Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-02-05
IsieGyS THE CAPITOL


some conception OF what will likely be done.
The dry detail Of business you can obtain
from the daily papers; this however, at your
distance from the Capital is very uRsatisfac-
tory. To supply this deficiency, should be
the object Of your correspondents.
The present system Of County Government
has been before both branches of the Legis-
laturc, in various forms. Without doubt,
there is a majority Of the members opposed
to the present law yet there is an equally
strong doubt whether a majority can unite
on any other plan. The enemies Of the Su-
pervisor system are very sanguine that it will
be done away. If anything is done, it will
be merely reducing the Misunderstanding
from Districts, instead Of Townships, and
make them County instead Of toscnship Off
cers-to be elected by the entire vote of the
! County, so that the soldiers can vote for
them. At present there are several counties
ruled by copperhead Supervisors, and repre-
sented in the Legislature by good Union
men.
There is vexed question to be settled rel
alive to some of the lands sold by the State,
as Des Moines River Improvement Lands
Your readers are aware, that some II years
! ago, Congress granted to the State of Iowa
every alternate section for five miles on either
side of said River, for the purpose Of making
slack-water navigation. The State supposed
the grant extended from Keokuk to the Min
nesota line, and accordingly sold large guam
titles Of land north Of the mouth of the Rae
coon Fork to individuals, giving warrantee
deed. In 1885, Congress made grant to
the State of certain lands, as trustee for four
different Railroads. Two of said roads cross
the Des Moines north of this City, and con-
sequent'y across the lands sold by the State
north of the Rsccoon Fork. Said Railroads
believing the State had no right to sell said
lands, and that consequently they belonged
to the United States at the time of the grant
to the Railroads, they claimed the lands, and
brought suit for them. The Supreme Court
Of the United States has decided that the
grant to the State did not extend above the
mouth Of the Raccoon Fork, and that the
lands claimed by the Roads, belong to them
whenever they comply with the terms of the
grant
Your correspondent is not aware of the
amount Of lands in this predicament. 1t is
stated that about 81 900 acres belong to the
Marshall road. These lands have been bought
in good faith-pad for-been improved
and are now mostly occupied by the farmers
along the valley above and below Boonsbor-
ough. Those belonging to the Roads above
named are worth probably on an average $40
per acre-most Of them being timber lands.
This makes the nice little sum of $4,000.
Now, the State will either have to buy off the
present occupants or buy off the Railroads.
The Dubuque and Sioux City road is in
the Same situation. We believe, however,
the land in dispute is not so great in amount.
Nor is this all. There is large quantity of
land north of this city along the Des Moines,
which the State has sold to individuals with
out any right, and which is not claimed by
any Railroads.
These are questions requiring all the ingc-
nuity Of Legislators to settle satisfactorily to
alIparties, with so limited Treasury as they
have at their command. Yet the question
has to be met.
There are several Institutions and objects
asking for large donations from the State
Treasury, this winter.
Congress granted to the State of Iowa, ff.
teen months ago, 100000 acres Of land, for
the purpose of establishing State Agricul.
tural College, on condition, that the State has
such College in full operation in five years
from the date of the grant. The lands have
been selected by your fellow citizen P. Ne.
lcndy, Esq, than whom, no better selection
could have been made in The State. None of
these lands can be used to erect College build
ings. SO the State will have to furnish the
funds (about $50 COO or ignobly forfeit the
grant. To thus forfeit it, would be a stain
on our State for enterprise, and injustice to
the great farming interest of our people,
Our State University at Iowa City, which
is nobly struggling for an enlarged existence,
With large portion Of its endowment fund
squandered by corrupt and inefficient agents,
also asks for help. The old Capitol building,
the nucleus around which they are striving
to put up such buildings as will meet the
wants of the Institution, is poorly arranged
for a College edifce. This University was
originally intended for boarding the students,
but as yet, they have not room for recita.
tons, library, chapel, and rooms for the Pres
ident and Professors. They therefore ask
the present Legislature for sum sufficient
to put up another building This cannot be
done short of $4,000. Where is the money
to come fron9
The Penitentiary at Fort Madison is over
run with boarders. This Institution has
strong claims on Our charity! A plan of
enlargement has oeen projected for it, which
will cost about 100000. The Legislature
will probably send down q committee of sci
entiic mechanics to ascertain If a building
of less proportions, or less cost, cannot be
constructed, that will protect our friends
there from the stormy blasts. They will have
to do with less.
The Blind Asylum, at Vinton, asks with
very good grace for $4,000. The Insane
I Asylum wants twice that sum. The Deaf and
Dumb ask for home. At present they are
in rented house, at Iowa City. AS they are
rather Dumb on the subject, it is expected