Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-11-15
The Dams i'm the Rivcr---Tfas
True state of Affairs.

True state Oh Afl:asrS.
Below we copy from the Je0ersoni-
an what we believe to be as near the
true state of affairs in regard to the i'm
provement OF our river as could be Civ
en-. 1t will be seen that through indi-
piduai enterprise, several of the dams
on the river will be completed at an ear
ly day, but still there remain obstacles,
in The way of dams, which will cut of
a free navigation of the river until they
are removed, or new ones built, which
latter course ii is not probable will be
followed, as the Board of Public Works
do not realize more out of the sales OF
land than will pay the salaries of officers
and engineers now employed.
And while we are upon this subject
we would suggest whether it would not
be better to have the Office of President
Of the Board done away with, and re-
duce,, the corps of engineers to one res
ideni engineer. Thus the Board would
be composed of 3 officers, whose pay
should not exceed. in the aggregate, over
$4,000. Giving the Secretary 5000;
the Treasurer $500; and the Engineer
81 900.
This reform would save 10 the I'm
provement about 81 900 per year; as the
salaries of officers and engineers now
employed, together with the "miscella-
neous expenditures, amounts we be-
lieve TO something over $4,000 per year.
The Je6ersonian says: "We had no.
ped that our Senators and Representa-
lives in Congress would have procured
the passage of an explanatory act, Sc
curing TO us the 100000 acres above
the Forks"
Aye, and we had ''hoped" so too, but
il was of no avail; for our representatives
were too deeply engaged in political
plo,tings against the wing party TO think
of the interests of the PEoPLE. Or to
be more plainly understood, they would
sacratice the interest of the people who
the pretended 10 represent, in order to
secure the success of the party 10 which
they belong.
But there is now no longer any chance
Of making capital out of this grant af-
fair andthe Locofoco papers all Sc, to and
make great ado about getting back the
100000 acres. We hope, sincerely
that we shall get it again, but il would
be orse than useless toIget il unless
there is new organization Of the Board
and steps are taken TO make the land CIV
en- available, by hypo,hecation.
We look for much to be done at the
coming session Of Congress. and our
Stale Legislature. either Cor the veal or
woe Of our beautiful Valley. We hope
for the best, yet fear the worst.
~ here arc now we believe, only two
old dams in use on the river; one at this
place, and the other at Pennington. AT
Ben,onsport the State dam is being put
in, and is now above the water, and will,
no doubt, be completed by the enterpris-
ing ontracters-BRowN ~ SANFORD
by spring. At Bonapart the lock is
completed, and the dam above water, and
all who know the Messrs. MEEKs, know
that it will be crowded ahead; indeed the
expectation is that il will be completed
the first upon The river. AT 'fhoms',
the lowest and only dam below Farming
ton, we are told the work is in like
prosperous condition, and expected to
be completed by spring. AT Pennington
the work is under contract; little, howev-
er, has been done beyond the prepare
ton OF portion of the materials; nor
will there be, nor can there be, unless
something Is done by the Legislature to
enable the Board to use the land to get
means--at least il must drag along for
two or three years. At this place the
work is not under contract. The saici-
dal course Of the Legislative Assembly
induced the contractors at this point to
abandon their contract. How soon the
two last mentioned dams will be COM
pletfd--thus opening the river to free
nasigaiion--depends upon the action oil
the Legislature. Its much, very much,
10 have the free use of the river for the
transpcdion of produce and merchan-
die 10 and from the various towns upon
the river. but much more, very much
more, TO have the river well improved by
locks and dams.
We had hoped that our Senators and
Representatives in Congress would have
procured the passage Of an explanatory