Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-02-26

porations and individuals lu the State, is here
at work for evil, in all.oe its strength. The
company is composed Of a set Of New York
copperheatls, of whom, Gov Seymour is one
ef the principals. But, say you, how can
these men have an influence on our Legisla.
turc, for so much evil
The Des Moincs river runs diagonally 700
miles through the State, until nearly half of
the members are more or less mixed up with
its interests. The questions of lands in dis
pute, in various shapes and forms, amounts
to millions of dollars in value and by raising
a auas generally, they may DC benefited, and
cannot be harmed.
The State contracted with them to con-
struct slack water nayigation'from the mouth
Of the. .Des Moines to the Raccoon Fork, for
which, they were to have all the lands grant
cd to the State for that purpose. 1t was
then contendcd by some that the grant was
| five miles wide from the mouth to the source
of the Des Moines, which is about 100 miles
into Minnesota. The Company went at the
work, but the State, in a few months, was in
the situation Of the gentleman who hired the
Irishman to sing for him day. The Irish
man knew nothing about tune or time, but
at 1t he went with all his might. He raised
all the neighbcrs and frightened all the do
ncstic animals from the farm. And the farm.
er was glad TO give him five dollars to quit
So with the Des Moincs River Navigation
and Railroad Company. They cared moth
ing for the interests of Iowa OF her people.
After spending the Sl63, ,ocO on tho dams on
the river, and having an account Of $l27,0o0
for officers salaries, and it being evident 10
all that the company was dGmajag the Navi-
CATION, instead Of daMing the River, the
State compromised with thcm--gavc all she
had-acknowlcdged she had been oyerreach
ed, and vas willing to get out of the scrapc
second best. The State quit claimed her
lands to .the. company. But at last il was
settled that the State had no right to the
lands above tho Raccoon Fork, aud so the
Navigation company get no title except to
the lands below that point, which were worth
twice all the wor. they done for the State.
They were estimated by good judges to be
worth 81 ,Oo0,C while the work done, and
including the enormous charge Of $l21Coo
for salaries, was only 100000.
But, says the reader, what are they after
now? They think, if they can by the aid Of
the Legislature, resume the land grant
stop all the work on the rail roads,-inyoye
all the lands connected herewith in doubt
ful tilc--and raise Cain generally, they can
be able TO to stc0l something. How will they
10 it? After tho lands are resumed by the
State, they viii through their agents in the
Legislature, propose 10 the ral roads, that il
said roads will quit claim TO them about
', $500 600 worth Of lands which. they former
ly claimed, but have no right or title TO lc
gally or cqnitably, they will gracously re
grant TO said roads the balance Of said lands
This Navigation company have about the
power over the Legislature, that Lola Monies
once had over one Of the kings Of Germany
The conmi' tea to whom the interests OF
> this company were referred, met on Friday
and Lawyer Finch, Of this city, appeared be
fore them to advocate the claims of the com,
, pany. This lawyer is well known Demo
, cratic stumper As Sheridan, Cor somebody
clSc) once said Of his opponent, Mr.. Finch
draws largely on his memory for his wit and
on his imagination for his facts. On Friday
. G. c. Cole, Esq appeared before the commit
tee on behalf Of the Cedar Rapids and Mis-
, souri, rail road and the country generally
Mr.. Cole is an able lawyer, and investigates
subject closely and makes every poin
clear. lie spoke one hour, then adjourned
till two o'clock today. This afternoon Tho
committee met in the Hall Of the Senate
there being no session of that body Mr.
Cole closed his arguments, and Mr.. Finch
followed, till night.
This matter is before a special committee
composed of the following Senator'S, 10 wit -
Woolson, of Henry; Hatch, of Polk; McCra
ry, of Van Buren,: Clarkson, of Grundy
Henderson, ofMarshall ; Shipper, of Monroe
> and Burdck, of Winncshiek
This is the great question of the session.
: moro interests involved and more parties
interested and more talent and other inlu
ences viii be brought to bear upon the issue
All the rail roads in the State--thc swamr
landslide $500, 900 indemnity grant, the
Dcs Moincs river grant, and some portion O
the school lands are involved.
There will probably be no change in tht
Supervisor system, this winter. The bill
making the County Judge Court Of Quar-
ter Sessions Or Common Pleas, ora County
Justice Of the Peace, has but few friends
1t is evident, however, that the increasing
business in our State will socn demand {
. Couit Of Quarter Sessions, held by a Judgt
with small circuits.
The bill for an Agricultural College build
. ing, will probably become a law in somo
shape-cither by approprating the full a
mount needed now; or by appropriatinl
y enough to inclose the building by the mex
meeting Of the Legislature. The TOWNSHIP
: Collector bill will fail for want Of friends
The Senate, the past week, refused 10 in
; crease the Governors salary--but did in
crease the Adjutant Generals from 81 800 t.
$4,000, by majority Of one vote. This, i
is pretty certain, is the orly salary that vii
be increased. The Supreme Court bill stil
hangs in the Senate. Its friends still hay
= hopes Of it. 1t passed the Senate once wen
!. : to the House, where it was amended by at
y taching to it a clause providing for its takin
I effect on its publication in the papers. With