Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-05-26


indeed beautiful stream and though ob.
s.-uctet ar,ificially by dams, and at low
waite, naturally by boulders or loose
rock, and in consequences Of falling some
1888 feet in its decent from II. Des
Moines, distance. OF 2O4a6s.lOO miles
by rapids also. ye: it is not necessarily
difficult or dangerous stream to navi.
gate. The dana can easily be removed
as they ought 10 have been years ago;
tie boulders can be blasted for $4,000;
and a few wing dams at places where the
river expands, would furnish us 3 feet OF
water in all seasons..
. Bun what is the use Of talking and
writing necessarily on This subject, il
may besasked! We longssince in fact
became tired of i, and should ne, have
REQUIRED to ii again. at least in SO ex-
tended manner, had we moi been, in
numerous instances most earnestly urged
10 do SO; 80 much 50. that Whatever our
opinion may BERN relation to the prob
able effect Of the present lroT past sim
liar efforts, to remain silent would be
criminal. The cry is universal and
imperative that something must. be
done, and tina. without farther delay
Aboa, has been stranded in the River,
other boats before have been lost In the
same way, and one inshe came spot; a
valuable cargo Of goods has been Lost,
and many Of our citizens are con,emplas-
ing, with feelingsof indignation and dis
the marring or wreck Of
their business hopes and prospects;
goods are high and prosperity, which is
spreading yerdure and gladness all .
round us, is pushed back from urbord-
ers, through the instrumen.ality of this
Des Moines River Improvement or mis-
improvement. Public opiniou, insnlted
and outraged, demands wha, shall be
done!a ~
In the present state Of things, ills idle
to talk and speculate about the past, and
What has been, and what VIII be done by
the Board of the Des Moines Improve
men.. We wan. action. The dams
mast be taken out. and lsepf out of she
River. in the first place; and in the. next
place the boulders mus, be blown oni. -
This We say mus. be done, and it will be
done the present season; either BY the
Board or by the pei themselves, -
Public sentiment is iro1 30 determined
or this subjec. here, and stronger if
possible, farther on up the eriver. Al
Fl, Des Monies public opinion is at the
boiling point. and has recen.ly found ex,
preston in PUBLIC meetings Of an @unus-
uailysexciting charac.er.
What will be fhe result of the renew
ed agitation of this subject which ap.
pears to be impending, so far as the form
Of the remedy which may be found. is
concerned, we cannot predict; but we
cherish the belief that mode OF redress
viii be discovered We close ibis ar
,icle with few suggestion OF our own
which can be taken for what they are
worth. An
In ,he firs. place there aretwo things
to be done-clearing out the dams and
removing,she bodlders, and there are two
ways of doing it; one by the State, who
has the funds in her hands for thatob.
lect, and laws on her Statute book re-
quiringaiis appropriation; the other by
the people. WI. greatly prefer to have
the State do il, ifshe will, and 10 this
end we-sugges.ihas The committee apz
pointed al the Iowaville Convention con-
fer swilhthe improvement Board, and in:
vite them. If in their wisdom shey should
deem j, best, toanske the order appro-
pria,ing the. necessary amount ofahe first
available funds to this object, and avneih-
er successful o. not in the application. g
make known the result at once TO the
public. This committee we believe TO
be still authorized to act in the
Uses, and can do il promptly and
emily. If the application to the 30
should be unsatisfactory. or nntAy oIable.
las we will not presume thai II may be,
the power to act in the premisess and the
duty also being conceded, and the re-
ceip.s from the land sales now amount
ing to some $4,000 weekly;) then let a
convention of the people be called. and
steps takento raise subscription. and
make preparations to act as soon as the
river receeds sufficiently to commence
the work. We know Of menawho stand
ready, willinglYs and cheer nEly to con-
trihuie larpely To this object. and we