Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-29
Law Authorizes Election of Three
Men to Improve Streams.
PASSED BY LEGISLATURE In MARCH
II Acted Upon in ottumwa 1t viii
Doubtless Do Away With Much DAM
age to Goods on Account of High
Water.

according TO law Wnlcn was pass
ed on March IA, by the Twenty-ninth
general assembly of Iowa, cities of the
first class with less than $500 popula-
ton may, when 500 electors so petition
have a commission composed OF three
men, known as the river front improve
ment commission, the work of which
commission shall be to improve the
channels of meandered rivers which di-
vide corporate cities, like the Des
Moines divides Ottumwa, and to re-
claim the lands between the meander-
ed lines of these streams within the
corporate limits The Des Moines riv-
er, as shown by maps and as remem-
bered by many an old citizen, has
changed its course to a very great de-
gree in the past thirty or forty years
and is even now making changes along
its course and near Ottumwa. Ottum-
wa may, if 500 electors so desire, take
advantage Of this law and improve the
river front in the city, thus avoiding a
great deal of damage to property
which will otherwise be injured much
II high water comes again.
The New Law.
The new law is as follows:
An act to authorize the improvement
of the channels of meandered streams
dividing the territory within the cor
porate limits of certain cities and to
authorize the retaining of lands be-
tween the meandered lines of said
streams within said corporate limits
and to create a commission therefore
and defining it's powers and prescrib-
ing its duties.
Whereas. The title to the beds of
the meandered streams in Iowa, includ
ing all the land between the meander.
ed lines of such streams is vested in
the state of Iowa and under control OF
the legislature; and,
Whereas, Much of said lands be-
tween the meandered lines of such
streams is land not needed by the wa
tiers o. such streams for channels or
water courses; and,
Whereas, Such lands as lie within
the corporate limits of said cities
would be Of great value to the public
il reclaimed by walls or entertainments
to secure an adequate channel for such
streams: and,
Whereas, The courses of such
streams through such cities would be
beautified and made regular and sani-
tary and the expense of bridging great
ly reduced, where they are now I'M
slightly, irregular, unsanitary and of
such great width that the expense of
bridging and maintaining bridges is
very great; and,
Whereas, The state can make no
use of said lands and has an interest
in the improvements of the channels OF
streams; therefore,
BE it enacted by the general assem-.
bly, of the state of Iowa:
Petition by Citizens.
That whenever five hundred elect
ors of any city whose corporate limits
are divided by meandered stream
shall, in writing, petition the governor
of this state for the appointment of a
commission, as provided for by this
act, he shall within one month there
after appoint three electors, residents
of the city of the said electors so pc
titioning, who shall constitute a body
corporate, to be known as the rivel
front Improvement commission Of
-------- inserting in said blanl
the name of the city OF the said elect
ors SO applying.
Election.
''That one commissioner shall be
elected at each biennial city election
after the passage of this act to sue
coed one OF the commissioners so an
pointed, whose term shall expire wher
his successor is elected and qualified
orsanization-Secr etary-Treasurer.
The commissioners shall, within