Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-06-09
From the Iowa Star.
TsIV II IL M IL e TIN

4
Des Moines, on Saturday, May 2Sth, L.
X. Brooks was called TO the chair, and
l.. p. Sherman appointed Secretary.
The committee which had been ap.
pointed at a former meeting, made fine
following report:
The undersigned, a committee appoint
ed al meeting of the citizens Of Polk
county TO suggest the best and most ex
peditious means for the removal of the
Mill Dams, and other impedimenis TO
the navigation of the Des MONIES River
by STEAMBOATS,, respectfully submit to
your consideration the following report
and resolution:
We find from the report of The Com.
mi,iee appointed by the citizens of the
Des Moines Valley in Convention as
sembled, at lowavlle last fall, that there
are i'll the river, between this point and
the mouth, three mill dams, placed there
by certain individuals for the advance
ment of their own interests, without au
thority from the government or right in
equity; we also find that in accordance
with the enactments Of the State Legis-
lature, and more especially in accord
ance with the demands of the people
made known n. the Convention held in
Eowaville, the River Commissioner caus-
ed channel to be cut in the two dams,
located one at Pennington and one at
| keosauqua, sufficiently wide for the pas
sage of Steamboats,, il is also true that
the owners Of the mills at these places
have filled the said channels with brush
and rock, contrary to law and TO the in
| jury of the best interests of the citizens
of this valley, and thereby preventing
the passage of boats excepting in times
of unusual high water.
Your committee would also state that
the consumers of merchandise resident
in the valley, have paid sufficient a.
mount of money for transporting, oy
teams, after deducting a liberal price for
carrying same by Steamboats, to have
paid thrice the worth of all the mills and
dams on the river and TO have furnished
each of our accomplished river officers
with handsome fortunes. When we
consider the large amount of money re.
ceived by sale of river lands, and the
great burthrn imposed upon the people
! by the gross neglect and mismanagement
of those having the care Of the Improve
meH, your committee are surprised at
the long forbearance manifested by the
citizens, with them, say, that for bearance
in this matter has ceased to be a virtue.
| We would most earnestly recommend
The calling on Saturday next, of con-
vention OF the citizens of the county and
the adoption by said convention of the
annexed resolutions, and The enforcement
of the same when called upon.
e.. III. G. GRIMMEL,
]. NJ. GRIFFiTH,
Signed +. X. Brooks,
J. e. JEwETT,
j. w. JONES.
Resolred, That experience has proven
that the Des Moines River is navigable
in its natural state for Steamboats, of 200
tons burthen, from to months in the
year, from the mouth TO this place.
ReSoi0ed, That O judicious applica.
ton of the funds arising from the sale OF
the lands appropriated by Congress for
the improvement of the navigation of
the Des Moines River by the erection of
Dams with Locks at the rapids in the
same, would render the river navigabIe
for Steamboats, from the breaking up of
the ice in the Spring TO the freezing up
of the same in the winter.
Resoioed, That the policy pursued by
the Board of Public Works, and Com
missioner of the river improvement, has
been ruinous to the interests of the citi-
zens of the Des Mones Valley and that
they have damned the river, the prospect.
~ of the valley and themselves by squan-
dering the funds accruing from the sale
of river lands, and obstructing unneces-
sarily the navigation of the river.
ReSotUed, That the old dams placed
in the river by certain individuals for
private interests are a public nuisance,
and have been declared such bv the State,
and have been suffered 10 remain as OBJ
siruc;ions to the navigation. through the
connivance of the river officers, appoint
ed or elected expressly to abate or re-
move the same.
Resoiued, That the people of the val
ley have with law-abiding patience suff-
cred their advancement in agriculture.
manufacture and commerce 10 be blight
ed, through the dereliction of their du-
~ by Commissioners of the river i'm
provemen,. and shat longer forbearance
would prove us to be lacking in spirit
and capacity TO redress our wrongs.
ResolCea. That while we have the
most implicit confidence in the integrity
OF the present river Commissioner, Judge |
Bonney, and his colleagues, Messrs. G.
@. v right and u. Biggs in their speedy |
action for the removal of these inpedi- |
menis, we are determined that our rights |
shall be respected.
ReSoiued, That Messrs. Jewett, Ba-
ker and Griffith. be appointed commit
tee TO correspond with those known TO
be interested in the immediate navigation |
OF the river, residing in the towns OF La
Fayet,e, Pella, Eddyyille. Ottumwa,
keosauqua, Bentonsport. Bonapart and |
Pennington. TO call together the citizens
of said town and county and fx upon a
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