Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1849-12-07

Ao 'ue" ucsircu IWprOve-
ment OF the Des Moines. From the
fact that just before an election, the Lo-
cofoco candidates and editors have a
great deal to say on this subject and a
great many pledges 10 make to the peo-
pie, which they never think of after it is
over, we fear that they intend to keep it
dragging along for years, merely as an
electioncering hobby, and to fill the cot.
fers of the Board of Public Works.
No matter whether the candidate is
running for the State Legislature, with a
view TO make particular men U. s. SEN
ators, or for the Board, this donation and
the improvement which it is to accom-
pllsh, is made the hobby. We well re-
member, when a few years ago, Senators
were TO be made, the Loco candidates
Tor the Legislature, in order TO succeed,
told the people in the River counties a
bove Van Buren, that if elected they
would compel the Board by law to scat
ter the work-'hat is, put dam in each
county. So said some of the candidates
for the Board of Public Works, whose
locality required it.
Well, the people have elected Loco
focos to the Legislature, the men SO anx-
ious to fill Senators places have been
elected. The people, trusting in the
fair promises of Loco candidates have
twice elected Locos to carry on the I'm
provement, and>still the work has not
been scattered-but if we may believe
reports the Funds haze. The people
are not only in profound ignorance of
what the Board have been or are doing,
but do not know how far the work is
under contract. About all they do know
is that there is Board of Public Works
who take in good deal of money for
lands. and have good salaries; but where
it goes, or what part or portion of the
River is being made navigable, they do
not know. In this county and in Mon
roe we have been frequently asked by
men of all parties, "What are the Board
doing! How many dams are under
contract! Will the River ever be im,ro-
we'd, or will they let it drag along from
year to year until the salories of the Of
ficers eat up the donation" TO all of
these question we have to answer "we
do not know
We have heard it rumored that the
Board have annulled all the contracts
above keosauqua, and that that point
will be the extent Of the improvement
for many years. So we believe, if left
in the same hands. Men who belong to
party, one of whose cardinal principles
is, hostility to General System of In,
terual Improvements (see Resolutions of
the Baltimore Convention,) can scarcely
be expected to unite in earnest to CON-
plete, at once and successfully, great
work of Internal improvement.
Let the people elect from their midst,
men friendly TO Internal Improvements;
Wings, who have ever gone all lengths
for works of the kind, and for scattering
the work, and also elect capable. prac,i-
cal men-men, not only acquainted with
such improvements--butm men of energy
and go ahead gu aliications-and our
word for it, a system will Immediately
be devised and put in operation, to COM
mence large number Of dams all along
the river, and to complete the whole
work in short time. |, may, it can be
done. 1t is just as easy for the Board to
superintend the building Of SO dams a,
once, as 5; and the salary would be the
same. Now, for experimenting the
of few dams, taking in
the money. &c; they spend large sum
yearly in salaries, clerk hire, DC, while
all can see that if all the dams were in
progress OF construction, no more would
be expended. We call upon all the peo-
pie. who are SO deeply interested to
think of this matter, and when the time
comes 10 act. act decidedly, choose the
right sort Of men from your midst, on
whom you can rely. to go to Iowa City,
and pass such law as will make all the
Donation, at once, available, and put all,
or most of the dams, at once under con-
tract. Let not few designing politicians
and hungry Office seekers deceive you,
trife with your interests, eat up your i'm
provement fund in salaries, defalcations,
&c., and finally deprive you ofthis great
improvement, the most feasible and nat
ural chanel for your commerce, and trav-
ell with the sister States, and foreign