Demoine courier., 1854-11-23

We had contemplated writing an ar.
ticlc on this subject for TO days paper,
bu, the following article from the Keo
sauqus Union is SO near like wha, we
should have said, that We copy it. Mr..
O'Rielly has his Office at this place ard
we have learned from him substantially
The same facts:
Navigation and Hydraulics Of the De-
moline River.
The genera, anxiety li,rougnou, The
Demoine Valley respecting the progress
of The River Improvement, is manifest
ing itself in lreqneni remarks from the
Press and from our fellow ciiizens along
Tire line OF the proposed works. .
Tile necessity for water power fur The
mills and other machinery requisite for
supplying the absolute wants OF rapid
iy increasing Popula,lon, is fell as strong
~ ns The want Of an improved naviga,
,ion of the river.
e In reply to our inquiry on those sub.
ices in a recent plumber Of this Journal,
The following information is derived from
Mr.. O'Rielly, the Secretary (who is also
one OF The Direc.ors) Of The Demoine
Company which has undertaken the
completion OF the River Improvement.
4 I. The Chief Engineer, edward r.
Blackwell, Esq.,, was directed in Au.
gust to cause thorough surrey 10 be
made along the Den nine. so as to com
pare the results Of his survey with the
survey made several years ago under
State authority by Col. Curtis. and re
establish he landmarks, of which large
rortion have been swept away by the
flood of 1851. and other cncroachments
OF the river. a. ...
Q The Chief Engineer was also spe
cially required. by another resolution, to
repor, such portion Of lhe results OF
survey as would enable the Board Of
Directors TO place under contract this
fall sufliciency Of the locks and dams.
in consecutive order, to secure regular
navigation and the Improve ment of the
water power at the earliest practicable
period TO the highest point at which any
locks and dams are now in progress
(namely, at keosauqua)-m about
one fourth of The whole distance between
the Mississippi ard Fort Demoine--the
full proportion Of the work sci apart for
',he first Of the four years within which
The whole WORK belween those points
must be completed though. il is proper
10 add. in The authority Of Mr. O'RleIiy
that the improvement is intended to be
carried not crly to Fort Demoine, but to
For, Dodge and even higher ye, on he
Demoine.) ...... .....- ........
3. The Engineer corps Of ihe Demoine
Company. with Mr.. Blackwell. as chief,
and Mr.. Guy Wells as principal assist.
ant Engineer, has alieady surveyed The
river up to a point between Onumwa
and Fort Demoine, and will CONTINUE the
surrey II rough the winter aud till the
whole survey is completed = having camp
cquipage and other arrangements for en-
aiding them to continue the survey eff,
rien'ly, with view TO The earliest prac
,icable contracting for the whole work.
4. In reference TO the sales Of The
Lands reserved for the Demoine I'm.
rrovement, "a subjec, on which much
interest ia manifested throughout the
whole Demoine ValIey,) we may state
tina. Mr.. O'Ritlly expresses his belle
Mat portion OF those lands will be of.
iered for sale a; an early period of mex,
year, or rs soon as all examination and
: appraisal OF their value can be male
which examination and appraisal are re
CURED to be made 5v the contract be.
tween The State and the Company.
\ in conclusion we unhesialingly add
our confident belief that the entire work
will be completed by the Compan with
IN tie period named in the Contract with
the State.
At their own request The expense OIL
The work was increased by The enlarge.
mcni of the Locks, ahile no more land
or water power was obtained by them.
This change, so immensely important
10 the interest of the valley as connected
with the navigation Of The river, has in
creased the magnitude of ,ha work and
tie necessity OF thorough and scientific
sarvey as the basis uf operations-a mat,
Ter absolutely necessary to enable The
Company TO proceed Understandings in
The prosecution Of the work.
The delay inevitable IN starring sc
vas, an undertaking, requiring an invest
ment o: millions, must not be regarded
as any indication of failure or abandon
men, of the enterprise.
The Company has now expended
over 100000 since they signed The
contract, an omen very uniavorable 10
abandonment, and indicating anything
but, a ku,nbug.
The TACT is. there has been no delay.
The report Of The engineer upon the part
below this point was actually necessary
to enable the Company to proceed, and
no delay in the action or labors Of the
Engineers has existed for moment.
Capt. Bonney, the Commissioner, is
now in New York. lie is expected
here in Company with The President,
Gen. Orville Clark, by the ooh inst.
Mr.. O'Rielly has been here all the
time, except while few weeks. absent
for ais family. He is one of The direct
orc ord o0a ~ ,ba x,xst 4. IL o,an, Il a N