[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 26, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H2327-H2330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
  EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR CELEBRATION IN 2004 OF 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                        GRAND EXCURSION OF 1854

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 44) to express support for the 
celebration in 2004 of the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion of 
1854.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 44

       Whereas reaching the shores of the Mississippi River 
     represented a major milestone for the westward expansion of 
     the system of railroad infrastructure that began on the East 
     Coast in the 1830s;
       Whereas in 1854 the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad became 
     the first railroad to reach the Mississippi River and that 
     achievement was celebrated with a combined railroad and 
     riverboat trip known as the ``Grand Excursion of 1854'';
       Whereas the Grand Excursion of 1854 began in Chicago with a 
     gathering of more than 1,000 dignitaries from professions 
     encompassing the fields of government, education, business, 
     journalism, and the arts, and included most prominently 
     former United States President Millard Fillmore;
       Whereas the excursion party of 1854 traveled from Chicago, 
     Illinois, to Rock Island, Illinois, by train and then 
     proceeded by boat from Rock Island to the present-day twin 
     cities of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and St. Paul, Minnesota;
       Whereas the Grand Excursion of 1854 is credited both with 
     bringing the upper Mississippi Valley into the national 
     spotlight and with solidifying Chicago's role as a major 
     transportation hub;
       Whereas communities located on the 419 mile stretch between 
     Rock Island and Minneapolis are investing more than 
     $5,000,000,000 in recreational, commercial, and environmental 
     improvements to prepare for the celebration of the Grand 
     Excursion in 2004;
       Whereas an educational program in Illinois, Iowa, 
     Wisconsin, and Minnesota will bring the history of the 
     Mississippi River to life for thousands of students from 
     kindergarten through 12th grade and will focus on the 
     recreational, environmental, and commercial importance of the 
     river;
       Whereas the Grand Excursion celebration of 2004 will 
     establish a series of permanent exhibits throughout the upper 
     Mississippi River, recognizing the achievements of the many 
     communities and celebrating the history of the Mississippi 
     River;
       Whereas the Grand Excursion, through its local, regional, 
     national, and international marketing programs and 
     initiatives, will communicate to the world the incredible 
     attributes of the upper Mississippi River, and will invite 
     hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region to celebrate;
       Whereas the National Park Service, along with other 
     Federal, State, and local agencies and many other interested 
     groups, is preparing activities to celebrate the 
     sesquicentennial of the Grand Excursion in 2004, to educate 
     local residents and visitors about the attributes of the 
     river, and to commemorate the occasion by establishing future 
     traditions that will improve community connections to the 
     river; and
       Whereas Grand Excursion, Inc. is organizing and 
     coordinating the celebration in 2004 of the 150th anniversary 
     of the Grand Excursion of 1854: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) expresses its support for the work of all the Federal, 
     State, and local entities, and the work of all interested 
     groups that are preparing sesquicentennial activities to 
     celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion of 
     1854;
       (2) expresses its support for the events to be held in 
     observance of the Grand Excursion of 1854 in Chicago, Rock 
     Island, Moline, and Galena, Illinois, in Davenport, Clinton, 
     and Dubuque, Iowa, in Prairie du Chien and La Crosse, 
     Wisconsin, in Wabasha, Winona, Red Wing, Saint Paul, and 
     Minneapolis, Minnesota, and in many other communities during 
     the sesquicentennial observance; and
       (3) calls on the President of the United States, the 
     Secretary of Education, the Secretary of the Interior, the 
     Secretary of Defense, the Assistant Secretary of the Army, 
     the Director of the National Park Service, the Director of 
     the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, other public 
     officials, and the citizens of the United States to support, 
     promote, and participate in the many sesquicentennial 
     activities being planned to commemorate the Grand Excursion 
     of 1854.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).


                             General Leave

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the concurrent resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 44, introduced by our 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), expresses 
support for the celebration in 2004 of the 150th anniversary of the 
Grand Excursion of 1854.
  Mr. Speaker, during the summer of 1854, the Chicago Tribune sponsored 
a trip for around 1,000 well-regarded east coast journalists, artists, 
businessmen and others to visit the great Midwest.

