chairman, what is the reason we have not 
 been able to get heretofore appropriations for the benefit of this 
 great water system of the West? It is because those who 
 were antagonistic to it have loaded it down with appropria- 
 tions that never ought to have had anything to do with the 
 bill ; it is because they endeavored to so break the force of the 
 
147 
 
 public sentiment of this great valley ; and I believe, that if 
 the gentleman from Illinois will accept that amendment 
 Iowa disconnecting it from the improvement of the Missis- 
 sippi river, and letting it stand on its own merits, there will 
 be one unanimous shout of approval in favor of it in this Con- 
 vention. I offer this amendment." 
 
 The Secretary then read the amendment which had been 
 offered by Mr. Shields. 
 
 Mr. Underwood, of Kentucky. "I wish to make an 
 amendment to the amendment. It is to this effect : 
 
 " Resolved, That we invite the attention of Congress to all 
 other practicable water routes connecting the Mississippi basin 
 with the Atlantic seaboard." 
 
 The President. "Where would the gentleman have his 
 amendment come in?" 
 
 Mr. Underwood. " I propose it as an amendment to the 
 amendment ; I wish to embrace not only seaboard connection 
 with the lakes, but all other matters which, in the develop- 
 ment of the great system, should be and will be made. Fur- 
 thermore, upon the subject, I would like to say that we have 
 invited here all members of Congress from this valley, and 
 that the Hon. John T. White, from Kentucky, is present, and 
 I would like him to be heard upon the subject of the amend- 
 ment." 
 
 The President. "Mr. White is invited to speak to the 
 amendment offered by the gentleman from Kentucky, if he 
 desires to be heard upon that amendment." 
 
 Mr. Underwood. " I have the honor to introduce to you 
 Hon. John T. White, the representative in Congress from the 
 mountain district of Kentucky." 
 
 Mr. White said : 
 
 "I am exceedingly gratified at the compliment that has 
 been paid to me by my friend from Kentucky, and by this 
 Convention, and at the remarks that have been made this 
 
148 
 
 morning by gentlemen from all parts of the Union, but 
 especially the liberality of the Missouri delegates. It occurred 
 to us on yesterday, when this resolution was voted down, in 
 which the Illinois delegation seemed to be divided in opinion, 
 that it was an unkind thing in the Missouri delegation to re- 
 fuse to call attention to a canal-way, connecting the waters of 
 the Missouri with the great lake system, and I am happy, as I 
 believe this Convention is happy, that this morning that 
 seeming injustice, that seeming disregard of the rights of 
 another portion of this country, should be recognized. This 
 amendment to the resolution offered by the gentleman from 
 Kentucky (Mr. Underwood), calls attention to a system of 
 water-ways which you may remember was considered in 1868, 
 in part ; a canal-way connecting the Tennessee with the Atlan- 
 tic seaboard, a canal-way connecting the Upper Ohio river 
 with the Atlantic seaboard. At that time it was considered as 
 not very important, but to-day we see the importance of con- 
 sidering more water-ways than one. The lake system will 
 not answer, and this Mississippi river, when it is improved, 
 will not supply the wants of the great valley any more than 
 your bridge will now allow all freights to pass ; we feel it 
 necessary that St. Louis should have two or three bridges, 
 and so this great Mississippi basin, with its wonderful 
 resources, will, in a short time, feel the necessity of more water- 
 ways than one. In the first place, the lakes are closed up in 
 winter ; that of itself is a condition to call attention to the 
 Mississippi river, to say nothing of the great quantity of land 
 that is annually submerged by overflow of the Lower Missis- 
 sippi that has yet to be reclaimed, and the State of Louisiana 
 be made an empire to feed this nation with productions now 
 brought from abroad. These matters call for our greatest 
 consideration of the Mississippi river. So are we to look for 
 a route of transportation that will not freeze up, coming from 
 the Mississippi river basin and connecting with the Atlantic 
 seaboard, and the resolution presented by .Judge Underwood 
 of Kentucky looks to that point. I hold in my hand a state- 
 
149 
 
 inent from one of the foremost scientists of this country. I 
 do not wish the Convention to think 1 am going to take up 
 more than two or three minutes of its time. I don't propose 
 to read all this pamphlet, but only one part. It is by Prof. 
 Shaler, of Harvard College, but at that time Geologist of the 
 State of Kentucky. He says : 
 
 " 'After careful study of the route from the Kentucky river 
 through Cumberland Gap, it is evident the project is entirely 
 feasible, and likely to be of very great importance in develop- 
 ing the mineral resources of the State, as well as of East 
 Tennessee ; and, furthermore, that the cost of the water-way 
 is likely to be exceedingly small when compared with the 
 practical results likely to be obtained from this work.' And 
 again : ' I believe this to be one of the most practical water- 
 ways from the central region of the Mississippi to the sea. It 
 would have the advantage over the principal northern water 
 routes of at least four months more navigation in the year.' 
 Four months more navigation to St. Louis and to the great 
 Northwest, and to the whole Mississippi Valley, is of incalcu- 
 lable moment to the deliberations of this Convention. I can 
 remember, and other gentlemen on this floor can remember, 
 when it was the policy of a great party in this country to 
 make no appropriations for internal improvements ; but the 
 Eiist has constantly gone on improving its rivers and harbors ; 
 the South and West, to a large extent, has fallen in with the 
 idea that it is all wrong, and will not ask for any of these 
 appropriations. Now, if the South changes its course, 
 changes its base in this regard, the people of the South 
 will have to instruct its members in Congress to vote for 
 appropriations for Southern rivers, as well as to allow East- 
 ern members to vote appropriations for Eastern harbors. 
 And until the public are thoroughly aroused, your Convention 
 will amount to nothing. What is the use of the Convention 
 here adopting strong resolutions when members of Congress 
 stand upon the doctrine that it is not right that Congress 
 should make appropriations for internal improvements? I 
 
150 
 
 was happy to hear a letter read from a distinguished Senator 
 from my own State yesterday, in which he said he regretted 
 he could not be with this Convention, but that he would be 
 heard in the National Senate this winter. It is only two 
 years since that Senator came to this conclusion one of 
 the old landmarks of the Whig party. Judge Craddock, of 
 Kentucky, wrote him a letter, in which he made this remark : 
 * I say to you, in all candor, in my opinion the Democratic 
 party in Kentucky is only kept together by the utter abhor- 
 rence people have for the Republican party ; but that for our 
 hatred to it we would go to pieces in less than two years. 
 No one who has observed the development of public sentiment 
 can be mistaken as to the signs of the times.' The meaning 
 of all this is, that we must be more practical in our policy, or 
 else we will have to give way to others who are. That is 
 what I call the attention of this Convention to ; that when the 
 voting for members of Congress takes place, when your Legis- 
 latures elect members of the Senate, let it be distinctly under- 
 stood that they are going to vote five millions for the im- 
 provement of the Mississippi river fifty millions, if necessary 
 for the removal of obstacles, and the perfecting of the river 
 system ; for this canal-way connecting the Tennessee with the 
 Atlantic ; for the improvement to connect Iowa with the Atlan- 
 tic, and other improvements. In all cheap water-ways the 
 State of Missouri is equally interested with the State of Ken- 
 tucky, arid this whole Mississippi river basin. We shall have 
 to stand together as a unit, to bring to our aid all the support 
 of the South, in Virginia, Alabama, from Pittsburg to the 
 Rockies, from the lakes to the Jetties, if you want to carry 
 your resolutions through Congress, and get a sufficient appro- 
 priation. I thank you." 
 
 Mr. Elliot, of Tennessee. " I rise to speak to the amend- 
 ment to the amendment. If the amendment is added to the 
 resolution before the Convention, then the adoption of the 
 amendment proposed u little while ago by tin- honorable mem- 
 ber from the city of St. Louis ( Mr. Shields; will become of 
 
151 
 
 still greater importance, I wish to call the attention of the 
 Convention simply to the phraseology of the resolution. It 
 is evident that the great sentiment of this Convention is in 
 favor of adopting the resolution which is proposed to be 
 amended in some form. I don't propose to discuss its merits 
 at all ; I simply call the attention of the Convention to the 
 phraseology of the resolution itself, and, as I take it, its scope 
 is much more comprehensive than any of us seem to compre- 
 hend. Let us look at it for a moment. It is that Congress, 
 in making appropriations to improve the navigation of the 
 Mississippi river and its tributaries, ' ought not to overlook and 
 disregard.' The time when, and the place where, Congress is 
 expected to look, I suppose, to cheap transportation to the 
 eastern seaboard, is clearly indicated here to be the time and 
 place when appropriations are proposed to be made for the 
 improvement of the Mississippi river and its tributaries, and 
 it is in the making of that appropriation, according to the 
 plain meaning of this resolution, that Congress is expected 
 to mature and carry on a scheme for navigation to the eastern 
 tide-waters. Now, if the Convention means that, and desires 
 to couple these propositions together in this way, so that there 
 shall be no appropriation made to improve the Mississippi 
 river or its navigable tributaries, unless Congress shall mature 
 a plan to extend navigation to eastern tide-water, and at the 
 same time to be prepared to propose appropriations to carry 
 out that plan, it does seem to me, while I shall acquiesce in 
 the judgment of the Convention as cheerfully as anybody, 
 that we shall have undone all the Convention has done up to 
 this time ; and instead of putting the improvement of the 
 Mississippi river on its own bottom, to stand or fall on its 
 merits, we have irrevocably connected with it a system of im- 
 provement to extend to the tide-waters of the East. If you 
 adopt the amendment proposed by the gentleman from the 
 city of St. Louis (Mr. Shields), and strike out these words, 
 ' In making the appropriation to improve the navigation of the 
 Mississippi river and its tributaries,' it does seem to me to 
 
152 
 
 give to the honorable gentleman from Iowa all he asks, cer- 
 tainly all he ought to ask." 
 
 Mr. Vandever, of Iowa. "In order to remove the objec- 
 tion made by my friend, I simply propose to strike out the 
 words ' the Mississippi river and its navigable tributaries.' 
 Then it will read that Congress in making appropriations 
 should not overlook and disregard this connection with the 
 lakes. I simply leave out ' the Mississippi river and its navi- 
 gable tributaries.' ' 
 
 Mr. Elliot, of Tennessee. "I don't think the amend- 
 ment proposed by the gentleman meets the case. I will read 
 it as it will stand according to the suggestion of the gentle- 
 man : 
 
 " * And that Congress in making appropriations ought not 
 to overlook or disregard the establishment of free water com- 
 munication,' " -etc. 
 
 Mr. Vandever, of Iowa. "I suggest if that does not 
 entirely disconnect it with appropriations for the Mississippi 
 river?" 
 
 Mr. Elliot. "It does not; it couples the whole scheme 
 together the improvement of the Mississippi river and its 
 navigable tributaries, and the extension of navigation the 
 opening of cheap communication with the tide-water of the 
 East. It unites them in one proposition that when appro- 
 priations are made for any of the objects, * that Congress, 
 in making appropriations !' In making appropriations for 
 what ? What is the object of the proceedings of this Conven- 
 tion? Isn't it for the improvement of the Mississippi river 
 and its navigable tributaries? And in striking out the words 
 Mis-U>ippi river and its navigable tributaries,' do you alter 
 the sense of the resolution? No. There is no other object 
 for which appropriations are contemplated in the proceedings 
 of the Convention, but for the improvement of the 
 river and its navigable tributaries. When you say, 
 in making appropriations ought not to overlook or disregard 
 this other scheme, you mean Congress shall not overlook it, 
 
153 
 
 and shall make appropriations for carrying it on. That is the 
 platform the Convention will stand upon, if the resolution is 
 adopted as it now stands." 
 
 Mr. Blakely, of Minnesota. " Any interest that seeks to 
 improve the Mississippi river, from its source to its mouth, is 
 the one object for consideration, and anything else except 
 that is irrelevant. I appeal to you, in the interest of success, 
 that we go back and simply recognize and stand where we did 
 yesterday; that is, the endorsement and passage of the reso- 
 lutions submitted to you by the Committee on Resolutions, 
 and adjourn this Convention and go home." 
 
 Mr. Shields, of Missouri. "After consultation with the 
 gentleman from Iowa, who offered the original resolution, I 
 think we have arrived at a solution that will be satisfactory to 
 all sides, and that is simply to strike out of this resolution 
 these words : ' To improve the navigation of the Mississippi 
 river and its tributaries.' That will leave the resolution to 
 read : 
 
 " < That in the interests of cheap transportation, and to 
 afford a choice of water routes to the seaboard, we regard 
 connections between the navigable waters of the Upper Mis- 
 sissippi river and the great lakes as of great importance, and 
 that Congress, in making appropriations, ought not to over- 
 look or disregard the establishment of free water communica- 
 tion between the valley of the great river of the West and 
 tide- waters of the East.' 
 
 'Now, the proposition, Mr. Chairman, is this: This 
 Convention is in favor of any proposition that facilitates 
 cheap transportation by water ; and the reason the gentleman 
 was not willing to accept my amendment was, it struck out 
 the words: 'in making appropriations.' I immediately saw 
 the force of the gentleman's suggestion, and am perfectly 
 willing to modify my resolution to that effect, and so do." 
 
 The President. " The gentleman withdraws his first 
 Amendment ? ' ' 
 
 Mr. Shields. "Yes." 
 
154 
 
 Mr. Vandever, of Iowa. " The amendment is accepted 
 by the mover of the resolution." 
 
 Mr. J. P. Root, of Kansas. " I have been waiting pa- 
 tiently here ; coming from a portion of territory which has 
 not been heard from, representing a territory greater in ex- 
 tent greater in land, greater in water, than all the rest of 
 the territory represented, and we have yet to be heard. It 
 was my fortune to be on the Committee on Resolutions. We 
 had almost everything presented to us yesterday before that 
 committee that the Mississippi Valley demanded. The Missouri 
 valley demanded certain things of that committee ; the central 
 portion represented in this committee opposed all that ; St.Louis 
 and the Mississippi river proper opposed it. I am very glad that 
 they have come to their senses a little this morning ; I am glad 
 that the men who bitterly opposed everything that tended out- 
 side of a certain direction yesterday, to-day desire to open a 
 little; and, therefore, I believe we shall be justified, if the 
 amendment to the amendment is adopted, to also introduce 
 some things we would like to have brought before this Con- 
 vention. In the interest of harmony and peace, we made 
 some concessions in the committee, and the original resolutions, 
 a- adopted here, were the result of long deliberations and 
 some very sharp controversy. It was finally conceded that 
 the object of this Convention should be attained by the orig- 
 inal resolutions, without anything else. It was hoped by my 
 constituency we would mention certain things in that Com- 
 mittee, which were entirely ignored. I think that we shall 
 open a door through which may enter into this Convention 
 things we. cannot get rid of, if we adopt these amendments. 
 1 voted for the resolutions in the committee as a matter of 
 compromise ; every man from the Missouri valley voted for 
 them, notwithstanding they felt they were aggrieved, and had 
 just cause for complaint; and, sir, if this is pressed, they 
 will introduce amendment^ ami contend for them ; but it you 
 will let the original resolutions, a< adopted unanimously, stand 
 as the voice of this Convention, we will be with yon ; if not,. 
 
155 
 
 we shall not be with you. That is all there is to it ; that is- 
 all I have to say." 
 
 Cries of " Question ! " 
 
 The President. "The previous question has been de- 
 manded. As many as are in favor of the previous question 
 will say ' aye.' ' 
 
 The question was put, and the previous question ordered. 
 
 The President. "The question is upon the adoption of 
 the amendment offered by the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
 Shields), which will now be read. The amendment to which 
 the gentleman from Kentucky offered an amendment was 
 withdrawn by the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Shields), and 
 he offered the amendment which is now pending before the 
 Convention." 
 
 Mr. Underwood, of Kentucky. "Then I would like to- 
 know whether I could offer an amendment to the present 
 amendment, offered by the gentleman from Missouri, covering 
 my idea?" 
 
 The President. "Not now; the previous question is 
 pending, and that will not now be in order." 
 
 The Secretary read the amendment, as follows : 
 
 "Amend the resolution by striking out all after the word 
 < appropriations," to and including the word 'tributaries,' so- 
 that the resolution will read as follows : 
 
 " Resolved, That in the interest of cheap transportation,, 
 and to afford a choice of water routes to the seaboard, we 
 regard connections between the navigable waters of the Upper 
 Mississippi and the great lakes as of great importance, and 
 that Congress, in making appropriations, ought not to over- 
 look or disregard the establishment of free water communica- 
 
 O 
 
 tion between the valley of the great river of the West and tide- 
 water of the East." 
 
 The President. "As many as favor the adoption of the 
 amendment offered by the gentleman from Missouri will say 
 'aye.'" 
 
 A vote was taken by division. 
 
156 
 
 The President : " The * ayes ' have it. It is evident more 
 than two-thirds of the Convention have voted for the adoption 
 of the amendment. The count will proceed if it is demanded. 
 The amendment has been adopted, and the question is upon 
 the adoption of the resolution as amended. As many as favor 
 the adoption of the resolution, as amended, say 'aye.' ' 
 
 A vote was taken, and 210 delegates voted in the affirma- 
 tive, and 70 in the negative. 
 
 The President. "The resolution as amended has been 
 adopted. " 
 
 Mr. Walker, of Minnesota. " I wish to introduce for the 
 consideration of the Convention, a resolution having a most 
 important bearing upon the work, or execution of the work 
 which has been laid out by this Convention. I wish, also, the 
 privilege, very briefly to explain the motives and purposes for 
 which this resolution was drawn, and the scope of the resolu- 
 tion. " 
 
 The resolution was read as follows : 
 
 Resolved, That for the purpose of expediting the great 
 work of improving 16,000 miles of water-way, comprising the 
 Mississippi and its navigable tributaries, we do most earnestly 
 insist and recommend that Congress make immediate provision 
 for the rapid progress of the work, by adding to the Missis- 
 sippi River Commission at least eight more members, five of 
 whom shall be from the regular corps of engineers of the Wai- 
 Department of the United States, so that it may be suscepti- 
 ble of division into three working parties of five each, three of 
 whom shall be United States Engineers. 
 
 Mr. Walker: " I may be permitted to say I represent a 
 part of the Northwest, in part, which is not represented upon 
 that map, which is visible ; that if the curtain were just rolled 
 up about ten feet we could see where there are golden fields of 
 irrain, more bright and beautiful than the beautiful gardens 
 which adorn this irreat valley; 565 miles of navigable waters 
 of th' Mississippi river are now hid behind the curtain on that 
 map ; and I am the one man to talk for that .">;;> miles of 
 
157 
 
 navigable waters that remain of the Mississippi river : and,, 
 sir, I wish to call the attention of this Convention to a very 
 important fact, that is, that we have to put it in lumbermen's 
 parlance been biting off more than we can chew. We have 
 been providing here, as the deliberate sense of the Convention, 
 that the whole sixteen thousand miles of water-way of the 
 Mississippi and its branches, shall be handed over to the care r . 
 custody, and control of the Mississippi River Commission.. 
 That Commission, gentlemen, is composed of the ablest men 
 in this nation ; they are peculiarly fitted and adapted to the 
 work which has been assigned to them ; we have endorsed their 
 proceedings thus far ; we have recommended that their sphere- 
 be enlarged, and forgetting all the time that the Commission 
 was composed of seven men, four regular army engineers, and 
 three other distinguished citizens from civil life ; to whom we- 
 have handed over 16,000 miles of water-way, for them to adopt 
 plans for their improvement ; when the law under which they 
 have been appointed requires that they shall also superintend 
 the work which they lay out. It is well known to every gen- 
 tleman in this Convention, that that Commission is now ac- 
 tively engaged in executing the grand work which they have 
 devised, and that the work laid off already will require con- 
 siderable time, and considerable money ; and yet we, standing 
 away out on the borders, have set down upon ourselves, by 
 providing that the ways and methods to be devised yet for the- 
 improvement of our region and water-way outside, shall be in 
 the hands of this Commission. Life is short, and our children 
 will not live long enough to see the time when seven men of 
 that Commission will be able to examine the sources of the- 
 Missouri river. " 
 
 A delegate. " I rise to a point of order. The member 
 who is now speaking is a member of our delegation, but the 
 rule is that resolutions shall be submitted to the Committee 
 on Resolutions without debate." 
 
 Mr. Walker, of Minnesota. " I ask permission of the- 
 
158 
 
 Convention that that rule will be suspended, and I be permitted 
 to offer this resolution." 
 
 The President. " The gentleman was allowed to intro- 
 duce the resolution without objection, and commenced his 
 remarks. I would say to the gentleman from Minnesota that 
 he has reached the limit of debate recognized by the Conven- 
 tion. I am aware that the rule was, that resolutions should 
 go to the Committee on Resolutions without debate ; but the 
 committee has made its report, and the committee been dis- 
 charged." 
 
 A delegate. "No, the committee has not been dis- 
 charged . ' ' 
 
 Another delegate. < I move that the rule be suspended, 
 and that the gentleman have time to elaborate the idea he is 
 pregnant with." 
 
 The President. " The gentleman from Minnesota intro- 
 duced a resolution quite late, the Chair confesses, in the 
 business of this Convention ; he was allowed to proceed with- 
 out objection, and it seems to me that the gentleman should 
 be allowed to complete the remarks which he had begun ; and 
 yet the Chair desires the gentleman from Minnesota to recog- 
 nize the fact that this Convention does not desire long to 
 listen to anything which he may have to say." 
 
 Mr. Walker, of Minnesota. "I had well-nigh concluded 
 my remarks. In order to carry out the recommendations of 
 this Convention, that this whole 16,000 miles of water-way 
 should be relegated to the care and control of that Commis- 
 sion, it has been thought wise that the Commission itself, with 
 extended jurisdiction, also be increased in number. At 
 present this Commission has its hands full. If we have to 
 have this work expedited, we must have a greater force at work 
 on the Commission ; and hence, I provide by this resolution, 
 that with the increased work proposed by this Convention, 
 there will also be provided a superior number on the Commis- 
 sion, and have them added to it. I submit this resolution for 
 the consideration of this Convention. I hope that seven men 
 
159 
 
 will not be required to devise ways and methods for the 
 improvement of the Alleghany, Monongahela, Kentucky, 
 Tennessee, Cumberland, Ohio, the grand Missouri, and all its 
 glorious tributaries, and to go up the Missouri and investigate 
 what we need there. We want the work done quickly, and 
 we intend that Congress shall make the necessary appropria- 
 tions to carry it out quickly." 
 
 Mr. Hitchcock, of Missouri. "I wish to make a state- 
 ment of fact, and the gentleman from Minnesota will, I think, 
 see that his resolution is not needed, if he will look at the 
 resolutions already adopted. He is mistaken in supposing 
 that the Convention has adopted resolutions referring all this 
 work to the Commission of seven. It has expressly declared 
 that Congress should apply a complete system to all other 
 rivers. In other words it has called for the very thing the 
 gentleman wants. The Committee on Resolutions did not feel 
 
 o 
 
 themselves justified, nor did they think it would be wise, to 
 undertake in five minutes to dictate the extension of that 
 Commission system." 
 
 The question was put on the adoption of the resolution, 
 and it was not adopted. 
 
 Mr. McEnery, of Louisiana. "Mr. President, I under- 
 stand there is present on the floor of this Convention one of 
 Pennsylvania's ablest and most distinguished men, and now a 
 member of Congress ; I refer to the Hon. W. S. Shallenberger. 
 I move that Mr. Shallenberger be invited to address this Con- 
 vention from the stand." [Cheers.] 
 
 The motion was seconded and carried. 
 
 Mr. Shallenberger said : 
 
 MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: I trust that I 
 am not so little appreciative of the temper of a body like this a- to trespas.- 
 upon its time. Hence, if you will bear with me a moment. I shall just 
 acknowledge the compliment you have paid to me. and to the great State of 
 Pennsylvania, that appears here to-day to second what you have done, and 
 
 ly that it. I pledge you. will appear on the floor of Congress with its 
 twenty i'v-n vote*. I hope [cheers] to give to the great 31i>.-i->ippi Valley 
 that which you have said to-day she needs. I am here to speak for myself 
 
160 
 
 alone. When I say that I heartily endorse, not alone the specific action of 
 this Convention, but in that broader, better sense, I endorse what I see in, 
 these intelligent faces to be the great outlying and underlying thought of the 
 Mi--i ippi Valley. [Cheers.J Because, gentlemen, you know, and I know,, 
 that resolutions sometimes express what we desire them to, and some- 
 times they do not. We sometimes get from a committee adished-up reso- 
 lution, that passes by common consent, neither binding upon those who- 
 desire to operate under it, nor upon those for whom it was intended. 
 
