Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-12-20

would own these lands ard raise the
price to just as much as they could get,
probably in many instances to 5 and
dollars per acre on the settlers, and this
would be quite lax for company to
levy in the country, for the privilege OF
laying another tax on their produce as il
passed down the river; for when the
work is done the company are to tax
every bushel of grain and every pound
Of produce that goes down the river; yea,
more, every pound of goods and grocer
les that come up the river too. But we
are told that il will be less than the pres.
ent price of hauling by land. We an
swer, the present tax goes TO our far
mers, and gives employment to their
iez ms, and is not felt one half as much
as cash tax will be, which goes i1Se
the pockets of the company. To obvi-
ale this difficulty and make their plan
palatable TO the people, they recommend
that all present settlers, and such as may
become SO in one year, be allowed to en-
ter their lands al the minimum price,
Now this would it seems to us defeat
the very object they have in view, for
can il be supposed that a company will
take the work and the lands under the
restriction, that the State shall price the
lands they give up to them, and even if
they should, how many acres Of the
100000 above the Forks would be set.
ded in the space of one year! but very
few, and all the rest no doubt comprising
a portion of the finest part Of the State,
would 60 Internationally and rrorever.
into The hands of "a few me-, who will
make fortunes by sreculations on the
settlers. But would Gov. Hampstead
In the facas ofhis inaugural address, sane
h..n The creation of such monster cor
porate body in the State; who are TO
control one o. the navigable rivers, pas
sing through the richest part Of our Stale
to monopolize and lord il over a large
and fertile portion of this valley? But
we have advocated the Bond system, and
shall eontinue to do so:
lst: Because it will furnish the State
with ample means TO complete the work
in a short time.
I'd: When done by the State il will
be the property of the people and sub
ject TO their control, and this must be
democratic enough for any one.
Ord: 1t will not enbarrass the State,
and The water power which the Board
say will be worth TO the State 0,0O0
per annum, will belong to the people aad
not company. And,
4lh: The lands can be sold to actual
settlers at 81 ,25 per acre, and all be set
lied up and not go into the hands of
spectators, organized into company.
And,
9Th: II would carry out the object of
Congress in making MS the grant, and
encourage them to make other grants for
Internal Improvements in our Stale,
which are much needed.
Congress has made us grant OF eve.
ry alternate section, in strip miles
wide on each bank of the river, from its
mouth TO its source, to improve its nav
igaiion TO the Rackoon Fork, some 200
miles. These lands are in the very
heart of the richest and most productive
valley, in the richest State in the Great
West. And shall we confess to the
world, las the Board would have US to
do,) that with these ample means in oQr
hands, we have not the he IDS in the State
wise enough TO apply those means to the
successful construction of the work; but
must seek a company Of spectators 10
take our money and make the improve
ment for us-and for their kindness IN
using our money 10 make the work, give
them the improvement itself; only reser-
wing the privilege of huying it of them
after term OF years. They, in the
meantime TO have 10000 per year for
rent of water power and the privilege of
taxing anything we produce to sell and
all we buy from abroad. We think the
State can complete the work and the peo-
pie own it, the water power kept in
repair, and it forever remain a public
highway 10 the people of Iowa, and all
the States. The lands after all The wind
and smoke made by demagogues for cleo
pioneering purposes previous TO last Au-
gust are safe to the State, to the source
of the river, and that done by whig adj
ministration, too. Nov let the Legisla-
ture go to work, hypothecaie bonds upon