[[Page H2328]]

The Tribune wanted to expose this influential group to American culture 
west of the east coast.
  These people traveled through Chicago and on to Rock Island, 
Illinois, by train, and then boarded a steamboat to head to the Twin 
City area of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. This event, called the 
Grand Excursion of 1854, is credited with having massively impacted the 
development of the Upper Mississippi River Valley and greatly promoted 
westward expansion in the United States as a whole.
  Many communities and organizations in the Mississippi River Valley 
have celebrations planned for the summer of 2004 to commemorate the 
150th anniversary of this momentous event. Therefore, I urge all 
Members to join in this tribute by supporting the adoption of House 
Concurrent Resolution 44. I thank our colleague, the gentleman from 
Iowa (Mr. Leach), for introducing this important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 44, a 
concurrent resolution to express support for the celebration in 2004 of 
the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion of 1854.
  Mr. Speaker, the Grand Excursion of 1854 represents a major turning 
point of the settlement and expansion of the Upper Mississippi River. 
It started out simply as a celebration of America's first railroad link 
to the Mississippi River from Chicago to Rock Island. Over 1,200 
dignitaries, politicians, journalists, and businessmen, including 
former President Millard Fillmore, boarded a rail car in Chicago for 
Rock Island, Illinois. This group transferred to a fleet of at least 
five steamboats for a trip up the Mississippi to St. Paul, Minnesota, 
then traveled by horseback and wagon to view the falls of St. Anthony 
in what is now known as Minneapolis.
  When the travelers wrote home about their great adventure, word 
spread about what a splendid place that part of America was. The next 
year, the upper Mississippi saw twice the number of visitors as the 
previous year.
  The 2004 Grand Excursion is a regional initiative designed to 
recognize and celebrate the incredible renaissance that has occurred 
throughout the upper reaches of America's river, the Mississippi. As of 
December 2, 2002, 48 communities and 22 regional organizations, 
including Moline, Illinois, have endorsed and will participate in the 
Grand Excursion.
  The 2004 excursion is designed to celebrate the capital improvements, 
along with the environmental and ecological changes, that have made the 
upper Mississippi one of the cleanest stretches of river in the 
country. Steamboats, river boats, and trains will be used to honor the 
spirit of the 1854 Grand Excursion to draw national and international 
attention to the lasting legacies of the 1854 excursion.
  I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 44.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to our 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach).
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), for yielding time to me, and for his 
thoughtfulness in bringing this resolution. I also thank our 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), for 
his input into the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, at a time when we as a country are galvanized by a 
singular international event, it is important to deal with normalcy. It 
is particularly uplifting to discuss history.
  The resolution before us speaks to an event a century and a half ago, 
the Grand Excursion of 1854, which symbolizes the energy of the 
railroads from the east meeting and crossing our country's greatest 
river at what we now call the Quad Cities.
  The excursion party of 1854 traveled from Chicago, the home of the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), to Rock Island by train, 
proceeding then by boat from the Quad Cities to the present day Twin 
Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.
  Among the 1,200 participants in the initial excursion was our 13th 
President, Millard Fillmore. In the first year after the trip, 
steamboat traffic from St. Paul doubled and 30,000 new immigrants 
traveled the Mississippi River. The power of the river as a force for 
commerce, along with its magic and beauty, drew increasingly greater 
numbers of people as the years continued.
  The second Grand Excursion, the one which will take place in 2004, 
builds on the history of the Grand Excursion of 1854 to bring together 
the communities of the Upper Mississippi River in a celebration of 
national and international proportions. The capstone event of the 
celebration will be a grand flotilla which will retrace the path of the 
original trip made 150 years ago.
  Featuring the finest river boats from all reaches of the inland 
waterways, this journey along the upper Mississippi will not only 
recall a time gone by, but bring the attention of the Nation and the 
world to the Mississippi River.
  From the Quad Cities to the Twin Cities, over 50,000 opportunities 
exist to board authentic river boats, steam boats, or rail cars for 
sightseeing trips or excursions up river from one community celebration 
to the next. It is anticipated that people from around the world will 
join in community celebrations, activities and programs highlighting 
local and regional accomplishments along the way.
  For the last 10 to 15 years, communities have been working together 
to reclaim their relationship with the Mississippi and reestablish 
vibrant riverfront communities. Over 50 communities along the 419-mile 
route are investing millions of dollars, in fact billions of dollars, 
in recreational, commercial, and environmental improvements as part of 
preparation for the celebration, but more importantly, as permanent 
improvements in their communities.
  Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, let me stress that the early history of 
my State, that of Iowa, is the history of Native Americans and then 
European, African, and Asian settlers finding the Mississippi River 
basin bountiful and beautiful.
  As word of the majesty and opportunity of the area spread to new 
generations of Americans, commerce and industry followed. The trains 
from the east and the boats from the north and south brought excitement 
and adventure to a land destined for greatness. It is this greatness 
that we celebrate, and it is this greatness that its citizens who are 
so privileged to live along this great waterway pledge to preserve and 
enhance in this particular set of commitments related to this 
particular celebration.
  I thank again the distinguished chairman and the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) for their thoughtfulness.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) for bringing this 
tremendous event to our attention. I had the good fortune to drive from 
Chicago to Rock Island 2 weeks ago, and it is indeed tremendous 
territory. Looking at the mighty Mississippi is a delight in and of 
itself.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman 
from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).
  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 44, which recognizes the contributions of the 
many Mississippi River communities which are planning events to 
commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion that took 
place in 1854. In 1854, the Grand Excursion was truly a historic event. 
It brought nationwide attention to the Upper Mississippi River and led 
Minnesota to statehood.
  This excursion transformed our entire region, bringing prosperity and 
economic growth. However, over time the development that followed 
separated the people from the river. Transportation and industry walled 
communities off from the Mississippi, and pollution took its toll. Now 
we are working to reclaim our relationship with the mighty Mississippi.
  In preparing to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Grand 
Excursion, communities all along the 419-mile route are redeveloping 
their river fronts. Citizens and business groups have joined with State 
and local governments to renew their commitment

[[Page H2329]]

to this great international resource. River fronts are being 
revitalized, and our quality of life is being improved.
  St. Paul, for example, has turned the Mississippi River back into our 
community's gathering place. On Harriet Island, the Target Stage is a 
place for the world-renowned St. Paul Chamber Orchestra to play on 
summer nights, while people overlook St. Paul's downtown skyline or 
walk along the river.
  New projects are also planned to help reconnect St. Paul's people to 
its river's edge. Mr. Speaker, the Grand Excursion, the 150th 
anniversary celebration, is not just about recognizing these 
achievements; it is also an opportunity to learn about the Mississippi 
and what we need to do to protect it for future generations.
  The Mississippi is America's river, it is Minnesota's river, and like 
many towns in south St. Paul where I grew up, it is a childhood river. 
It is also a working river, a river that continues to work. Thousands 
of jobs and the livelihoods of many families are connected to it.
  People not only from St. Paul, from the United States, and from 
around the world call the Mississippi River home, but it is also home 
to our wildlife, from eagles in Minnesota to pelicans in the Delta Bay 
of Louisiana.
  Activities associated with the Grand Excursion's anniversary will 
bring its historical, cultural, and environmental importance alive for 
thousands of people. Hundreds of permanent exhibits will be established 
honoring the river's past and looking towards the river's future.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to have an opportunity to support this 
resolution today. As an original cosponsor, I look forward to 
continuing working with the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) and others 
to bring attention to this national treasure, our Mississippi River, 
and to this exciting national event, the 150th anniversary of the Grand 
Excursion.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I simply reiterate, Mr. Speaker, that this has been a tremendous 
event and will be a tremendous event. I strongly support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I will simply close by saying that my mother spent all 
of her life from her birth to the end of her college years, in Iowa. I 
still have relatives in the great State of Iowa. Thus, it has been an 
honor for me to help bring this resolution to the floor, along with the 
chief sponsor, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), and to recognize a 
very important part of this great Nation.
  I urge all Members to support this resolution.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer my strong support of 
this legislation anticipating next year's 150th anniversary of the 
Grand Excursion of 1854, offered by my colleague, Mr. Leach.
  The Grand Excursion is regarded as one of the greatest promotional 
trips ever devised in our Nation's history--one that changed the face 
of the upper Mississippi River.
  In 1854, the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad became the first 
railroad to reach the Mississippi River. To celebrate, the owners and 
contractors for the railroad proposed an excursion for a select group 
of stockholders, friends, and family.
  But word spread quickly about the occasion, resulting in a 1,200-
person entourage traveling from Rock Island, IL to the Falls of St. 
Anthony--now known as Minneapolis, MN.
  According to the Chicago Tribune, the excursionists were considered 
``the most brilliant ever assembled in the West'': statesmen, 
historians, diplomats, poets, and newspaper editors. As the media wrote 
home to their newspapers, word spread about the wonders of the Nation's 
``dark interior''.
  This event turned into an opportunity to show some of our Nation's 
most influential people the fantastic beauty, numerous resources, and 
the unlimited opportunities that the Mississippi River and the West 
could provide.
  The year after, steamboat traffic along the upper Mississippi River 
doubled, flooding the region with new settlers. The Grant Excursion 
also brought millions of dollars of investment to the area and 
positioned the upper Mississippi region as a dominant force in the 
development of the Nation in the 19th century.
  The Grand Excursion of 2004 is an opportunity to draw awareness from 
around the Nation and around the world about the recreational, 
commercial and environmental opportunities the Mississippi River 
provides. In addition to the ``Grand Flotilla''--the retracing of the 
Grand Excursion's journey by trains, paddlewheelers, and steamboats--
over 50 communities along the 419-mile route, many in my district, will 
hold festivals and educational events to commemorate the event's 
sesquicentennial. And those who are unable to participate first-hand in 
the celebrations will be able to experience the excitement through a 
dynamic website and through ``exploration trunks'' that will be 
provided with curriculum to classrooms throughout the region.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution of 
America's celebration of the Mississippi River: the Grant Excursion of 
2004.
  Mr. NUSSLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 44, 
a resolution expressing support for 150th anniversary celebrations of 
the Grand Excursion of 1854.
  In 1854, the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad became the first 
American railroad to reach the shores of the Mississippi River. To 
celebrate the achievement, a combined railroad and riverboat trip was 
organized. A group of 1,000 dignitaries including journalists, 
educators, and business representatives gathered in Chicago to start 
their journey. The Grand Excursion, as it became known, traveled by 
train for Rock Island, IL. From there, the journey proceeded by 
riverboat on the Mississippi River to the present-day twin cities of 
Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN.
  The Mississippi is widely and appropriately recognized as ``America's 
River.'' Today's Mississippi is a vital artery for commerce, economic 
development and tourism in Iowa's communities along the river. The 
river has shaped much of the Nation's history and will be a vital 
element for Iowa's future.
  Next year, events are planned to mark the 150th anniversary of the 
Grand Excursion all along its 419-mile route. In my Iowa district, 
these events include celebrations in the riverside cities of Davenport, 
Clinton, and Dubuque. These exciting celebrations will share with the 
world the incredible attributes of the upper Mississippi River. 
Thousands of visitors will learn more about the river's role in 
America's history, and will learn more about Eastern Iowa.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the efforts of the communities celebrating 
this historic trek's anniversary. I look forward to welcoming visitors 
from around the world to experience our mighty Mississippi. As Captain 
Russell Blakeley said in 1894, ``the success of [the Grand Excursion] 
did more than the best laid plans for advertising the country than has 
ever been made since. . . . Good results came back to us in a thousand 
ways and for many years.''
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to add my voice to those 
celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion of 1854. This 
was an important journey in the upper Mississippi River valley that 
incorporated rail and steamboat travel and went from Chicago, Illinois 
to Saint Paul, Minnesota, and to the Falls of Saint Anthony. This trip 
began as a promotion by the Rock Island Railroad, the first railroad to 
reach the Mississippi and ended up transporting more than a thousand 
businessmen, statesmen, journalists, and others, including President 
Millard Fillmore, into the West. The Grand Excursion brought 
recognition and interest to the natural beauty and economic potential 
of the upper Mississippi River valley.
  The Grand Excursion helped open up the upper Mississippi River area, 
which includes Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, creating a 
number of communities all along the river. My district includes the 
city of Rock Island, the starting point for the riverboat journey, and 
many other communities that flourished. The prosperity of much of the 
Midwest was due to the development of the Mississippi River and the 
interest that developed in the valley's natural resources and access to 
the west.
  This year, in honor of the 150th anniversary, many of the communities 
that took part in the original Grand Excursion are educating their 
residents and tourists about the trip and celebrating the success of 
the excursion. I support this resolution as it recognizes both the 
importance of the 1854 trip and of the 2004 commemoration. Communities 
such as Rock Island and Moline, Illinois are taking part through 
education programs linked to the original journal, environmental 
projects linked to the River, and development plans linked to the 
waterfront. I support these efforts, and hope that the Administration 
will help celebrate and commemorate this important historic event.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 44.

[[Page H2330]]

  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________