Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-07-18
Desmoines River Improvcment.


Desmoincs River Improvement
meeting of the citizens of Keokuh
will be held in the City Hall. at s o..
clock, this evening, TO express their sen.
iiments upon the subject of the Des
moines river mprovement--th grea
work OF Iowa, which, il is believed have
been grossly missrepresenied and arr
wholly misunderstood, in other portion:
of the Stale.
A general attendance is earnestly re-
quested.
Cleghorn g. Harrison, Crittenden &
McGavic, Connable, Smyth q Co.
Stafford q McCune, ]. A. Graham, Johr
Brown, VIM. Patterson, A. Bridgman
Geo. G.. Anderson, Edward Kilbourne
! III. +. Reid, J. b. Howell, l.. Reeves
Guy Wells, Cox e. Shelly, Burns 4
Rentgen, Samuel Stark weather, Demine
81 Wolcot, II. b. Cunning, Conn, Pal,cr
son a. Co., J.. w. Ross, II. p. Lowe
Geo. G. Dixon, Thos. w. Claget,, J
M. Love, V. p. Van Antwerp, VIM
Bsownell, c.. CARRIER.
Wednesday, July 0, 1851.
In pursuance Of the above call, large
and respectable meeting Of the citizens
of Keokuk assembled at-the City, Hall.
On motion. JOHN A. GRAHAM
was called TO the chair, and john BRowN
appointed Secretary.
The object of the meeting being stated
By the chair, G.. G.. Dixon responded To
the call of The meeting in an able address
setting forth the advantages to the Val.
ley and TO the city of Keokuk, Of the
completion ofthe work.
On motion of Edward Killbourne,
Esq, committee of seven was appoint
ed, consisting of Ed. Killbourne, l.. II.
Reeves, E. I'll. Harrison, A. ChiuendeE,
Gen. Bsidgman, Geo. G. Dixon, and
A. l.. Deming, to draft resolutions ex
pressive of the sense of the meeting.
| During The absence o. the committee,
the meeting was addressed by VIM.
Leighton and DIR. ID. s. McGugin.
The committee reported the following
preamble and resolutions:
WHEREAS an impression is understood
TO prevail to some extent among the
people of the Desmoines Valley, that
the citizens of Keokuk are not in favor
OF the improvement of the Desmoines
river; and whereas such impressions
are erroneous, and unauthorized, and
designed to iniure our character and in
teresis abroad, and tend to interrupt
our intercourse with the country; and
whereas we are only DESTROYS TO be cor.
rectly understood, and have our true
sentiments and opinions on this subject
publicly known; therefore, be il
ReS0lued, That we are most decided
ly and uneeuivocally in favor OF the ear
(ly, construction and completion Of the
Desmo,ues river improvement in such
a manner as is best calculated to insure to
the citizens along its line all the adyan-
tages of a valuable hydraulic power, and
easy, cheap, and sure navigation to. and
intercourse with the Mississippi river
and the markets along its banks.
ResolUed, That we consider said i'm
rrovement, its energetic prosecution and
speedy completion, as essential 20 the
development of the agricultural, mineral
and manufacturing interests of tae Des-
moines Valley, and as Intimately con.
nected with The commercial growth and
solid prosperity of our city.
Resoired, therefore, That any impres-
sions which may have gone abroad. that
we are not in favor OF the Desmoines
river improvement, are entirely untrue
in point of fact, and unauthorized by any
action of our citizens; and that, on the
contrary, We sympathize deeply with
the condition and wants of the people in
the Desmoines Valley, and pledge our
selves to faithful and earnest co-coper.
alton with them in the completion OF
this improvement; and we do this FOR
the strong, obvious, and practical reason
that we believe our own best interests to
be mutually connected with them, inren-
dering the Desmoines river nayigable for
purposes of commerce at the earliest
practical moment, and in the most perm
anent and enduring manner.
Resoired, That we have learned with
unfeigned satisfaction that there is an en-
couraging prospect that the efforts of the
Commissioner having charge of the
work, TO effect an arrangement for the
speedy completion Of the work, will be
crowned with success.
ResolUed, That while we, as citizens
Of Keokuk, feel deep interest in the
prosperity ola valley SO fertile as is that
of the Desmoines, which already con-
tains more than one-half the population
of the State, and which is capable ofsus-
tanning millions, we believe that those
who are to people that portion of the
State, should and will with us leel just
pride in the growth and prosperity OF
this city. situated as il is at the outlet Of
their beautiful valley, and destined, if we
shall be true to ourselves and the inter-
,ests of our natural friends and allies, to
become the commercial metropolis, and
the pride, not only Of the Valley, but OF