Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-11-19

objections to the adoption OF the plan suggested IN
| the communication. let our correspondent be heard.
| For the Herald.
lo,ca Capttol anil Pedteuttary.
Mr.. EDlToR-I notice in your paper of the
18th inst. an article headed '.Debts Of The Terri
toru,'' in which you suggest the passage OF
| law authorizing the issuing of Territorial bonds
| predica,ed upon the proceeds Of the public
! lands which NAV accrue to the Territory under
| the provisions of the distribution act, and the
proceeds of such bonds to be applied in dis
| charpine the debts due our citizens from the
| Territory.
These debts, if | am rightly informed, have
been incurred by the Legislative assembly, and
| Congress is bound by the organic law to zap
propriate annually sufficient sum- to deiray
the expenses of the Legislative Assembly NC
The general government will most assuredly
make provisions for the payment of these de-
mands. Appropriations have been made from
time to time for similar purposes, aud will
doubtless be made again at the coming session.
Provisions would, in all probability, have been
made at the last session Of Congress for pay
ing these Just debts due our citizens, had it not
have been for the sbortness of the session,
which excluded the Territories from obtaining
their animal appropriations for various objects
to which they were entitled. 1t is but fair
and reasonable to presume that at the coming
session of Congress, our Delegate will be able
to obtain what is undoubtedly our just due, an
appropriation covering the arrearages alluded
| TO.
beg leave to suggest through your paper,
what appears TO me to be d matter of primary
importance, and one which is worthy the Sc
sious consideration of the Legislative Assem-
bly, that is shortly to convene.
The Capitol and Penitentiary. it appears to
me, should be as speedily completed as prac
ticable. The work upon those buildings have
been suspended for want Of means for their
prosecution.
With regard to the Capitol. the proceeds a.
rising from the sales of lots at Iowa City, will.
it is presumed, ultimately, be amply sufficient
for its completion But it is to be feared, that
a sufficient amount OF funds cannot be realized
for the the further prosecution Of the work on
the Capitol another year. after making provis-
ions for the payment Of the arrearages which
have accrued the past season, of probably 9 Or
$4,000. (including loan made by the Terri
toral Agent of $4,000 payable in one year from
December neXD This large and commodious
ediiice is now nearly completed to the cornice.
Fifteen or twenty thousand dollars, ready mon
ey, well applied, another year, would COM
| plete 1t. The work, the past season, consld-
er!ng the limited means which could be made
available, has been vigorously prosecuted. But
unless some measure is adopted by the Legis-
lature for realizing funds another year, it IS
feared that but little will be done next season.
The proceeds arising from the lots in Iowa
City will be mostly absorbed in payment of
arrearages already incurred, including the pay
ment of the loan alluded to. The only way by
which funds can be obtained for continuing
this important work, efficiently another season,
will be to issue bonds piedgIng the proceeds
which may accrue to the Territory under the
law providing for the distribution of the pro-
ceeds arising from the sales Of public lands a
mong the several states and territories, which
there is but little doubt could readily be nego-
ciated on good terms.
Should funds be obtained in this wav fo7
the speedy completion Ct Of the Capitol, the a.
.loun: thus obtained could be refunded TO the
Territory or the future State Of Iowa in the
course OF from three to six years, from the pro-
ceeds arising from the s'le of lois. Thus we
should be enabled to complete our Capitol in
the course of next season; and when compile
ted we should have building of which every
citizen of Iowa might be justly proud.
The condition of the Penilentiary at Fort
Madison should claim the serious attention of
the Legislature. This building has a fair
commencement. From twenty five to thirty
thousand dollars have already teen expended
on it, and should, by all means, as early as
practicable, be put in a condition to secure its
[ completion by the labor of its convicts. With
the aid of ten or fifteen thousand dollars to be
expended on it next season, this desirable OBJ
ject could be eflec ed. This building has been
commenced on the most approved plan, aud
when completed will reflect much credit on
our young and rapidly advancing Territory.
My only object in this communication is to
call the attention of the people and their Rep
resentatives to this important subject, with
hope of that it may claim the attention of ADLER
heads than the humble individual who SUBJ
scribes himself IOWA.
1t is true stated by u.s. and rcafrmed by Iowa.
that Congress has pledged itself to annually appro-
pirate for that purpose sufficient sum of money to
deray the expenses of the Legislative Assembly, but
has it done it! lthas, on occasion, made an APP
preparation to meet the deficiency but that appropri-
alton fell far short of the amount of expenses even
after it had excluded just claims of specified char
acter AS we before stated each session has sweIled
the amount of the debt Does this look like we
might with safety rely upon Congress for the neces-
sary appropriations With a knowledge of our
condition. the last session of Congress made an APP
preparation for the coming session of fhe TeoiSlat;va