The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-12-05
The Dex nroines River Improvement.

The Third Report of the Principal Engineer
upon the Des Moines River Improvement, was
made to the Board of Public Works, on the first
of September last, and has lately been published
at this office in pamphlet form. The Report is
somewhat lengthy, making pamphlet of as pa
ges, and is accompanied with an excellent litho-
graph Map of the Work, prepared in St. Louis,
under direction of the Engineer.
The Importance of the Improvement now 60
ing on upon the Dcs Moines River, and the influ-
ence it is destined to shed upon the prosperity
and growth of Iowa, we fear have not been fully
appreciated by our citizens generally, and more
particularly by that portion of them living in the
more Northern and Northeastern parts of the
State.
We must confess that we ourselves, have en-
tertaned slight prejudice against this work, and
in common with many others, have had fears of
its becoming perpetual drain upon the resources
of the State, without securing those permanent
and sure benefits which were looked for by the
more sanguine of its friends.
The survey and estimates for the Work, have
now been completed; and by the Report in ques-
ton, the whole subject is brought into that tangi
bic form which will enable the public to take a
comprehensive view, not only of what is to be
done, and the expense attending its accomplish
ment, but of the benefits which are to flow from
the Work when completed
We have seldom read a document of the
kind which we thought more satisfactory in its
demonstrations or better calculated by an array
of facts and logical deduction therefrom,
to do away with any false impressions which
may have taken possession of the public mind
upon the character, objects, feasibility and uti-
mate utility of the work to which it has reference.
The time of its issue, is also appropriate The
Legislature of the State to whom the Board
required to make their Reports, including those
of the Engineer, will not be in session for more
than year, and the public mind, or that portion
of it more directly interested in the progress of
the Work, was anxiously waiting to learn the
results of the survey, and the calculations based
thereon. This is referred to in the following
letter of the Secretary of the Board addressed
to the Governor, and which forms the introduce
tlOl u Tic hcpOTt.
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC Works. }
Ottumwa, 18th Sept, 1919
SIR: The survey of the Dcs Moines River is
completed to the Raccoon Fork, and our Princi-
PM Engineer has made Report replete with
information of interest to the public, on the pro-
gross and prospects Of the Improvement, that the
Board has thought proper to order it's publication.
The present Board is on the eve of transfer
ring its duties to other hands, and fifteen months
must elapse before the General Assembly
convene in regular Session. The public mind
along the line of the Improvement is in anxious
expectation for this Report, and particularly for
the excellent map by which it is accompanied.
| take pleasure in being made the medium
through whom they are furnished to the Execu-
tive of the State present to you, Sir, and all
with whom | have had official intercourse, my
warm acknowledgements for very many acts of
kindness, but my gratitude is pre-eminently due
to the people of Iowa, for having connected my
humble services with an improvement which
will soon be an honor to our young State.
Very respectfully, Sir,
Your Excellcncy's ob't serv't,
CHARLES CORKERY,
Mem. and Secy.
To His Excellcncy, ANsEL BR1GGs,