Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1874 — Cheap Transportation. [ARTICLE]

Cheap Transportation.

At a recent convention held at Rock Icland, 111., to consider the question of cheap transportation, addresses were delivered by ex-Lieutenant-Govemor Wm. Brass ana Mr. J. C. Dore, of Chicago, and other gentlemen, after which the following resolutions were proposed, debated and adopted: Where ah, The qnestion of cheapening the cost of transportation of the products of the country iRp come to be considered and is now universally I regarded, both by the producers and consumers, as second to no other question before the people; and. Whereas, This convention, composed of representatives from the agricultural, mercantile and manufacturing interests of the Northwestern States, has been convened to consider this Important question; therefore. Resolved, Thai we believe the Urns has come when the Government of the United States, in the discharge of its dntiee to the people, under the Sewer expressly conferred upon it by the Constitnon, should declare Its purpose to asssnme such supervision and control over all branches of interSlate commerce as will secure to the people of the whole country relief from all unnecessary burdens Imposed, either by existing monopolies or by those that may be established, with comparatively little cost. Resolved, That the expression of popular opinion heretofore given, demanding a completed communication by canal between the waters of tbe upper Mississippi River, tbe Illinois River, and tbe lakes, as tbose expressions were severally made at tbe conventions of 1865, held St Gcneseo and at Bock Island, and a* authoritatively placed on record by the respective memorialists to Congress of the Tenth General Assembly of lows, the Legislature of Illinois, the City Connells of Davenport and Rock Island, and other cities in lows and Illinois, ought net to have remained unnoticed and neglected so long by tbe National Government, ana should now be promptly considered, respected and complied with. Beeolved, That in the judgment of this convcn tion the construction of a canal of sufficient Capacity for commercial purposes from the Mississippi River ator above Bock Island to tbs Illinois River at or near Hennepin would tend more effectually to the solution of the question of cheap transportation for those States bordering upon the Mbsissippi Elver above Bock Island than any projected work Involving a similar amount of money, and is Imperatively demanded by the necessities of the producer of the Northwest as well as the consumer in tbe Eastern States erin foreign lands. Resolved, That while this convention especially Indorse and urge upon the attention of the United States Government the construction of the work herein named, we wonld also urge upon it any and ail Inter-State improvements that are feasible, and the completion of which will not involve an expenditure disproportionate to the prospective benefits, among which we recognize as prominent the Improvement of tbe Mississippi and the Illinois Riven, and the control by the General Government of the railroads engaged in inter-State traffic. Resolved, That we urge upon the people of Ullnois that they cede to the General Government the entire control of the Illinois 8 Michigan Canal and the Illinois River, to be improved and forever maintained as navigable highways for the benefit of the nation, provided this should be noeeaaary hr order to secure prompt and efficient action by the General Government in proeecnling the work especially Indicated by this convention. Resolved. That this convention appoint a committee of thirteen whose dnty it snail be to memorialize Congress in accordance with the views expressed in the foregoing resolutions. Resolved. That the bill now pending before Congress. introduced by the Men. T BT Hawley, to provide for the construction of a canal connectinj the waters of Lake Michigan, the Illinois, Mkeii sippl and Bock Rivers, meets with our hearty approval; and we cheerfully unite In recommending onr Senators and Representatives in Congress to use their influence to aid in the passage of this act. Resolved, That for the purpose of securing water competition to the seaboard, aa well aa competition with corporate monopolise, we are In favor of the speedy improvement of the MissiaslMi River, and the construction, if necessary, of a ship canal tt Its month. ~ * ! —- TA committee to memorialize Congress is composed of the following-named gentlemen : Jamea M. Allan, of Geneseo; Waldo M. Potter, of Davenport; Calvin D.Trnesdale, of Rock Island; Charles Atkinson, of Moline; L. D. Whiting, df Tisktlwa; James L. Camp, of Dixon; W. H. Wells, of Peoria; P. D. Brewster, of Peru; William Reddick, of Ottawa; John Mahen, of Muscatine; A. B. Smedley, of Cresco, and D. B. Sears, of Rock Island. —Editor’s sanctum—Enter foreman—u Haif a dozen lines wanted, sir, to block out with. Give us a joke on annexation.” Married editor, adjusting bis spectacle# with an air of surprise—* Ah, but annexation is no Joke.”— Brooklyn Argue. ' e.w —■* - —A New York firm has contracted for a large quantity of bird’s-eye maple timber at Green ftty, to be shipped to New York for tbe manufacture of wall decorations for houses. —Domestic duties, many wires think, should be written after the phonetic fashion —do-teaze.