 But I take it, in accord with the sentiment of a distinguished member 
 of the Commission, yesterday (Mr. Taylor), that the grand, central 
 thought of this Convention must impress itself upon Congress and the 
 country. It cannot be possible that delegates like those I see around me 
 this morning, coming from all over the broad States bordering on the Mis-- 
 -i--ippi and its tributaries, coming here from their business one thousand 
 miles by rail and water, have come here for the simple purpose of enacting 
 platitudes in the shape of eloquent resolutions. Xo! Xo! There is no< 
 language so eloquent or forcible as to convey properly the motive, the intel- 
 lectual force, and the practical and powerful enforcement of what this 
 Convention intends to convey. [Cheers.] I say, and say it with all the 
 more pleasure because the Convention has recently adopted a resolution,, 
 which, while I didn't think it desirable to introduce, while, indeed, I should 
 have been glad if the Convention had left it out entirely, I refer now to 
 the resolution referring to the communication with the Atlantic seaboard, 
 I say while I should have hoped that this Convention, called for a specific 
 purpose, having completed so fully, and as I think admirably, the purpose 
 for which it was convened, should have adjourned, and allowed that specific- 
 effort. with all its force and cogency, to operate upon Congress; yet when, 
 that resolution was introduced I was exceedingly glad it was accepted, lest, 
 the impression should go out that we were against any competition by 
 water, east or west, north or south. And I was glad that the recognition 
 wa- made that there might possibly be other outlets for the Mississippi- 
 Valley than the great lakes of the Xorth. Indeed, gentlemen, I think the 
 time is coming when the United States will understand that engineering 
 -kill will give us from the Ohio a rapid, a free inter-communication. with 
 the Atlantic seaboard. And when you come to think that the Ohio has upon 
 its bosom to-day more tonnage together with the Monongahela, which I 
 represent more tonnage than all the railroads of the United States com- 
 bined, then, gentlemen, you begin to understand why it is that we want tin- 
 Mi i--ippi river improved. We expect to send you millions upon million- 
 of tons of freight that you need, and we want to sell coal by the hundred 
 million-, that your manufacturing establishments south and southwest. 
 your sugar mil U and your cotton gins will use. ami de-ire to have cheaper 
 than you now get it. I say when you comprehend the fact, that the Ohio 
 river alone sends upon its bosom to the MN-i--ippi to-day more, perhaps,. 
 than all the Mi--i--ippi north of St. Loiii-. then you can understand why it 
 i- that Ohio has not made itself heard upon this tloor. because, she believe- 
 that the facts, the statistics, the power of her influence in < 'ougiv--. xv iii | M > 
 
161 
 
 felt in accord with the resolutions that have been adopted, and which I 
 think so wisely framed to include these great tributaries. 
 
 And now, I say, Pennsylvania, at tin- headwaters of the Ohio, having 
 there the tonnage which I have named, having there one hundred millions 
 of bushels of coal coming through one lock in one year, to set aglow all your 
 furnaces and forges, mills and manufactories I say we come here to-day to 
 emphasize our demand with yours for the rapid, scientific, and complete 
 improvement of the Mississippi. [Cheers.] I congratulate the Convention 
 upon the grand success which I think has attended its session. I sincerely 
 congratulate you. gentlemen, that, in the language of our eloquent friend 
 yesterday (Mr. Taylor) , it has not formed a delta, but has spoken through 
 one throat, and I shall hail the day as an auspicious one for this country 
 when the great steamers of the Gulf shall ply between St. Louis and Xew 
 Orleans, as an active, busy shuttle and web. knitting together in one 
 common interest, one common destiny, one common prosperity, steaming 
 along the great wharves from the headwaters to the Gulf, and through all 
 its great tributaries, east and west, knitting them together in a bond that 
 shall never sunder. [Cheers.] 
 
 Mr. Graves, of Iowa. "I offer the following resolution: 
 
 " Resolved, That our grateful acknowledgment is hereby 
 made to the Merchants' Exchange of St. Louis, and to the 
 several committees, for the generous hospitality extended, and 
 the uniform kindness which has greeted us on every hand." 
 
 The resolution was adopted unanimously. 
 
 Mr. Michael McEnnis, of Missouri. " As chairman of the 
 Executive Committee, I desire to say, that in our official 
 call and other things, there are several words in there 
 which rather reflect on the tardiness of members of Congress, 
 and throw out some hints that we are very much displeased 
 with them. But their action in reference to the appropria- 
 tions that were final, and in establishing the Commission, 
 places us under heavy obligations, and to give expression to 
 this, I desire to offer the following resolution : 
 
 "Resolved, That this Convention fully appreciates the action 
 of the friends of river improvement in Congress, who have 
 advocated and sustained by their votes the granting of such 
 needed appropriations as have been necessary to carry on the 
 work already commenced for the improvement of our Western 
 water-ways, and trust that their endeavors in promoting the 
 interests of commerce will finally be crowned with success." 
 
 The resolution was adopted unanimously. 
 
 11 
 
162 
 
 Mr. Chase, of Nebraska, offered the following resolution, 
 which was adopted. 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be tendered 
 to the Western Union Telegraph Company for courtesies ex- 
 tended to the members of this Convention, through Mrs. Hall, 
 general manager of the telegraph office at the Southern hotel. 
 
 Mr. McEnery, of Louisiana, offered the following resolu- 
 tion, which was adopted unanimously by a rising vote : 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are hereby 
 tendered to the Hon. M. H. Dunnell, President of this Con- 
 vention, for the able and impartial manner in which he has 
 discharged the difficult duties of his position ; and also to the 
 Secretaries, George L. Wright, Frank Gaiennie, N. M. Bell, 
 and other officers of the Convention, for the very able and 
 efficient discharge of their various duties. 
 
 Mr. Bain, of Missouri. " As chairman of the Committee 
 on Reception, I desire to inform the gentlemen that as soon as 
 the Convention adjourns, we shall have the Arsenal band, and 
 will march down to the steamboat and barges that are to take 
 us down the river. There will be a lunch, and probably some- 
 thing to drink on the boat [laughter] , and every gentleman 
 who has not had an opportunity to speak will have all the 
 opportunity he wants there." 
 
 A delegate moved that the Convention listen to some re- 
 marks from Congressman Willis, of Kentucky. 
 
 The motion was carried. 
 Mr. Willis said : 
 
 MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: Although not as old a politician 
 a- my friend (the delegate just referred to), I am old enough, and am ex- 
 perienced enough in discussing questions before bodies like this, to know 
 that there are two things against which no man can speak, and those two 
 are a brass band and a prospective lunch. It is true, as my friend from 
 Illinois, Mr. Springer, who is a gro -inner in regard to river and harbor 
 appropriations [laughter], and whom you ought to call to the bar and 
 ask for works meet unto repentance, and not me. I say [A delegate. 
 " What liar? "] A gentleman cn<|uircs what bar. When he is presented at 
 the bar of that boat, he will speak for himself. [Laughter.] But there i- 
 another bar, before which he and I. and every member of Congress, has to 
 
163 
 
 appear, and that bar is represented by the intelligence of the enthusiastic 
 gentlemen whom I see before me it is the great bar of public opinion. 
 And. fellow-citizens, allow me to say that there is cause for congratulation 
 on the part of friends of Mis.-issippi river improvement, not only in the 
 l>i VM-nce here of a thousand delegates, called together from all parts of the 
 country, and who have issued what I will call a second Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence independence of railroad monopolies [cheers] ; independence 
 of those who would change the course of what God intended should go 
 down these great streams. I say, independent of that, you have, in the 
 condition of the public treasury, great cause for congratulation. 
 
 These great cities of the Mississippi Valley have poured their wealth 
 into the treasury of the United States, and now, for the first time in twenty - 
 five years, [we have more money than we know what to do with. It has 
 been suggested by some that we have a high protective tariff ; but we in 
 this Convention, have a better suggestion than that, and that is that the 
 money gathered from the taxes on whisky and tobacco be appropriated to 
 the improvement of this majestic, this grand system of water-ways, and 
 then we can hope for a return to the country of some of the money that has 
 been expended on internal improvements. And, without detaining you, 
 because I can almost smell afar off the battle I know there will be on the 
 boat, there is another consideration that has not been alluded to from year 
 to year, and we have not regretted it : we have witnessed the expenditure 
 of millions of dollars for lighthouses, for harbors, and, if my friend from 
 Xew York (Mr. Osborne) were not present, I would make a casual remark 
 that, near the city of Xew York, there have been expended millions of 
 money in removing obstructions at what is called "Hell Gate," and, doubt- 
 less, it was necessary to have that gate open there. [Laughter.] The 
 amount of money expended at Hell Gate alone is greater than the whole 
 Mississippi river has received in a decade. I say that, while we do not 
 regret it, we can now look forward to an unexpected and irresistible ally to 
 Mississippi river improvement, and that, fellow-citizens, is the census of 
 1880. You know because the figures, which do not lie, are before us that 
 only a short time hence she will see the sceptre of power, that has so long 
 been held in the hands of the East, will drop from its nerveless hand 
 and enfeebled grasp, to be seized by the lusty, vigorous young child of the 
 "West; and that when Congress makes the new apportionments, based on the 
 last census, you will have upon the floor of Congress an increased number 
 of representatives, and a sufficient number of votes to demand and secure 
 the proper and just improvement of your great river. [Cheers.] But, fel- 
 low-citizens, I have now detained you longer than I thought I would ; as I 
 said before, there are other gentlemen here whom I would like to see com- 
 mitted on this question. I was glad to hear such a good report from Mr. 
 Cannon: I was glad to hear him say, as a member of Congress, that he 
 would be found active in the support of these measures. What you want, 
 what we need, is not resolutions, but votes, votes, and those votes come 
 through the power of public opinion, molded, and shaped, and wisely 
 guided by representative conventions such as this. I need not say that our 
 
164 
 
 own city and State delegations will ever be found ready to further, second 
 and promote these appropriations ; and in the name of the city of Louis- 
 ville, which I have the honor to represent, a city connected by twelve 
 thousand miles of navigable rivers, I congratulate you upon the favorable 
 surroundings that now present themselves, and I wish you and the friends 
 of the Mississippi improvement a God -speed in the accomplishment of your 
 fullest and wisest purposes in this direction. [Loud cheers.] 
 
 Mr. Underwood, of Kentucky. "I offer the following 
 resolution : 
 
 " Resolved , That this Convention is not unmindful of the 
 great loss the country has sustained in the untimely death of 
 James A. Garfield, whose name is inseparably connected with 
 the proposed improvement of the Mississippi river system, 
 and we extend our profound sympathies to the bereaved 
 family. 
 
 "Mr. President, I have no comments to make ; I know the 
 expression of feeling and sentiment from this body is more 
 eloquent and powerful than any words I could utter ; I would 
 like, however, sir, if it be not inappropriate now, to call 
 attention of the Convention to one other fact or consideration : 
 We have heard from all quarters of this valley ; there is, how- 
 ever, one important body of men who have not been heard 
 from, and that is practical steamboatmen. There is a man in 
 this audience, who is a representative of that body of men, 
 from the city of New Orleans Capt. Leather. I think this 
 audience would like to hear from him at an appropriate 
 time." 
 
 The President. " As many as favor the adoption of the 
 resolution read by the gentleman from Kentucky, will so vote 
 by standing." 
 
 The whole Convention rose and the resolution was unani- 
 mously adopted. 
 
 Mr. Cole, of Missouri. " I want the Convention to listen 
 to Mr. Springer for a few minutes." 
 
 The President. " The chair will be glad, with the gentle- 
 men of the Convention, to listen to the gentleman from 
 Illinois, Hon. Wm. M. Springer." 
 
165 
 
 Mr. Springer said : 
 
 " If there is anything more pleasing than another to the 
 average American citizen, it is a brass band and a procession 
 of American citizens stepping to music. Such a thing being 
 in contemplation the idea of stopping to listen to a speech is 
 out of the question. We are all very much interested in the 
 improvement of our river system, and we propose to take our 
 places on the boats and barges that go down to a place in the 
 river which has received some of the benefits from the appro- 
 priations made by Congress, and we are now about to depart 
 for that purpose. As you have finished the work you had in 
 hand it may be proper for me to say, by way of recapitulation, 
 that you have, as I understand it, agreed to two things, and 
 agreed to them unanimously : The first is, that in future 
 appropriations for the Mississippi river you will pursue the 
 plan which has been adopted by the Commission of the United 
 States, in pursuance of law. That plan has been explained 
 to this Convention. It is understood now by all the people in 
 the valley, that all future efforts in the direction of improving 
 the navigation of the Mississippi river and its tributaries, are 
 to be upon that plan. I congratulate the people of the 
 Mississippi Valley that we have arrived at that stage of the 
 question which gives the whole voice of the valley to one 
 idea, and which directs all of our efforts to one system of 
 improving this great river. So much, then, is understood. 
 The next proposition which I believe was agreed upon by this 
 Convention, is that this great question is of sufficient import- 
 ance to make it a question by itself, to stanci on its own 
 merits. The difficulty with the improvement of the Missis- 
 sippi river and its tributaries heretofore has been that every 
 little stream in the country has recognized this question as 
 one upon which to ride upon, therefore the Mississippi river 
 has not been placed, owing to this condition of things, before 
 Congress upon its own merits. But henceforth the stand to 
 be taken upon it is that this is a national question, demanding 
 recognition upon its own merits, and that this great river shall 
 
166 
 
 have appropriations to make it what it is by Nature the high- 
 way from all this valley to the Gulf of Mexico. I congratulate 
 you that we have reached this advanced stage in this great 
 work, and it is well for representatives to have met here to 
 consider this question at this early time. You have had 
 statistics of the resources of this wonderful valley. If you 
 will travel over the great territory between this point and the 
 base of the Kocky Mountains, and see what there is lying still 
 untouched and undeveloped by the hand of industry, you will 
 see that our present resources are as nothing compared with 
 what twenty-five years will bring to the Mississippi Valley of 
 the products beyond the valley. It is time we should begin 
 to put up our warehouses in order, and get our great river 
 ready for the teeming products of the valley of the Mississippi. 
 I congratulate you upon having done your work well ; your 
 voice will be heard not only in the Mississippi Valley, but will 
 be heard across the Alleghanies ; and Pennsylvania and New 
 York will join hands with you, and recognize that the great 
 problem of the future is the improvement of the Mississippi 
 river and its tributaries." [Cheers.] 
 
 Mr. D. P. Rowland, of Missouri, offered the following 
 resolution : 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be tendered 
 to the proprietors of the Grand Opera-house for the use of 
 their beautiful building for the deliberations of this Conven- 
 tion. 
 
 The resolution was adopted with acclamation. 
 
 The President. " The chair wishes to make a statement. 
 Yesterday the Convention adopted a resolution, making it the 
 duty of the President of this Convention to appoint a committee 
 of twenty-one. The duty is a difficult one to perform, and 
 the Chair will be pleased to have information communi- 
 cated from the different delegations, so this committee may be 
 made up happily and fortunately for the Convention/' 
 
 Mr. Slayback, of Missouri, then moved that the Conven- 
 tion adjourn sine die. 
 
167 
 
 The motion was put and carried, and the Convention ad- 
 journed sine die. 
 
 After the Convention adjourned the delegates and guests, 
 headed by the Arsenal baud, took up the line of march for the 
 foot of Elm street, where the steamer " Future City " and five 
 barges awaited them. 
 
 The following description of the excursion given to the 
 Convention is taken from the Globe- Democrat of October 
 29th : 
 
 The most potent argument that could be adduced in 
 favor of improving the Mississippi was presented yesterday 
 afternoon, in the practical illustration of the river transporta- 
 tion, as exhibited in the make-up of the barge excursion down 
 the river. The sight was a novelty of unquestionable attrac- 
 tion to numbers of delegates hailing from interior constitu- 
 encies who had never had the satisfaction of inspecting or 
 viewing a fleet of barges, which is an institution peculiar to 
 the Mississippi river. Those from the North were surprised 
 at the economical application of power, obtained by placing 
 the motor in rear of the tow, instead of moving it from the 
 van by a connecting cable. The capacious barges, each of 
 them capable of receiving and carrying 60,000 bushels of 
 grain, excited wonderment and amazement among gentlemen 
 of an inquiring turn of mind, who enhanced their store of 
 knowledge by investigating the means afforded by the Trans- 
 portation Company for conveying the products of the West to 
 the seaboard. 
 
 The engine-room of the steamer presented the appearance 
 of a reception-room, as the delegates filed in on the starboard 
 quarter and retreated on the port-side after minutely inspect- 
 ing the ponderous machinery as it revolved in obedience to the 
 signals from the wheel-house. The engineers and officers of 
 the craft were most attentive in supplying intelligence relative 
 to dimensions, power, capacity, pressure, etc., of the engines 
 and boilers, and the facts thus tersely placed before the visitors 
 
168 
 
 proved a revelation in scientific engineering to many gentle- 
 men who have hitherto plumed themselves on the acquaintance 
 with all topics connected with navigation. 
 
 Entering on the main deck the arrivals were confronted by 
 long rows of richly-laden tables, decorated with fine glass- 
 ware and various specimens of the culinary art that it is un- 
 necessary to mention. Stage planks were laid in position to con- 
 nect the four boats and the tow-boat, and, to all intents and 
 purposes, the accommodations were on a parallel with the 
 largest steamers afloat. Greater liberty was afforded for cir- 
 culation, and with the visitors a promenade around the fleet 
 became a favorite feature of the trip. The upper decks were 
 gained by improvised stairways opening out through the ele- 
 vator hatches, and those who preferred the invigorating breeze 
 to the confined atmosphere between the decks, had no occa- 
 sion to complain. 
 
 The " Future City" was relegated to the ladies and their 
 escorts, who found in her handsome saloon facilities for diver- 
 sion that are not generally apparent on any other class of 
 vessels than the palatial packets that ply between St. Louis 
 and New Orleans. 
 
 On the bow of the ' 'Future City" a canvas screen was 
 erected, bearing the following scroll : 
 
 "Steamer 'Future City/ built in 1873, W. A. Goll, 
 master, has completed ninety-five round trips between St. 
 Louis and New Orleans. Average number of days to each 
 trip, twenty-three. Has towed down stream 474 barges. Has 
 transported down stream in cargoes 446,962 tons. Has towed 
 up-stream 491 barges. Has transported in up-stream cargoes 
 41,677 tons. Has traveled 239,400 miles. If you tell this to 
 Congress, be sure to add that with an improved channel this 
 record of work could have been increased forty per cent, 
 without any increase of expense. This means benefit to the 
 producer." 
 
 Every one who read the statement was struck with aston- 
 ishment at the magnitude of the figures, and Congressional 
 delegates, whose con>cr\ ;it ive conduct in the deliberations of 
 
169 
 
 the Convention was the subject of remark, exclaimed, " Why, 
 this is the greatest speech that has been brought before the 
 Convention." Between the statistical information, presented 
 in such a concise form, and the actual demonstration of the 
 barge and tow-boat system, the last remnant of prejudice dis- 
 appeared, and they were won over by " moral suasion "to be 
 staunch adherents of the doctrines which they had thought to 
 oppose. 
 
 At 1 : 30 p. M. the last bell sounded, and, under the direc- 
 tion of Capt. Goll, lines were cast loose and the throbbings of 
 the giant engines were perceptible in the advancement of the 
 fleet. The prows of the boats were pointed to the bridge, 
 but once in midstream a turn of the wheel changed their direc- 
 tion down stream. A parting salute was given from the 
 whistles, and the signal was caught up along the line until the 
 air resounded with the piercing shrieks of a score of whistles 
 of every abominable sound. A salvo of artillery from above 
 the bridge on the Missouri side further emphasized the de- 
 parture, and with flying colors and under brilliant auspices 
 the trip was undertaken. 
 
 The process of turning the fleet down stream was obviously 
 a cumbersome operation, but once under headway the steamer 
 was run up to full speed, and the boats sped through their 
 element with a velocity that caused the foam to fly from the 
 forward barges. The water front of the city sped quickly by, and 
 as Carondelet was saluted, dinner was announced, and a gen- 
 eral stampede occurred to the lower decks, where the edibles 
 and refreshments were spread in inviting array, tempting the 
 appetite to do justice to the viands. 
 
 After the substantial meats had disappeared and other 
 auxiliaries brought into view, George Bain debouched from con- 
 cealment, and, in his role of master of ceremonies, called the 
 assembly to a semblance of order to hear a toast from John 
 Hogan, who proposed the health of Mr. McEimis, President 
 of the Executive Committee. 
 
 The toast was received with cheers, and Mr. McEnnis was 
 
170 
 
 compelled to respond. He thanked the gentlemen for their 
 courtesy and their kindly co-operation at the Convention, and 
 after making a hasty review of the organization of the Con- 
 vention, he expressed a hope that none would have reason to 
 forget the hospitality of St. Louis. 
 
 Hon. M. H. Dunnell, of Minnesota, the Chairman of the 
 Convention, was next induced to mount the rostrum. 
 
 He apologized for not having an elaborate address to 
 deliver, but being called upon for some remarks, he would 
 confine his attention to several features that had been over- 
 looked at the opera-house. This was his first visit to St. 
 Louis, for although residing within a comparatively short 
 distance, and having many friends here, it had never been his 
 privilege to stop in the city for any length of time sufficient to 
 admire its beauties and advantages as a commercial center. 
 He had lived in the Mississippi Valley for twenty years, and 
 had to regret that he had never availed himself of opportuni- 
 ties to sojourn among the citizens of St. Louis, but would 
 return home firmly impressed with the kindly reception. He 
 promised that on returning to Congress he should do all in 
 his power to recognize the importance of the Mississippi river 
 and its connection with the growing commerce of St. Louis. 
 He paid a flattering testimonial to the Convention, and desig- 
 nated the gathering as one that would do honor and reflect 
 credit to any section of the country. The members were 
 characterized as men of culture, education and practical 
 knowledge, that combined could only result in distinguishing 
 the cities of the Mississippi Valley as the foremost in the 
 Union. The constant agitation of river improvements would 
 be a great educator in cultivating the opinions of members 
 from other sections, and he stated that before many years 
 every Congressman would vote for all the improvements they 
 required. He gave his experience as a member of the Com- 
 mittee on Commerce, as having heard of barges a hundred 
 and a thousand times, and had taken action concerning them, 
 yet all the time he never knew what a barge meant until he 
 
171 
 
 put his foot on the boat that day. Hereafter he was prepared 
 to vote any sum of money for barges, or any river improve- 
 ments of whatever nature or magnitude suggested by the 
 Convention. 
 
 Many valued citizens citizens of the State of Missouri 
 had almost taken possession of some of the beautiful lakes 
 that lay without the confines of the cities of Minneapolis and 
 St. Paul. During the summer months hundreds and thous- 
 ands of the citizens of St. Louis visited the lakes of Minne- 
 sota, and he assured his hearers, that at all times and upon all 
 occasions, they would be welcomed to the hospitalities of his 
 State, and welcome to the privileges of its beautiful atmos- 
 phere and to the homes of its people. 
 
SECTION 4. 
 
 The following are some of the letters received from mem- 
 bers of the Senate and House of Representatives, and which 
 were not read before the Convention : 
 
 DBS MOINES, Iowa, October 17, 1881. 
 HENRY LOUREY, ESQ., Chairman, /St. Louis. 
 
 SIR: In acknowledging your invitation to be present at 
 the Mississippi River Improvement Convention at St. Louis, 
 on the 25th instant, I deeply regret that my engagements 
 require me to be in Washington at that date. The movement 
 commends itself to my judgment. The trunk line of water- 
 way takes precedence of its branches, in order of time and 
 improvement, because the utility of the latter is largely 
 dependent on the former. This is to be done, and the other 
 not left undone. I hope that your Convention will present 
 for the consideration of Congress more facts than speeches, 
 more specific engineering plans and careful estimates than 
 hallelujahs. The Western representatives will be greatly 
 assisted in the solid work to be done by a plain presentation 
 of facts and conscientious figures. 
 
 I am, gentlemen, the friend of your movement, and 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 JOHN A. KASSON, 
 M. C., Seventh District, Iowa. 
 
 HOT SPRINGS, Ark., October 20, 1881. . 
 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Corresponding /Secretary, /St. Louis. 
 DEAR SIR: Your kind invitation of the 13th ultimo found 
 me ill, at my home in Charlotte, Mich., and a few days later 
 I passed through your city en route for this place, where I 
 have since remained, your invitation still unanswered, because 
 I was still hoping that my physician would consent to my 
 leaving here early enough to meet with you on the 26th inst. 
 But I am obliged at last to decline, owing to continued ill 
 
 ( 172) 
 
173 
 
 health. I regret this the more for the reason that I am very 
 deeply interested in this question of transportation, in all its 
 phases, and could not willingly absent myself from a Conven- 
 tion where the whole subject is to be so thoroughly, ably and 
 opportunely discussed. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 E. S. LACEY. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER, ) 
 WASHINGTON, Oct. 16th, 1881. 5 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Corresponding Secretary, Southern 
 
 Hotel, St. Louis. 
 
