Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-11-21
From the Des Moines Courier.


The Dam. in the River-Thc true state Of affairs.
Below we copy from the Jsfsrsonion
what we believe TO he as near the true
stale OF affairs in regard TO the improve
ment of our river as could be given. II
will be seen that through individual en-
ferprise, several of the dams on the river
will be completed at an early day, but
still! there remain obstacles, in the way of
dams, which will cut off free navigation
OF the river until they are removed, or
new ones bnlt, which latter course j, 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 il would not
be better TO have the Office Of President
Of the Board done away with, and reduce
the corps of engineers to one resident EN-
gineer. Thus the Board would he com
posed Of officers, whose pay should not
exceed, in the aggregate. over $1,000
Giving the Secretary $500; the Treas
urer 5000 aud the Engineer 81 900.
This reform would save 10 the I'm.
provemen, abs nj 81 900 per year; as the
salaries of officers and engineers now EN-
pho, ed. together with the ..mscellaneou>
expenditures, amounts we believe to
something over SO 900 per year.
The Jebsrsoninn say: I'VE had hoped
that our Senators an! Representatives III
Congress would have procured the pas
sage of an explanatory act. securing TO ns
the 100000 acres above the Furks.''
| Aye, and we had "hoped' so TOO, but
| it was OF no avail for our representatives.
were too deeply engaged in political plot
'ingS against the wing party TO think Of
the interests of the PEopLE. Or 10 he
more plainly understood, they would sac
rifce the interest of the people Who they
| pretended 10 represent, in order TO secure
the success Of the party TO which they be-
long.
But there is now no longer any chance
Of making capital out Of this grant affair
and The Locoioco papers all set 10 and
make a great ado about getting back the
100000 acres. We hope, sincerely tha,
we shall get it again, ri bat it would be
worse than useless TO get il unless there
is new organization Of the Board and
steps are taken to make the land given
available, hy hypo,heca'ion.
We look for much to be done at the
coming session OF Congress, and ",ir State
Legislature, either for the veal or woe of
our beautiful Valley. We hope for the
| best. yet fear the worst.
"There are now we believe, only two
old dams in Use on the river ; one at this
place, and The other at Pennington. AT
Bentonsport the State dam is being put
in, and is now above the water, and will.
no doubt, be completed by the enterpri-
slug contractors BRowN aud SAHroRp-
10y spring. AT Bonaparte the lock is
completed, and the dam above water. and
all who know the MessrS MEEKs, know
that II will be crowded ahead indeed the
expectation is that it will he completed
the frs, upon the liver. At Thom,'. the
lowest and only dam below Pennington,
we are told the work is in like pros
| porous condition, and expected to be com
pleted by spring. Al Pennington the
work is under contract; little, however,
has been done beyond the preparation OF
portion OF the materials nor i'll there be,
nor can there bs, unless something is done
by the Legislature 10 enable the Board TO
Use the land TO get means at least i; must
drag along for two or three years. AT
this place the work is not under contract.
The suicidal course Of the Legislative As
semhly induced The contractors at this
point 10 abandon their contract. How
soon the two last mentioned dams will be
comp'eted-thus opening the river to free
navigA'lon-derend< upon the action OF
the Legislature. 1t is much, very much,
TO have the free use of the river for the
transportation of produce and mercl,anlize
TO and from the various towns upon the
river, but much more, very much more.
to have the river we'll improved by locks
and dams.
We had hoped that our Senators and
Representatives in Congress would have
procured the passage OF an explanatory
act, securing to us the 100000 acres
above the Forks. Probably some other
course was thought most a,!,i>able. We
have heard nothing from any of them
upon The subject, and know of none Of
our citizens who have. We hope for the
best. So far as Kro>auqna is concerned.
>he might well he content " i,h matters as
they are, as without the additional gran,
she must, inevitably, become the head Of
low water navigation. But we know of
none of her citizens who entertain such
selfish and narrow views. We are with
the people nf the upper counties in feeling
and >entinent, and will always be found
with them in action"
Nouthern .Hichignn and Northern lndi-
ana Rniiroad Companies. -The Directors
OF these Companies met al the town nl