Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-01-27
Treasury DEPARTMENT,
December llth, 1916.

SIR have the honor 10 acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the 10th ult.,
with respect TO the construction of the act
Of Congress approved August Sth, 1916,
entitled San act granting certoin lands to
the Territory of Iowa to aid in the i'm
provement Of the navigation of the Des-
moines river, in said Territory" and to
state in reply that in my opinion the grant
to Iowa by the act Of August 9Th, 1916,
above referred TO, not being gratuitous but
on conditions, is not embraced within the
provisions of the 9Th section of the act of
Sept. 4th, l84l, so as to constitute part
Of the five hundred thousand acres there
in referred to; but that it is grant indie
pendent OF, and in addition to that in the
last named act.
Very respectfully,
Your ob'dt servant,
r. j. WALKER,
Secretary of the Treasury.
JAMES II. PIPER, Esq,
Acting Com'r of Gen'l Land Office.
This grant is in the nature of trust
profiered TO the State for specific pur-
pose, the assent of the General Assembly
being first required; and the decision Of
the Secretary of the Treasury, above quo
ted, being the only condition required by
the State, her acceptance of the grant be-
comes absolute. BY this step, we have
incurred an obligation OF no ordinary char
acter, and the method TO be chosen for the
faithful discharge Of that trust, according to
the spirit aud intent of the act of do ma
lion, becomes question OF the most seri-
Gus import. Believing, as we do, that the
improvement Of the Desmoines river in
such manner and TO such extent as will
be justified by the value of the lands grant
ed for that purpose, will not only tend to
accelerate the settlement and improve
ment Of very large region Of country
contiguous to that river, thus adding very
materially 10 the wealth and resources Of
the State, but will also yield large rev.
emile from tolls and the sale of water power
for manufacturing purposes, your Commit
tee would especially urge the Importance
Of ar immediate survey OF said river by a
competent engineer, with view to the
commencement of said work with az little
delay as possible.
The Desmoines Valley is much the best
timbered portion OF the State, and at the
same time che Of the finest agricultural
regions in the known world; the soil be-
ing of the richest alluvial character, and
admirably adapted to the growth Of all The
great staples produced in the same la.i-
tude. A section of equal extent, contain
ing smaller proportion Of barren or waste
lands, cannot be found on the American
continent-the whole country, for between
thirty and forty miles on each side of that
river, being susceptible of the highest
state Of cultivation. In addition TO these
advantages, this region is more abundant,
ly supplied with coal of superior quail
ty, than any country west Of the ALE
ghany mountains. In view Of these facts,
no adequate conception can be formed OF
the amount Of surplus products which
will seek an egress to market toy this
thoroughtare, when completed, nor Of the
extent to which different branches Of man
uGacture will be carried on, by means OF
the inexhaustab!e water power which
will be created at the dams and locks on
said improvement. 1t would be difficult
to make even al approximate estimate OF
the amount of public revenue which may
ultimately be derived from the sale OF thai,
water power, together with the tolls on
xports and imports Of produce, merchan.
die, SC. 1t is a very moderate estimate
to assume, that within very short period
after the completion of the contemplated
work, the tolls and water-rentson the
same may be made to yield nett in
come of thirty thousand dollars per an
num-a sum sufficient, If devoted to tina,
object, to delray all the ordinary expenses
of our State Government. This may be
regarded as an important item in enabling
the State hereafter to prosecute other
works of internal Improvement. Each
years delay, therefore, i'll the prosecution
of ibis important work, the Committee
can regard in no other light Than as dead
loss 10 the State.
ANY further remarks under this head.
are deemed unnecessary, as it is not io De
presumed that the General Assembly vii!
be so blind or Indifferent 10 The true int
rests of the State, as by hesitancy or the
adoption of an inefficient policy, to throw
away those great advantages which vii!
result, both to the citizens of the section
Immediately interested and 10 the people
Of the State at large from prompt com
mencemeui ard early completion Of said