Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-07-05
The Improvement--Its PoIitfcnl
and Fimaneinl Mnmngemems.

ana FlO0Wcu8l M0m0xemeWss
We last week gave our readers his
tory of the action Of the State authori-
ties Of Iowa in reference to the Grant,
exhibiting combustion Of gross blum
dering, and artful hostility tending 10 de-
feat its extension beyond the Forks. We
shall now show that the friendsAip, man
Tested toward the Improvement by the
official gentry Of Iowa, is of that pecu-
liar character which the kite, chosen as
the guardian Of the pigeons, displayed
in their defence. And we think that the
people have already anticipated us in the
conclusion that the Improvement is a
"plucked pigeon" in the hands of the
Iowa officials.
During the session of the Legislature
of ls46-7, great anxiety was felt amongst
the people of all parties on the Des
Moines, that there should be an immedi-
ate organization of the Board preparato-
nv to active operations with the opening
of the ensuing Spring.
To secure this object; and to promote
an honest and efficient management of
the work and at the same time TO unite
all parties in cordial effort for its ad.
vancement, the people Of the Valley de-
sired the immediate selection of the Board
by the Legislature, taking President
from one party, and Secretary and Trea-
surer from the other. Locofoco mana
gers in the Legislature opposed and de-
feated this project, for the express pur-
pose of making "political spois' of the
salaries and patronage of the Board of
Public Works. Thus the matter was
delayed nearly year for the sake o.
securing all the officers in the Locofoco
party, and the Grant lay for more than a
wear without officers to take charge OF il
and apply il 20 the purposes for which it
was donated. "The spoiIs" and not
friendship to the Improvement instigated
this movement.
Then Board was nominated and
elected, not on account of their knowl-
edge and experience, their qualifications
for the position, or their interest in the
successful completion OF the Work, but
from the consideration that they would
be effective party managers in dislosing
the spoils. In this, some disappointment
appears to have been experienced, for
the main charge against their renomina-
lion was, tina. they had employed a Wing
Engineer.
From the time this Board entered upon
the duties Of their Office in September,
A. D. l847, till the publication of their
Report in December, A. d. lS48, nu-
merous contracts were let, and fair
show of energy was exhibited in the
prosecution Of the work. But the pub
lie mind was shocked 10 learn, that, of
the thirty -four thousand nine hundred
and ninety dollars and ninety seven
cents expended to that date, ten thousand
Two hundred and seventy -nine dollars
and ninety cents was paid for salaries Of
Engineers and assistants, salaries of the
Board, rent and furniture OF Offices. and
miscellaneous expenses. That SO large
an amount should have been expended
in SO brief period in payment of the
services of persons connected with the
board and the miscellaneous expenses,
was matter Of astonishment to all. Items,
were called for through the Press, but
none were vouchsafed, and the people
still remain in the dark, as to the special
objects for which considerable amount
OF this large expenditure was made.
The former Secretary of the Board
charged each man an extra dollar, with
out authority of law, for services in issu-
ing his pre-emption certificates. These
one dollar charges made, in the aggregate,
very large cum, and were worth TO the
Secretary if he pocketed them, more
than his salary, we should think. No
account has been rendered oil this matter,
and the people have the satisfaction of
knowing that the Secretary was paid for
his friendship to the improvements
But as complaints were made, Of the ex-
orbitancy and illegality of this charge,
the last Legislature passed law requi-
ring one dollar more for each patent is
sued, of which there has been over
eighteen hundred. So that the present
Secretary will also be yeN paid for his
friendship. The people thought that the
salaries for these officers-eight hundred
dollars per annum for the Secretary and
Treasurer. and one thousand for the
President--was full compensation for all
their time and services. Yet some OF
them now receive by means of fees. with,
and without authority of law, more than
their original salary.
The next item that comes - the pub
lie eye, is the deficiency of some four
thousand dollars in the old TIeasurer's
account, about which, little has been said,
because the Treasurer was esteemed an
honest man, though wholly unqualified
for his post. But the fact exists, never
theless, that large sum has been abstrac-
ted from the Treasury of the Board Of
Public Works. How much, we cannot
learn, nor have we learned that any mea-
sures have been taken TO straighten the
matter out. The old Treasurer was
honest but not competent The present
one. is supposed to possess neifher quail
i6cation in any eminent degree. We shall
probably learn more of him before the
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