The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-09-12
The Des MeAnes Rivsr improvement
...AII right and gsiMg ahead.

new president OF the Dcs MONIES Navigation
Company, and Vim. McAipine, Consulting
Engineer on the Work, honored our sanctum
with call Yesterday.
We were extremely gratifed to learn from
them, and TO be able to assure our readers,
that the affairs of the Company are now in
very favorable condition, and that ample
preparations have been made for prosecuting
the Improvement with great vigor to final
completion. All the difficulties which have
heretofore retarded the operations of the
COMPANY have been overcome, and all the
necessary prelimin arrangements have
been settled, and now the undivided energies
Of the officers Of the Company will DO given
to the prosecution Of the work on tho river.
Tho capital stock Of the Company is three
million dollars, and the Stockholders include
several among tho wealthiest, most .agacious
and experienced operators on public improve
ments to be found in the country, of whom
Edwin C.. Litch6eld, John Stryker, Elisha c.
Litchheld, Henry Ten Eyck, Horatio Sey-
mour, and VIM. c. johnson are Directors
These six men alone are probably worth, in
the aggregate, the entire amount of the cap
ital stock of the Company, and the Company
is therefore amply able to construct the i'm
provement. They have first rate contract
from the State, upon which they can realize
an immense profit, and their reputation and
honor, Us we'll as their pccuniary interest, is
involved in the completion of the contract.
/ Tho company have already expended, in
! liluidating the liabilities Of the State and its
expenditures on the work, one hundred and
/ forty mine thousand seven hundred and sixty
two dollars and fifty cents. Contracts have
been Let by the Company for seven new
locks and dams, and for tho alteration of
five others, built by the State. This em5ra-
ces the entire Improvement from St. Francis
Vile to Ottumwa; upon part of these the
work is already progressing, and the con-
tractors are preparing to commence on the
rest without further delay. In the mean
time the officers Of the Company are about
to fix upon plan for the improvement be-
low st. Francisyille, and put that also under
contract as speedily as possible.
AT last, then, VIC feel entirely sat6ed that
this great work of tho improvement of the
navigation of the Des Moines River ~ really
going ahead, under the happiest auspices,
with the most assured prospect of final com
Fiction.
With this Improvement under way, and
work on the various Railways projected
through the valley, in progress, an immense
immigration will be drawn into the Des
Moines Valley during the next two or three
years, and the resources Of that unrya allied
region of country will be developed and in
creased almost beyond imagination.
A GREAT CAsf.-The "glorious uncertain
ty of the law y has recently been happily H.
lustsatcd ~ u case in the District Court,
which has furnished no little amusement for
oil concerned. 1t seem. that our venerable
friend Curtis sued our friends Scocs and
Turner for the sum Of five dollars. The
case was submitted to Judge Lowe at the
last term Of the Court. The only question
was whether the defendants were liable ndi-
vdually or as School Directors. On this
point the testimony was so positive and con-
Trajectory, and the arguments of learned
counsel so able and profound. that the Judge,
after due amusement, declared his inability
to decide the case, and reserved it for jury
trial at the present term.
Accordingly few days since, the regular
Jury being out, six lawyers were empanclcd,
SIX lawyers were employed to manage and
argue the case, and one lawycr,---the Patri-
nch of the Keokuk Bar, was brought up as
a witness. Immense powers Of intellect and
great stores of learning were expended to
cnlighten the minds Of the jury, yet the jury
couldn't agree. Three stood one way, and
three stood another. And, in spite Of the
order of Court to agree upon their YER
dict, they obstinately determined to disagree.
So the Court was not relieved at ell, and, as
the case must be decided in some way, and
it was not denied that Curtis was entitled to
his FIVE dollars, the Judge gave judgment for
him accordingly. Whether Scoles and Tur-
ner are adjudged to pay in their capacity Us
individuals or as School Directors doth net
appear, though it does appear that judgment
carries costs, and the costs are some twenty
odd dollars, besides the fees of lawyers.
CALIFORNIA; news.
The Steamship Northern Light arrived at
Ax,xr Xr,rG ~. ~. az