The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-03-11
The River Improvement.

n Three meetings were held IN this city tue
past week to consider the matter of the pro-
posed settlement of the State, with the River
Company. and the proposed, diversion of the
grant to the purposes Of railroad The first
we did. The attendance at the two first we
learn was slim, that of the last, Monday
EVENING" was better, but not numerous
Judge Hendershott read the report of commit
tee appointed to draft resolutions on the sub
ject, to the afectas near as we could gather
from bearing them read, that the diversion
proposed was desirable, but owing to the COM
mitfee not being in possession Of all the facts
bearing on the question, the expression Of an
opinion in regard to the terms of settlement
with the company, was declined. The meeting
was addressed by Messrs. Hendershott, Big.
ham and Caldwell. The resolutions were adop-
ted. We shall publish them this week, if we
get copy in time, il not, next week.
Only one word at present, in relation TO this
subject. It is apparent that the further I'm
provement of the Des Moines River, cannot
be did; that the public Laye lost confdenc. in
it, and that public sentiment is about unani-
nous, in favor of diversion Of the grant if
it can be done on fair terms. The terms Of
settlement purposed are the conveyance Of
81 900 acres more of land to the company and
the REIMBURSEMENT by the latter to the State.
Of everything pertaining TO the Improvement
and paying $4,000 Indebtedness, Perhaps as
good terms as could be expected.
There are two things that ought to be avoid
ed if this arrangement takes place. 1t is pro.
posed that the State complete the works, to
Keosauqua inclusive. This may be right but
It will be folly to make the completion and
support of those works . tax on the land
which it is proposed to divert to railroad,
for the reason that the object would be very
apt to absorb the whole, if not involve the
State beside, to say nothing of the Injustice to
the upper and middle valley of lavishing the
whole grant upon the lower 40 miles of the
Improvement. Give the mill owners, and
contractors upon these works preferred claim
upon the small fraction of the grant unexp.nd-
ed, and our word for. it, the benefit railroad
would derive From the diversion would be ex-
ceedingIy insignificant. 1t would be better TO
sell the works at once, for any amount they
would bring, and let private enterprise keep
them up, at least if it is intended that the up
per valley is to derive any benefit from this
magnificent appropriation. The other thing
that ought, it seems to us, to be kept in view
is q judicions arrangement to secure a railroad
- nearths riveras possible, and in the, short
est practicable time. The proposed diversion
Is approved of because confidence in the COM
pletion Of the locks and dams has been lost,
and because failing in that. the people Of the
valley desire the next best thing, railroad
We have every confidence that the legisIa-
tre will see to it that the interests Of the STATE
and Or the people Of this Valley are protected
and promoted in any arrangement which they
may make, and we also have confidence in the
managers Of the valley railroad, believing that
j judicious contract can Be entered into with
them. It will be well, however, for the mem
bsrs from this County to watch the corners
sclose1y, For there are always plenty of specn-
iators about Legislatures, Interested 70 give to
such measures direction that will subserve
local or personal ends. There viii be land
enough in the grant, after settling with The
present company, upon the terms proposed, il
.iudieionsiy applied, to complete railroad ia
Des Moines, upon the basis slresdy establish,
ed BY the present enterprising company.