The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-05-01
The water Power Improvemsnt..s


The Water Power Improvement,
At length we have copy of the law which
was passed in the expiring hours of the recent
Illinois legislature, and which was to COM
nose all the difficulties and unravel all the en-
tanglements into which the proposed water
power Improvement at Ottawa had apparent.
lybecome involved. The advent of the law
was heraldcd by IN immense cackle over the
way, with the Wi dy announcements that this
act aosssd- ri' 1'st eas 3 =
every evidently means progress. While 1t
leaves the corporators free to avail themselves OF
its advantages, it also confers upon them power
to transit the rights granted to them TO any re-
sponsible parties who possess the means and the
disposition to go forward with the work. II rs
not improbable that the new corporation may
conclude to &c on with the enterprise them
selves. They are live, energetic men, and can
exert an influence here and away from here. sa
Whether such representation of the char
acter of the law is correct, will best appear
from its perusal, as follows: 49, ao AstK
Section i. Be it enacted &C., that an act en-
titled IAN oct to incorporate the Ottawa Manufac-
turing Company, and to authorize said Company
to build dam across the Illinois River, aud 70 use
the water power there created:" approved FEB.
18th. 1887 Is hereby revived and declared to be in
full force and effect. Ard section nine (s) thereof
amended 80 that the limitation therein contained,
shall be computed from the passage OF this act,
instead Of from the passage 81 sara orignai aci:
Section 2. Be it further enacted that section
one az of said original act, be so amended that
John b. Cation, Richard Thorne, Joseph o. Glover.
William Reddick. Herman Silver, George q. Camp
bell and their associates and successors, shall be
k.As~ AunV a
with all the powers, privileges and immsnit'es
conferred and provided, Il, said original act.
Section 6. Be it Fur.her enacted that section
two 2) of said original act be 80 amended that the
dam therein mentioned and described, may be re.
located, constructed and completed at any point
within five (5) miles above the mouth Of the said
Fox River, In said sectien mentioned.
Section 4. This act shall be deemed public
act and take effect from and after its passage, and
oil laws In conflict with 1t are hereby repealed.
There N nothing here about transferring
r;ghts to otter responsible parties" But to
understand the full scope and meaning Of this
law, brief sketch Of all the legislation on
this subject may be necessary. February 10,
1851, an act was passed creating the "Ottawa
Manufacturing Company" with power to build
dam across Fox River at the squeduct. Feb.
10, 1857, without interfering with the former
act, another charter was passed for On sofia
va Manufacturing Company" with power to
build a dam across the Illinois river. This
charter limited the time for commencing work
under it to two years, and as no work was
commenced, it expired by limitation. Feb.
l6, 1865, another act was passed amending
the charter granted in 1851 by authorizing
the Company also to build q dam across the
Illinois river; and Feb. 10, 1857, this last &C,
was further amended by authorizing the city
of Ottawa to subscribe 100000 stock in the
Company.
The Company thus created has made all the
necessary surveys to enable it to commence
work, and has had its surveys revised and APP
proved by Gen. Wilson, Of the War Depart.
ment. 1t is fully organized and has purchased
or has contracted for convcyances of some $50
acres ofland. 1t has subscriptions to itsstock
to the amount Of $4,000, we believe, besides
an authorized subscription of 100000 BY the
city Of Ottawa. Why this Ottawa subscrip.
Gon was never actually made, and why the
Company has received no more private sub.
scriptions of stock, and has not actually com.
menced the construction of its dam and races
long ago, are mattess that have been hercto-
fore fully ventilated in theae columns.
Suffice II TO say, that the ''hitch" Wa such
as to leave Ottawa without hope of seeing the
work accomplished by that Company, and
there was casting about for some 'sothsr ar
arrangement" After . good deal Of nsgotia.
tion. virtual contract was entered into with
a capitalist Of this city, whose word Is as
good rs John Jacob Astor's bond, that if the
city Of Ottawa would give him bonus Of
$4,000 in money, he would guarantee tho
completion Of the improvement within wears
The city had voted 100000, with no hone
of return from the Investment beyond what
shonld result from the general advancement in
values in consequence of the improvement.
1t was believed to be good thing to get on
with. $4,000 instead; and at a very large
public meeting our people cordially endorsed
the project The Company, complying with
Che general wish of the people, had agreed to
convey all Its lands and purchases to the capi.
talist in question; and to perfect the whole
business q bill was despatched to Springfield
aor passage by the legislature, authorizing the
city to vote the proposed bonus, .q 81.
instead of the act asked, the legislature, at
The lnssigation clearly OF opponents Of the