 DEAR SIR : Your postal card received. I did not respond 
 to your invitation because I was waiting to see if I could 
 attend. Now I find I will not be able to get away from here 
 in time to do so, and I regret it very much. 
 
 Truly yours, 
 
 A. H. GARLAND. 
 United States Senator, Arkansas. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATE, ) 
 WASHINGTON, D. C., Oct. 15, 1881. 5 
 
 GEORGE L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Corresponding Secretary Missis- 
 sippi River Improvement Convention, St. Louis, Mo. 
 DEAR SIR : Eeplying to your postal card of the 13th 
 instant, and also former invitation of September last, I regret 
 to say that official business will prevent my attending the Im- 
 provement Convention on the 26th inst. 
 
 Trusting the Convention will be successful, and result in 
 much good to the whole country, I am, 
 
 Yours, very truly, 
 
 T. W. FERRY. 
 
 DETROIT, September 21, 1881. 
 HON. GEO. L. WRIGHT, Corresponding Secretary Mississippi 
 
 River Improvement Convention, St. Louis. 
 DEAR SIR : I thank you for the invitation of your com- 
 mittee to be present at the Convention on the 26th prox. It 
 would give me great pleasure to be present if practicable, but 
 I fear not. 
 
174 
 
 I beg, however, to assure you, and the Convention, that I 
 shall not be found inactive in the promotion of any well- 
 ordered scheme for the improvement of our great inland 
 water-ways, believing that they should be developed to the full 
 capacity needed, and that they may be depended upon in com- 
 petition with our great railway system, an,dby their reciprocal 
 action upon each other to keep the rate of transportation within 
 easy reach of the manufacturing and agricultural interests. 
 I am your very obedient servant, 
 
 HENRY W. LORD. 
 M. C., First District, Michigan. 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C., Oct. 25, 1881. 
 To the President of the River Improvement Convention. 
 
 I resort to telegraph, having misplaced letter for your sec- 
 retary. Am with you heart and soul. Efforts to open and 
 improve Western rivers for free and consequently cheap trans- 
 portation, are among the grandest and most beneficent enter- 
 prises inviting the present generation to ask specially for an 
 appropriation for improving the Missouri which drains the 
 future Egypt of the United States, already densely peopled, 
 and laden with plenty. Our surplus must float to the sea upon 
 our steamers, if railroads wont carry it at living prices. 
 
 ALVIN SAUNDERS. 
 U. 1. Senator, Nebraska. 
 
 STATE OF IOWA, ^ 
 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, 
 DBS MOINES, Sept. 19, 1881. ) 
 
 HENRY LOUREY, ESQ., Chairman Committee on Invitation, 
 Mississippi River Improvement Convention, /St. Louis, 
 Mo. 
 
 DEAR SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of 
 your favor of the 13th inst., inviting me to be present at the 
 Mississippi River Improvement Convention, to be holden at 
 St. Louis on October 26th prox. 
 
 My views as to the much-needed improvement of the 
 Mississippi river and its tributaries are well known. Suffice it 
 to say that I am in full sympathy with the objects of your 
 Convention. 
 
 That the improvement of this great natural highway and 
 
175 
 
 its tributaries is an immediate necessity, is proven by the 
 established fact that, at this date, with the very limited 
 improvement which has been made in this system of waters, 
 the produce of the States lying on the river is being daily 
 shipped to the great markets of the world on these streams at 
 a less cost for transportation than prevails on the all-rail 
 routes. If this can be done with the meager improvement 
 already accomplished, what may we not expect when the 
 river is improved on a broad and permanent system ? 
 
 In my opinion the time has come when the people of the 
 West should make common cause in favor of this and kindred 
 improvements, and unitedly demand of Congress appropria- 
 tions to improve the Mississippi at once. The improvement 
 of the river once made, with artificial water-ways to connect 
 it with the lakes constructed, will insure to the grain and pro- 
 vision raisers of this great valley the least possible rate on 
 the transportation of their crops. When it is considered that 
 the exports of our agricultural products amount to more than 
 fifty percent, in value of all our exports, as was the case during 
 the year ended June 30, 1881, it is time for the people of 
 the Mississippi Valley, who furnish nearly all of this great 
 amount of produce, to institute concerted action in favor of 
 cheap transportation. 
 
 I much regret that official engagements will prevent my 
 accepting your invitation. In accordance with your request, 
 I have appointed ten delegates, a list of whom I have the 
 honor to enclose you herewith. 
 
 Earnestly hoping that the action of your Convention will 
 have effect in giving tone to public sentiment in such a man- 
 ner as will best promote the object to be attained, I am, 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 JNO. H. GEAR, 
 Governor of Iowa. 
 
 LOUISVILLE, KY., Oct. 17, 1881. 
 
 DEAR SIR : I regret very much that, as present advised, I 
 will be unable to attend your Convention. The objects you 
 have in view have my hearty approval, and, at the proper 
 time, will receive my cordial support. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 ALBERTS. WILLIS. 
 
176 
 
 ON BOARD STEAMER " J. M. WHITE," 
 
 October 21st, 1881. 
 MR. GEORGE L. WRIGHT, Secretary Mississippi River Im- 
 provement Convention, St. Louis, Mo. : 
 
 MY DEAR SIR : I have the pleasure to acknowledge re- 
 ceipt of invitation to attend the Convention to assemble in 
 your city on the 26th of this month. I hoped certainly to be 
 present with you, but my engagements in Mississippi may 
 prevent, and I therefore write to express my thanks to your 
 committee for their courtesy. 
 
 My interest in the subject-matter which will engage the 
 Convention is unabated, and I never gaze on the great river 
 without feeling regret that the vast commercial interests which 
 line its banks and tributaries have so long met the almost 
 studied neglect of the Federal Government. Becoming, as it 
 has, the great water channel, through which the immense food 
 crops of twenty-four States and six Territories flow into the 
 Gulf of Mexico, it rises to a dignity and importance which 
 will not suffer it longer to be neglected. All that is required 
 is a perfect union of all the interests that belong to the river 
 and its tributaries ; and I hope this Convention may form this 
 union, and present their claims in such simple and direct 
 manner that the Federal Congress can no longer ignore them. 
 
 Hoping still to be with you, but fearing I may not, I write 
 these few lines as I pass to Natchez, where I speak to-night. 
 With best wishes for your health and prosperity, 
 
 Very truly, your friend and fellow-citizen, 
 
 CHAS. E. HOOKER. 
 
 U. S. SENATE, WASHINGTON, October 17, 1881. 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Corresponding Secretary, St. Louis. 
 DEAR SIR : I have been away from home much of the fall, 
 and did not receive the invitation to be present at the River 
 Convention until late. I should be very glad to be present, 
 for I take an interest in the movement, but my engagements 
 are such that I cannot come. I hope the Convention will be 
 all that its friends desire and expect. 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 EUGENE HALE, 
 U. S. Senator from Maine. 
 
177 
 
 WHEELER, ALABAMA, October 18, 1881. 
 HON. GEO. L. WRIGHT : 
 
 MY DEAR SIR : It affords me pleasure to acknowledge the 
 receipt of your valued favor, extending to me an invitation 
 to be present at the Mississippi River Improvement Con- 
 vention. As I feel a great interest in a matter which is so 
 intimately connected with the prosperity of more than half of 
 the United States, I regret exceedingly that I will be unable 
 to accept your kind invitation ; but, I assure you, I shall take 
 great interest in the deliberation of a body of such distin- 
 guised and practical gentlemen as will compose the Convention. 
 
 Again thanking you for your kind attention, believe me, 
 with great respect, Your friend, 
 
 Jos. WHEELER, 
 M. (7., Eighth District, Alabama. 
 
 HANNIBAL, Mo., October 8th, 1881. 
 HENRY LOUREY, ESQ., Chairman. 
 
 SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your 
 favor of 13th ult. ; inviting me to be present and participate 
 in the deliberations of the Mississippi River Improvement 
 Convention, to be held in St. Louis, Oct. 26th, 1881. 
 
 Cordially endorsing the objects and purposes of the Con- 
 vention, as set forth in the " Official Call," I accept your 
 invitation with much pleasure. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 W. H. HATCH. 
 
 CHICAGO, October 15, 1881. 
 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Corresponding Secretary Mississippi 
 River Improvement Convention, St. Louis, Mo.: 
 
 DEAR SIR : I return thanks for the invitation to attend 
 the Mississippi River Improvement Convention. It now 
 looks very doubtful of my ability to be present, though 
 should be pleased to do so. The vast importance of the busi- 
 ness of the Convention will, I trust, draw out the wisest 
 councils, and result in great good to your city and the whole 
 West. With great respect, I am 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 WM. ALDRICH. 
 
 12 
 
178 
 
 MT. CARROLL, ILL., Sept. 21, 1881. 
 HENRY LOUREY, ESQ., Chairman Committee of Invitation, 
 
 St. Louis, Mo. 
 
 GENTLEMEN; Your favor of 13th inst., extending an in- 
 vitation to be present at a Convention to be held in your city 
 on the 26th prox., and to participate in its deliberations, is 
 duly received. I regret that I have already engaged to be 
 away from home during the whole of the month of October, 
 and shall, therefore, be unable to attend your Convention. I 
 desire to state, however, at this time, that I most heartily favor 
 a judicious expenditure, by the National Government, of a suf- 
 ficient sum to properly improve the great natural and national 
 highway. I am heartily in favor of any carefully guarded 
 expenditure of the public money, that has for its object the 
 cheapening of transportation to the producers of the great 
 Northwest. Many abuses must of necessity creep into any 
 vast system of internal improvement on the part of the Gen- 
 eral Government, hence every precaution should be taken, 
 and every point thoroughly discussed that bears upon the in- 
 telligent and economical prosecution of the contemplated 
 work. You have my most cordial sympathy and support in 
 any well-guarded plan for the improvement of our great 
 river. With great respect, I am, 
 
 Very truly, etc., 
 
 R. M. A. HAWK. 
 M. C. Fifth District. 
 
 KNOXVILLE, ILL., October 15, 1881. 
 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, Corresponding Secretary Mississippi River 
 Improvement Convention, St. Louis, Mo.: 
 
 DEAR SIR : Yours of the 13th duly received and contents 
 noted, and in reply would say, while I would be much pleased 
 to be present on the 26th, my arrangements are such as to 
 make it impracticable. 
 
 I hope the Convention will be full and enthusiastic. Cheap 
 transportation is the one thing most desirable, at this time, 
 to the producer and manufacturer, and every possible avenue 
 leading in that direction should be sought out and opened. 
 Many thanks to your committee for their kindly offers. 
 
 I am, truly yours, 
 
 J. H. LEWIS. 
 
179 
 
 VALPARAISO, IND., Sept. 22, 1881. 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, Corresponding Secretary. 
 
 DEAR SIR : In answer to your invitation to be present at 
 the Mississippi River Improvement Convention, to be held at 
 St. Louis, Oct. 26, 1881, I will say, that if not prevented 
 by circumstances, not now existing, I will be present on that 
 occasion. I am, sir, 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MARK L. DEMOTTE. 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C., October 17, 1881. 
 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Secretary Mississippi Elver Im- 
 provement Convention , St. Louis, Mo. : 
 
 SIR : In reply to your postal, I have to inform you that 
 I did not receive the invitation you speak of, and to express 
 my regret at being unable to be present, owing to a press of 
 business that I must attend to. Thanking you for your cour- 
 tesy. I am, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 GEO. W. STEELE. 
 
 SHAWNEETOWN, ILL., Oct. 15, 1881. 
 
 MR. GEO. L. WRIGHT, Corresponding Secretary Mississippi 
 River Improvement Convention, St. Lovis, Mo. 
 DEAR SIR : 1 am in sympathy with any movement which 
 has for its aim cheapening the means of transportation of the 
 products of the Mississippi Valley to the ocean and the mar- 
 kets of the world. 
 
 In proportion as the cost of transportation is lessened, the 
 value of grain and other products in enhanced to our pro- 
 ducers, and the material wealth of this region is increased. 
 
 I am convinced that the surest way to accomplish this great 
 object is by the improvement of our navigable water lines of 
 transportation, thereby providing a competition with* the rail- 
 ways for freights, which will serve as an effectual protection 
 from extortion by the legerdemain of railway pools and com- 
 binations. 
 
 The Mississippi is a grand, free highway, marked out by 
 the finger of God for the commerce of the West and South ; 
 
180 
 
 one on which no tribute can be levied, no monopoly can be 
 established as free as the air for all. 
 
 Without now consuming time to assign reasons, I may say 
 that I believe Congress possesses the power, and it is its duty 
 to provide reasonable means for the necessary improvement of 
 the Mississippi and its navigable tributaries. 
 
 I hope, however, that the friends of this improvement 
 will place it upon its merits, and not permit the jobbers and 
 schemers to couple with Federal appropriations for this work 
 the expenditure of the people's money on streams and objects 
 not of a national character, and which are not and cannot be 
 made of value to the commerce of the country, and thereby 
 prevent many conscientious members of Congress from voting 
 in favor of the appropriation of reasonable and necessary sums 
 for the systematic improvement of the Mississippi river and 
 its tributaries. 
 
 I fear I shall not be able to attend the Convention on the 
 26th inst. Very respectfully, 
 
 K. W. TOWNSHEND, 
 
 M. G. Nineteenth District. 
 
 BELVIDERE, N. J., Oct. 19th, 1881. 
 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, Corresponding Secretary, /St. Louis, Mo. 
 DEAR SIR : I regret to say that pressing business engage- 
 ments will prevent my attendance at the River Convention on 
 October 26th, instant. 
 
 I shall watch its proceedings with interest, as I heartily 
 sympathize with its objects, as I understand them. 
 With thanks for the invitation to be present, I am, 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 HENRY S. HARRIS. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER, ) 
 WASHINGTON, October 16, 1881. 5 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ. 
 
 DEARSIR: I regret that my public engagements for! >i< I 
 me to accept your kind invitation to the interesting and im- 
 portant Convention to be held at St. Louis on the 26th. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 H. B. ANTHONY, 
 United /States /Senator. 
 
181 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER, ) 
 WASHINGTON, October 24, 1881. 5 
 MESSRS. HENRY LOUREY, Chairman, NATHAN COLE, CHARLES 
 
 PARSONS, E. W. GOULD AND FRANK GAIENNIE, Committee 
 
 of Invitation. 
 
 GENTLEMEN : Please accept my thanks for the hoiior of 
 your very kind invitation to be present and participate in the 
 deliberations of the Mississippi River Improvement Conven- 
 tion, to be held in the City of St. Louis on the 26th day of 
 October, 1881. I regret exceedingly that the present session 
 of the Senate, which cannot complete its labors before the 
 25th or 26th inst., will keep me here and prevent my accept- 
 ance of your invitation and participation in your proceedings. 
 I trust the Convention will be harmonious and its proceedings 
 result in greatly increasing the general interest in and urgent 
 demand for the rapid improvement of our great river and its 
 navigable tributaries. The efforts to secure the improvement 
 of the Mississippi river have, in the past, received, and shall 
 in the future receive my unqualified and hearty approval. I 
 have labored most earnestly and faithfully to secure, by Con- 
 gressional legislation, the adoption of a matured plan and sys- 
 tem for the correction, permanent location and deepening of 
 the channel of the river and the improvement of its navi- 
 gability. 
 
 By act of Congress, approved June 28, 1879, the "Missis- 
 sippi River Commission' ' was provided ; was afterward 
 appointed and has made its report to Congress and submitted 
 a plan and system of works, which has received the approval 
 of Congress in appropriations of money to construct the pro- 
 posed works according to the plan. 
 
 I believe the plan and system proposed is the only true 
 one. The appropriations already made are entirely insuffi- 
 cient. It is absolutely necessary that a sufficient sum of 
 money shall be appropriated annually by Congress to prose- 
 cute these works according to the plan during the entire period 
 of each year when work can be done, and also at each of the 
 wide places in the river, where the water is necessarily shallow. 
 
 I trust the Convention may be able to excite such influ- 
 ences as will convince Congress of the importance and neces- 
 sity of appropriating sufficient sums of money to secure at the 
 very earliest practicable time the completion of the proposed 
 works, according to the system and plan already adopted. 
 
182 
 
 Be assured that, as in the past, so in the future, I shall do 
 all in my power to secure the improvement of the navigability 
 of the Mississippi river and of all its navigable tributaries, 
 which, when done, will settle the question of cheap transpor- 
 tation and forever thereafter regulate all freight charges and 
 hold them down to the lowest rates. 
 
 I have the honor to be your obedient servant, 
 
 F. M. COCKRELL. 
 
 WARREN, PA., October 21, 1881. 
 
 HON. GEO. L. WRIGHT, Corresponding Secretary of the Mis- 
 sissippi River Improvement Convention, St. Louis , Mo. 
 DEAR SIR : The invitation to be present at your Conven- 
 vention on the 26th inst., came duly to hand. I regret that 
 my engagements are such as will prevent my attendance and 
 deprive me of the pleasure of participating in your delibera- 
 tions on that occasion. 
 
 Yours, truly, 
 
 L. F. WATSON, 
 Member of Congress. 
 
 HON. HENRY LOUREY, Chairman Executive Committee of the 
 
 Mississippi River Improvement Convention, St. Louis, Mo. 
 
 DEAR SIR : I have the honor te acknowledge the receipt 
 of your letter of invitation to attend the Mississippi River 
 Improvement Convention, to meet at St. Louis on the 26th 
 day of October (prox.), and to participate in its deliberations. 
 
 It is to me a matter of sincere regret that engagements 
 made previous to the receipt of your letter will deny me the 
 opportunity to attend the Convention, and I beg to assure 
 you that the regret I feel is greatly enhanced by the fact that 
 I am in full and hearty sympathy with what I understand to 
 be the object and purpose of the Convention, and yet debarred 
 the privilege of sharing in its deliberations. 
 
 I do not fail to recognize the importance of cheap tra im- 
 portation in its bearing on all the industrial pursuits and 
 interests of the country, nor am I indifferent to the fact that 
 cheap transportation can only be permanently assured by <-<>ni- 
 petition among carriers, and that the most effectual of all 
 competition is that which is or may be established between our 
 interior water- wavs and railways. 
 
183 
 
 Hoping that the deliberations of the Convention may aid 
 in the further development and material advancement of the 
 66 Great Mississippi Valley," upon which the future prosperity 
 of the whole country so much depends, and thanking you and 
 your committee for the invitation to attend its sittings, I am, 
 very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 J. J. FlNLEY, 
 
 M. C. Second District, Florida. 
 
 MANSFIELD, Ohio, September 27, 1881. 
 HON. HENRY LOUREY, Chairman, St. Louis, Mo. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 13th, inviting me to 
 attend the proposed Convention to be held at St. Louis, on 
 the 26th of October, to advance the commercial, agricultural 
 and financial interests of the Mississippi Valley, has been 
 received. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to 
 join in such a conference, and contribute in any way in my 
 power to the objects proposed by your Committee. I have 
 given the subject great attention, not only from the interest 
 felt by my constituents, but from the personal examination I 
 have been called upon to make as a member of the Transpor- 
 tation Committee of the Senate. I have no doubt but that a 
 concerted movement by the leading commercial citizens of 
 the Mississippi Valley would give a proper direction to the 
 interests you represent. I will not, however, be able to 
 attend the Convention, as the Senate has a called session that 
 will probably continue during the session of your Convention. 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 JOHN SHERMAN, 
 U. S. Senator from Ohio. 
 
 MONTICELLO, IOWA, October 17, 1881. 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., JSt. Louis, Mo.: 
 
 DEAR SIR : I am in receipt of your invitation to be pres- 
 ent at the Mississippi River Improvement Convention, Oct. 
 26th. Please accept thanks for the same. My engagements 
 are such it will be impossible for me to attend ; but I assure 
 you I am heartily in favor of the objects for which the Con- 
 vention is called. Please send me a copy of the proceedings, 
 if they are published in pamphlet form. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 L. S. FAR WELL. 
 
184 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER, ) 
 WASHINGTON, October 15, 1881. 5 
 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Corresponding Secretary, St. Louis, 
 Missouri. 
 
 DEAR SIR : I have received your invitation to attend the 
 Mississippi River Improvement Convention, to be held at St. 
 Louis, October 26th. I am very much interested in the sub- 
 jects which will be before the Convention for consideration, 
 but I regret to inform you that it will be impossible for me to 
 attend as requested. 
 
 Very truly, yours, 
 
 BENJ. HARRISON. > 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER, ) 
 WASHINGTON, October 17, 1881. 5 
 
 Chairman of Committee of Arrangements, Mississippi River 
 Convention. 
 
 SIR : I regret that my public duties will probably render 
 it impossible for me to be present at the Convention, which 
 meets on the 26th inst. I appreciate the importance of the 
 object you have in view, and shall give my aid to whatever 
 expenditure may be necessary or useful to the permanent im- 
 provement of the Mississippi River and all of its affluents. 
 
 Should my engagements permit me to be present I will 
 notify you before the Convention meets. 
 
 Yours, 
 
 WILKINSON CALL. 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C., October 4, 1881. 
 HENRY LOUREY, ESQ., and others, Committee of Invitation. 
 
 GENTLEMEN : Your letter of invitation to attend the Miss- 
 issippi River Improvement Convention at St. Louis, October 
 26, 1881, was received. My engagements are such that it 
 will not be possible for me to accept your courteous invitation, 
 but allow me to add, that I sincerely trust that this meeting 
 may result in calling the attention of the people to the para- 
 mount importance of developing and improving this noble 
 water-way furnished by nature for carrying to the ocean the 
 marvelous productions of the central plain of North America. 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 W. HUTCHINS. 
 
185 
 
 MARTIXSBURG, W. VA., September 20, 1881. 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Corresponding Secretary. 
 
 DEAR SIR : I acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of an 
 invitation to attend the Mississippi Kiver Improvement Con- 
 vention, to be held in St. Louis on the 26th of October. 
 
 I cannot promise myself, with any certainty, that I can 
 accept this invitation, as I do not know what my engagements 
 will be at that time. If in my power, however, I shall most 
 gladly avail myself of the opportunity to learn so much from 
 representative men of the Mississippi Valley touching the im- 
 provement of the great river and its tributaries, and the means 
 of effecting that great result. 
 
 With entire sympathy with the objects of the Convention, 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient 
 servant, 
 
 JOHN BLAIR HOGE, 
 M. C. Second District , West Virginia. 
 
 OSAGE, Iowa, October 8, 188]. 
 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Corresponding Secretary, St. Louis. 
 DEAR SIR : In reply to your letter of 13th ultimo, I regret 
 to say that business engagements will require my presence in 
 Iowa, and prevent attendance at the Mississippi River Im- 
 provement Convention on the 26th instant. I am cordially in 
 sympathy with the views you express and the objects of the 
 Convention, and hope the meeting and interchange of opinions 
 will be productive of good results. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, etc., 
 
 N. C. DEERING, 
 Member Congress, Fourth District, Iowa. 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C., October 22, 1881. 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Corresponding Secretary Mississippi 
 
 River Improvement Convention. 
 
 DEAR SIR : Your courteous invitation to attend the Con- 
 vention as honorary guest is highly appreciated, but pressing 
 official duties prevent acceptance. I appreciate the magnitude 
 and importance of the work you are engaged in, and cordially 
 wish you success. B. K. BRUCE. 
 
186 
 
 WASHINGTON, ARK., September 28, 1881. 
 MESSRS. HENRY LOUREY, Chairman, NATHAN COLE, CHARLES 
 
 PARSONS, and others, Committee. 
 
 GENTLEMEN : Upon my arrival at home to-day I find your 
 favor, inviting me to be present and participate in the deliber- 
 ations of the Mississippi River Improvement Convention. 
 
 I regret very much that my engagements are such as to 
 render it impossible for me to be present, but I assure you 
 that in spirit I am heart and soul in favor of the great work. 
 
 It is one of so much importance that we cannot afford to 
 make mistakes, and I therefore hope that the best talent of 
 the country may be present, and that you may be able to give 
 the cause such an impetus as will render early and triumphant 
 success certain. 
 
 Again expressing my deep regret that I cannot attend, I 
 am, very truly, 
 
 JAMES K. JONES. 
 
 MORGAN CITY, LA., Oct. 20, 1881. 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, Secretary Mississippi River Improvement 
 
 Convention. 
 
 SIR : I have received your invitation to attend the Missis- 
 sippi River Convention, to be held in your city the 26th, and 
 have hoped to be able to attend, but the press of my private 
 business will prevent my doing so. 
 
 I am glad to see such a convention held, and it can only 
 have good results. 
 
 With its objects I am in entire sympathy, as my course in 
 Congress in the past will show. Regretting my inability to 
 attend in person, I beg to subscribe myself, 
 
 Very respectfully, etc., 
 
 C. B. DARRELL. 
 
 COLUMBIA, TENN., October 18, 1881. 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, Secretary. 
 
