The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-05-06

S6l6i $l776 S2262 s2osl 81. 2sS
Making the total expenditure on these sew
en- looks and dams up to the! st Of April, 1856,
less than Sl3, 900, while their total cost
when completed will be over $3.50, 900. SO
much for the energy of this Company, and
their untiring exertions in the prosecution Of
the work. It may be quite probable that the
people of Iowa do not feel the same pleas
ure as Mr.. President Johnson seems to enjoy
IN this kind OF progress of the work
Query; how many years would it require to
complete the Improvement Of the Des Moines
River at this rate of progress which Pres
ident johnson is so much pleased with?
The examination Of the sacrifice made by
Mr.. johnson may be refreshing for its cool
ness. 1t would be so in dog days. He SAYS,
Ito ensure the completion of these By the
LIST Of March next, entered into new cove
| nants with the contractors, at some sacrifice
! 10 the interest Of the company" The sac
rihce referred to was made by reducing the
! contractors prices for masonry from Sc rs
/ "a = - per cubic yard TO S4 90 "a 81 %
his sacrifice is supposed to be in Keeping
+ with the many other liberal sacrifices which
this company have so generously made in
their dealings with the citizens Of Iowa
Mr.. Johnson says, ''as some m4sconception
exists" as to the character Of the work w
arc doing, he asks the attention Of the del
egates to the ''printed contract and specif
cations which he submits with his letter
''under which all work now let is progress
4 ing; and as they are approved by two oil
the ablest engineers of our country, they may
safely challenge criticism Ii may be quite
true that Mr.. johnson did secure the endorse.
ment OF two able engineers 10 the speei6.
cations referred TO, and if the opinion OF
those "two of the ablest engineers of oul
country" shall not have the magical power
Of changing inferior into superior masonry
, and transmitting quick lime into greater ad
hesive qualities than that Of hydraulic ce.
ment, for the benefit Of the people of Iowa
it will accomplish that which is no doubt NOR,
desirable, i. e., it will put all that is lost BY
the State IN the quality and durability OF
? the work In gold into the pockets of thi.
: Company. And ehis was no doubt foreseen
, By our sagacous Commissioner.
But suppose that the State should be sat
iShed with the prospect left it by the las
modified contract, and with the specification.
{ approved by two of the ablest engineers
&C., &C., does Mr.. Johnson, as the "orgar
and executive officer OF the COMPANY. in.
tend to carry out and in good faith build tht
, work according TO those specifications By
49, bN uhsopulSlOClltu people Oh
, the Des Moines Valley cannot hatter them.
selves with SO desirable an accomplishments.
The work in process of construction now os
tenslbly under those specifications is to be
OF character much inferior to even thei,
: requirements. 1t Is true that the contractors
Z signed contracts with those specifications
: Ito satisfy the credulous people of Iowa.
and II IS equally true that they steadily re-
fused to do so until they had secured PIRATE
arrangements with the Company or its Presi-
dent, TO the end that they should be allowed
10 do much cheaper and inferior kind of
work. Ihis rapacious Company, not salts
he'd with modification after modification. al
ways IN then favor and against the State,
with concession after concession, (when even
oihcial sagaclty could sec no reason for fur
ther mouihcatton or concession have pre-
pared to secure by diplomatic skill what
could no longer be hoped for from official
favor. 1t desires the rich lands of the grant
at the smallest possible expenditure. and to
secure that object it has armed itself with
the opinion of ''two Of the ablest engineers
OF our country il has published formula
ble specifications its President has written
/ q modifying letter to our indignant delegates
! IN Congress all Of which it i expected will
dazzle the eyes of our good people to such
! an extent that they will be unable to see
whether the Company adheres to its contract
ornot, or have the effect of making them oil
+ 50 commercially sagaoious that they will
follow the illustrious example Of Mr.. Com
missioner Mckay and prefer the interests Of
/ the Company to that OF the State.
Mr.. johnson assures the delegates in Con-
gress that it was 'sCommissoner Mckay.
who, with commendable sagacity, foresaw in
the costly structure Of the then plans, The er-
hdustion Of all the grant before the i'm
prorement could be hay effected, and the
+ consequent probable loss 10 the State Of its
benefts.'
| 1t might have been we'll for Mr.. johnson