Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-07-18
The Improvement EIeeting--'Thc
right Spirit at Kcokuik.


We publish this week thesproceedings
of meeting held by the citizens of Keo-
kuk, on the 9th inst, on the subject of
the Des Moines Improvement.
The meeting was well attended by
the most Of the business men and lead
ing citizens of the place, and the spirit
manifested was of the right character
We understand, that several able address
ses were delivered which were received
iwith much enthusiasm.
/ Go ahead, gentlernen! An unfavor-
able opinion has by some means, obtain
ed TO considerable extent in the valley,
that the citizens of Keokuk are unfriend-
" to the progress of the improvement,
and nothing will tend so much to remove
this impression, as the course here COM
menced, followed up in the proper spirit
and in good faith. Your interest, truly,
as stated in a resolution adopted at the
meeting, and ours, is one and inseparable.
Whatever tends to increase the wealth,
advance the prosperity and greatness of
this productive valley, will help to build
up your fiourishing young City.
Lei but the. business men, and proper
ty holders OF keokuk, pursue straight
for ward, open, fair, and liberal course
towards the people of the Republic;
talk and act in such a manner as will
convince all, that you seek our mutual
interest, and while such course will se-
cure the confidence of the people, it
will ensure a patronage and trade TO
Keokuk, which of itself will make her
a city that will rank, in point of wealth,
with any on the upper Mississippi. We
are not so credulous as some about the
prospects of the speedy completion of
the improvement. But we, with our
friend of the KeosauqIa .american, have
no doubt of the qualifications Of the
Commissioner for the arduous duties
that his place deyolve upon him, and tru-
ly hope that we may oe disagreeably
disappointed in his making an immedi-
ate arrangement with the New York
Company 20 complete the entire work.
Making the work subservient 10 the
advancement of private and party enGs,
thus far, has destroyed public confidence
in all promises; and nothing but a vigor-
Gus prosecution of the work will restore
it. From recent developments we con-
fess we see signs of brighter prospect,
and can only hope with every real and
true friend of this noble improvement,
that the Commissioner has determined
TO cut it loose in future from party and
party dictation, and in good faith push it
forward vigorously TO completion
Whenever we see him pursuing this
course, and giving his undivided at,cn-
lion TO the advancement of the work.
we shall most assuredly give him any
assistance in our power TO facilitate SO
desirable an object.
1t never ought TO have been merged in
politics; and the only hope we have of
its final completion is based on the sup.
position that il is now to be rescued
from this exciting whirlpool. The peo-
pie. the whole people, and nothing short
of the whole people, are interested in its
early completion, and cliques & parties,
as such, exclusively have no right to and
ought not to control it 10 build up one
and pull down another. Put "a stop TO
this reprehensible and suicidal course,
and the work can and will be completed
pursue ita short time longer and the
people will have the Notifying specta-
Gle before them of a magnificent grant
squandered, and magnificent improve
ment abandoned. .
ST. LOJIIS MARKET