Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-01-24


$4,000. The form Of The oath is as
follows: /, a. B. do solemnly swear
that will to the best Of my skill and
ability, honestly and faithfully discharge
my duty as Commissioned OF Jhe Des
Moines River improvement, and 10 the
utmost of my exertious strive 10 promote
The vigorous prosecution and procure the
Des Moines River improvement"
Sec. 3. Provides thai Commissioner
and Register IAN Office provided for in
another seclion) contract with ap indisid-
ual or company for the completion of
the work at and below Keosauqua, and
for the construction Of lock and dam
at Ouumwa, and al one other poiat above
here, to be selected by The COMMISSIONS.
and Register, by allowing the indlsid-
ual or company with whom they conirac,
the lands. or a part Of them. lying below
The Forks at Sl,25 per acre in payment
for the wuk, and if these lands are not
sufficient to pay for the work, the water
power and tolls are given for such times
and ulder such terms as the Commis
sioner and Register may agree, until he
work is wholly paid for. This work
must be completed in two years from
The Grsi day Of this month. If the
President of the United States decides
the question of extent Of the grant in
our favor, the work at this place and The
other point above are 10 be constructed
out of the lands above the Forks under
i like contract as those below.
SEC. 4. Provides that 10 case the
work mentioned in section Sd, caDno. be
contracted for as in that section The lands
may be morlgaged to accomplish it; but
not for longer lime than fifteen years,
nor for money at All interest of more than
seven per cent. If these arrangements
cannot be made then by either mode,
the Commissioner and Register are to
place the River in such condition as 10
afford navigation for the longest period
of time i'll each year, clear up to, the
forks. The last two sections were SO
altered by the committee as to take Or
tumwa and the other point above, oui OF
the specific work to be done, and pro-
yides that if Commissioner and Register
can get any person or company 10 con-
struct dam at any point for the water
power, then they are required TO have a
lock built, or they may in their Judgment
have both lock and dam built. If
company or person build Q dam the
State may take the work and power al
any time by paying for the dam.
SEC. 5 g. 6, contains nothing Of in
terest.
SEC. 7, requires the Governor 10 ap-
prove the contracts. .
SIC. 8. Provides that other Lands
which are or may be granted for the
Des Moines River improvement may be
disposed Of in like manner fer a CON-
ple,i,ion Of the entire work, or they may
be sold, bnt for not less than 81 per
acre.
Sec. 9. All the lands shall rather be
sold than mor,gaged when they can be
sold for 81 25 or more per acre.
SEC. 10. Provides that all persons
who are occupying land on the first day
of April next may purchase at any time
within the year 1851 at 81 25 per acre.
This section was amended by the com
miilee SO as to require the ensrys to be
made by the first of July.
SEC. III. /. is the duty Of the Com
missioner to take personal Oversight. of
The work, and be constantly examining
all parts Of same.
Sec. IL. All contracts authorized by
this act to be made are TO be executed in
triplicate, one TO be filed with Register,
one with Secretary Of State, and one
given 10 contractor.
SEC. IL. Provides for, or rather Gre
ates AS Register, TO qualify as
the Commissioner. tS
SEC. ID. Requires the Register to per-
form same duty as heretofore devolving
on The Treasurer and and Secretary OF
Board.
SEC. Is. Requires the Register TO
make out three receipts, one filed by
him and one given TO purchaser, and one
is TO be sent to Secretary Of State.
SEC. 10. Commissioner authorized to