Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-02-08
Plank Road Meeting.

on Saturday the Cd day of February
1850, to take into consideration The sub.
ject OF the construction of Plank Road
from Ottumwa to intersect the Burling-
ton and Mt Pleasant Plank Road at Mt.
Pleasant; URIAH BIGGS, Esq, was
appointed President, THOMAS PING, and
JOHN G. EVANS, Esqs., Vice Presidents,
and BERTRAND JONES, Secretary.
On motion of ]. w. Norris, Esq, a
committee of five was appointed by tie
President TO report Preamble and Res
olutions, expressive of the sense of the
meeting.
The chair appointed on said commit
tee Messrs. Norris, Henderson,, Ram
sey, Delay and Devin.
The committee thereupon retired.
During the absence of the committee,
the meeting was addressed by Henry w.
Starr, Esq, of Burlington, on the sub
ect Of the advantage, cost, mode of con-
sirnclion and profit of Plank Roads,
On the conclusion Of Mr.. Starts re-
marks, the committee on resolutions an
nounced that they were ready to report;
whererp on they reported the following
preamble and resolutions, which were
adopted:
Uhereas, The spirit of the age in
which we live; the example of the cti-
zens of other States, and other counties
in our vicinity; and IA careful examination
| OF our own situation and interests, have
forced upon us the conviction that Judi
clous works of improvement are indisso-
lubly connected with our prosperity; and
among those which have been tried and
the results of which are known, we be-
lieve that Plank Roads have been found,
IN every particular, promotivc of the
growth and prosperity of the points con-
nec'ed by them and the region through
which they have been extended; combi-
ming the important advantages of cheap
ness; adaptation to the use of all classes
of citizens. particularly of farmers; being
an accommodation to the travelling pub
lie generally; sources of revenue and
profit to the stockholders, and easily
convertible, at future day, into Rail.
Roads, if the wants Of the public call for
them.
As Citizens of Wapelo County, we
have long felt the importance of an east
er and cheaper medium of communica-
ting with the markets of the country, and
in few years more we may reasonably
expect that this want will be still more
seriously felt. The emigration which,
heretofore, has sought a home in or pas
sed through our State, has furnished to
considerable extent, market for such ar
ticles Of the growth of our soil as we
had to sell. But in the natural course of
events this local home market will in a
few years, cease to exist; and we must
then look to Il communication with the
Mississippi and the Lakes, or witness
our large and increasing surplus Produc-
ton drug on our hands.
We should be culpable were we blind
to tn: advantages incidentto our situation
and the Inducements it presents 10 seek
an early and intimate connection with
the country in every direction around us.
We occupy a section of country unsur-
passed in natural resources, whether CON
sidered in an agricultural, manufacturing
or commercial point of view. We find
ourselves surrounded in an especial de-
gree, by those sources of wealth and
prosperity, which are found in soil Of
unrivaled fertility; in a climate favorable
to the growth of most of the rich and
valuable productions Of the earth; in rich
deposits of stone, coal and iron, and
IL numerous streams furnishing unlimit-
ed propelling power for mills and man
uiacluries. Occupying, too. a central and
commanding point in the heart of the
Valley of the Des Moines, on the natu-
raj and direct route passing through the
centre Of the great States of Ohio, Indi-.
ana. Illinois and Iowa, TO Council Bluffs
and onward to Oregon, Deseret and Cal
ifornia, our geographical position is com
handing and important. Good roads
are only wanted to concentrate here a
vast amount of travel and the trade OF a
large extent Of country.
DESTROYS therefore, of beneftting by
all the resources and advantages within
our control; being influenced and melted
by the spirit of the age and the example
of our neighbours; feeling it incumbent
upon US to respond favorably to the call
which has been made upon us by CHI
zens of other counties, and being thus
persuaded that works of improvement,
are of great public utility, the arteries Of
trade and commerce, causing wealth and
prosperity to flow in healthy and uni
form current 10 all sections of the coun-
try; developing the resources of the re-
gions through which they pass enhanc-
ing the value of property; increasing the
price of productions; providing profila-
BILE employment for labor, and especially
being Of opinion that Plank Roads, al
the present time, in the present compar-
alive infancy of the country, will be
| found tn meet our wants for some wear