The Iowa patriot. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1839-1839, 1839-06-06
From the iowa Territorial Gazette.
NEW. SEAT OF GOVERNMENT

Messrs Clarke and Mckinney:
The commissioners for locating the
seat of government for this Territory met
at Napoleon, in Johnson County, few
days since, and after examining the differ
ent parts of the section of country to which
they have been restricted by law, for max
ing the location, they finally selected a
spot on the North East bank of the Iowa
river, about 2 miles above Napoleon, and
supposed to be on Sec. 10, Township 70
North, Range West of the 5th princi-
pal meridian.
The spot selected is near the geograph-
ical centre of Johnson County, and occu-
pies convenient and central position in
the Territory Of Iowa; being SO miles w.
N. w. from Bloomington; IS west from
Parkhurst, on the Mississippi; 20 East Of
the Indian boundary; Is or 80 East of the
mouth of Raccoon fork, ON the Des
MONIES river; Is S. from the neutral
ground; 50 or 80 N. from the Missouri
line; about 80 miles from Dubuque and
20 from Burlington.
The commissioners, after meeting
agreeably to the law under which they
had been appointed, found that three al
ternatives seemed to present themselves,
from which they would be compelled to
choose: either to adjourn sine die, select
assertion in one Of the two surveyed town
ships which are to be fond in Johnson
County or to disregard the act of Congress
Of the 3rd Of March altogether. After con-
sulting together, however, there appeared
to be less difficulty than had at first been
imagined: one of the commissioners had
recently conversed with the surveyor gen
eral OH the subject and was Of opinion
that an order might be obtained for spe.
cial survey Of any township in which the
location might be made, and thus all the
acquisitions both of the law of Congress
and that of the Legislative Assembly of
Iowa be complied with. How it happen
ed that the act of Congress of the Sd of
March last restricted the commissioners
to zone entire section of surveyed land,"
sis more than I can conceive. Congress
has heretofore granted lands to Indiana,
Florida, and believe other states and
Territories, without any such restric-
tons; in these two cases Congress author
lied tina location son any lands to vhich
the Indian tatle has been e1kinguished,
and sohich has not been otherwise appro-
rriated." Why any other restriction in
the grant to Iowa!
Why the restriction was made is not
material; from ell the information they
had been able 10 obtain the commission
ers were unanimously of opinion that the
apparent discrepancy between the acts of
Congress and Of the Territorial Legisla-
ture would be fully reconciled by spe-
eial survey Of one or two townships,
which can be accomplished in a few
weeks; and they accordingly proceeded
to make the location at the most eligible
spot in johnson County.
The principal requisites required by
the commissioners to constitute proper
scite for the Capitol of Iowa, were health
and beauty of location, good water, an
convenient to timber and stone suitable for
building; all of which they found at the
same spot in an eminent degree, near the
SCAstO ~ i0SiOH VI CouHIi y (" IT'LL iOe
beauty and fe, tility may safely challenge
the admiration Of the world.
The banks and margin Of the Iowa
river, which in many places below, are
cut up and deformed BY ravines, slues
and lagoons are from about three miles
below this point to its sources, high and
rocky, with fine dry undulating country
Astounding with excellens springs Of pure
crystal waters, skirting both its shores and
exhibiting every appearance Of health.
The channel Of the river opposite the town
scite is about 80 yardsE;:a width; clear
limpid stream with sand and gravel bot
tom, and sufficient depth Of water for
keel OF fat bottomed boats, but whether