 SIR: Acknowledging receipt of your invitation " to be 
 present at the River Convention to be held in St. Louis, 
 October 26th," for which I thank you, I have to regret that 
 I cannot be present, as I have cordial sympathy with the nniin 
 purpose of the Convention. 
 
 1 am respectfully yours, W. C. WHITTIIOKM:. 
 
187 
 
 WASHINGTON, October 16, 1881. 
 MR. GEO. L. WRIGHT : 
 
 DEAR SIR : The present session of the Senate is not likely 
 to terminate in time to admit of my attending the River Con- 
 vention on the 26th inst. I could scarcely express with too 
 much intensity the interest I feel in this great subject, and my 
 hope that in "the multitude of counsel" we may find the true 
 solution of the problem of the improvement of this great 
 highway of the people of the United States, and the security 
 of the agricultural interest along the course of the Mississippi 
 river. I believe that the Congress is only waiting for the 
 development of the best plan, to take hold of this work with 
 the vigor that is characteristic of this age of our progress. 
 What should be done above all else is to ascertain what is the 
 best plan. It would be a sad misfortune in every way should 
 we make any serious mistake in starting this work on a plan 
 that would prove impracticable or seriously defective. In the 
 hope that careful Research and impartial judgment may control 
 in the important deliberations of the River Convention, I have 
 the honor to remain, your obedient servant, 
 
 JOHN T. MORGAN, 
 United States Senator from Alabama. 
 
 MEMPHIS, October 16, 1881. 
 MR. GEO. L. WRIGHT, Corresponding Secretary, St. Z/ouis, 
 
 Missouri. 
 
 DEAR SIR : In reply to your postal of inquiry, etc., dated 
 13th inst., I have the honor to express my earnest regret that 
 other engagements will prevent my acceptance of your prized 
 invitation to attend the "Mississippi River Improvement Con- 
 vention," to be assembled in your great city on the 26th inst. 
 
 There are, in my judgment, few questions of the present 
 day so important to the interests of this giant young nation, 
 as that of the unobstructed and continuous navigability of the 
 Mississippi river from St. Paul to the Gulf of Mexico ; and 
 the judicious and early expenditure by the General Government 
 of even a very large sum of money, under proper safeguards, 
 to effect this grand purpose, would, I am firmly persuaded, 
 prove to be an act of the greatest national wisdom. 
 
 I have the honor to remain, very, respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, WM. B. MOORE, 
 
 Member of Congress. 
 
188 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, October 18, 1881. 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., St. Louis. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR : Acknowledging the receipt of your favor, 
 with enclosure of invitation to be present at the Mississippi 
 River Improvement Convention (received during my absence 
 from home), I beg to advise you that it will be impossible for 
 me to attend. I have always favored the improvement of the 
 Mississippi river, and shall continue to co-operate and vote 
 with the gentlemen who so ably represent your interests in 
 Congress. Although absent, count me as present in all that 
 may be calculated to promote the prosperity and welfare of 
 your section of our country. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 A. C. HARMER, M. C. 
 
 BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT, Oct. 17, 1881. 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ. 
 
 SIR : I have been absent from home during the past 
 month much of the time, and your card of invitation was 
 overlooked. I regret that my business engagements will pre- 
 vent my acceptance of the invitation. I beg leave to assure 
 you of my interest in all that looks to the improvement of that 
 great water-way, the Mississippi river, and that I should have 
 great pleasure in attending the Convention, did my engage- 
 ments permit. 
 
 Yours, respectfully, 
 
 JAMES M. TYLER, 
 M. C. /Second District. 
 
 MOBILE, Oct. 15, 1881. 
 
 DEAR SIR: Other engagements will prevent me from 
 attending the Mississippi River Improvement Convention on 
 the 26th inst. Hoping the Convention may promote the great 
 object in view, I am, 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 THOS. H. HERN DON, 
 M. C. t Alabama. 
 
189 
 
 WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, VA., ) 
 September 22, 1881. 5 
 HON. HENRY LOUREY, Chairman. 
 
 DEAR SIR : I am in receipt of the invitation from the 
 Executive Committee of the 'Mississippi Kiver Improvement 
 Convention, of which you are chairman, to attend the Conven- 
 tion on October the 26th. 
 
 Accept my thanks, and unless prevented by a session of 
 the Senate, or some overruling necessity, I shall certainly be 
 present. As your address states, the time has come for a full 
 interchange of opinion on this great question, and we of the 
 West and South must assert our right to be heard and felt in 
 the righteous claim for improvement of the great river. Sooner 
 or later we will obtain all we ask. 
 
 Truly, 
 
 G. D. VEST. 
 
 USETTS, ) 
 [EXT, 
 
 ', 1881. > 
 
 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, 
 
 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, 
 BOSTON, September 17, 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Secretary Mississippi River Improve- 
 ment Convention, St. Louis, Mo. 
 
 DEAR SIR: Will you kindly extend to the Mississippi 
 River Improvement Convention my acknowledgment of the 
 courtesy of an invitation to participate in its deliberations. 
 My engagements will not permit me to be present, but I de- 
 sire to express my interest in the occasion, and send to it my 
 best wishes. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 JOHN D. LONG. 
 
 BEDFORD, MASS., October 20, 1881. 
 GEO. L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Corresponding Secretary, St. Louis. 
 MY DEAR SIR : My engagements do not permit my attend- 
 ance of the Mississippi River Improvement Convention, which 
 is to be held on the 26th inst. I am glad to learn that the 
 number of delegates present will be large, and I hope the 
 question of cheap transportation, which is involved in the 
 improvement of the Mississippi, will have thorough and 
 enlightened discussion, and that the Convention will be able 
 
190 
 
 to present such well-considered and practical plans for the 
 improvement of the river as will aid Congress, the majority 
 of whose members are really desirous of promoting the work. 
 
 Yours, truly, 
 
 " WM. W. CRAPO, 
 Member of Congress. 
 
 NEW ORLEANS, October 31, 1881. 
 To FRANK GAIENNIE, ESQ. : 
 
 Resolved, That the members of this Exchange hereby en- 
 dorse the action of the River Convention, recently held at St. 
 Louis, and we hereby pledge ourselves to work and talk in 
 behalf of the improvement of the navigation of the Missis- 
 sippi river, until the nation shall accord it as the just due, 
 not only of the Valley States, but of the commercial interests 
 of the entire country. 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this Exchange are due to 
 Mr. Frank Gaiennie, of St. Louis, for his efficient services in 
 behalf of the Convention, and for his uniform courtesy and 
 consideration extended to our delegates- in said Convention 
 
 WM. M. SMALL WOOD, 
 Secretary New Orleans Produce Exchange. 
 
 PITTSBURG, November 9, 1881. 
 MERCHANTS' EXCHANGE, St. Louis, Mo. : 
 
 GENTLEMEN : I have been instructed to forward you the 
 the following extract from minutes of a meeting of the Board 
 of Directors of this Association, held on the 7th inst. On 
 report of committee in attendance at Mississippi River Im- 
 provement Convention, held at St. Louis, on 26th October, 
 1881, they say, and which was unanimously adopted : 
 
 " Your committee sincerely think that the thanks of thi.s 
 " Chamber, and of all sections represented in the Mississippi 
 " River Improvement Convention, are due to the Merchants' 
 " Exchange of St Louis for the inauguration of the same, as 
 " well as for the promised results which are certain to follow, 
 " if the recommendations of the Convention are properly 
 " brought before Congress." 
 
 Very respectfully yours, 
 
 G. FOLLANSBEE, 
 
 Superintendent. 
 
191 
 
 The following interesting letter was received from For- 
 stall, Ross & Clayton, of New Orleans, contractors for ocean 
 tonnage, in regard to tonnage from that city in connection 
 with the shipments from the Mississippi Valley. 
 
 NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 24, 1881. 
 
 GEORGE L. WRIGHT, ESQ., Corresponding Secretary Mis- 
 sissippi River Improvement Convention, St Louis, Mo. : 
 
 DEAR SIR : In addressing you on the subject of the prob- 
 able results to be obtained from the improvement of the 
 Mississippi river, which your approaching Convention aims 
 to secure, we shall refer especially to the past and present 
 facilities for ocean transportation to and from New Orleans, 
 the causes that are now operating against a greater increase of 
 these facilities, and the certain eifect which a permanently 
 navigable channel in the river would exercise, in procuring for 
 New Orleans a constant supply of ocean tonnage, equal to the 
 utmost requirements of the great Mississippi Valley. 
 
 It is almost needless to say that, during the past ten or 
 fifteen years, the employment of steamers in place of sailing- 
 ships has increased at a marvelous rate, until now there are 
 few trades in which steam has not distanced sail, and every 
 year sees fresh encroachments made by steamers on grounds 
 that were recently supposed to be entirely beyond their 
 reach. 
 
 The supply of steamers increased so rapidly, and competi- 
 tion among them became so keen, that the rates of freight 
 obtainable were materially reduced, and every measure has 
 been, and is still resorted to, in order to secure the greatest 
 possible economy in working. One of the principal means 
 employed to this end, especially in the Atlantic trades, was the 
 construction of steamers of greatly increased carrying capacity, 
 which could be worked at comparatively little more cost and 
 earn much more mon'ev at less rates than smaller boats. 
 Another great point aimed at is to avoid any unnecessary de- 
 tention, and to have steamers handled with the quickest pos- 
 sible dispatch ; to have cargoes always prepared in advance, 
 and to secure the best appliances for loading and discharging 
 goods with maximum speed and at a minimum cost. 
 
 Until the opening of the South Pass by Capt. Eads, New 
 Orleans was almost inaccessible to such vessels, and her 
 export trade was carried on, we may say, entirely by sailing- 
 
192 
 
 ships. Little was known of the port by the majority of 
 English steamship owners, and especially by those on the east 
 coast of England, where a large proportion of the general 
 trading steamers are built and owned. To such an exent 
 was this the case, that, in 1877, the latest English Amiralty 
 Charts obtainable in the East Coast seaports, showed a depth 
 of only eight to ten feet of water in South Pass, and thirteen 
 to fifteen feet in Southwest Pass. 
 
 This, together with the very unenviable reputation that 
 New Orleans possessed as an unhealthy and expensive port, 
 made it very difficult to persuade steamship owners to send 
 their vessels to load there, which was accomplished only by 
 merchants guaranteeing high rates and quick dispatch. 
 
 The perfectly favorable condition of the South Pass for 
 heavy drafted vessels soon became known to owners, how- 
 ever, as also the satisfactory results of the voyages made in 
 the season of '77-' 78, and as it was expected that the grain 
 exports in '78-' 79 would be greater than those of the pre- 
 ceding year, while the demand of cotton shippers for steam 
 room kept increasing, owners who had already sent steamers 
 to New Orleans, and many who had not, made up their 
 minds that they had struck a new bonanza, and each one 
 determined to be on hand when the cotton shipping season of 
 1878 commenced. 
 
 Some New Orleans firms taking the same view, entered 
 into speculative engagements to load steamers at com- 
 paratively high rates of freight. 
 
 As is too well known, the unhappy epidemic of yellow 
 fever upset all calculations. After the city was clear of the 
 scourge, cotton came in but slowly, and the river was so 
 low that it was for a time utterly impossible to move grain 
 down at all. Owners had, therefore, the mortification of 
 seeing their steamers detained for days, weeks, and, in some 
 cases, over a month, waiting for cargoes which they finally 
 obtained at very low rates. 
 
 They not only concluded in consequence that New Orleans 
 was not such a bonanza as they had anticipated, but they went 
 to the opposite extreme, and made up their minds that it was a 
 delusion and a snare, and a place to be avoided by all steam- 
 ers, unless provided with iron-clad charters, guaranteeing 
 high rates of freight, heavy payments in case of detention in 
 loading, and, in fact, entire immunity from all the risks that 
 they usually take from other seaports. 
 
193 
 
 In the summer of 1879, considerable quantities of grain 
 were sold in Europe, for shipment from New Orleans, in the 
 months of August, September and October. The sellers, in 
 order to obtain ocean tonnage, guaranteed high rates of 
 freights and quick loading. They purchased the grain in St. 
 Louis, made the necessary arrangements to ship it, so as to 
 meet the steamers, and all calculations showed a handsome 
 profit on the transactions. But they had again reckoned 
 without the river, which got so low that grain could not be 
 moved down ; while the steamers were on hand at the proper 
 time, the cargoes were wanting, and penalties had to be paid 
 both to the steamship owners, for failure to load, and to the 
 buyers of the grain for failure to deliver. 
 
 In 1878 the owners suffered ; in 1879 the New Orleans 
 merchants took their turn, and the experiences of both years 
 tended to make New Orleans anything but a favorite resort 
 for steamers. In fact, the regular liners running to Liver- 
 pool, and depending principally on cotton for cargo, were 
 almost the only steamers that frequented the port without a 
 solid and certain inducement in the way of a guarantee of 
 freight. While New York, Boston, Philadelphia and other 
 Atlantic ports were kept well supplied with steamers, pre- 
 pared to take their chances of the freight markets there, New 
 Orleans could obtain tonnage only by guaranteeing rates of 
 freight from 30 to 40 per cent, higher than those current in 
 the Northern ports ; and, although the expenses of loading 
 grain at New Orleans were then much less than in the North, 
 even this was not considered by many owners sufficient to 
 cover the risk of sending boats there, only to find that the 
 cargoes intended for them were fast aground six or seven 
 hundred miles up the Mississippi. So strong did this feeling 
 become, that when grain operations were resumed from New 
 Orleans in the spring of 1880, several exporters got severely 
 caught through their inability to procure ocean tonnage, al- 
 though they had the cargoes in New Orleans ready to put on 
 board steamers, for which they offered almost any price, so 
 that they might implement their shipping contracts. 
 
 The summer and fall of 1880 saw the same state of affairs 
 high prices paid to secure steamers, and continued trouble in- 
 arranging for shipments to meet them, on account of delays 
 to tows from a low stage of water in the river. 
 
 During the winter of 1880, large quantities of iron and 
 steel were imported by New Orleans and other Gulf ports, on 
 
 13 
 
194 
 
 which liberal rates of freight were paid outwards, drawing 
 many steamers towards our port, prepared to accept moderate 
 rates of freight for return cargoes. Unfortunately, the ice 
 blockade between St. Louis and Cairo cut off the supplies of 
 grain for a considerable time, and, in consequence, many of 
 the steamers proceeded to Havana, and loaded sugar for New 
 York, Boston, etc. ; others proceeded to these ports in bal- 
 last, and the balance accepted charters at low rates from New 
 Orleans, rather than incur the cost of shifting ports. The 
 majority of these last met with vexatious and costly delay in 
 loading; and although, when navigation in the river was re- 
 opened, very liberal rates of freight were paid for some little 
 time, and a few owners secured remunerative business, the 
 general experience of last winter and summer certainly inten- 
 sified the feeling that New Orleans is a most uncertain port 
 for steamers to frequent. 
 
 Exporters of grain, also, have found the business so diffi- 
 cult to conduct, and so full of risk, that many have abandoned 
 it entirely, and firms anxious to take it up have decided to 
 abstain from it entirely, until these obstacles shall be removed. 
 
 The consequence of this state of affairs is, that New Orleans 
 has regular steam communication only with Liverpool, Havre 
 and liremen, the trade to these ports being to a very great ex- 
 tent in cotton, while London, Glasgow, Antwerp, Hamburg and 
 other European ports, that continually receive immense quanti- 
 ties of Western produce from New York, etc., are accessible 
 from New Orleans only at rare intervals, except to firms in a 
 position to supply full cargoes of grain, etc., for which they 
 charter entire vessels. If uninterrupted navigation on the 
 river were assured, there would be little difficulty in establish- 
 ing regular steam services between New Orleans and the 
 principal grain and provision receiving points in Europe, with 
 which we have now only spasmodic connection ; but as long 
 as the supplies of cargo are subject to being cut off, as 
 at present, we cannot expect to increase our means of com- 
 munication with these places to any great extent. 
 
 A great deal has been said and written against the Jetties 
 at South Pass, and it has been, and is still, asserted that heavy 
 vessels cannot pass through the channel. We have loaded 
 many steamer- in New Orleans, drawing all the way from 
 seventeen to twenty-five feet of water, and any that failed to 
 go out without grounding, did so through some accident, 
 or through defective steering on the part of the pilot or helms- 
 
195 
 
 man ; but such accidents have been rare. We have had a 
 steamer drawing twenty-two feet of water get aground by 
 iroing out of the proper channel, and a few hours later, an- 
 other steamer drawing twenty-three feet of water keep the 
 proper channel, and go to sea without touching anything ; still, 
 the grounding of the twenty-two-foot steamer was cited as a 
 proof that the Jetties are a failure ! As a matter of fact, we 
 do not now consider a vessel's draft of water of any importance 
 whatever in engaging cargo or loading her ; whereas, previous 
 to the days of the Jetties, it was a question of the gravest 
 importance. It is also a fact that the poorest channel is 
 not in the Jetties proper, but in South Pass itself, where no 
 provision has been made for improvements. 
 
 Capt. Francis, probably the most experienced of our 
 bar pilots, says that far from the South Pass showing any 
 signs of filling up, there are about two and one-half feet more 
 water there now than at any previous time. Last spring we 
 had the pleasure of conducting one of the largest anc] most 
 experienced steamship owners in the world -to Port Eads, 
 where he inspected all the works and expressed himself to the 
 effect that New Orleans possessed an entrance to her harbor 
 superior in very many respects to the entrance to New York 
 harbor. 
 
 At the same time we would ask your careful attention to 
 the fact, that all experienced seafaring men are unanimous in 
 saying that an accident in the channel of the South Pass, might 
 at any moment cause the entire obstruction of navigation for a 
 considerable time. The channel is narrow, the current is swift, 
 and the chances of collision of incoming and outgoing vessels, 
 with each other, or with vessels at anchor in the Pass are great. 
 [See evidence in the collision case of the Steamship "Al- 
 tonower" with bark ''Ontario," in South Pass last February, 
 where, by good fortune, neither vessel was sunk.] Besides, 
 the single outlet would probably not be sufficient to accom- 
 modate the increased movement of tonnage that would follow 
 any thorough improvement of the upper river, and we think 
 no plan of improvement would be complete that did not 
 include the deepening of Southwest Pass, and making it 
 passable for vessels of the heaviest draft. 
 
 The cry of "hot corn by the river route" has been 
 raised so often, that it has become comparatively ineffec- 
 tual in creating any excitement. Xo doubt some years 
 ago large quantities of corn shipped at New Orleans 
 
196 
 
 did get heated on the voyage across the ocean, und in 
 some instances became quite rotten. But this corn was 
 never in a condition to be shipped at all. Northern exporters 
 would not have shipped it by fast steamers from New York to 
 Liverpool, far less by sailing-ships, or by steamers that lay a 
 week or two in New Orleans stowing cotton on top of the corn. 
 
 In 1877 and 1878 one firm here shipped some forty or fifty 
 cargoes, full and part, of corn to Europe, and did not have 
 one complaint as to the condition in which the grain was 
 delivered ; but all this corn was thoroughly sound when it was 
 shipped at St. Louis, and was carefully handled and trans- 
 ferred at New Orleans. 
 
 We handled the parcel of 30,000 bushels of wheat shipped 
 at St. Paul by barges, in the early part of last June, destined 
 for Glasgow, Scotland. The wheat arrived in New Orleans in 
 the latter part of the same month, during the hottest period 
 of a very hot summer. On transferring it to the ocean steamer, 
 it was found to be in perfectly good condition, and was 
 received at Glasgow in the same state, having stood a severer 
 test during its passage of 2,000 miles down the Mississippi, 
 than grain would be subject to in any ordinary year. 
 
 From all the information we have received, as well as from 
 our own experience, we know that any grain leaving St. Louis 
 or other points on the river, thoroughly sound and dry, will 
 take no harm whatever from climatic influence in the transit 
 to Europe, via New Orleans. 
 
 The barges are thoroughly well ventilated, and are not, like 
 railroad cars, exposed to the full heat of the sun, but are in 
 great part kept cool by the surrounding water and ventilation 
 obtained from the interior lining or cargo boxes, and the grain 
 is not handled and rehandled, losing in weight each time, but 
 is generally transferred direct from the barge to the ocean 
 vessel, by floating elevators fitted with all the cleansing and 
 blowing appliances in use in Northern ports. 
 
 It will be evident from the foregoing that since the open- 
 ing of the South Pass, and the commencement of the grain 
 exports from New Orleans on an extended scale by ocean 
 steamers, there has been a series of obstacles, real and alleged, 
 to the development of the trade, that have proved vexatious 
 and costly to both shippers and carriers ; the principal of these 
 obstacles have been caused by the frequent stoppages to navi- 
 gation on the river, through the want of an adequate stage 
 of water. 
 
197 
 
 The same causes and effects have been perceptible in the 
 import trade via New Orleans. Merchants abroad and in this 
 country have not been disposed to risk sending valuable goods 
 by a route that held out no reasonable certainty of prompt 
 delivery, and in consequence large shipments of imported 
 merchandise come via New York, and other Atlantic ports, to 
 points in the West, that ought naturally to draw their supplies 
 via New Orleans. 
 
 But in face of all these obstacles and discouraging sur- 
 roundings, let us look at the effect the opening up of the 
 river to large carrying vessels by the South Pass Jetties, and 
 the extension of the barge lines have had on the export and 
 import trade via New Orleans. 
 
 As you state, in your letter of the 13th of September, to 
 Mr. Horatio Seymour, Jr., the export trade in grain by the 
 Mississippi route was merely nominal in 1875, while in 1879 
 there were exported 6,164,838 bushels, and in 1880, 15,762,- 
 664 bushels, showing an infinitely larger percentage of yearly 
 increase than any other port in the United States. 
 
 When vessels were liable to lie aground at the mouth of 
 the river, for weeks at a time, until the action of the current 
 cuts them out, they were obliged to charge excessively high 
 rates of freight on everything they carried, to cover this 
 risk, and thirty, thirty-five, and forty cents per bushel was 
 paid as freight on parcels of grain to Liverpool. 
 
 Now that the risk of detention from grounding has been 
 reduced to the chances of an accident or mistake of the pilot, 
 twenty cents per bushel has come to be considered a very 
 high rate, and twelve to fourteen cents may be looked on as 
 a full average rate, while grain has been carried to Liverpool 
 -as low as four and five cents per bushel. 
 
 The opening of the Jetties then may be said to have already 
 effected a saving of from fifteen to twenty cents per bushel in 
 the cost of carrying grain from New Orleans to Liverpool, in 
 spite of the difficulties in the way of procuring free supplies 
 of ocean tonnage, and the uncertainty of the arrival of cargo, 
 owing to the interruption of river navigation, while the cost 
 of carrying cotton, flour, oil-cake, and other goods has been 
 reduced to a similar extent. 
 
 While other seaports, on which vast sums of money have 
 been lavished to provide the best facilities for receiving and 
 handling goods of all kinds, have been making little advance in 
 the quantities of merchandise that passed through them, 
 
198 
 
 New Orleans, with her imperfect system of communication 
 with points abroad, and with her defective and interrupted 
 means of communication with points in the interior, has been 
 steadily increasing her importance, until she now stands very 
 high in the list of seaports in the United States. 
 
 That a greatly increased export and import movement 
 would immediately follow the establishment of a deep water 
 channel in the Mississippi river, permitting barges to load 
 to their full capacity, and to make their trips without inter- 
 ruption all the year round, is very evident. 
 
 Owners of ocean vessels would accept low rates of freight 
 for bringing goods out to New Orleans, satisfied that on 
 arriving there, they would certainly secure return cargoes- 
 without delay, at rates of freight on a parity with those cur- 
 rent from other ports. 
 
 Importers would order their goods to be sent by the cheap 
 water route, confident that they could reckon on receiving 
 them within a reasonable time. 
 
 Exporters would patronize the route, satisfied that their 
 goods would get through in less time than via the railroads 
 and Atlantic ports, and that they would avoid the trouble and 
 annoyance caused by the breaking of invoice marks and num- 
 bers, so often met with in shipments by rail through the 
 divisions of trains. 
 
 (As an instance of what can be done in the way of rapid 
 transit with a good stage of water, we may cite a shipment of 
 20,000 bushels wheat, 40,000 bushels corn, and 2,500 sacks 
 of flour by Mr. George Bain, of the Atlantic Milling Com- 
 pany, of "St. Louis, that left that place on the 26th day of 
 February, 1881, by the Mississippi Valley barges, and was 
 loaded by us on board the sailing-ship Siberia, in New Orleans, 
 the vessel going to sea on the llth of March, thirteen days 
 after her cargo left St. Louis.) 
 
 Barges would be kept constantly moving, with full car- 
 goes, both up and down stream, and could afford in con- 
 sequence to carry grain and goods cheaper than they do now. 
 
 The saving in the cost of transportation would enable the 
 Western producers to still better compete with all rivals in 
 foreign markets, the volume of trade along the Mississippi 
 Valley would be wonderfully swelled, new employment 
 provided for thousands of laborers, and the whole Western 
 country benefited to an incalculable degree. 
 
