Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-08-16
Communication.
For the Courier.

though stranger, TO give you, and thro'
the medium of your valuable paper, to
the people of the Des MONIES Valley, my
observations relative TO the progress now
being made at the several dams under
contract and one not under contract, to-
wards improving the navigation of this
beautiful river, SO much talked of by all
classes Of men, and particularly by po-
liiical demagogues.
have been informed since came in
TO your beautiful and fertile State. that
you have Board Of Public Works, con-
sisting of President, Secretary, and
Treasurer that TO them the management
of The work has been committed
Some three years have elapsed since
they commenced operatIons--conse-
quently | was induced to pass up the
river and see for myself what had been
done and what is yet doing.
found below ST. Francisville. the
commencement of canal about ten
miles in length; considerable amount Of
work done. A vast amount OF money
must have been expended and now, all
abandoned to the moles and bats. At
81. Francisville, a beautiful little village,
there is large amount of materials on
the ground, ready TO use in building the
dam; and presume the contractor will
use every effort to complete his job as
soon as possible, provided the Board of
Public Works will suffer him to pro-
'gress. Thom's dam is progressing rap
idly, and the same might be said relative
TO all the dams as high up as Bentons-
port; and | am inclined to believe that
all the dams, from Thom's including
Bentonspert, will be so far advanced by
next Spring, SO as not TO obstruct at least,
the navigation of the river.
When | arrived at Keosauqua, beau
tiful and thrifty looking town, observ-
ed men working at the dam below that
place. l enquired who had the contract
Of building that dam! was informed
that the contract had been once let, but
the contractor was allowed by the Board,
to throw it up, and that the owner Of the
mill, was making dam for his own
benefit; consequently, instead of impro-
wing the navigation of the river, was ma
king dam to completely obstruct the
navigation and render useless all that
had been done and is now doing below,
for the purpose of removing distractions,
that have long been complained of by
the people, and to make safe passage
for boats and other crafts, ascending or
descending the river. | was still more
surprised when | was informed the dam
at Keosauqua. was the last on the river,
and tina. above that point the navigation
was free and open as nature had made
(which found to be true as pass
ed up.
The question naturally come up in my
mind, why the Board of Public Works
should have neglected, up 10 this time,
TO pu. This dam under contract! What
benefit would the improvement Of the
river be to the farmers of the Valley, if
it were completed below Keosauqua,
and the dam at that place should remain.
as i. has been for years, i'm oassable!--
These questions can only be answered
by saying--that the Board of Public
Works, have been opposed to the i'm
provement of the river, incompetent To
discharge ene.getically the duties OF
their respective Offices, or there has been
design in the whole matter-self-interesf,
either in pecunlary or political point Of
view, must have had some agency in
bringing about so fragrant neglect Of
duty, and disregard for the progress Of
the work, and interest of the people.
find the Valley Of the Des Moines
densely populated by an intelligent and
industrious people. largely engaged in
agricultural pursuils-producing vast
surplus for transportation, and all depen-
ding upon the beautiful river which pass.
es through their midst, as the only me-
dunn through which to carry the pro-
ducts of their rich soil, 10 an Eastern or
Southern market. Thus far, they have
had to be satisfied with the anticipation
OF the future. The river is yet unim-
proved and not only unimproved. but its
navigation obstructed. The dam at Keo-
sauqua, ! have been informed, has been
and still is a nuisance, and one that
should be removed by the Board of Pub.
lie Works as soon as possible. II the
Board have not the power to abate the
nuisance, the people perhaps will. by