Smyrna times., 1859-02-03

waiting at the shQa $ fer the rise of the tide tG
carry them snfely oyer. They have remained
'here sometimes for week before they sue
ceeded. 1t is quite common thing TO pole uc
and down the creek when the tide is low. A
iew weeks ago, sailor died suddenly; a coro.
ners inquest was held, and the verdict was
I" Death from heart disease" II w,s ., ii b;s
near' was injured by the arduous labor of polling
up ana down the creek. | have long been
aware that all this drudgery in navigation mi0bt
oe avoided by an economical expenditure of
money: 1t has long been contemplated bv onr
cI'izens' but for want of unanimiiy il has been
Procrastlnated from time to time. | have been
convinced that If my views could be carried ON,
with regard to this improvement of the creek.
That steamboats, could come within mile of
smyrna; yes, nearer, within half a mile of the
limits OF the town. The farmer would com.
mand better price for his produce-his landed
estate would increase in vaIue-the " Land.
ing " would soon become town. and Smvrpa
city. 10 accomplish these ends. drew nm
the following petition:
| - A''"' "'te I'&iSi"tUFP Of DC!uIC0rP,
~ """ I" S'SSi ~ at Dorer Your prtIlIoners
most respectfully solicu the ,,,oII ,,,,,,., af
twenty-five thousand dollars. to be- apnrnpylptea
towards the Improvement Of the ,,,,,,,,,,n,, ,f
buck Ir"ck. III cuIlluE u cnual ,hrouuh :. No
| Man Friend and rcnoyluu Ibr shoals y,
hoth"eIls LENDING, and other ohstructions
"hich impede the passage of vessels thai are
every uay trading from SMYRNA to PhIIadeI
phla, New York and Boston.
The words of Benton are very apnro,rio,o ~
just at THIS point: " Solitary and alone put
'hlS oall IN notion" headed the pettion NV
SELL ana obtained tae signatures of one hnndred
ana hity' as near as | can recolect. The wc,.
ther being lnclemcAt and the walkinr had 7
gave one Of my printed petitions to C.r,ai,,
su''uS scout TO Circulate at Smyrna Land.
'hS' knew the inhabitants there were ex.
ceedlngIy anxious for the petition to succced
a"u only waited an opportunity of signing it
had talked with many of them. sou,a ,,f v.l,,..
caiied al my house from time to time to look n,
'"o c"aF' was preparing. 1t was thought tina,
every man at The Landing would sign the p.t,.
Ioh II they had an opportunity of dolpU so-
captain Scout returned to me a Inst NOT eyc..I
'ng thlrty-thrce names, If INV n.u,,r, ,.,,,,...
"'e f'Sh'' Some one Of my family, without nv
NnO"Iedge' sealed them all together. TIM,
pacing The names of the Landing population
under the one hundred and lhIrfy.seven na,nns
mat hdd OblaINed, and then, under thatan,in
some twelve or more that / nrornr.d ., T.
Na''r"au Depot near Smyrna. Mr.. Isaac Short.
Que OF our Legislators, saw the Chart and p.,i.
ton several times while under Drogrcss 10
"h"m gave both in charge under promise thu,
ne was to let me know the day when the pcti.
"oh would be brought before the House. than
i'snt De present at the time. Judge Of my
surprise when | saw it announced IN the PEN.
mSut0 NeWS that the Petition of AvouS,,,v
Scout and others was presented, askinO thc
amount of $SCJ, 900 Tor the improvrmen, .,
Duck Creek, aud my name not men,,ooed I
VIII just say here that no person is more dis
gusted than. Capt. Scout. at such PROCEEDINGS
believe II was wholly unlhouoht of and nnd,
sired by him to have that part OF the honor an. !
ProprIated to himself which has been oss,.,,.od
him. II understand him, the laureIs won no
ano'ner ne would scorn TO wear. When ask
ed Mr.. Short how the petition came to he nre
sented IN Capt. Scouts name, he said (" il was ,ll
wrong; that the clerk took them apart and :, ID
II would not do that way" When asked how
1t was mat himself, Mr.. Brown and George w.
CunnIns, came to be designated by :be law as
'he persons TO attend to business for whicL tbnv
mad done nothing, not even as much as to spn
Dne name to the petition, which might have
'een uohe as that one was not member of the !
Legislature, he replied, that they were only an
pointed to receive the money from the Lotter,
I'D pay 1t over to other men who were 1o br
lpponted and have the superintendence of the
Work and improvements contemplated in the .
'reek. On my return to Dover, went to m, =
'rlntIng Office of the Reporter and obtained Il
oPy OF the law, and found that these three
'en'lemen above named have not only the re. 1
ewing "l the money, hut the power to expend Il
on any part of the creek that NAV suit their
lncy. To forestall any iniudicious exnendi. "
ure' 'here should be no time lost, ncr trouble
pared to have supplement added to that law
pecItylng on what particular places the i'm. "
royements shall be made III
Thus, Mr.. Editor, | have given you history n,
the rise and progress of the interest have Il
ken IN Duck Creek since 1851. And when | -
as about to succeed in this grand enterprise,
lat mad been neglected so long, was pushed
u OF the way, and others took my place ,
lay hey perform their duty as well as have r.
me mine, is the ardent desire of your humble pl
ne
GEORGE FINLEY MASON su
SMYRNA, Jan. 29th, 1859. OF
o, :, -=-'======= te
10 Farmers and GardenersI an
lie subscribers offer for sale ca OnO RARprIS oi