Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1849-11-16
From the Io,oa Capital Reporter.
Rail ROad COmyemtiOn.


convention of the citizens of Johnson
county, converted at the Court House, in
Iowa City, on Saturday the 9th ult.-
The Convention was organized by the
appointment Of Gov. ROBERT LU-
CAS-, Chairman, and WILLIAM PATTER-
SON, Secretary.
On motion, committee of five was
appointed to draft resolutions expressive
of the sense of the Convention upon the
subject under consideration.
The committee consisted of Messrs.
Curtis Bates, LIE Grand Byington, G. A.
Robbins. Arson Hart and Joseph II.
Fales. - .... ~ ...
On motion Of Mr.. Fales, the conven.
ton adjourned until 2 o'clock. ...
TWO O'CLOCK, P. M.
Convention met pursuant to adjourn
ment. .
Mr.. Byinglon, from the committee on
resolutions, reported the following:
Resolved, That our Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress be requested to
use their influence to procure grant of
lands to this State for the purpose of con-
structing a railroad from Rock Island to
Council Bluffs, by way of Iowa City
and Fort Des Moines; and also from Du-
buque to Keokuk.
Resolved, That Congress is in justice
bound to extend TO the State of Iowa the
same liberal aid, by grants Of lands tor
internal improvements through the State,
that has been extended to Ohio and In
diana.
Resolved, That we believe it to be the
dictate of wisdom and in accordance
with good policy, that Congress should
make such grants at as early day as
possible, SO that the people of the State
may be relieved Of the great expense and
trouble which is now imposed upon them
for transporting their surplus produce to
market, by the early construction of one
or both Of the railroads nov in contem-
plation. -'r
Resolved, That if the emigration 10
this State continue to flow in for a few
years, with the same rapidity as at pres
ent, disappearing from late estimates that
from thirty to fifty thousand have moved
in during the last six weeks,) all of the
choice lands will be taken up and i'm
proved, so that none but the poorer quail
ity could he granted, which would afford
but a feeble aid in comparison to grant
made at this time when much Of the
first quality of lands are vacant.
Resolved, That Tor the purpose of
securing general and united applica-
ton to Congress in aid of the contem-
plated railroad from Dubuque to Keokuk
by the people on the entire line of said
road it is hereby recommended that a
convention of those residing along the
southern portion Of said line be held at
Fairfield, and like convention Of those
residing along the northern portion of
said line be held at Anamoosa, on the
first Monday of next December.
Resolved, That the railroad associa-
lions of the counties intersected by said
route, be requested by this convention to
adopt early measures to secure the hold
ing Of the railroad conventions recon.
mended in the foregoing resolution.
Resolved, That the President of this
convention appoint eight citizens of
Johnson county, as delegates to each of
said conventions, and that said delega-
tons be authorized to fill vacancies in
their respective bodies.
Resolved, That this Convention also
recommends the holding Of Conventions,
to be composed of delegates from the
several counties in Iowa, at Davenport
and Fort Des Moines, on the second
Monday in December next, for the pur-
pose of memorializing Congress, and
adopting such other efficient measures as
will be likely to secure an early con-
struction of railroad from Davenport to
the western line of the State.
Resolved, That the editors of the news
papers published at Davenport and For,
Dcs Moines, together with the clerks OF
the District Courts and Sherifs of Scott
and Polk counties, be requested by this
Convention TO take immediate measures
by publication and otherwise, 10 secure
the holding of the conventions recon-
hOhuCu III VIC ioiCSonS ICoOiuuou.
Resolved, That the President of this
Convention appoint eight citizens of
Johnson county, as delegates to each oil
said last named Conventions, and tina,
said last delegates have power to fill va
cancies if any shall occur in their own
body.
Resolved, That the editors of the sew
eral newspapers published in Iowa, and
at Rock Island, in Illinois, be requested
to publish the proceedings ofthis Con-
vention.
Resolved, That committee Of TWEEN
ty-fve be appointed by the chair, whose
duty it shall be to prepare, publish and
transmit to Congress, at the commence.
ment of the next session, in behalf oil
this Convention, an address and memo
rial upon the subject of the construction
of the railroads mentioned in the iorego.
ing resolutions.
Resolved, That the spirit of the age,
and the commercial and social condition
of the American nation, concur in de-
mandin. speedy railroad facilities be.