 When we see the immense expenditures on river improve- 
 
199 
 
 ments and canal construction undertaken by England, 
 France, Germany, and even Holland, it appears impossible, in 
 a country so full of resources, energy, and talent as the 
 United States, that the greatest river, in the most fertile val- 
 ley of the world, should be allowed to remain in such a con- 
 dition that traffic over it between great and wealthy cities, is 
 often almost impossible, even for the lightest-drafted vessels. 
 We confidently hope that the efforts of your Convention 
 will result in removing this reflection on the enterprise, 
 engineering skill, and public spirit of this great country, and 
 that the Mississippi river will soon be transformed from an 
 erratic and uncontrolled stream, into a new coast line the 
 Mediterranean of America and the vast extent of lands now 
 lying useless along its course, be brought under cultivation, 
 enabling the great West to fulfil the role destined for her by 
 Nature, and making her in reality the "Granary of the World." 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 FORSTALL, ROSS & CLAYTOX. 
 
 NOTE. An interesting statement of vessels entered and 
 cleared at the port of New Orleans from January, 1877, to 
 December, 1880, compiled by Forstall Ross & Clayton, will 
 be found on page 239. 
 
SECTION 5 PRESS COMMENTS. 
 
 Detroit Free Press, November 2. 
 
 The great Mississippi River Convention was dissolved Octo- 
 ber 28. There were of record 656 delegates from the sources 
 of the great river (the object of discussion) on the north, to 
 the Crescent City on the south. I question whether in its 
 personnel a more representative assembly was before con- 
 vened in this country. It was composed almost entirely of 
 men of gray hairs, yet men of energy, of note and influence in 
 localities whence they came, drawn together for one purpose, 
 from which they would not be swerved. The first day was 
 consumed before reaching an organization. The real work 
 was not touched until Thursday, when the Committee on Res- 
 olutions reported. There seemed prolixity in the resolutions, 
 but most of the Convention knew just what was wanted, and 
 if enlightenment was needed by any, the clear-cut thoughts 
 of Judge Taylor, of the United States Commission, based on 
 experience, observation, and the most exhaustive examination 
 and study of the character and caprices of the great river, 
 made all as clear as crystal. Therefore the schemes of 
 interested localities, though pressed with the greatest power 
 of eloquence and art, struck like ocean waves against a rocky, 
 iron-bound coast ; amendments and additional resolutions, 
 though ably supported, were all voted down. The improve- 
 ment of the Mississippi was the one great thought and aim ; 
 all else was of little account until that important matter was 
 settled. Finally, under the influence of the previous question, 
 the main resolutions were put, reaching a unanimous affirma- 
 tive conclusion in the midst of a storm of cheers and con- 
 gratulations. The first object of the assembly secured, an 
 adjournment followed till 10 o'clock on Friday, the evening 
 being devoted by nearly the entire delegation to an entertain- 
 ment furnished by the merchants of St. Louis at the Opera- 
 House, in listening to McCullough in his masterpiece of 
 "Virginius." He was eminently successful, being inspired 
 by the distinguished character of his audience. 
 
 [200) 
 
201 
 
 At 10 Friday morning the Convention came together with 
 fewer numbers, but no less enthusiasm, and abundant oppor- 
 tunity for discussion. The resolution ruled out Thursday was 
 reconsidered. The gist of it was, in fact, the deepening of 
 the Illinois canal and river by the National Government, so as 
 to connect the waters of the lakes with the Mississippi river 
 by a channel admitting the passage of steamers or barges 
 from the inland seas of the North to New Orleans, with the 
 same facility as from St. Louis, thereby securing cheap trans- 
 portation for the lake region, and a great highway from the 
 North to the extreme South, in case of military necessity. 
 One of the finest speeches made on the resolution was by 
 Congressman Shallenberger, from Pennsylvania. It was bril- 
 liant in thought and eloquent in manner. Springer and 
 Thomas, of Illinois, and Willis, of Kentucky, members of 
 Congress, committed themselves to this resolution by most 
 acceptable and enthusiastic addresses, as did numerous other 
 gentlemen present. As you may infer, the resolution was 
 unanimously passed. 
 
 This concluded the work, but not the pleasure of the Con- 
 -vention. Headed by a brass band under the guidance of 
 McEnnis, President of the St. Louis Board of Trade, who has 
 been most untiring in his devotion to the comfort and pleasure 
 of strangers, more than 1,000 persons made their way to the 
 river for a practical illustration of river transportation as ex- 
 hibited in the make-up of the barge excursion. There were 
 five barges of a capacity of 60,000 bushels each, three abreast 
 forward, with two in the rear, between which was the steamer 
 " Future City," 200 feet long, 36 feet beam, 6 feet hold, with 
 two engines, 28 inches diameter of cylinder by 8 feet stroke, 
 with stern-wheel 28 feet in diameter, 27 feet 6 inches length 
 of buckets, seven boilers, two flues 38 inches diameter by 28 
 feet length. This powerful steamer pushed us down the river 
 to Jefferson Barracks, twelve miles, passing continuous 
 evidence the entire distance of immense wealth in manufac- 
 turing establishments, in one hour, and against a strong cur- 
 rent on our return in two hours and a half. More than an 
 acre of surface with the capacity indicated moved with such 
 facility, with an improved Mississippi, solves the question of 
 cheap transportation and thereby cheap food to the consumer, 
 and will forever hold in check the cost of railway transit. 
 T The steamer which moved our excursion has completed, since 
 1873, ninety-five round trips between St. Louis and New Or- 
 
202 
 
 leans ; has towed clown stream 474 barges ; has transported ihi 
 down-stream cargoes, 446,962 tons; up, 491 barges, 41,667 
 tons; has traveled 239,400 miles; average number of days- 
 for each trip, twenty-three. With an improved channel this- 
 record of work could be increased 40 per cent, without any 
 increase of expense. This means benefit to the farmer as well 
 as consumer. Reduced to railway capacity the freight of corn, 
 in one of these barge tows would require fifty trains of cars ;: 
 twenty cars for each train. A barge tow costs, for the steamer, 
 $75,000, four barges $12,000 each, or with five in a tow 1 
 $60,000, a total of $135,000, and the average consumption of 
 coal for a trip is 25,000 bushels. With a full channel and 
 ample freights, four cents per bushel would pay a fair profit,, 
 at which cargoes are often made up. This company has thir- 
 teen steamers and 100 barges of the first class, but in conse- 
 quence of the failure of crops three-fourths of this fleet is laid 
 up and will not be required until another harvest. 
 
 The system of loading and transfer is very simple ancfc 
 inexpensive, the barge while receiving freight being moorecfc 
 to an enormous wharf-boat, upon which teams are driven with 
 their immense loads of rolling freight grain being taken* 
 from elevators. There is a perfect system of interior venti- 
 lation as well as exterior, which protects the grain in transit 
 from damage by heating. It is in reality a boat within a boat,, 
 the interior boat being accessible from all directions. Down 
 and up cargoes on deck are handled with neatness, reaching: 
 their destination as clean as when delivered on board. 
 
 Another important end is attained in this mode of transit.. 
 Bulky produce, like hay and straw, which have heretofore- 
 been almost impossible of movement to distant points or& 
 account of cost and risk of fire, are now transported with 
 profit to producer and consumer. 
 
 Without instructions from my Governor, and in accord- 
 ance with my own conviction, I have advocated and voted for 
 the improvement of the Mississippi as a national measure. It 
 is beyond the power of private enterprise or State combina- 
 tion, and even could the States bordering the river combine,, 
 their financial position would prevent for a long period to 
 come. The work, in my judgment, is as thoroughly national 1 
 a> tin- improvement of harbors or the construction of light- 
 houses. 
 
 r>cautiful allusion was made to the nation's calamity in the 
 death of the lamented Garfield, and South and North frater- 
 
203 
 
 nizecl with far more sympathy and friendliness than in ante- 
 war days. The arrangements by the Board of Trade were on 
 a magnificent scale, costing $25,000, and not a circumstance 
 occurred to mar the harmony of the proceedings. 
 
 St. Paul Daily Dispatch, November 7, 1881 . 
 J. W. McClung presented the following report from the 
 delegation which attended the St. Louis Convention : 
 
 To the President and Directors of the Chamber of Commerce: 
 
 The St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, through its commit- 
 tee of ten on the Mississippi river, having had the honor to 
 call the Kiver Improvement Convention, which met at St. 
 Louis on the 26th of October, it seems appropriate that the 
 same committee should make some report concerning the suc- 
 cess of that Convention. 
 
 About twenty States and Territories were represented by 
 some six hundred delegates, including the State of Xew York 
 from the remote East, and the Territory of Xew Mexico from 
 the extreme Southwest. The Convention was the largest 
 river convention which has yet been held, and was composed 
 of more distinguished and representative men. Minnesota 
 was represented by over twenty delegates, and was honored 
 by being tendered the Presidency of the Convention. 
 
 The large number of delegates sent from our city and 
 State helped to swell the number of delegates to the Conven- 
 tion, which made it the imposing assemblage it w r as, and gave 
 to it the influence and the power for good which will clothe 
 its recommendations with the sanction of public opinion, and 
 give to it its best passport to the favor of Congress. So that, 
 in the language of Col. Taylor, of the River Commission, in 
 his address to the Convention, "This great Convention will 
 be sensibly felt in the legislation of Congress, and in this 
 great work of improvement. The Convention itself speaks 
 louder than any words it can utter. The presence in this city 
 of this vast body of representative men is the great moun- 
 tain in the landscape, which affects by the breadth of its base 
 and the sublimity of its height ; and you might go home and 
 say nothing, feeling assured that your presence here has not 
 been in vain.'' 
 
 The great benefits expected to result from this Convention 
 are the education of a public opinion upon the improvement 
 
204 
 
 of our water-ways, and the creation of a sentiment among 
 the masses of the people which will operate as an outside 
 pressure upon Congress which they cannot resist. Each con- 
 vention which has heretofore been held has proved to be the 
 thin end of the wedge which has been driven home to the at- 
 tention of Congress, by subsequent memorials and subsequent 
 conventions, resulting in larger appropriations at each session 
 of Congress, and promising soon to clear a highway through 
 the bed of the great river to the markets of the world. The 
 fact that only $25,000,000 have been appropriated for the 
 Mississippi river and its tributaries, while about $100,000,- 
 000 in cash and $200,000,000 in lauds have been appro- 
 priated for the Union Pacific and other railroads, shows 
 how great was the need of agitating this subject among the 
 people and through these conventions to arouse the public 
 sentiment of the country, and secure the attention of our rep- 
 resentatives in Congress. 
 
 Congress will only move as it is moved upon. Our 
 Representatives are only beginning to learn that there is a 
 Mississippi river. The appropriations voted for its improve- 
 ment have been given in scanty measures and in a grudging 
 spirit, as presents to a step-child ; while more than double the 
 amount has been voted in our own State and the State of 
 Wisconsin for schemes of merely local importance and for 
 canals of a chimerical character, over the amounts voted 
 for the Upper Mississippi river from Rock Island to St. Paul. 
 
 The State is losing over four millions of dollars annually 
 by this neglect of our Representatives to understand their 
 duty to the people of the State. 
 
 The action of our Chamber of Commerce for the past four 
 years, in inaugurating the first convention which recognized 
 the Upper Mississippi river, and following up the work which 
 resulted in subsequent conventions which have been the 
 means of obtaining largely increased appropriations, illus- 
 trates the good which may be done in the primary assem- 
 blages of the people in rousing attention to this subject, and 
 opening the hearts of our Congressmen and the purse of the 
 nation. It also indicates the wisdom of the organization of 
 such local bodies as our Chamber of Commerce, and should 
 encourage their organization and co-operation until this great 
 work, now barely commenced, shall have been pushed for- 
 to complete success. 
 
 There are other Conventions which must yet be held, and 
 
205 
 
 other fields yet to conquer, before Minnesota, and St. Paul,, 
 her great metropolis, will reap the full fruits of the improve- 
 ment of the Mississippi river. Congress and the people of 
 the United States must be further educated, and made to- 
 understand that this is not the small end of the river. They 
 must be taught that for 1,500 miles northwest there spreads 
 out like a fan a vast and fertile area of tillable laud almost 
 unlimited in extent, and destined to be the granary of the 
 continent, the Egypt where the children of all nations are 
 even now coming for corn and the staff of life ; and when 
 they have fully comprehended this idea, they must be further 
 taught that when millions are appropriated for the southern 
 end of the river, thousands will not answer for the northern 
 end . 
 
 Congratulaling the Chamber upon the work so far accom- 
 plished, and upon the quiet but efficient part which we have 
 been able to bear in it, this report is respectfully submitted. 
 
 J. W. McCLUxo, 
 Chairman Committee on Mississippi River. 
 
 Lou isville Courier- Journal. 
 
 The St. Louis Rivet Improvement Convention decides "that 
 it is the manifest and imperative duty of the Government of 
 the United States to cause to be made such improvements of 
 the Mississippi river and its navigable tributaries as shall per- 
 mane.ntly secure the safe and easy navigation thereof, thereby 
 cheapening freights, reducing insurance," etc., etc. The mode 
 of keeping up the agitation is to be commended, and the res- 
 olutions in their entirety are good. This Convention is a 
 strong one. It is composed of strictly representative men, 
 who mean business, and who are determined that Congress 
 shall understand the length and breadth of the forces at work 
 in the great interior of the country, which figures jn such a 
 potential manner in the agricultural products of the country 
 and in the aggregate exports of the United States. The people 
 of the fourteen States and Territories directly interested in the 
 improvement of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers alone num- 
 ber nearly seventeen millions, fully one-third the population 
 of the United States. The twelve States interested have 
 twenty-four Senators and ninety-two Representatives in Con- 
 gress, and with this leverage the reasonable demands of the* 
 people should be complied with. 
 
206 
 
 From the Globe-Democrat, September 7. 
 
 In discussing the improvement of the Mississippi river, the 
 York Times advances some singular propositions. It 
 .admits the value of the great stream as an outlet for the pro- 
 ducts of the Mississippi Valley, but has serious doubts as to 
 whether the work is one which the whole nation should be 
 called upon to pay for. It says : " There is no question that 
 the Western cities and States are entitled to all the benefits 
 which the natural advantages of their rivers afford.*' This is 
 gracious. It might be inferred that there was a serious 
 proposition advanced to take some of these natural advantages 
 away. The Times continues: " But it may be questioned 
 whether they are entitled to have these supplemented by arti- 
 ficial improvements at the expense, in a large part, of other 
 sections which have their own advantages and disadvantages 
 to deal with." Since when has the United States adopted the 
 policy of making those locally benefited improve their own 
 rivers and harbors? How much national money has been ex- 
 pended on the rivers and harbors of the Atlantic coast since 
 the foundation of the Government? Can the largest river in 
 the world, draining half a continent, immediately situated in the 
 midst of the greatest national production, embracing, with its 
 tributaries, more than twenty States and Territories, be con- 
 sidered a work of sectional importance ? What other work of 
 improvement in this country could possibly demand the atten- 
 tion and aid of Congress more justly than this? What other 
 work could possibly possess so much national significance.? 
 
 The Times' argument is that the Atlantic coast and cities 
 ^vould not be, in any way, benefited by the improvement of 
 the Mississippi ; on the contrary, that they would be injured 
 by it. Since when has Congress adopted the policy that 
 natural advantages shall not be utilized and improved in one 
 part of the country because such improvement would inter- 
 ifere with localities possessing less natural advantages? The 
 Times argues also that the Mississippi improvement might 
 result disadvantageously to some railroad interests. This is 
 about as puerile a plea as could be advanced. It involves the 
 proposition that the people should be denied the benefit of a 
 competition which would reduce the general cost of transpor- 
 tation, for the sake of subserving the interests of a few cor- 
 porations. If there is any one great responsibility resting 
 upon the National Government, it is to consider the good of 
 
207 
 
 the whole people and to act for the common welfare. This 
 as the principle which underlies the theory of the river and 
 harbor improvements. It was this which led to the donations 
 of public land and credit to the Pacific and other railroad 
 companies. It is not the time to depart from this principle 
 just at the juncture when the matter of the systematic treat- 
 ment of river navigation in the heart of the country presses 
 itself upon Congress. The Eas't, having secured its share of 
 national money, is not in the position to call a halt in the gen- 
 eral policy without shamefacedness. 
 
 It is surely not necessary to dwell on the fact that the 
 -competition of water routes has a most salutary effect upon 
 the railroad rates of transportation. This is the much-used 
 -argument of these Eastern journals, among which the Times 
 is chief, for the enlargement of the Erie canal. It is true that 
 they do not ask for Congressional aid in this matter, for the 
 canal lies wholly in the State of Xew York, and is a very dif- 
 ferent thing from a national water-course extending from the 
 northern boundary of the nation to the southern, and, through 
 its tributaries, from the Rocky Mountains to the Alleghanies. 
 The Times sees much wisdom in the improvement of Hell 
 Gate at the general expense, and doubtless endorses the im- 
 portant decision of the Supreme Court establishing the prin- 
 ciple that navigable rivers are national highways. A little 
 exhibition of magnanimity and justice in this particular would 
 vastly become the people of the Atlantic coast. The center 
 of population at present lies west of Cincinnati, and is rapidly 
 gravitating toward the Mississippi. The representation of the 
 Mississippi Valley in Congress is strong enough to take care 
 of its interests, but anything like an organized sectional oppo- 
 sition on the part of Eastern members would be greatly to be 
 deplored. The subject calls for broad and liberal statesman- 
 ship, and it ought to receive it from all sides. 
 
 The Times mentions other projects for improved waiter com- 
 munication, and classes them with the Mississippi scheme. 
 One is the cutting of a canal through the State of Michigan, 
 from Lake Michigan to Lake Erie ; another is the Hennepin 
 and Illinois River canal, and still another is the enlargement of 
 the Erie canal. "All this work," it says, "is as much en- 
 titled to Government aid as the improvement of the Missis- 
 sippi river." This kind of talk answers itself. It loses all 
 reference to the sense of proportion, and places wholly artifi- 
 cial water-ways on the same plane as a natural one of great 
 
208 
 
 magnitude. It alludes to St. Louis and New Orleans as being; 
 the main beneficiaries from the proposed improvement, and 
 endeavors to raise an issue between them and the Eastern 
 cities. St. Louis and New Orleans certainly will be benefited 
 by anything which adds to the prosperity of the twenty-five 
 millions of people in this garden of the world, but such a 
 narrow view of the matter is playing with the subject. St. 
 Louis and New Orleans certainly do not claim any business 
 which must come to them at the expense of the great economic 
 interests of the country. The Times represents the spirit 
 which would lay the whole population under tribute to support 
 an artificial prosperity in New York City. 
 
 The policy which the Times advocates is thus expressed : 
 " It will be easier, more equitable and more economical for 
 each local jurisdiction to furnish its several links in the great 
 system of transportation, than for the nation, as a whole, to 
 undertake at general expense to make it complete." Consid- 
 ering all the circumstances of the case, and the money which 
 the Government has already expended upon existing improve- 
 ments, this is an exhibition of concentrated hoggishness which,, 
 it is to be hoped, for the credit of American citizenship, will 
 not be extensively endorsed even in the East. 
 
 8t. Louis Advance (Colored). 
 
 THE NEGRO AND THE MISSISSIPPI IMPROVEMENT. The 
 issue in the West is not the success of any political party, but 
 the improvement of the Mississippi river. The river is our 
 only natural outlet to the sea. It is Nature's great highway 
 of inter-State commerce. In its basin live 3, 000, 000 negroes,, 
 who subsist upon its products, and help to load its waters 
 with commerce for all the world. Its alluvial plains extend 
 from St. Louis to the Gulf. Under the system of slave labor 
 large plantations upon the bottom of these plains were opened 
 in the dense forests which covered them. Vast tracts of un- 
 surpassed fertility are yet covered with cancbrakes, cypress 
 and cottonwood. These bottoms are subject to inundations 
 which, while they bring annual enrichment, destroy the use- 
 fulness of many millions of acres of the most fertile land on 
 the globe. Upon this land the colored man lives in large 
 numbers, and he derives from its soil the means of sustenance. 
 Whatever will increase the area of arable and habitable land, 
 and make the commerce of this stream greater and more 
 
209 
 
 lucrative, is in a large and particular sense the interest of 
 nearly 3,000,000 colored people. We want to deepen the 
 channel and redeem the swamps from St. Louis to the Gulf. 
 The negro of the bottoms is interested in the proposed im- 
 provement. It means millions for his labor and tens of 
 millions for the products of his toil, which in some way will 
 return to the promotion of his comfort and prosperity. The 
 negro must partake of the prosperity of the South. Increased 
 facilities of commerce means increased wages for his labor. 
 The improvement of the Mississippi means business and not 
 politics. If the Government can give 50,000,000 acres of 
 land to a railroad, on the proposed line for which there is 
 neither population nor commerce, it can more wisely appro- 
 priate $100,000,000 to improve a highway that would save 
 50,000,000 acres of land from annual destruction, arid increase 
 the comfort and wealth of the region by many hundred millions 
 of dollars. The Mississippi drains a region nearly as large 
 as half of Europe, and the products of its banks are more 
 valuable than the gold and silver of California and Nevada. 
 Millions of colored people toil upon its bottoms, and handle 
 the staples of commerce upon its banks, and hence become 
 directly interested in the great question of its improvement, 
 and in that interest we shall look forward with great expecta- 
 tions to the coming Convention, which shall meet in this 
 city during October, for the improvement of the mighty 
 stream. 
 
 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 29. 
 Our Kiver Convention was a great success. It was well 
 managed throughout, and its influence will certainly be felt 
 when Congress meets. Our visitors will carry away pleasant 
 recollections of St. Louis, and we have an idea that the river 
 already begins to feel better. 
 
 St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 30, 1881. 
 Gone, but not forgotten the Kiver Convention. It has 
 left behind a fragrant memory of deeds well done. Xow for 
 the memorial to Congress, which should fire the solid shot of 
 facts with the good powder of argument. The committee 
 must not fail to take accurate aim. It cannot fail when aided 
 by the telescopic sight of the 125 representatives from the 
 Valley States. 
 
 14 
 
210 
 
 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 15, 1SS1. 
 The memorial prepared by the committee of twenty-one, 
 appointed by the Mississippi River Improvement Convention 
 to bring the matter before Congress, is an able and wise docu- 
 ment. There were a great many dangers against which the 
 memorialists might have wrecked the whole work of the Con- 
 vention, and these have been skillfully avoided by the masterly 
 piloting of the St. Louis members of the committee. The 
 tendency to divide the demand and ask appropriations for the 
 Ohio and Missouri was very strong, and there were gentlemen 
 who did not abandon the hope of getting these two words 
 into the memorial at the last moment. Had they succeeded, 
 behind them were the friends of the Arkansas, the Red river, 
 the Tennessee, the Cumberland, and so on down in a dimin- 
 ishing ratio, each ready to seize any precedent for including 
 their own stream in the omnibus. The fight was fought out 
 over the Ohio, and ended there. As a result the whole Missis- 
 sippi Valley goes before Congress united in one single simple 
 demand Mississippi improvement. Injudicious friends to 
 the great river are already demanding many millions at once 
 for improvement. This is a mistake on the other side. "VTe 
 do not want twenty millions. What we do ask and what this 
 memorial very plainly demands of Congress is the yearly 
 appropriation requested by the Mississippi River Commission. 
 The matter and the manner of improvement are left in the 
 hands of the experienced and able engineers selected by Con- 
 gress itself for the task, and the Valley unites sensibly and 
 practically upon the one platform of giving these engineers 
 the money necessary to do their work. 
 
 St. Louis Republican, October 28. 
 
 THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE CONVENTION. More than half 
 the States and two of the Territories of the Union, represented 
 in the Convention in this city, yesterday declared : 
 
 " That it is the manifest and imperative duty of the Gov- 
 ernment of the United States to cause to be made such 
 improvement of the Mississippi river, and its navigable 
 tributaries, as shall permanently secure the safe and easy 
 navigation thereof, thereby cheapen freights, reducing insur- 
 ance and other burdens and expenses ; promoting the vast 
 inland commerce of the nation, and creating new avenues of 
 foreign trade, and thus not only inviting increased production 
 
211 
 
 and population, but assuring greater prosperity to the whole 
 people." 
 
 This declaration was emphasized by citing the pertinent 
 and important fact that the Government, for the purpose of 
 protecting commerce and enhancing the public welfare, by the 
 construction of railroads, the property of individuals and cor- 
 porations, had granted them 200,000,000 acres of the public 
 domain, and given $100,000,000 out of the Treasury. While 
 this has been done for the construction of artificial highway-, 
 less than 825,000,000 had been bestowed on the improvement 
 of more than 15,000 miles of natural water-ways. This mode 
 of dealing with this great and vital subject is made to appear 
 in a light strikingly illogical, and, upon any reasonable 
 ground, indefensible. 
 
