Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-12-20

remarked, is reliable, from the fact that il
is based upon the prices of the work al
ready under contract, and which export
ence shows it will cost.
In view of the uncertainty Of means
to prosecute this work, as speedily as
possible, to completion, we suggest the
! proprieiy of advertising il to be let to a
company, provided it can be done on
suitable terms, and that the lands lying
south of Fort Des Moines, or the pro-
ceeds of their sales be turned over to
such company as they progress with the
work. These lands, it will be seen, at
the present prices fixed upon them, "a
mount TO Sl9O,S94. This amount falls
short of the estimated cost, 1852, ,537.-
In consideration of this amount, the
State could give the company the use and
benefits of the work, for a term of years,
and until they should be paid the full
amount of their expenditures, with inter-
est. The fact of company having the
use of the improvement for term Of
years, would operate as security to the
State, for they would be interested IN
making 1t as permanent as possible, so
as to require the least possible repairs.
A company properly constituted, with
$50, worth of work already done
-and lands,. or their proceeds, TO the
amount shown. would be furnished with
the means and credit by which they could,
it appears to us, complete The work SOON
er, and at less expense than it would be
possible for il to be done under the most
favorable auspices reasonable to expect,
| by the State. Many of the enterprising
contractors now engaged on the work,
would no doubt find it to their interest to
connect themselves with such company,
and become stockholders, at least, to the
amount of their indebtedness from the
State.
/ That portion Of the grant which it is
proposed to pledge or convey, should, in
our opinion, be held subject to entry, as
at present, for at least one year longer, in
order that the settlers and claimants, at
present holding such portions of it, as
may be claimed, or improved, may have
that much time extended to them, to a.
vail themselves of the privileges which
have been enjoyed by others Of purchas-
ing their homes and claims, at the
price now fixed upon them of one dollar
and twenty-five cents per acre. Itwould
also prevent these lands from falling into
the hands of speculators, whose only
design would be to hold them in reserve
for speculation. At tine expiration of
one year, these lands, or such Of them
as were unsold, might then all be trans
ferred to the company, without, in any
way, doing injustice TO any portion of
our citizens, or retarding the settlement
of the country.
Should this plan, of which but faint
outline is attempted to be given, meet
the views of the Legislature, law care
fully framed, giving the Board full pow
or to carry it into operation, should a
responsible company offer, would be re-
; quired.
A deficit, in the account of the late
Treasurer of the Board of four thousand
eight hundred and forty-one dollars and
seventy-fiye cents, is shown to exist by
the books of the office. 1t is respect
fully recommended, that the Legislature
take the proper steps to full settlement,
and if there shall be found to be any
thing due the State, from that source,
that the same be placed in course of col
lection, a: as early day as practicable.
Mr.. Brattain, with the securities on his
bond, are amply sufficient to secure the
amount Of delinquency shown on the
books against him.
] Alta meeting of the Board, on the
| Gath of December, lS49, the services of
the former Chief Engines, Colonel
Samuel r. Curtis, was dispensed with.
He had been employed, for the first
year Of his service, at a salary of $2,-
500, and afterwards $4,000 per annum.
Guy Wells, Esq, the former first as
sistant, was promoted to the place, at
IA salary of $1,000 per annum.-
As to the manner in which he has dis
charged the important trust under his
charge, with the many embarrassments
whick have attended the prosecution of
the work, since he assumed its RESPONSE
bilities; it is uanece ssary to speak further
than to say that it has been satisfactory
to the Board. The substantial and
workman-like manner in which the
work has been done, as far as it has pro-
lgressed, we feel confident will compare
favorably with any similar work to be
found in the United States-and reflects
much credit upon the Engineers in
charge, as well as the enterprising con-
tractors, who performed the labor.
| The Desmoines River improvement
is the most extensive one of the kind
ever commenced in the United States;
and of its vast importance to the fertile
and beautiful valley through which it
meanders, it is scarcely necessary 10 re-
fer. The rapidity with which this por-
ton of the State has been, within so very
!, few years, transformed from its primeval
solitude to country alre ady teeming
with not only an abundance OF the pro-
ducts of its rich soil for home use, but
furnishing a large surplus, seeking a
foreign market, is unparalleled in the
history of the country-and furnishes
ii tho roHoatiun mind xp,sh tho .lo4a ,no,,