Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-06-11

with copious references to the statutes.
This volume digcsts the decisions of the |
Court touching Abatement, Account,
Acknowledgement, Action, Action of |
right and SO on upon all subjects, the
first letter of which is A down to, and
inclusive Of the letter f. The subjects
are admirably classified and subdivid-
ed, making the work invaluable to
every lawyer where the Iowa Reports
are consulted as authority. The other
volume of the Digest will follow soon
as il is now in press, which will COM
pletc the work.
The Fort 81. Philips Canal.
On Friday, June 9Th, the Hon. Geo.
McCrary Of this State, gained sig
nal triumph in the House in the pass
age Of the bill adopting the plan
of the improvement Of Che
month Of tho Mississippi by
by providing for The construction Of
the Fl. st. Philip canal. The Com.
mittee on Railways and Canals have
had the subject under advisement for
several weeks, and . majority of that
COMMITTEES reported a bill adopting
the Esds plan of constructing jetties
combining the waters OF the river at its
month, and deepening the channel.
This bin was reported by
Gen. Hurlbut, Of Illinois. The mi
nority report was made by Mr.. Nc.
Crazy, and he presented a substitute
providing for the canal. s
In addition to this, Gen. Garfield, of
Ohio, offered q substitute providing
for the appointment ola commission
by the President, consisting of three
eminent engineers-one from the.
army, another from the navy, and the
third from civil life, to examine the
mouth Of the river and make q report
to the next Congress. The House
first disposed OF the substitute offered
by Gen. Garfield by refusing to re.
consider the vote by which the previ-
GUS question was seconded, and so re-
jccted his substitute. McCrary then
pressed his substitute for the bill, and
it was adopted. The bill thus amend.
cd. being the one presented by Nc
Crary, passed the House by the decis-
i've vote 40 yeas to so nays.
1t will be remembered that some
days ago we alluded to an editorial in
the st. Louis Democrat, which ar
raigned Mr.. McCrary for supporting
the canal plan, and said that it was be-
gotten in corruption, and regretted
that our Iowa Congressman who had
hitherto borne good name should be
favorable to such a project which
bought its way into favor Afterwards,
however, the Democrat disclaimcd
|.charging Mr.. McCrary with corrup-
ton. It's charge and disclaimer we
published, but it certainly was difficult
for anybody else but itself to see how
the Democrats first article could have
been otherwise interpreted than q
stigma upon the reputation Of Mr..
McCrary. However this may be, the
Democrat ought certainly to be salts.
fed that it was in error throughout,
or else there must be sort of whole
sale swindling operation in Congress,
since the vote was nearly two to one
in favor of the canal. At all events
it seems we were rightsome days ago,
believing SO far as we could upon the
strength of one mans Judgment, in
saying, as we did, that we had no
faith whatever in the Democrats
charge of corruption, but was strong
ly inclined to the belief that the canal
plan was the better, because Mr.. Nc.
Crary favored it, not having ourselves
the data from which to make up an
opinion.
On general principles VIC would say
that it is extremely difficult, if mot en-
tirely impossible, TO improve any of
the many natural mouths of the Miss
issippi beyond the power of the spring
freshets in that great river destroy
ing them, by either sweeping them
away, or by depositing its immense
sand or alluvial deposits in the chan
mel, so as to render it worthless.
Therefore, on general principles, we
would say that passage by canal,
and so out of the way of the current
ofthe river, in the low marshy ground
at it mouth, is really, the only practi-
cal way to ever make the navigation
at its outlet permanently and always
good. This seems to be the judgment
of very large majority of Congress,
and we feel assured that it is correct.
We congratulate our honorable men,
Der on his success. This, together
with the passage through the House
of his transportation bill, has given to
him q reputation in the House second
to no member on the floor. If the
Democrat would lay aside it's roost-
or" photography it would cease to
display its bantam qualities.
The bill provides for an sppropria-
ton OF $4,000, or SO much as may be
required to make the necessary SUR
vey under the direction of the Secrc-
tary of War; that the canal shall be
not less than 200 feet wide at the bot
tom and not less than twenty five feet
in depth; that 1t shall be erected and
maintained at the expense of the Gov
eminent and shall be free to all ma
tons.
It is not to'excced in cost $4,000. 900
aud is to be completed within three
years from the beginning of the work
thereon.
s'Laicns" a correspondent of the st.
Louis Democrat, has Communication
in the last Sunday issue of that paper