 The act of Congress creating a Mississippi River Commis- 
 sion was strongly commended, and the course of that Com- 
 mission and its recommendations in pursuance of its duties 
 warmly approved . 
 
 The Convention, after full and careful deliberation, 
 adopted the wise and significant language of ' the Mississippi 
 river and its navigable tributaries," in indicating the scope of 
 the work which the Government is asked to undertake. The 
 Republican regards this as eminently just and judicious. It 
 embraces all that could be safely asked, and does not omit 
 such auxiliaries as are essential in making an effective struggle 
 against the inertia or positive opposition which has hitherto 
 thwarted or delayed Congressional action. 
 
 The work of the Convention has been well done. Its pro- 
 ceedings have been absorbingly interesting. There is not the 
 slightest room to doubt that the movement for the improve- 
 ment of the natural water-ways of the country has received 
 an impetus which, from this time forward, will gather momen- 
 tum till it will be found irresistible. The subject has never 
 before been so brought before the country as to make it a 
 present positive issue, which will not and cannot be put aside. 
 Henceforward this is the paramount public consideration with 
 the people of the largest half of this Union. 
 
 The Nautical Gazette, New York, Nov. 5, 1881. 
 The Mississippi River Improvement Convention, which was 
 held at St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 26, 27 and 28, was doubtless 
 the largest and most influential gathering of gentlemen inter- 
 
212 
 
 ested in water transportation ever held in the United States, 
 and there can be no question that its influence will be felt 
 throughout the entire length and breadth of the land, and no 
 amount of petty sectional jealousy can belittle its importance. 
 The Convention was called for a specific purpose, and despite 
 the varied interests represented, it kept to its work, and within 
 the scope of its official call, which was to devise some con- 
 certed action for the improvement of the Mississippi and its 
 natural tributaries. We know that some of our Eastern 
 cotemporaries looked upon this movement as one which threat- 
 ened to absorb all future appropriations for the improvement 
 of channels of transportation by natural water conveyance in 
 the great West. 
 
 We watched in vain for an evidence of sectional feeling 
 which betokened a desire on the part of Western men to ex- 
 clude the East from the blessings of Federal aid in honest 
 improvement of natural navigable waters ; while, on the other 
 hand, there was an unanimous sentiment expressed that for 
 the future no section must hope for indiscriminate appropria- 
 tions to benefit those who sought to enrich themselves on the 
 improvements (?) to mill-streams, mud-puddles, oyster-boat 
 harbors, and all sorts of imaginary water-courses ; and to a 
 man the Convention proclaimed its detestation of such prac- 
 tices as" were openly urged and passed at the last session of 
 Congress. 
 
 We look upon the judicious and thorough improvement of 
 the Mississippi river and its natural tributaries as of vital 
 national importance. It will create a demand for tonnage, 
 and of American tonnage, not only in the river service, but in 
 the coastwise trade, and in the early future, as a natural con- 
 sequence, in tonnage for Transatlantic trade. 
 
 The safer the navigation of these" great river highways are 
 made, the cheaper will become the rate of transportation, and 
 to a greater extent will be the demand lor tonnage to move the 
 necessary products of that rich and fertile valley. More 
 money will then be available for investment in vessels of all 
 classes, and in doe season capitalists will see that in vessel 
 property there i> an excellent investment. We do not despair 
 of seeing Western capital largely interested in sea-going ton- 
 . and at no distant date. The Ka-t lost her opportunity 
 when she allowed the Atlas line, ami other foreign lines, to- 
 secure such a large -hare of the West Indian and Cent ml 
 American trade, direct from American ports, and no one can 
 
213 
 
 blame the South and the Southwest if .she should step in and 
 secure the benefits which can be had by supplying the west 
 coast of South and Central America with her products, both 
 of soil and manufacture ; and, mark our words, she will doit 
 sooner or later. 
 
 The far-seeing men of the West, and the progressive men 
 of the South, are alive to the importance of securing this great 
 trade, now almost wholly monopolized by the English and 
 Germans ; and we see no reason why, with the proper business 
 tact, cheap freights, and shorter and less expensive water 
 routes, that a golden harvest may not be reaped in a field but 
 sparsely occupied by our people. There need be no sectional 
 jealousies in the development of such a grand and practical 
 scheme, which in its results would be a national blessing, as 
 well as an enrichment of the people at large. 
 
 All the "cold water" thrown upon the Mississippi River 
 Convention by a few Eastern journals, has been instigated by 
 the same influence which for years has attempted the repeal of 
 our navigation laws, so that British ships, under the Ameri- 
 can flag, might swallow up American commerce. The men 
 of the West must learn that England is her bitterest foe ; that 
 she is playing quietly a lone hand, and that she has been work- 
 ing for years to get the whip-hand of Americans. It was 
 England that was the prime mover in the war of the Rebel- 
 lion, seeking to cripple the South and destroy the power of 
 the North so that she might control the manufactures as well 
 as the commerce of the world. Her efforts bore their fruits. 
 The South was left impoverished ;the North, which owned the 
 major portion of the sea-going tonnage of this countrv, was 
 crippled ; but the great West grew strong, as she was the 
 granary of the world. She now turns her attention thither- 
 ward, and year after year she has been flooding the agricul- 
 tural districts of that section with her pernicious free-trade 
 doctrines, set forth in glibly and insidiously-prepared pam- 
 phlets, and has succeeded in indoctrinating leading newspaper 
 writers into the teachings of the Cobden Club, whose emissa- 
 ries some of them men of power and influence were on the 
 floor of the St. Louis Convention as delegates ; but none of 
 whom had the opportunity of speaking forth their sophistries, 
 so closely did the delegates confine themselves to the true 
 purpose of the call. 
 
 The East has no reason to be jealous of the West in its 
 action at St. Louis ; and if our leading men had been there, as 
 
214 
 
 the writer was, and could have seen and heard, as we did, they 
 would dismiss this foolish fear from their minds and thoughts. 
 Unity, harmony, and a determination to ask for nothing but 
 what was honorable, just, and for the nation's good, was the 
 prominent and universal sentiment expressed. Sectarianism 
 was absent in all the resolutions, debates and discussions, 
 while the Eastern delegates were as welcome as if to the manor 
 born, and they of the Great Lakes received that courteous, 
 warm reception due to their commanding importance and close 
 relationship, and even those from distant localities met with a 
 cordiality as honest as it was sincere. The Convention was a 
 most marked success in every particular. 
 
 St. Louis Poet-Dispatch, October 26. 
 
 The work cut out for the Mississippi River Improvement 
 Convention is clearly and unmistakably put in the call which 
 brings the delegates together. Its mission is to secure the 
 improvement of the Mississippi and its navigable tributaries. 
 The day of Goose Neck run and Cross Timbers branch has 
 gone by, and the people of the Valley have at last come 
 together as a unit to demand the real bettering of the great 
 national water-way to the Gulf. Heretofore money has been 
 spent in the interior, not to improve the streams, but to bring 
 money into the country. This Convention more logically 
 will ask Congress for appropriations for the great river which 
 must float out the wealth of the whole Valley. The money 
 is not to be spent that Hooppole county or Crackerbox cor- 
 ners may have plenty of cash, but that we may have a nine- 
 foot channel to the ocean. The late revolution in the car- 
 rying trade by which the barge system has restored the 
 economy of transportation to the river was really the call for 
 this Convention. Practically unaided by the General Gov- 
 ernment, private enterprise has proved to the world that the 
 Era in of the great Mis>i>-ippi region can be sent from St. 
 ouis to Liverpool by New Orleans two cents a bushel cheaper 
 than by way of Ne\v York, despite all the drawbacks of in- 
 sufficient water and unimproved navigation. The principle 
 demonstrated thus finds one more expreion in the Conven- 
 tion which met to-day. The body of gent leinen now sitting 
 in the Opera-House represent the commerce of the Valley, 
 and that commerce says to the General ( io\ crnment : We 
 have -hown that the river mute already <aves millions yearly 
 
215 
 
 to the trade of this country, and we demand that this saving 
 shall be multiplied and increased by the proper improvement 
 of the stream. The whole argument can be stated thus : 
 That the saving on every bushel of wheat now going out by 
 the river route is two cents ; with an improved river that 
 saving will be four cents, and Congress must improve the 
 river. 
 
 ECHOES FROM THE CONVENTION. The Louisville Courier- 
 Journal, after quoting from the Xew York Herald's article 
 on the River Convention, remarks : 
 
 4 'To turn that argument on yourself, we would ask why 
 the merchants and capitalists of New York go begging to 
 Congress for millions of dollars to improve their harbor, 
 blow up masses of rock at Hell Gate, widen and reconstruct 
 Harlem river and do numerous other jobs for the convenience 
 of Xew Yorkers? The people of the West and South do not 
 ask the Government to build a canal to the Gulf. The high- 
 way is already there. It is the Government's water-way, and 
 it needs deepening for the purpose of a business which 
 embodies four-fifths of our exports. It is the duty of the 
 Government to repair its own highway. As for the rivalry, 
 the railroads and canals eastward are not equal to the 
 demands of shippers ; the freights are higher than they should 
 be ; millions can be saved in freights. Both the Eastern and 
 Southern outlet are needed. There is abundant business for 
 them both. On seaboard freights the Southern outlet will be 
 a competing route, preventing the exactions of railroads and 
 giving justice to shippers. The position of the New York 
 Herald is grossly illogical." 
 
 The same paper justly remarks further: 
 
 "The mode of keeping up the agitation is to be com- 
 mended, and the resolutions in their entirety are good. This 
 Convention is a strong one. It is composed of strictly rep- 
 resentative men, who mean business, and who are determined 
 that Congress shall understand the length and breadth of the 
 forces at work in the great interior of the country, which fig- 
 ure in such a potential manner in the agricultural products 
 of the country, and in the aggregate exports of the United 
 States. The people of the fourteen States and Territories 
 directly interested in the improvement of the Mississippi and 
 
216 
 
 Missouri rivers alone number nearly seventeen millions, fully 
 one-third the population of the United States. The twelve 
 States interested have twenty-four Senators and ninety-two 
 Representatives in Congress, and with this leverage the rea- 
 onable demands of the people should be complied with. " 
 
 The Spectator, St. Louis, October 7, 1881. 
 The advancement of St. Louis may not have been as rapid 
 as some of her sister cities moving under the impulse of im- 
 mediate advantage, but it has been sure and steadfast, and 
 each step has been the herald of a grander advance. Fine 
 churches, commodious hotels, and elegant theatres have 
 sprung up like magic during the last two years, and these are 
 the best indications of a city's progress. Some people find 
 in the enlargement of our export trade by river the sole reason 
 for these results. There seem to be reasons to justify, to 
 some extent, this opinion. The investment of three and one- 
 half million dollars in elevators, and of three millions in barge 
 tonnage, the receipts of fifty-two million bushels of grain, and 
 foreign shipments by river during 1880 of fifteen and a half 
 millions, are important factors in the development of the 
 materials which characterize the growth of our city. That 
 this belief has taken hold of the people is evident by the man- 
 ner in which they are responding to the call for the coming 
 river convention. Letters are pouring in from men of high 
 national reputation as well as representatives of communities, 
 and all breathe the same tone the necessity for the improve- 
 ment of the river. The convention now bids fair to be the 
 largest ever held in the Mississippi Valley, and will be com- 
 posed of men of the highest intelligence. The success of the 
 project will be largely due to the thorough manner in which 
 it has been organized. The " Official Cull " was ;i model doc- 
 ument, and has attracted the general notice of the press. The 
 style and formation of the letters of invitation were works of 
 art, and displayed commendable taste. There has been no 
 bungling or mistakes. The whole management has been 
 thorough, and distinguished by the cxer<-i>e of sound judg- 
 ment and comma in ling ability, which reflects great ereditupon 
 the Executive Committee and upon the city of St. Louis. The 
 Convention, composed, as it will be, of the representative 
 men of all the States in the Valley, and from the various 
 societies of those States, will have necessarily a potent in- 
 
217 
 
 ihicnce. Its action may accomplish the stupendous purpose 
 of solving the problem of cheap transportation for this in- 
 terior empire, by improving the water-ways. It is possible 
 that results of such magnitude may be accomplished that will 
 mark a new era in our city's history, and the progress which 
 commerce brings and the unity which trade engenders may 
 hereafter be measured for this valley from the time of the 
 great Convention. 
 
 St. Louis Republican. 
 
 THE RIVER CONVENTION. The difficulty in the way of con- 
 ventions hitherto held in regard to the matter of river 
 improvement has been the lack of popular representation, and 
 consequently the want of popular sympathy. The conven- 
 tions have been composed of representative men, to be sure, 
 but they have represented only immediate transportation and 
 trade interests. They have spoken for the State, with 
 always potential voice, and for commercial bodies which act 
 at great commercial centres. 
 
 The river convention which will assemble in this city on 
 "the 26th of October comprehends not only the line of repre- 
 sentation heretofore adopted, but makes a new and most 
 important departure. It has not only invited the co-opera- 
 tion of the States, boards of trade, and other commercial 
 bodies largely interested in the business of transportation, 
 but it has appealed most successfully to the larger representa- 
 tion which lies outside of, and yet subsidary to these con- 
 trolling influences. 
 
 The Governors of the States and commercial bodies in the 
 great valley have responded with the usual able representa- 
 tives, but outside of and beyond these there are the responses 
 of nearly four hundred incorporated cities in the valley, the 
 mayors of which have forwarded the list of delegates. One 
 can comprehend the extent of these responses when we men- 
 tion that they come from Wyoming in the far West, to South 
 Carolina on the Atlantic coast, from Colorado to West Vir- 
 ginia, scarce an incorporated town of any magnitude in that 
 broad area being omitted. 
 
 When it is remembered that these cities and towns of the 
 interior are the heads of communities most interested in the 
 question of cheap transportation, the gathering centres of 
 the active thought that reaches and swells the greater cities, 
 
218 
 
 and when, as the correspondence shows, these cities and 
 towns have clothed their best citizens with the power of rep- 
 resentation, we may well conclude that the River Convention 
 will embody a power of representation such as has never been 
 witnessed in our past commercial history. 
 
 It is the interior cities and towns, away from the rush of 
 great trade activities, that public sentiment on this, as upon 
 all other great questions, is created. The great wealth-pro- 
 ducers are around and in them, and their representatives 
 must of necessity voice the wishes and interests of these im- 
 portant classes. So the convention will be more largely 
 popular in its character. It will be more than ever before 
 the people speaking for themselves and for their immediate 
 interests, and the expression of their desires will reach with 
 more effect the ears of their servants in Congress and the Leg- 
 islatures. 
 
 It is pleasant to record, and creditable to all those con- 
 nected with the important movement, to say that in every 
 step taken thus far it has been handled with great judgment, 
 and that the preliminary arrangements have been wisely 
 planned. 
 
 President McEnnis, of the Merchants' Exchange, and 
 who is also President of the Executive Committee, has been 
 unwearied in efforts to make the Convention a success. He 
 has shown from the beginning a soundness of wisdom and 
 judgment and liberality of views in administration which will 
 largely account for the glowing promises of success. His 
 aim from the beginning has been to make the Convention 
 reach the great end proposed as a commercial movement, and 
 redounding to the honor of the city of St. Louis and the 
 State of Missouri. He has been ably seconded by the 
 Executive Committee and the efficient secretaries, and there 
 can be no question that the Eiver Convention will be a great 
 success. 
 
 _V. 0. Picayune, October 18, 1881. 
 How SIIAI.I. WE ACCOMPLISH OUR PURPOSE. The New 
 York Times thinks that there is no question that Western 
 cities ami States "arc entitled to all the benefit which the 
 natural advantages of the rivers afford," but assumes that 
 it may be (jiieM ioned whether those cities and States an 
 entitled to have "their natural advantages" "supple- 
 mented by artificial improvements at the expense, in large- 
 
219 
 
 part, of other sections which have their own advantages- 
 and disadvantages to deal with." The Times, no doubt, pos- 
 sesses sufficient logical acumen to enable it to see that its- 
 position does away with the whole question of internal im- 
 provements. It will scarcely undertake to say that any city 
 whatever is not "entitled to the benefits which the natural 
 advantages" of its situation afford. It will not assert that 
 any measure of internal improvement under Government aus- 
 pices can be carried out except " at the expense, in large part, 
 of other sections which have their own advantages and disad- 
 vantages to deal with." But it will not have the candor to 
 state these conclusions from its cwn logic, because it will not 
 have the audacity to proclaim in New York's face that New 
 York's " Hell Gate " is not entitled to ''artificial improve- 
 ments at the expense, in large part, of other sections." 
 
 The original estimate for the reefs at Hell Gate, and Dia- 
 mond and Coenties reefs was $5,189,120. Gen. John New- 
 ton's report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869, stated 
 the amount expended at $1,621,699.99, the amount expended 
 during that year at $198,577, and the amount estimated to, 
 complete "the existing project" at $3,213,278.55. How' 
 much has been expended since, we do not know, but it is a 
 large sum. That it has been well expended is certain. Gen. 
 Newton is one of our best engineers, and the improvements 
 are necessary, and ought to be completed. Neither do we 
 know how much New York needs for the improvement of 
 Harlem river and Spuyten Duyvil creek, also requisite for the 
 advancement of the commercial well-being of our greatest 
 entrepot. New York State had received for the improvement 
 of rivers and harbors from the General Government during- 
 the years 1789-1878 no less a sum than $8,355,716, while 
 Louisiana had received $2,855,190. AVe do not think that 
 New York has received too much ; but if the New York Times 
 is correct, New York's commercial interests have been sub- 
 served at the expense, in a great part, of other sections. 
 
 If the theory of internal improvements at national charge- 
 were new : if it were a question of establishing principles 
 upon which to conduct the Government, there would be a 
 greater show of reason in the position of the Times. But the 
 principle has been settled by use, and the practice of the- 
 country has become fixed. It is not a question of the propriety 
 of the Government undertaking internal improvements at 
 the public expense, but merely a question of distribution of the- 
 
220 
 
 money that can be reasonably spared from the Treasury for 
 such purposes. And right here the meanness of the Times 
 creeps out. Having obtained a very large disproportion of 
 established facts, its left hand is behind its back open to receive 
 the next appropriation for New York, and its right hand is 
 gesticulating to the West in opposition to any Western demand 
 for " artificial improvements at the expense, in large part, of 
 other sections." 
 
 The theory of internal improvements having been made a 
 part of our governmental system, the question of distribution 
 naturally falls into the very simple category of the greatest 
 good to the greatest number. The improvement of the Mis- 
 sissippi river is of interest to one-half the people of this coun- 
 try, and appeals for aid with greater force than a lake harbor 
 which subserves the wants of a single county. The Missis- 
 sippi river and its tributaries have not received relatively so 
 large a proportion of public aid as the Atlantic coast. If this 
 partiality is corrected, by giving to the Mississippi what is 
 needed to make it the great thoroughfare of the nations, the 
 Times sees that New York will suffer. 
 
 If we reflect a moment on the greatness of the undertak- 
 ing, we shall not fail to see that an appropriation adequate 
 to the worth and want of the Valley can scarcely be had at the 
 hands of Congress. We must begin. We must content our- 
 selves with beginning. We must begin somewhere. And we 
 cannot begin at the headwaters, because they are too widely 
 dispersed to permit of concentration, and we would probably 
 not get a dollar. We therefore should begin at the chief con- 
 courses and join in the defense of the greatest volumes, which 
 bear the largest shipping, and serve the whole of the territory. 
 
 It is on this principle that the appropriation for the Jetties 
 was obtained. That so vast a navigation should have no exit 
 to the ocean, that the commerce of the earth should have no 
 inlet to the half of our country, was seen to be an evil con- 
 cerning so many of our people that the obviation of it almost 
 a iinird a national aspect. The purchase of Louisiana was 
 because Jefferson saw the impropriety of leaving the entrance 
 to our interior navigation in foreign power. But if the 
 entrance be choked up, what matter what power holds it? And 
 if the channel l>c shoaled till it is worthless, what difference 
 dues it make whether there is a mouth or not? The argu- 
 ment !>cir:ui at the mouth, but. it ascends the river. 
 
 It would be well to postpone minor schemes of improve- 
 
221 
 
 ment, and ask Congress to give us a reasonable channel as fat- 
 as seems reasonable, say at first from the mouth to Cairo. If 
 the entire West would forego its respective local wants, and 
 unite in favor of its one general want, the end would be gained. 
 There is no part of the West, not even the remote wheat 
 fields of Nebraska or Dakota, which will not at once feel the 
 weight of the want of a channel in the Mississippi river, if that 
 river is closed against it. Take away from the trnsportation 
 problem the constant pressure of river competition, and you 
 know the consequences. Open the river to its fullest capacity, 
 and the farmers of the West can see the result. The railroads 
 carry water on their shoulders, water in the shape of bonds, 
 stocks, etc., and they don't need the water in the river. But 
 the farmers need water under the keels of commerce. 
 
 From the Davenport Gazette. 
 
 At a meeting of citizens of Davenport to hear the report 
 of the delegates to the Convention, Mr. Russell offered the 
 following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted : 
 
 Resolved, That this meeting, representing the citizens of 
 Davenport, desires to express its great satisfaction at the 
 results reached by the River Improvement Convention at St. 
 Louis, and its hearty approval of the resolutions adopted by 
 that body. 
 
 Resolved, That we pledge an earnest and unremitting sup- 
 port to all efforts f)f the Executive Committee appointed by 
 said Convention to press upon Congress at its next session 
 and thereafter, the necessity for continuous and liberal appro- 
 priations for the prosecution of the work of internal improve- 
 ments commended in the resolution of the Convention 
 approved by this meeting. 
 
SECTION 6. 
 
 LIST OF DELEGATES. 
 
 ARKANSAS. 
 
 A\'. 1 1. Fulton, Little Rock. 
 K. I 'riteliard, Little Rock. 
 Logan H. Roots, Little R.rk. 
 Win. M. Finback, Fort Smith. 
 C. V. Buckley, Fort Smith. 
 H. M. Grant. Helena. 
 G. AY. Brown, Camden. 
 Jno. E. Bennett, Helena. 
 AV. V. Johnson. I lelena. 
 I'. F. Son-ells. Wanvn. 
 
 I). W. Fellows, AVarren. 
 
 J. F. Robinson, Arkansas City. 
 
 Albert Smith, Batesville. 
 II. Glitsch, Eureka Springs. 
 J. A. Xewinan, Eureka Springs. 
 Thomas Hardeman. Pocahontas. 
 AA r . B. Moore, Fayetteville. 
 J. V. Walker. FaVdirville. 
 J. B. Trullock, Pine Bluff. 
 
 R. F. Pettigrew. 
 
 ALABAKA. 
 
 Dr. Thomas B. Taylor, Montgomery. 
 
 COLORADO. 
 L. E. Sherman, Colorado 
 DAKOTA. 
 
 P. Doiiau. 
 
 Edward Rutz, Springfield. 
 J. C. Willis, Metropolis 
 W. <). To\\]-. Mi-trnpolN. 
 II. Fullerton, Havana. 
 Lewis Ihorn, Ilarrisouvillc. 
 J. P. M. Howurd. Kth'ngham. 
 AV. II. Barlow. Kningham. 
 R. A. AVilbank^. Mt. V<-n.on. 
 Oeo. H. Varnell. Mt. Vcrnoii. 
 A. G. Henrj r , Greenville, 
 w. B, Smith, 
 
 Geo. A. Boyle, Alton. 
 
 .1. W. Koppin-'cr. Alton. 
 II. (i. M. I'ike, Alton. 
 K. M. West, Kdwardsvill.'. 
 J. Gillcspie, Edwai-d-villr. 
 A. K.-lIi-r. Kd\\anl>ville. 
 I. W. on. Virdcii. 
 II. \V. Harris<.n. Jl.-Ilcvill. 
 Samuel S. I'a^e. Peoria. 
 Chas. D. Clark, Peoria. 
 P. D. Cheny, Jerseyville. 
 
 (222) 
 
223 
 
 ILLINOIS Continued. 
 
 T. M. Rogers, nuin.-y. 
 Win. P. Halliday, Cairo. 
 C. F. Nellie, Cairo. 
 Chas. T. Ware. East St. Louis. 
 J. H. McCormiek, Peoria. 
 Win. L. Huse, Peoria. 
 John T. McBride. Chester. 
 C. C. Williams, Chester. 
 C. H. Seybt. Highland. 
 C. M. Wheeler. Kaskaskia. 
 J. G. Btircli. Kaskaskia. 
 C. A. Roberts, Pekin. 
 
