The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-12-31
Settlers Meeting,

Vt meeting OF the settlers on canal lSndS
and lots held Ia Ottawa, Oh the 9th Of De
cember, lS47,
Col. Avery in the chair,
Patrick Lamb, secretary,
1t was moved and seconded that cCm-
mittec ofthree persons be appointed by the
chairman to draft resolutions expressive of
the views Of the meeting:
Whereupon the following were named 4:
Maurice Murphy, John Kennedy, and
Jackson r. Shaver.
The committee, after a short absence, re-
ported the following preamble and rcsolu-
tons which were unanimously adopted:
Whereas fears are entertained in this
community that the appraisCment of canal
lands and lots now being made by MeSSfs.
Mattson, Reddich, and Sherman will Je so
cxorbitant as neither 10 have any precedent
in actual sales, or the present fair value of
the lands. and the effect of such exorbitant
appraisement will be 10 expose the homes
and Improvements OF the settlers to the ra.
paciiy OF avariciouS and INSCRIPTIONS spc-
cula:orS and to prevent, for an indefinite Pc
Rod al time, the sale of the canal lands and
lots to actual settlers:
And whereas it u good and wise policy
To foster and encourage the settlement Of a
bold and independent yeomanry who would
be their countries pIiGc in time of peace and
its best defence III time of war: and the in
tereSt OF the state aud the bondholdcrs would
be best served by a fair appraiscment accor-
ding 10 the present value of the property. so
a. TO bring the lands and lots within reach
Of the means of persons who desire to occu-
py and improve the same: therefore
Resoired, That canal lands and lots should
be appraised with reference TO ticir present
cash value and not to any prospective val.
ne that may be set upon them by large and
extensive landowners whose sole object is
their own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT a. the expense Of
the settlers.
Resoired. That we view with diStrust and
suspicion the attempt made by the apprai.
Sers to Withhold from the actual settler on
canal lands the appraiscmont made on land
upon which he has made Improvements.
ReSoired. That we deem it policy and
wisdom for the present appraisers to APP
praise all the lands and lots in each county
before entering upon the appraisement o
lands or lots in another county rs they
would thereby save vast amount of unne
cessary travel and the state great deal o
expense.
ReSolred, That the settlers upon cana
lands and lots have direct interest in tn,
appraisement. inasmuch as their lands anC
lots are secured to them by law only upor
payment of the appraised value, that, a,
parties in interest, it is not only right bu
a duty that they owe TO themselves and thu
citizens of the state TO express publicly ant
freely their opinions.
ReSoirsd, That we do hereby invite tn,
cooperation of settlers in other counties OF
the line Of the canal.
Ii was moved and seconded that a com
mittee Of correspondence consisting of tel
, persons be appointed by the chairman
Thereupon the chairman appointed TIT
following persons as such committee: Man
race Murphy. John Kennedy, Abraham
Hose, John lIisc, Lorenzo Leland, II. X
Shaver, Thos. Larkn, Miles Downey, II
: G.. Cotton, andJ. Packcnhnm.
/, 1t was moved aud seconded that the pro
ccedings of this meeting be inserted in tn
Free Trader, Constitutionalist, Beaco
Light, Joliet Signal, and Chicago Demccra
newspapers.
II was moved and seconded that Co
Avery do leave the chair.
Mr.. Maurice Murphy was then Gale
( thereto.
The thanks of the meeting werc the
: passed to the chairman aud secretary.
After which the meeting adjourned san
die,