Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-02-03
REPORT

Riper Canal Company, and The
proceedings Of taoo meetings Of seq
Tiers on the canal grant.
The Select Committee to whom was
referred the memorial Of the Milwau-
kee and Rock River Canal Company,
and the proceedings Of a meeting OF
the settlers on the canal grant, held at
Milwaukee on the 2sth Of November
last, and also the proceedings OF ano,h-
err meeting Of the settlers on The canal
grant held at the stone school house IN
the town Of Lisbon, on the 22d day OF
December ult., submit the following
REPORT:
The prayer Of the memorial Of the ca
nal company is in suhstancc-That
the Legislature alter their act OF incor-
poration, so as to authorize them TO
construct rail ,oad, instead OF canal
that the unsold lands granted
by congress to aid in the cons'rnc-
ton ofihe canal, be conveyed 10 the
company, one tenth when they have
completed one tenth par, Of the road.
and so on in that manner until the road
is completed and the lands all convey
ed, on condition that the company
shall pay all liabilities which have been
in any way contracted for the canal IN
the name of the Territory: refund TO all
settlers or purchasers OF canal ands,
who have paid for the same at 81 80
per acre. one half the amount SD PAID;
and The bill which accompanies the
memorial also provides as another con-
di,ion Of such conveyance, that the
lands which remain unsold and are &C.
cupied by bona fide settlers, or occu-
pants who have made Improvements
thereon and desire TO purchase The
same, shall be sold to such settlers at
the rate of 81 IS per acre.
The course which the meeting held
at Milwauk &c, on the 2S,h Nov, wish
pursued is, in subs,ance-Tha, the Le-
yisIa,ure should take such effective
steps as will secure the reverslon oil
the lands 10 the general government,
and a reduction Of the price OF them
10 81 25 per acre, and securing TO the
settlers on them right If pre-emp'lon
also the settlement and adjustment
of the claims of The canal company. and
and they protes, against diversion OF
the lands 10 the construction OF rall
road or any other improvement.
The meeting held at Lisbon on the
ood of December, wish either, that the
Legislature would "pass law to carry
on said canal, and secure It's early COM
.Ielion," or TO authorize the canal
company to build rail road, and Tor
that purpose to vest the title 10 tn"
lands in The company, as soon as the
rail road is completed, on the same
conditions in substance as is set ioriIl
in the memorial of the canal company
--'lhat the principle that becomes due
on the land next June, ought 10 DC
postponed until the time limited Tor
the completion Of said canal, or until
such ii ne as this vexed question is sell
lled;" or if the Legislature Will not
complete the canal, or convey the
lands 10 the company TO construct a
rail road, that they "for'hwiih resign
the office Of trustees OF the part OF The
general government, and give up all
RICH, CIR claim TO the lands, and request
of congress 10 appoint new trustee or
agent to take charge Of the lands, and
dispose of the same as congress IN lis
wisdom shall see proper.
As the committee do not deem II
eypedieni TO recommend the adoption
of any of these suggestions, except
that ia relation 10 pnsiponing the a.
mount due from purchasers OF the ca
nal lands, they will briefly give their
reasons.
lst. In relation to the construction
Of The canal--it is not pretended ny
any one that the Territory is under The
slightes, obligation t. do more than
dispose of the lands TO the best advan-
tag. and apply the proceeds TO the con
struclon Of The canal: nor IS IT preien'
dcd at this day, whatever might once
have been though, by the saneuine or
this subject, tina, if all the lands were
to he converted into money, and Il
delivered over 10 the canal company
that they could construct the canal
and as in The event Of The canal not be.
ing completed the selling OF the land;
would Involve The Territory in a deb
TO the United States for the purchase