 E. F. Urlaiiil. Pekin. 
 J. Rickert, Waterloo. 
 H. O. Billings. Alton. 
 
 L. C. AVashburn. Jerseyville. 
 
 J. Fouke, Yandalia. 
 
 R. T. Higgins, Vaudalia. 
 
 F. M. Eckard, Yandalia. 
 E. S. Stoke, Centralia. 
 H. G. Weber, Belleville. 
 E. B. Buck, Charleston. 
 
 J. R. Cunningham, Charleston. 
 Chas A. Walker, Carlinville. 
 John I. Rinaker, Carlinville. 
 Walter S. Dray, Havana. 
 Samuel Bibens. Havana. 
 Anson Low. Havana. 
 X. B. Thistlewood, - 
 "W. T. Doudall, Peoria. 
 H. W. Cleudin. Springfield. 
 AV. AV. AVallace, Xewton. 
 Robt. W. Rees. Vandalia. 
 W. Y. AVetzell. Fulton, 
 (r. A lIiMiry. Louisville. 
 R. J. Barnes. Louisville. 
 Daniel Berry, Carmi. 
 J. A. Benner, Alton. 
 
 AV. L. Huse. Peru. 
 
 Geo. AV. Cox. Yirdiii. 
 
 H. 8. AV.-lton. Springfield. 
 
 J. J. McLean. East St. Louis. 
 
 D. Perri'ne. Xewton. 
 
 F. J. Fo.-t-r. Carmi. 
 
 B. L. Patrick, Carmi. 
 J. M. Crebs, Carmi. 
 
 J. AV. Springer, Jacksonville. 
 J. F. AVebb, Lebanon. 
 H. Leiter. Lebanon. 
 H. II. Horner, Lebanon. 
 S. P. Tufts, Centralia. 
 AV. B. Grimsley. Springfield. 
 AV. C. Bennett. Moline. 
 S. H. Yelie. Moline. 
 Jas. H. Livingston, Alton. 
 R. H. Davis. Carrollton. 
 Orman Pierson, Carrolltou. 
 J. Decker, Collins ville. 
 Jno. Higley, Collins ville. 
 J. G. Gerding, Collins ville. 
 AV. 11. Bush, Peoria. 
 Samuel AAllkinson, Peoria. 
 
 G. O. AA'ebster. Salem. 
 H. C. Fellman. Salem. 
 .1. S. Martin, Salem. 
 AA'. H. Allen. Grafton. 
 
 C. P. Stafford. Grafton. 
 L. AVarnock. Columbia. 
 Jno. T. Augerer. Columbia. 
 
 D. H. Harez. Lincoln. 
 
 R. J. Hornsby. Bunker Hill. 
 
 H. X. Belt. Bunker Hill. 
 
 J. B. Bowman. East St. Louis. 
 
 Thos. C. Jennings. East St. Louis. 
 
 A. II. Gambrill. Alton. 
 
 J. B. Fahs. Olnev. 
 
 <>l "INCY BOARD OF TRADE. 
 
 D. D. Meriam. Quincy. H. R. AAliitmore, Quiiicy. 
 
 Robt. E. Coxe. Quincy. 
 
224 
 
 INDIANA. 
 
 Argoa Dean. Otto. 
 Alfred Moore, Sr.. Huntington. 
 M. M. Hurley. New Albany. 
 Jno. S. Hopkins. Evansville. 
 G. V. Menzies. Mount Vernou. 
 .1. M. Reynolds. Lafayette. 
 A. D. Straight, Indianapolis. 
 Josiah Grim. New Albany. 
 R. S. Taylor, Fort Wayne. 
 C. A. Zollinger, Fort Wayne. 
 M. J. Hamilton, Fort Way in.'. 
 A. C. Troutman, Fort Wayne. 
 Cha-. F. Muhler, Fort Wayne. 
 J. J. Swuzich. Evansville. 
 
 Chas. T. Hinde, Evansville. 
 A. J. Branch. Evansville. 
 John Gilbert. Evansville. 
 J. A. Lemeke. Evansville. 
 .Fno. W. IJin^hani. Evansville 
 Win. Rahm. .1 r.. Kvansville. 
 J. A. For^ytlu'. Seymour. 
 W. C. Fahivr. .Mount Yernon. 
 A. Colemau, Logansport. 
 J. W. Talbott. Logansport. 
 Jno. W. Grubb, Richmond.. 
 L. R. Wolcott, Mitchell. 
 W. E. Gibson, Aurora. 
 E. D. Langton. Aurora. 
 
 INDIANAPOLIS BOARD OF TRADE. 
 
 D. Blackmore, Indianapolis. Jno. M. Shaw. Indianapolis. 
 
 IOWA. 
 
 Robert Donahue, Burlington. 
 John Thompson, Dubuque. 
 George H. French, 'Davenport. 
 Geo. W. Jones, Dubuque. 
 N. C. Ridenour. Clarimla. 
 E. H. Thayer, Clinton. 
 J. K. Graves, Dubuque. 
 Win. Vandever, Dubuque. 
 J. H. Murphy, Davenport. 
 Kd ward Russell, Davenport. 
 P. G. Ballingall, Ottmmva. 
 Win. L. Joy, Sioux City. 
 R. B. Tomlinson, Cedar Ra]ids. 
 H. Schierholz, Lansing. 
 Robt. Htifschmidt, Lansing. 
 II. II. HfiiHMiway. Landing. 
 .(. w. Tii. ,iu:^. Lansing. 
 C. < . II.MTi.-k. Cherokee. 
 Robert Buchanan, Cherokee. 
 C. F. Myers, Rockford. 
 R. C. Math.-w-. 
 A. C. Roberts, Fort 
 
 C. M. Primeau. Fort Madison. 
 
 J. P. Patrick. McGregor. 
 G. S. C. Scott. McGregor. 
 Win. Butler, Clarinda. 
 W. E. Webster, Clarinda. 
 E. Van Houten, Pella. 
 S. A. Marine. Vinton. 
 J. Ila.ircman. Keokuk. 
 .1. II. < 'raig. Keokuk. 
 L. Bentl.-y. Malv-rn. 
 Thos. Gernett, Mendon. 
 S. Casaday, Des Moinrs. 
 H. C. Colver, Des Moim-s. 
 L. Mott, Des Moinrs. 
 
 B. A. Lock\vood. !)> Moiin-x. 
 J. J. Town. I>cs Moiiif<. 
 
 E. C. Le :l rh. Do M<.in.-. 
 
 C. II. T..1I. Clinton, 
 
 J. II. Flint. Clinton. 
 
 W. F. Coan, Clinton. 
 
 E. H.Odell, Connril Kluff-. 
 
 r.t'KUMiTON BOAKD o: TRADE. 
 AN". ^V. Baldwin. JJuiTmirton. J. C. Osgood, 
 
225 
 
 KAXSA>. 
 
 J. P. Root. Wyamlotte. 
 
 C. M. Keller. Wichita. 
 
 D. G. Stockwell. Atchison. 
 J. M. Smith. Atchisou. 
 
 J. II. Bonsall. Arkansas City. 
 W. II. Caldwell, Beloit. 
 Alfred Taylor. Gardner. 
 A. D. Brown. Gardner. 
 David Grimes. Burlington. 
 A. B. Jetmore. Topeka. 
 
 F. P. Baker. Topeka. 
 A. L. House. Topeka. 
 A. B. Lemon. Xewton. 
 J. G. Stonecker. Topeka. 
 Dr. Cornell. Wyandotte. 
 V. J. Lane, Wyandotte. 
 X. A. Ocheltree, Olathe. 
 H. A. Taylor. Olathe. 
 S. Guerrier. Emporia. 
 
 KENTUCKY. 
 
 Frank Troutman. Eminence. 
 Eugene Underwood. Louisville. 
 W. W. Hite. Louisville. 
 Lucian Anderson. Mayfteld. 
 B. C. Levi. Louisville. 
 
 Jno. A. Robertson. Bowling Green. 
 S. W. Combs, Bowling Green. 
 E. Farly. Padueali. 
 J. C. Cobb. Paducah. 
 J. H. Fowler, Padueali. 
 
 Thomas Jame. Xatioual Board of Steam Navigation, Louisville. 
 
 LOUISVILLE BOARD OF TRADE. 
 
 Chris. Busche. Louisville. Frank Carter. Louisville. 
 
 H. Verhoeff, Jr.. Louisville. t C. B. Robinton, Louisville. 
 
 Jos. O'Connor, Louisville. "W. B. Gray. Louisville. 
 
 LOUISIANA. 
 
 Duncan F. Kenner. Xew Orleans. 
 Dr. J. B. "Wilkinson. Plaquemine. 
 Capt. Dick Sinnett. Xew Orleans. 
 Capt. Richard Frances. Port Eads. 
 Capt. John Roy. Xew Orleans. 
 Capt. B. D. Wood. Xew Orleans. 
 Capt. Thos. B. Leathers, Xew Or- 
 leans. 
 
 Capt. Jas. T. O. Pry. Xew Orleans. 
 Capt. A. Q. Kennett, Xew Orleans. 
 Jas. Lingan. Xew Orleans. 
 
 NEW ORLEANS PRODUCE EXCHANGE. 
 
 E. K. Converse, Xew Orleans. Thos. A. Clayton. Xew Orleans. 
 
 Geo. E. Si-ai--. Xew Orleans. Ex-Gov. John McEnery. Xew Or- 
 
 Geo. Maxent. Xe\v Orleans. leans. 
 
 J. M. Frowenfeld. Xew Orleans. S. P. Hill, Xew Orleans. 
 
 C. F. Dillmgham, Xew Orleans. 
 
 NEW ORLEANS COTTON EXCHANGE. 
 
 A. J. Gomila, Xew Orleans. A. A. Lelong. Xew Orleans. 
 
 Wright Schaumburg. Xew Orleans. 
 
 Oscar J. Forstall. Xew Orleans. 
 
 G. L. Hall. Xew Orleans. 
 
 Geo. Foster. Xew Orleans. 
 
 A. Currie. Cotton Exchange, 
 Shreveport. 
 
 J. M. Dowling. Steamboat Asso- 
 ciation. Xew Orleans. 
 
 C. J. Barrow. Xew Orleans. 
 
 H. C. Brown, Baton Rouge. 
 
 15 
 
226 
 
 NENV OULKAXS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 
 
 F. J. Odendahl. Xew Orleans. W. H. Bell, Xew Orleans.. 
 
 s. A. Trufaut. XL-W Orleans. J. D. Pelt. Xew Orleans. 
 
 M. F. Pinckard, Xew Orleans. 
 
 MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 H. F. Siinrall, Vicksburg. 
 S. H. Parisot, Vicksburg. 
 
 C. E. Webb, Vicksburg. 
 Green Clay. Boliver Landing. 
 
 MISSOURI. 
 
 J. F. Philips, Sedalia. 
 James R. Shields, Carthage. 
 A. H. Livington,West Plains. 
 H. H. Mitchell, Bolivar. 
 C. B. McAfee, Springfield. 
 James R. Milner, Springfield . 
 J. H. Turner, Carrollton. 
 W. H. Phelps, Carthage. 
 Win. S. Jewett, Crystal City. 
 Mepher Huy, Crystal City. 
 K. Coates, Kansas City. 
 C. W. Baker, Mexico. 
 A. E. Simpson, M. D., Charleston. 
 C. R. Combs, Memphis 
 W. Dan Fowler, Memphis. 
 Geo. Myers, Glenwood. 
 H. H. Harding, Cartilage. 
 Firmin A. Rozier, St. Genevieve. 
 John L. Bogy, Ste. Genevieve. 
 Charles C. Rozier, Mayor City of 
 
 Ste. Genevieve. 
 
 (iuMavus St. Gem, Ste. Genevieve. 
 O. Koshtit/ky. New Madrid. 
 Dr. M. <;. Hatrhrr. \r\v Madrid, 
 lion. Wm. Daw-on. Xew Madrid. 
 Geo. B. Clark. ( 'ape Girardeau. 
 M. A. CillMM-t. 8t6. Mary. 
 Louis S.-haff. Bte. Mary. 
 J. II. Mor--. J.-t'f'T-i.n county. 
 J. H. Wheelm-. Si.-.-lville. 
 
 < . T. [TOM, K'olla. 
 L.I. Matthews. Carthage. 
 K. K. Lewis, lhmt-ville. 
 L. E. Cooley. Si. Charl.--. 
 A. F. Jones, Mary vi lie. 
 
 J. W. Chambers. Maryville. 
 
 S. Harris. Cape Girardeau. 
 
 G. C. Thilenius, Cape Girardeau. 
 
 A. B. Carroll, Cape Girardeau. 
 
 M. A. Bierwirth, Cape Girardeau. 
 
 Win. Warner, Cape Girardeau. 
 
 Wm. V. Leech, Cape Girardeau. 
 
 W. Speed Stephens, Boonville. 
 
 John Porter, Boonville. 
 
 John Doniphau, St. Joseph. 
 
 James E. Payne, Independence. 
 
 Alexander Graydon, Carthage. 
 
 Waddy Thompson, Warrensburg. 
 
 O. P. Davis, Seliegman. 
 
 H. Eshbaugh, Hanover. 
 
 J. W. Bouhvare. Fulton. 
 
 J. B. Suell, Fulton. 
 
 Geo. Hubbard, Fulton. 
 
 Charles T. D. Eitzen, Hermann.. 
 
 TliM-. J. Johnston, Hermann. 
 
 R. Q, Roarlic. California. 
 
 Jno. E. Pearson. < California. 
 
 J.'P. H. Gray. California. 
 
 D. C. Basey, Brunswick. 
 
 Ma<-k .1. LeaniiniT. Jefferson City 
 
 .1. II. NN'au^'h. ( 'olnmbia. 
 O. Gentae, Columhia. 
 Kidiard (Jcntry. < '"luinhia. 
 C. H. Hardin. Mexico. 
 John F. Kncker, Sturgeon. 
 S. Iliillip>. Mexico.. 
 John I-'. William.-. Macmi. 
 F. B. Kercheval. St. Joseph. 
 Martin J. Ilubbl.-. Marshtield. 
 W. K. ^aiiniel. Randolph Co. 
 
227 
 
 M I -SOURI Continued. 
 
 J. Finer. St. Joseph. 
 J. W. Ringo, St. Joseph. 
 
 E. Wagner. St. Joseph. 
 R. Womark, St. Joseph. 
 
 F. B. Thompson. St. Joseph. 
 S. Geiger. St. Joseph. 
 
 A. Geiger, St. Joseph. 
 
 A. Saltzman. St. Joseph. 
 
 E. J. Crowther. St. Joseph. 
 
 M. J. McCabe. St. Joseph. 
 
 Dr. J. H. Stringfellow, Buchanan 
 
 County. 
 
 E. W. Price. Brunswick. 
 W. H. Lusk. Jefferson City. 
 Wm. W. Wagner. Jefferson City. 
 W. H. Lee, Warrensburg. 
 
 C. H. Miller, Jefferson City. 
 Jno. A. Collins, Washington. 
 H. Wellenkamp, Washington. 
 Anton Renter. Washington. 
 J. T. Childs. Richmond. 
 
 Jos. Hughes, Richmond. 
 Hermann Ferguson, Steelville. 
 
 G. F. Rothwell, Moberly. 
 J. J. Russell, Charleston. 
 Jos.;M. Lowe. Pittsburgh. 
 Jos. H. Birch. Pittsburgh. 
 J. P. Xorvell, Richmond. 
 
 D. A. Ball. Louisiana. 
 
 T. J. C. Fogg, Louisiana. 
 
 H. C. St. Clair, Independence. 
 
 J. H. Decker, Hannibal. 
 
 D. M. Delany. Hannibal. 
 W. A. Jacobs, Chillicothe. 
 
 C. H. Mansur. Cbillicothe. 
 
 E. D. Graham. Mexico. 
 P. W. Harding. Mexico. 
 R. E. Lawder, Mexico. 
 Win. Pollock, Mexico. 
 H. A. Rickets, Mexico. 
 
 J. Schirmer, Jefferson City. 
 Robt. M. White, Mexico. 
 T. M. Gill. Mexico. 
 J. McD. Trimble, Mexico. 
 G. A. Burkhardt, California. 
 J. H. Burkholder, Moberly. ' 
 A. W. Lamb, Hannibal. 
 Thos. E. Day. Mexico. 
 J. B. Forbis, Jr., Independence. 
 Theodore Bruere, St. Charles. 
 W. A. Alexander, St. Charles. 
 A. H. Stonebraker, St. Charles. 
 E. G. Lunceford, Bolivar. 
 Charles Rosenbaum, Fayette. 
 
 D. S. Thomas, Carthage. 
 Champ Clark, Bowling Green. 
 Henry McPherson, Boonville. 
 Jonas Clark, Carthage. 
 
 J. W. Wingo, Salem. 
 John R. Reddick, Salem. 
 Kossuth X. Webber, Farmington. 
 J. S. Rollins. Columbia. 
 
 ST. LOUIS MERCHANTS* EXCHANGE. 
 
 E. O. Stauard. St. Louis. 
 Julius S. Walsh. St. Louis. 
 Gerard B. Allen, St. Louis. 
 Xathan Cole, St. Louis. 
 Frank Gaiennie. St. Louis. J 
 George L. [Wright, St. Louis. 
 L'has. F. Ortlnvein, St. Louis. 
 E. W. Gould. St. Louis. 
 M. McEnnis. St. Louis. 
 H. Lourey, St. Louis. 
 P. D. Rowland, St. Louis. 
 Way man Crow, St. Louis. 
 
 Marcus Bernheimer, St.Louis. 
 G. H. Shields, St. Louis. 
 A. Krieckhaus, St. Louis. 
 James E. Yeatman. St. Louis. 
 Robert B. Brown, St. Louis. 
 Thos. C. Reynolds, St. Louis. 
 Louis Fusx. Sr. Louis. 
 John Wahl, St. Louis. 
 J. G. Baker, St. Louis. 
 Web. M. Samuel, St. Louis. 
 Wm. J. Lemp, St. Louis. 
 E. F. Huppe, St. Louis. 
 
228 
 
 ST. LOUIS MERCHANTS' EXCHANGE Continued. 
 
 George Bain, St. Louis. Alex. Cochran, St. Louis. 
 
 G. A. Madill, St. Louis. A. T. Harlow, St. Louis. 
 
 J. O'Xeil, St. Louis. Henry C. Haarstirk, St. Louis. 
 
 K. P. Tansey, St. Louis. Charles Parsons, St. Louis. 
 
 J. T. Davis, St. Louis. John Jackson, St. Louis. 
 
 W. H. Scudder, St. Louis. S. M. Breekenrid^e. St. Louis. 
 
 J. 31. Noble, St. Louis. Henry Hitchcock. St. Louis. 
 
 Conrad Fath, St. Louis. E. B. Kirby, St. Louts. 
 
 D. P. Dyer, St. Louis. John 31. Gilkeson, St. Louis. 
 
 A. H. Smith, St. Louis. Miles Sells. St. Louis. 
 Erastus Wells, St. Louis. C. E. Slayback. St. Louis. 
 
 B. W. Lewis, St. Lewis. Jerome Hill, St. Louis. 
 George Partridge, St. Louis. Given Campbell, St. Louis. 
 Win. L. Ewing, St. Louis. Waldo P. Johnson, St. Louis. 
 JohnHogan, St. Louis. A. W. Slayback. St. Louis. 
 Pierre Chouteau, St. Louis. . John R. Shipley. St. Louis. 
 
 ST. LOUIS COTTON EXCHANGE. 
 
 Theo. G. 3Ieier, St. Louis. James L. Sloss. St. Louis. 
 
 A. W. 3Iitchell, St. Louis. W. C. Madeira. St. Louis. 
 
 W. 31. Senter, St. Louis. J. W. Paramore. St. Louis. 
 
 ST. LOUIS WOOL DEALERS* ASSOCIATION. 
 
 J. C. Love, St. Louis. W. F. Warner. St. Louis. 
 
 SEDALIA BOARD OF TRADE. 
 
 A. A. Jaynes, Sedalia. Jno. T. Heard. Sedalia. 
 F. Houston, Sedalia. 
 
 KANSAS CITY BOARD OF TRADE. 
 
 W. H. Miller, Kansas City. E. H. Allen, Kansas City. 
 
 R. T. Van Horn, Kansas City. T. B. Bullnx-, Kaii>a- City. 
 
 ST. JOSEPH BOARD OF TRADE. 
 
 H. R. W. Hartwig, St. Joseph. Gen. James Craig, St. Joseph. 
 
 Col. Jno. Doniphan, St. Joseph. Abe Furst. St. .Joseph. 
 
 MINNESOTA. 
 
 W. B. Lutz, Lake City. F. A. Fogg, St. Paul. 
 
 J. O. Simmons, Little FalN. T. B. Casey. Minneapolis 
 
 Platt B. Walker, Minneapolis. R. C. I.envitt. Mimn-apnli.-. 
 
 Fred. Driscoll, St. Paul. V. (J. llu-h. Minm-i.j.olis. 
 
 M. G. Norton. Wiriona. Mark II. I>uniicll. <>\\ atonna. 
 
 K. L. liak.-r. ]{.-d \Ving. F. 31. Thornton. li.-n-on. 
 E. W. Dura nt. Still water. 
 
229 
 
 MINNEAPOLIS BOARD OF TRADE. 
 
 C. C. Sturtpvam. Minneapolis. Col. G. F. Brott, Minneapolis. 
 
 O. C. Merrimon. Minneapolis. Col. R. H. Benton. Minneapolis. 
 
 >T. PAUL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 
 
 R. Blakely. St. Paul. Edmund Rice. St. Paul. 
 
 Win. Leip. St. Paul. J. W. McClimg, St. Paul. 
 
 [. W. Ingersoll. St. Paul. G. W. Walsh, St. Paul. 
 W. F. Davidson. St. Paul. 
 
 WINONA BOARD OF TRADE. 
 
 Wm. F. Phelps. Secretary. H. C. Bolcom. 
 
 MICHIGAN. 
 
 A. Sessions, Ionia. Philo Parsons, Detroit. 
 
 NEBRASKA. 
 
 R. B.JWindham. Plattsmouth. C. H. Rickards. Falls City. 
 
 J. Carson. Brownville. W. W. Hackney. Brownville. 
 
 C. C. Housel. Omaha. Henry Sheldon. Nebraska City. 
 
 Victor Vikjuain. Lincoln. Champion S. Chase, Omaha. 
 
 O. P. Mason. Lincoln. H. G. Clark. Omaha. 
 
 H. T. Clark. Bellevue. S. J. Faris. Nebraska City. 
 
 J. Sterling Morton. Nebraska City. J. E. LaMaster. Nebraska City. 
 Frank Martin. Falls City. 
 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 B. S. Osborne. Secretary National A. H. Dugan. National Board of 
 Board of Steam Navigation. New Steam Navigation, New York. 
 York. 
 
 NEW MEXICO. 
 P. J. Kennedy. 
 
 OHIO. 
 
 John A. Townley. Cincinnati. John Newton, Marietta. 
 
 CINCINNATI BOARD OF TRADE. 
 
 S. F. Covington. Cincinnati. J. G. Stove. Cincinnati. 
 
 W. L. Perkins. Cincinnati. S. F. Dana, Cincinnati. 
 
 Jos. Hargravi'. Cincinnati. Jos. A. Scarlett, Cincinnati. 
 W. W. Peabody. Cincinnati. 
 
 CINCINNATI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 
 
 E. C. Goshorn. Cincinnati. J. J. Raipe. Cincinnati. 
 
 Paris C. Brown. Cincinnati. Jas. K. Morrison. Cincinnati. 
 
 G. W. Neare. Cincinnati. 
 
230 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 Capt. R. C. Gray. Pittsburg. Capt. John A. Wood. Pittsburg. 
 
 Hon. G. H. Anderson, Pittsburg. Charles Meyran, I'ittsburg. 
 
 Jas. G. Siebeneck, Pittsburg. P. C. Knox. Pittsburgh. 
 
 Capt. J. T. Stockdale, Pittsburg. J. H.Dunlap. Pittsbnru. 
 
 Hon. H. S. Shallenberger, Roches'r John A. Kej's. Pittsburg. 
 
 TENNESSEE. 
 
 Edward S. Jones, Nashville. W. CTNiel Perkins. Franklin. 
 
 H. T. Ellett, Memphis. J. B. Heiskell. Memphis. 
 
 R. J. Morgan. Meniphi-. S. H. Shock. Memphis. 
 Smith Parks. Newburn. 
 
 TEXAS. 
 
 T. T. Gammage, Palestine. Geo. A. Wright. Palestine. 
 
 W. H. Flippen, Dallas. Thos. F. McEnnis. I >allas. 
 
 WEST VIRGINIA. 
 
 Alexander Campbell, Bethany. F. O. Hearne. Wheeling. 
 
 John A. Gibney. Wheeling. John W. Good. Wheeling. 
 
 D. R. Wolfe, Wheeling. 
 
 WISCONSIN. 
 
 K. Mariner. Milwaukee. J. R. Berry man. Prairie Du Chieiv 
 
 H. J. Rogers, Appleton. J. H. Foster. Oshkosh. 
 
 Charle< K. Mi-ar-. Oseeola Mill-. B. J. Stevens. MadNon. 
 
