The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-03-01
Increment of the lsiYcr-

We hau hhncu 10 Se aO'c 10 present 10 Our
readers, in this number, copy OF the bill tor the
improvement Of the river between this place and
Peru; but on account Of the arrangement of the
mails, as well as for other reasons, we find our
selves unable to dosn We hope, however to be
able to publish the law IN our next
Meantime, it may be necessary for us to notice
some unfoundei reports tia, are ahoat through
the country, the object of which is to defeat this
improvement by unfair and dishonor lble means
1t is asserted that the intention is merely TO ere
ate n water power, at the expense Of the towns
voting the tax, for the benefit Of q few indivilu
ais, who have purchased the land where the dam
is to he erected. Now the slightest acquaintance
with the facts Of the case, will show how unjust
these reports are. About year ago, when it was
determined by our people that this improvement
should be undertaken, fearing that the land upon
which the water power would be created, and
which it was necessary to own for the erection Of
the dam would be seized by spectators, eleven
of or citizens got together anil gave their notes
to the school commissioner Of this county for one
hundred dollars each, (the lands being school
lands,) in consideration Of which they were con
vcyed by the school commissioner, to T. S Lee
land, Esq, in trust for whatever individuals or
company might hereafter construct the dam ard
improve the river. II the tax is now voted, and
the improvement undertaken " tic town: inter
ested, the land will at once be conveyed to the
River Board" OF directors constituted by the act
Just passed for the benefit Of the towns that vote
the tax on the Boards paying back to the eleven
individuals indicated, the interest they have acu-
ally paid on their notes to the school fund and
releasing them from their responsibility on &C
count Of those notes. The land i, now, and Al
WAYS will be- entirely beyond the reach or con
trll Of the individuals who purchased it, until the
people Of Ottawa and the eghboring towns shall
definitely determine that the river improvement
shall not be made, when, to protect themselves
from loss, it may probably be conveyed to them.
We know Of but one other Individual who OWLS
land upon which water power may be created ny
th. dam, bat as all the water power will be own.
ed and under the control ofof the River Board,
he can of course set none except upon such terms
as the Board may agree upon.
So far as voting the tax is concerned, ne are tor
Il, of course, under all circumstances, and We be-
Iieve if the people who are called upon 10 vote
the tax for this purpose, understand their true in.
terests they will go for the tax without hesita
ton. A tax Of one two three, or even four mills
ON the dollar, is trihung matter compared TO
an nd iiton of one or two dollars per acre TO the
the county, We know, it is said boats will not
ascend to Ottawa although the improvement
should be made for the reason that they do not
come up now, while the river is in good boatable
order. Who ever heard Of stream being nav
gable to point at all seasons and boats stopping
ten or sixteen miles below it, The reason why
boats do not come to Ottawa now is, that the
river is navigable to this point only few weeks
in n year. and boats having their regular time for
making trips, ars put out a day to come up here.
But make the river navigable to this point at all
seasons, and wen guarantee no boat leaves st.
Louis without advertising For Ottawa" instead
Of For Iasallc" Boats will then regulate
their trips to suit the new arrangcmcnt-frm.
crs, merchants, and business men Of all classes,
/ travellers, DC. will make their arrangements to
ship from this point instead Of La Sale aud Peru
and there will then be an object presented todraw
| boats to US, while no such object now exists.