Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-10-04
PLANK ROAD FROM KEOKUK
TO FORT DIES MONIES.


VaAey:-I'he extraordinarily rapid inn
provement of our beautiful valley, the
necessity 10 have more prompt COM
munication between the western and cas-
tern boundaries of our State, must in
duce every farmer, merchant and indus
trious citizen, 10 do all that is. in his pow
er 10 procure road which can be trav-
elled every part of the Year. So far as
we can judge of the improve ment of the
Des Mones River, it is 10 be feared tina,
for many years TO come, it will belong TO
the class Of unfulfiled prophecies. The
prospect for a railroad, however desira-
bic such a road nigh. be, is also little
doubtful. Could we not make plank
road from Keokuk 10 Fort Des Moines,
to give TO ourselves better communica :
ton, 10 the inhabitants of the Sister
States and foreigners another inducement
to make their home in our beautiful val
ley,-and to the emigrants to Califor MIA
a desirable highway! @
/ But where TO get the capital? will be
asked by every one. Money is too
scarce! Farmers, Merchants and every
branch of industry need more of it in
this new country than they actually pos
sess! g a
We have the conviction that capital
can be produced in way secure for
money lenders and profitable for the in
habitants of our State, who will unite to
bring our plan into execution. IL is
true, we have invested our capital in real
estate, and sundry branches of industry,
but this is consequently true represen,
tation of capital. If zoe sciH mortgage
eur real estate and The plank road Itself,
,ce feel confident that money can be pro-
cared al a reasonable interest.
When we estimate the average value
of all the land owned in the Dies Moines
! Valley, at two dollars an acre, nobody
will think it overrated. Now if 100000
acres could be mortgaged, we have al
that rate of 80 en- acre, The representa-
ton of S320,00O; perhaps enough TO
make plank road from Keokuk TO Fort
Des Moines. Under security of this
mortgage and Of the road itself we
would borrow the money at 6 per
cent, in the Eastern States or in Holland.
Every land owner becomes share
holder in the plank road, for the amount
of his mortgage, and as soon as the in
terest and capital, of the loan is paid up,
the mortgage is released and the further
revenue is pure profit for the share
holders. ,a
Another Advantage is, that part of the
capital comes Immediately in circulation
in the Valley, for lumber delivered by
The inhabitants and for labour performed
by the workmen. Such an undertaking
being the united enterprise of the inhab-
itants and for The profit of all, The ordi-
nary objections against private corpor-
alton for making public work, are obsi
4 aied and we have the same stimulus
which characterize the private enterprise
ahnvn state works
! III there is a general conviction Of the
reality of our plan, we do propose tina,
meetings be held in every place, Town
ship or county,-that every owner OF
real estate, give in his name and the "a
mount of acres he is willing TO mortgage;
that copy of The result, of each meeting
be sent to one Of the undersigned; and
that al the same time delegates be elected
for general convention, to make further
arrangements; viz:
Isl. TO addres our Legislature next
session, upon The subject and to procure
a legal sanction for the whole proceeding.
End. 10 make prospectus for loan
under security of morigaged land and
of the plank road TO be made.
3D.. TO elect provisorv board Of
trustees and managers TO bring the whole
plan in execution, and
4lh. TO make further, all such regula
tons and provisions as will seem neces-
sary for the shareholders and money
lenders. and for the prompt and profitable
execution Of the whole undertaking.
Finally, VIC ask with confidence from
every citizen cordial cooperation by
communicating TO one of US, all that can
be necessary, useful and profitable. to
the necessary preparations for general
convention, in regard 10 legislation judi
cial or material point, and also in regard
10 calculations about the diverse part of
the work to be performed. And we
| hone that ii will not be necessary To ask