 W.T. Price, Block River FalN. O. H. Ingram. Kau Claire. 
 
 Win. Wilson. Menomonee. D. A. McDonald. LaCn><-e. 
 
 J. C. Gregory. Madison. John C. Huggins, Racine. 
 
 USHERS. 
 
 J. W. M. Boyd, St. LouN. E. B. Grace, St. LonN. 
 
 Walter's. Bartley, St. LouN. E. B. Eno, St. Loui>. 
 
 PAGES. 
 
 W. J. Lemp, Jr., St. LonN. Booth Alexander. St. 
 
 Kdwanl MeKnni-. St. Loiii-. Ben Allen Samuel. St. 
 
 Thomas Booth, Jr., St. Louis. Mi haei MeKmii-. Jr.. St. Louis. 
 
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS. 
 
 To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 
 States, in General Assembly convened: 
 
 The Executive Committee of the Mississippi River Improve- 
 ment Convention, held in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, in 
 October last, under one of the resolutions unanimously adop- 
 ted, were charged with the duty of preparing and presenting 
 to the Congress of the United States, a Memorial embodying 
 the action of the Convention, accompanied with such statistics 
 and information .as the Committee might deem expedient. 
 
 The Convention which committed this grave duty tp your 
 memorialists was one representing, in an unusual degree, the 
 commercial and industrial power of the country. The highest 
 order of talent, judgment, matured by careful thought and 
 large experience of the great question so intimately connected 
 with the progress and development of the imperial domain 
 comprehended, met in council, and the important question was 
 considered by men representing twenty States and three Ter- 
 ritories, and half the population of the Union. Not less remark- 
 able was the variety of interests gathered and given utterance 
 
 v O 
 
 to there. The farmers, the merchants, the bankers, the man- 
 ufacturers, the professions, and the heads of great transporta- 
 tion lines by river and rail, with earnest zeal discussed, and 
 with striking unanimity reached the conclusions embodied in 
 the resolutions adopted by the Convention, and which it now 
 becomes the duty of your memorialists to urge upon the 
 National Legislature. 
 
 The Convention was no new move, and the presentation of 
 its conclusions is but a repetition of a thrice-told tale. 
 
 [231] 
 
232 
 
 For a half century, from the period when the now mighty 
 West was but a wilderness, the people of the Valley have from 
 time to time gathered to present the claims of the noble streams- 
 which intersect it, and to urge upon the General Government 
 the necessity and the duty of so improving them that they 
 would become the cheap and convenient highways for inter- 
 communication between the producers of the upper and the 
 lower valley. The grand culmination of these gatherings 
 was presented when, on the 26th of last October, the last Mis- 
 sissippi River Convention assembled in the city of St. Louis. 
 Meantime, the progress of trade, the development of indus- 
 trial resources, the growth of population, have invested the 
 movement with vaster importance. It is no longer a matter 
 of local interests, but of national, in truth, of international 
 importance, and as such we commend its action to your con- 
 sideration. 
 
 The initial proposition is, that just in proportion as the 
 rates of carriage have been diminished, the growth of the 
 West can be traced, and that the question of cheap transpor- 
 tation is found underlying all progress and development. 
 
 Just in proportion that the aid of the Government has been 
 given to render the water-ways safe and easy to navigation, 
 just in that proportion have freights been cheapened, have the 
 burdens and expenses upon capital and labor been removed,, 
 have disasters destructive to life and property been averted, 
 and the beneficent results of commerce showered upon all the 
 people of the country. 
 
 In view of such results, it may be deemed strange that the 
 aid of the General Government has been accorded to the West, 
 in a ratio so incommensurate with the whole benefit to be 
 realized, while to artificial and expensive modes, money and 
 credit to more than a hundred millions have been given, and 
 the choicest public domain lavished with unstinted generosity, 
 while scarcely a fourth of that princely sum has been bestowed 
 upon the gn-at waterways, and the lands Lfiven for their im- 
 provement and safety were only made useful and valuable by 
 
233 
 
 the toil and the taxes of the people of the lower valley in the 
 vain and unequal contest with the destroying floods. The 
 losses in property for lack of the aid which the Government 
 might have easily given, have in single years of disaster ex- 
 ceeded all that has ever been given to the improvement of the 
 channel of the Mississippi river. 
 
 Your memorialists in presenting such facts would not be 
 understood as challenging the acts of Congress in granting 
 liberal aid to the system of artificial carriage. These systems 
 have been grand and noble factors of the material career, the 
 splendid co-workers of a progressive and vitalizing civiliza- 
 tion. The combinations of the two systems have been 
 required to give the complete development witnessed through- 
 out the whole country. Neither, alone, could have wrought 
 the results which, unitedly, they have achieved. We invite 
 your careful attention to some of these results. In the area 
 drained from north to south by navigable water-ways, and in- 
 tersected from east to west by lines of railroads, are pro- 
 duced nearly three-fourths of the food and textile products of 
 the whole country, while in manufacturing industries it is des- 
 tined as the natural center of food and material to become in 
 the near future the proper home of all productive industry. 
 To this it would be vain and idle to deny that the artificial 
 lines have largely contributed. 
 
 Yet we can but point to the fact that as the two systems 
 have been developed, the natural and cheaper route has been 
 the counter-check of the artificial and more expensive, has 
 saved to the producer the profits of capital, labor and indus- 
 try, and cheapened the necessities of life to the consumer. 
 
 Even as the water-ways now stand, with imperfect and ob- 
 structed channels, one-eighth of the export trade of the country 
 goes to the sea at less than one-third the cost at which it could be 
 transported by rail. The establishment of a deep outlet at the 
 South Pass, through the genius of Eads, the signal-light ser- 
 vice at the shoal and dangerous localities, and the channel 
 improvement effected by a meager dole from the National 
 
234 
 
 Treasury, have in one season doubled the tonnage from the 
 port of St. Louis alone, and raised the through shipments of 
 bulk grain from 6,164,838 bushels in 1879 to 15,762,664 
 bushels in 1880, while the savings of freight have added mil- 
 lions to the profits of capital and labor. So we say, that while 
 it was well and wise for Congress by liberal aid to foster and 
 encourage the splendid features of greatness found in the 
 railway system, it has not been either wise or well to with- 
 hold from the cheaper, and therefore more important channel 
 the aid which would make them equal to the needs of a gigan- 
 tic trade. " These things ye ought to have done, and not to 
 have left the other undone.'' 
 
 Without stopping to consider in full the capabilities of the 
 great valley, the full development of which is only to be found 
 in the needed improvements of the Mississippi and its naviga- 
 ble tributaries, we can only point to the fact that in this area 
 is contributed the proportion of seventy per cent, of the 
 internal revenue ; and that it' the progress now manifested is 
 fostered and enlarged by the liberal action of Government on 
 this line, the strengthening of the national credit is assured, 
 and the generation now emerging into the fields of active life 
 can record the extinguishment of the national debt without a 
 strain upon either individual citizen, or the resources of the 
 States or the Nation. Here, the internal commerce is more 
 than half that of all the country besides, is twelve time- 
 greater than its foreign commerce, aggregating in values the 
 -commerce of the world. This interior commerce carefully 
 preserved to our citizens and jealously guarded by our laws 
 finds its grandest field of profitable exercise upon the inland 
 .seas that .span the continent, floating in various modes all 
 the commodities to the ocean, to be thence borne to all the 
 people abroad. The fact has been pointed out that the fleets 
 of steamers and liarires leaving the wharves of St. Louis in a 
 single day would have accomplished on their return an aggre- 
 gate voyage of 13,000 miles, and St. Louis is only one of the 
 ports sending fleets of proximate magnitude throughout the 
 Valley. 
 
235 
 
 Nor need we pause to discuss the constitutional right of the 
 Government in this behalf. On this, parties and sections are 
 agreed, for it has been recognized as not only sanctioned by 
 the Constitution but demanded by the necessities of the people, 
 that it is the imperative duty of the Government to so improve 
 these great arteries of trade that they shall be equal to all 
 business needs. No one of the twenty States and Territories 
 lying along the 15,000 miles of navigable waters comprised in 
 the river system has either the power or right to set about 
 improving the channels. The work of one would be found 
 detrimental to the other. The whole system of improvement 
 is a legitimate charge upon the Government, in the common 
 interests of all, by plans at once uniform, intelligent.and hom- 
 ogeneous. To this, as the Convention viewed it, the Govern- 
 ment is fully committed. 
 
 First. By liberal appropriations made at the mouth of the 
 river, which, in facilitating the export trade, the bulk of which 
 is furnished by the staples of the West and South, have returned 
 to the people of the Valley ten, nay, an hundred fold in ben- 
 efits to trade, advantages and profits to labor. 
 
 Second. By the action of your body on the 28th of June, 
 1879, in the creating of the River Commission, a body charged 
 with the work of improving the great river throughout its 
 entire extent, and by the appropriations subsequently made 
 to carry on its magnificent work. 
 
 Your memorialists point with great satisfaction to the 
 hearty and unanimous endorsement given by the Convention 
 to the work of so important a body created by yourselves, 
 and to the earlier proceedings of which you gave your delib- 
 erate and emphatic approval. The Convention recognized the 
 Commission as a fair, just, and liberal tribute to the great ends 
 to be accomplished through it, and which, upon well-placed 
 convictions, it declared could only be accomplished according 
 to the plans formulated and estimates made by the Commis- 
 sion. 
 
 The Convention felt deeply and expressed itself warmly to 
 
236 
 
 the effect, thut the legislation so wisely, and the work so 
 auspiciously begun, should be carried forward according to 
 these plans, by regular and separate appropriations from year 
 to year, such as shall be deemed necessary, and under the 
 supervision of the body which created it. For that end we 
 now ask your approval, and to its accomplishment urge your 
 co-operation. 
 
 There are economic and advantageous considerations- 
 involved which we deem proper to press upon } r our attention. 
 The action of the Convention was a hearty and unanimous 
 response to the action of Congress in creating the Commission, 
 and it would be a retrogression in legislative action to stop 
 short of the end proposed ; distasteful, too, to an energetic 
 race, whose motto, under the impulses of destiny, is ever 
 "forward." Besides the profits alike to the producer and 
 consumer, pointed out by deepening and rectifying the chan- 
 nels of the water-ways, the ulterior and practical purpose of 
 the Commission, is, by its work, to confine the river, even at 
 flood seasons, to its bed, and thus reclaim to habitation and 
 productive industry the vast and fertile regions of the lower 
 riparian States, which, under the calamities of an unhappy 
 past, have been remanded to the desolation of the wilderness. 
 
 Such a result is eminently commended alike to the gener- 
 osity and unselfish patriotism of the whole people, and will 
 restore homes long since abandoned, to those on whom the 
 hand of misfortune has been heavily laid, give to suffering 
 States the return of a needed property, and cement anew the 
 ties of fraternal sympathy between once alienated sections, 
 now seeking to blot out forever the memories of unhappy and 
 unnatural discord. 
 
 The aid now a-ke<l, and benefits sought to be received 
 through the liberal action of the Government, is not alone for 
 the present, nor for the near succeeding years, but stretches- 
 to the distant future that eventful and busy future for which 
 it is the duty and business of statesmanship to prepare. The 
 Valley States and those in the farther \\'<-t and Southwest,. 
 
237 
 
 bound together by the chords of a common interest, are fast 
 gaining the political power which will make them the grantors 
 instead of the solicitors of favors through the instrumentality 
 of the Government. A compliance now with their reasonable 
 demands will be gratefully recognized, and will hereafter find 
 reciprocal response. A refusal will breed an antagonism of 
 sections which may lead to sectional issues. 
 
 The action of the Convention was not a thing done in a 
 corner, in the interest of se'ctions, or to carry out the objects 
 of parties. It was broadly national in its call, in its represen- 
 tative membership, and in its declared objects. It was the 
 result of matured policies, to which the executive and repre- 
 sentative authorities of one half, and far from the least impor- 
 tant part of the Union, gave the most unqualified approval. 
 To this members in both your houses can bear testimony. 
 
 And now we ask, can there be a more propitious time for 
 the National Legislature to recognize the value and importance 
 of the work? 
 
 The products of the Mississippi Valley, carried cheaply by 
 the river route (and through its influence less expensively by 
 rail) to the outer markets, have thrown the balance of the 
 world's trade grandly in our favor. Since this power and 
 influence has been recognized, for the first time in our history 
 we now have, among kindred commercial nations, the rank of 
 creditor. The long-sought position has been obtained through 
 the agency of cheap transportation from the interior to the 
 sea ; a policy we can only maintain by carrying the thought 
 to the utmost conclusion. 
 
 The report of the Secretary of the Treasury, and favorably 
 presented by President Arthur in his message, shows a surplus 
 revenue of over $100,000,000 for the last fiscal -year, and the 
 question suggests itself, how can this accruing surplus be 
 properly and most beneficially expended. Those for whom 
 we speak do not complain of the burdens of taxation. 
 They do not ask for the present reduction or speedy extin- 
 guishment of the national debt, but they do ask that this sur- 
 
238 
 
 plus shall in part be applied to their great and cheap thorough- 
 fares, feeling that when this is done they can bear the burdens 
 imposed by the Government in the form of taxes, much easier 
 than those resulting from defective and crippled transportation. 
 Now, in the days of our prosperity, they ask those to whom 
 they have entrusted their rights, to lay aside local antagonisms 
 and sectional jealousies, to compass the height of the argument 
 and conclusions presented, and meet the action of the Conven- 
 tion by the exercise of a statesmanship as broad and compre- 
 hensive as that which marked its deliberations. 
 
 E. O. STANARD, Chairman, St. Louis. 
 
 DUXCAN F. KENNER, New Orleans. 
 
 J. F. STOCKDALE, Pittsburg. 
 
 WM. P. HALLIDAY, Cairo. 
 
 MICHAEL McExxis, St. Louis. 
 
 GEO. H. FRENCH, Davenport. 
 
 E. P. BAKER, Topeka. 
 
 CHAS. A. ZOLLINGER, Fort Wayne. 
 
 ALEX. CAMPBELL, West Virginia. 
 
 S. F. COVIXGTON, Cincinnati. 
 
 NATHAN COLE, St. Louis. 
 
 C. C. STURTEVANT, Minneapolis. 
 
 JAMES CRAIG, St. Joseph. 
 
 WM. F. PHELPS, Winona. 
 
 H. G. CLARK, Omaha. 
 
 LOGAX H. ROOTS, Little Rock. 
 
 EUGENE UNDERWOOD, Louisville. 
 
 H. F. SIMRALL, Vicksburg. 
 
 ED. T. JONES, Nashville. 
 
 WM. CROOKS, St. Paul. 
 
 B. J. STEVENS, Madison, Wis. 
 
 Committee of Twenty-one. 
 
 GEORGE L. WRIGHT, Secretary, St. Louis. 
 
239 
 
 STATEMENT OF VESSELS EXTERED AXD CLEARED AT THE 
 PORT <>F NEAV ORLEANS FROM JANUARY. 1877. TO DECEM- 
 BER. 
 
 Entered from January 1,1877. to January 1. 1878. 
 
 American vessels from foreign ports ................................. 2.">.~> 
 
 Foreign vessels from foreign ports ................................... 50O 
 
 American and foreign vessels entered coastwise ....................... 311 
 
 Total for 1877 ................................................... 1,066- 
 
 Entered from January 1. 1S7S. to January 1,1879. 
 
 American vessels from foreign ports ............................... . 270 
 
 Foreign vessels from foreign ports ................................... 612 
 
 Foreign and American vessels entered coastwise ..................... 264 
 
 Total for 1878 ................................................... 1,146- 
 
 Entered from January 1. 1S79. to January 1. 1880. 
 
 American vessels from foreign ports ................................. 232 
 
 Foreign vessels from foreign ports ................................... 573- 
 
 Foreign and American vessels entered coastwise ..................... 328 
 
 Total for 1879 ................................................... 1,133 
 
 Entered from January 1, 1880, to January 1, 1881. 
 
 American vessels from foreign ports ................................. 269 
 
 Foreign vessels from foreign ports ................................... 706 
 
 Foreign and American vessels entered coastwise ..................... 364 
 
 Total for 1880 ................................................... 1,339- 
 
 Clearedfrom January 1, 1877, to January 1, 1878. 
 American vessels for foreign ports ................................... 217 
 
 Foreign vessels for foreign ports ..................................... 535- 
 
 American and foreign vessels cleared coastwise ...................... 383> 
 
 Total for 1877 ................................................... 1.135 
 
 Cleared from January 1. 1878, to January 1, 1879. 
 American vessels for foreign ports ................... -. ............... 206- 
 
 Foreign vessels for foreign ports .................................. . . 594 
 
 American and foreign vessels cleared coastwise ................... . . 370 
 
 Total for 1878 ................................................... 1,170 
 
 Cleared from January 1, 1879, to January 1, 1880. 
 American vessels for foreign ports ................................... 193. 
 
 Foreign vessels for i( >reign "ports ..................................... 637 
 
 American and foreign vessels cleared coastwise ...................... 411 
 
 Total for 1S79 ................................................... 1.241 
 
 Cleared from January 1, 1880. to January 1, 1881. 
 American vessels for foreign ports ................................... 226 
 
 Foreign v<->.-H> f< r f< >ivign ports ..................................... 708 
 
 American and foreign v<->sels cleared c< astwise ...................... 
 
 Total for 1880 ................................................... 1,349- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Title page, 
 Preface 
 
 TION 1. FIRST DAY. 
 
 Calling the Convention to order, by Michael McEnnis 5 
 
 Heading the ' Official Call " 5 S 
 
 Address of Michael McEunis 8 10 
 
 Address of "Welcome, by Hon. Henry Hitchcock 10 23 
 
 Election of Gov. T. T. Crittenden. of Missouri, as Temporary 
 
 Chairman 23 
 
 Address of Governor Crittenden 23 25 
 
 Selection of Committee on Credentials 26 33 
 
 Chairmen of Delegations 33 34 
 
 s-lrc-tion of Committees on Permanent Organization, Order of 
 
 Business, and Resolutions 37 43 
 
 Address of Gen. Jones, of Iowa 45 40 
 
 SECTION 2. SECOND DAY. 
 
 Prayer by Rev. Vf . G. Eliot 50 51 
 
 Report of Committee on Order of Business ."2 
 
 Report of Committee on Permanent Organization 53 
 
 Address of Hon. Mark H. Dtiimell 54 56 
 
 Communication from President of the Mississippi River Commis- 
 sion 56 60 
 
 Letter from Capt. James B. Eads 60 
 
 Hon. Randall L. Gibson 6163 
 
 " Hon. James B. Beck 64 
 
 " Hon. A.D. Gorman 64 
 
 Hon. Abram S. Hewitt 65 
 
 " Hon. B. F. Jonas 66 
 
 " Hon. Thomas L. Jamea 66 
 
 Hon. George B. Loring <;u 
 
 Hon. Joseph R. IlawL-y (57 
 
 " Hon. R. G. Horr 67 
 
 lion. Thomas Updegraff ii7 
 
 Reception of Resolutions 69 89 
 
 Communication from Hon. James S. Rollins 90 95 
 
 Letter of Imitation. Hulsey C. I vcs 95 
 
 [241] 
 
"242 
 
 Letter of Invitation, John X. Dyer JMJ 
 
 Eeception of more Kesolutions JM> 98 
 
 Address of Judge R. S. Taylor 99105 
 
 Speech of Capt. McKenzie 107 
 
 " " Hon. Joseph G. Cannon 108110 
 
 44 " Gen. Rozier 111112 
 
 Report of the Committee on Resolutions 113116 
 
 Debate on Supplemental Report 118 130 
 
 SECTION 3. THIRD DAY. 
 
 Telegram from Hon. James G. Elaine 131 
 
 Renewal of Debate on Supplemental Report 132 
 
 Speech upon it by Ex-Gov. McEnery, of La 1 32 
 
 44 u 4t Judge Murphy, of Iowa 133135 
 
 44 " Ex-Gov. E. O. Stanard, of Mo 1 35 
 
 44 4i Hon. Henry Hitchcock, of Mo 1 137 
 
 44 44 " Mr. Benton, of Minn 137 
 
 " Hon. A. AV. Slayback, of Mo '. . . 138139 
 
 Hon. Philo Parsons, of Midi 140 
 
 Hon. T. B. Taylor, of Ala Ml 
 
 44 44 i4 Hon. Eugene Underwood, of Ky 1411.14 
 
 44 Mr. Rozier, of Mo 144 
 
 4 - 4i 4i Hon. Geo. II. Shields, of Mo 14514(5 
 
 44 " 4t Hon. John T. White, of Ky 147150 
 
 44 44 44 Hon. II. T. Elliot, Term 150152 
 
 4 ' 44 44 Dr. J. P. Root. Kas 154 
 
 Debate on Resolution of Mr. I*. 1). Walker, of Minn 15(1 15f 
 
 Address of Hon. W. S. Shallcnl..---.-!-. of Penn l.V.) 
 
 Resolutions of Thanks l <;-j 
 
 Speech of Congressman Willis, of Ky H52 1G4 
 
 44 44 Hon. Wm. M. Springer 1G5 1GG 
 
 Adjournment 1 07 
 
 Excursion on the River 1G7 171 
 
 SECTION !. LKTTKKS. 
 
 Letter fromllon. John A. Kasson 1 7'2 
 
 44 44 Hon. E. C. Lacy 172 
 
 44 4t Hon. A. II. <.ar!an<l 173 
 
 44 " Hon. T. W. Ferry 17:; 
 
 Hon. II. AV. Lord 173 
 
 Hon. Alvin Saunters 174 
 
 lion. John il. (Ji-.-ir 174175 
 
 Hon. Allx-rt S.Willis 
 
 - Bon. Cha*. E. Hooker 17; 
 
 11 Hon. KII^I-MI- Hali- 170 
 
 44 : 'n. .fames Whrrlrr 177 
 
 Hon. W. H. Hatcli.., 177 
 
243 
 
 *' " Hon. Wm. Aldrich 177 
 
 " lion. II. M. A. Hawk 178 
 
 " Hon. J. H. Lewis ITS 
 
 Hon. Mark L. DeMotte 179 
 
 Hon. Geo. AV. Stock* 179 
 
 Hon. R. W. Townshend 1T9 ISO 
 
 " Hon. H. 8. Harris 180 
 
 Hon. H. B. Anthony 180 
 
 " Hon. F. M. Cockrell 181 
 
 " Hon. L. F. Watson 182 
 
 " I Ion. J. J. Finley 182183 
 
 Hon. John Sherman 183 
 
 " Hon. L. S. Farwell 183 
 
 Hon. Benj. Harrison 184 
 
 " Hon. Wilkinson Call 184 
 
 " Hon. W. Hutchins 184 
 
 11 Hon. J. B. Hoge 185 
 
 " Hon. X. C. Deering 185 
 
 " Hon. B. K. Bruce 185 
 
 " Hon. J. K. Jones 186 
 
 " Hon. C. B. Darrell 180 
 
 " Hon. W. C. Whitthorne 186 
 
 * Hon. John T. Morgan 187 
 
 " Hon. Wm. B. Moore 187 
 
 " Hon. A. C. Harmer 188 
 
 Hon. Jas. M. Tyler 188 
 
 Hon. Tho/5. II. Herndon 188 
 
 " lion. G. G. Vest 189 
 
 " Hon. John D. Long 189 
 
 " ] [on. AVm. AV. Crapo 190 
 
 Xow Orleans Produce Exchange 190 
 
 Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce 1!)0 
 
 " Forstall, Ross & Clayton 191199 
 
 SECTION 5. PRESS COMMENTS. 
 
 roit Free Press 200203 
 
 St. Paul Daily Dispatch 203205 
 
 Louisville Courier- Journal 205 
 
 he-Democrat 206 208 
 
 St. Louis Advance (Colored) 208 209 
 
 St. Louis- Post-Dispatch 209 
 
 St. Louis Globe-Democrat 209 
 
 -Dispatch 210 
 
 St. Louis Republican 210211 
 
 The Nautical Gazette. N. Y 211214 
 
 Sr. Louis ! >atch 214 
 
 Louisville Courier-Journal 215 21 (j 
 
244 
 
 The Spectator (St. Louis) 216 
 
 M. Louis Republican 217 
 
 Xew Orleans Picayune 218 221 
 
 Davenport Gazette 221 
 
 SECTIOX G. 
 
 List of Delegates 222 2;t() 
 
 Memorial to Congress 2:>1 2;5S 
 
 Statement of Vessels Entered and Cleared at Xew Orleans from 
 
 January. 1877, to December, 1880 2:;<> 
 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 BERKELEY 
 
 Return to desk from which borrowed. 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 UD 
 
 M 10-64 -tt 
 
 LD 21-100m-9,'47(A5702 8 16)476 
 
YC 
 
 M165982 
 
 '94 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY