Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-05-05
Public Meeting.

| PURSUANT to previous notice, dated the
S6th INST. the citizens Of the town Of Du Buque
assembled at the Court House, on Monday the
Soth OF April, 1888. for the purpose Of taking
INTO consideration the act Of Congress Of the
"a OF July 1886, and an amenditory act of the
Sd OF March, 1887, for The benefit of certain
towns therein named. Joseph'r. Fales, ESQ.
wasicalled TO the Chair, and Charles Corke.
~ appointed Secretary.
The objects Of the meeting having been sta
ted, Mr.. Hampstead offered the following pre-
amble and resolutions, which were unanimous
ly adopted.
Whereas, by an act Of Congress, dated the
ID Of July, 1886, q section of land was grant.
ed to the citizens, of Du Buque, 10 be laid off
into streets, lots, avenues, and public squares,
under The direction Of the Surveyor General;
and the right of presumption was secured to
the settlers and occupants who had, by build
ing or enclosure, actually occupied or improv-
cd any lot or lots within the said town; and by
subsequent act, bearing date the Sd Of March,
1887, all the duties Of the Surveyor General,
under the former act, were transferred to a
board Of Commissioners, three in number, who
were required to take AN oath or affirmation
faithfully and impartially to perform the same.
And whereas. questions have arisen, and dis
cussions have taken place, as we'll before the
late board Of Trustees for the Town of Du
Buque, as among the citizens in general.
touching the neglect of their interests, the tar
dy execution Of the Commission, and the
weighty expenses which must necessarily at
tend it: Twelve months have now elapsed since
the Commissioners were appointed, We, thro'
that long period certificates Of pre-emption have
been granted 10 comparatively small mum.
Der Of the claimants in Dn Buque, and no par,
Of the numerous remaining claims can receive
The attention Of the Commissioners, under the
existing arrangements, ill near the close Of
the present year, This delay, it is manifest,
will be detrimental to the interests CT ,,..::g ge
portion Of the citizens, cause many schemes
| OF Improvement to be abandoned, and operate
seriously against The growth Of the town: the
charges of The Commission, by reason of the
dilasory proceedings OF the board togeiher
with the expenses ofthc survey, will, II Is pre-.
sumed, TN punt TO more than the entire pro-
ceeds Of the sales, SO that instead of deriving
ample means from this source for the erection
Of public edifces, the construction of wharves,
and the improvement! of streets and public
squares; the funds required for these purposes
must be raised by tax upon the citizens Of
the town. and the beneficial act of Congress
be defeated.
| Resoiued, therefore, That committee be ap-
pointed to prepare memorial - the Commits
sioner Of the Coaoyal Laad Office, setting forth
the grounds on which the citizens ofDu Buque
desire the repeal of that part Of the amendato-
nv law, WHICH empowers one set of Commits
sioners TO execute the provisions OF the act of
July, 1886, at The several towns therein men,
toned, and asking the appointment Of a sepcr-
ate Commission for Du Buque. in order tl,as
every person entitled 10 certificate Of pre-.
emption may receive the same without delay.
Resoiped, That this meeting view with much
regret the arbitrary dismissal, by one Commits
sioner, Of Mr.. VIiet, whose survey Of the town
Of Du Buque, under the instructions Of tho
Surveyor General, had given general sa.isfac-
ton to her citizens.
| s. Hampstead, ]. Tanning, and M. II. Prem
tice, Esqs were appointed committe 10 pre-
pare memorial pursuant 10 the first resolu-
ton.
| After some time, the committee submitted
Ia letter to the Commissioner of the General
Land Office, which was received by the meet
! ing with general satisfaction, and The follow
ing resolutions werethen UNANIMOUSLY adopted:
| Resolped, That the letter of the committee
be adopted by this meeting, signed by the
Chairman and Secretary. and transmitted to
the Commissioner Of the General Land Office.
Also, that copy thereof be sent to our Dole
gate in Congress, and one 10 each Of the towns
mentioned in the act. -
Resolped, That four dollars per day ID each
Of the Commissioners, and a like sum to their
Secretary, will be a sufficient compensation
for their services; and that our Delegate in
Congress be instructed to have this sum in
serted in any bill which may be brought for
ward amendatory TO the act Of the Sd Of March,
1887.
Resolved, That the proceedings Of this meet
ing be signed by the Chairman and Secretary,
and published in the Iowa News.
]. Il. FALES, Chm.
CHAs. Cookery, Sec'y.
The INDEpENDcNT TREASURY. 1--WE see no.
thing in this vote that affords ground for exul-
ration on the part of the Federal opponents Of
the Administration; unless it be the Temporal
~ success Of an artifce. Nor any good rea.