Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-01-11
Settlers Meeting.

At meeting of the settlers on canal
lands and lots held in Ottawa, on the 24th
of December, ls47. ~, 10 i'@ ti'''''
Col, Avery In the chair. ~ -'..a
Patrick Lamb, secretary. '"f
1t was moved and seconded that com.
mittee ofthree persons be appointed by
the chairman to draft resolution Expressive
of the views of the meeting: ~ 'H p
WhereupUn the following were named:
Maurice Murphy, John Kennedy, and
Jackson K. Shaver. 10. y. p" ,.5'' ah5
The committee, after a short absence,
reported the following preamble and res
olutions which we're unanimously adopted:
Whereas fears are entertained in this
community that the appraisement ofcaaal
lands and lots now being made by Messrs.
Matteson, Reddick, and Sherman will be
so exhorbitant as neither to have any
precedent in actual sales, or, the present
fair value of the lands, and the effect of
such exorbitant aPpraisement will be to
expose the homes aud improvements of
the settlers to the rapacity of avaricious
and INSCRIPTIONS spectators and to pre-
vent, for an indefinate period of time, the
sale of the canal lands and lots to actual
settlers: nsr..a-r. .l. .aarrf~.5
And whereas it is coed and wise policy
to foster and encourage the settlement of
bold and Independent, yeomanry who,
would be their countries pride IN time of
reace and its best defences in time Of war;
and the interest of the state and the bond
holders would be best served by a fair
appraisement according 10 the present
value of the property, so as TO bring che
lands and lots within reach of the means
of persons who desire to occupy and i'm
prove the same: therefore % f ~. afE
Resolred, That canal lands and lots
should be appraised with reference Io
their present cash value and not to any
prospective value that may be set upon
them by large and extensive landowners
whose sole object is their own aggran-
dizement at the expense ofthe settlers.
ReSolted, That we view with distruot
and suspicion the attempt made by the
appraisers to withhold from the actual
settlers on canal lands the apprasement
made on land upon which he has mads
Improvements. "N'- -1+
ResoIred. That I've deerT it policy and
wisdom for the present appraisers to ap.
praise all the lands and lots in each coun.
ty before entering upon the appraisement
oflands or lois in another county as they
would thereby save vast amount of uti.
necessary travel and the state a great
deal Of expense. 1. sf. '.5s1. Z
Resolved, That the settlers upon canat
lands and lots have dfrec; interes, IN
the appraIsement, inas,nireh as their lands
and lots are secured 10 them by law only
uponPayment of the appraised vaiHe,tb
as parties in interest. it is not only a
right but a duty tha.they owe TO them.
selves apd the citizens ofthe state to ex-
press publicly and freely their opinions.
Resolued, That we do hereby invite the
cooperation of settlers in other counties
on the line of the canal.
II was moved and seconded that a com.
mittee of correspondence consisting often
persons be appointed by the chairman.
Thereupon the chairman appointed the
following persons as such committees:
Maurice Murphy, John Kennedy. A.
Hose, John Hise, Lorenzo Leland, R.K.
Shaver. Thos. Larkin, Miles Downey,
Fl. G Cotton, and J.. Packenham. -si.f
It was moved and seconded that the
proceedings Of this meetiong be inserted
in the Free Trader, ConstiiutiOnalist,
Beacon Light, Joliet Signal, and Chica-
go Democrat newspapers. 49,. 4
1t was moved and seconded that Col.
Avery do leave the chair. - -s7'at
Mr.. Maurice Murphy was then called
thereto. s,-9 'z~ -
The thanks Of the meeting were then
passedto the chairman and secretary. -
Alter which the meeting adjourned