Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-21
CAPTAIN E. H. THOMAS GIVES HISTORICAL
AND RECENT FACTS ABOUT THE DIES MONIES

Some interesting historical facts
supplemented by some expression'
made by competent river engineers al
to the value OF the Des Moines river
for navigation and for water power
are contained in the latest contribu
ton from Capt. E. H. Thomas. Mr.
Thomas takes issue with those who dc
not believe that the stream can be
OF value In the following article:
As to the improvement of the Des
Moines river l notice that some Of the
newspapers and their correspondents
are still asking themselves lis it feas
ible A few Of them express the
opinion that 1t Is not, and call atten.
ton to former attempt" to create
slack water navigation and develop
the water power. AS the United
States engineers who have just com
pleted the survey, the board of en-
gineers and the war department have
all endorsed the project, there appears
to be no room for argument under this
head. The plans, specifications and
estimates for the twenty-three dams
and other work will be forwarded to
Washington within the next sixty
days. Later on those who have been
urging this Improvement expect an or.
der from the war department to open
the bridges, SO that the river can be
used by boats during the good water
months The navigation of the stream
for q portion of the year will certainly
secure appropriations to make the
river good for eight months The pro-
ject is in good shape, but as we go
along it is we'll enough to keep the
record straight Some of the stories
we read in papers are misleading. AS
to the former attempt to improve
the Des Moines river. The graft which
we hear so much about at the present
time, plan to secure something for
nothing, is not a modern invention.
From 1850 to 1861 large army of
grafters were invading Iowa, backed
by the capitalists of the east
All manner of swindles were sue
cessfully worked upon the good people
of Iowa and the socalled attempt to
improve the Des Moines river was one
of them. An incorporated company
known as the "Des Moines River I'M
provement and Navigation Co.," Sc
cured large grant of land along
the Des Moines river and agreed to
create slack water navigation and
develop the water power from the
mouth of the stream to Fort Dodge.
The company built five or six cheap
dams, transferred the lands to their
in the east, and then
the work on the Des
Moines river. The lawyers insisted
that, as the company had not complied
with the terms of the contract, 1t
could not hold the land, and that 1t |
would revert to the government But
the company did hold 1t, through a 7
decision of the United States supreme
court that the shylocks of the east
were innocent purchasers. While this
company was building the cheap dams,
other companies were working the
railroad graft. Thirteen counties of
Iowa voted bonds to secure railroads
which we're never built. One county
was handed package of two million
dollars. Under the same innocent
decision of the court, the
people were compelled to pay these
bonds, interest and principle. The
Des Moines river scheme was bad
enough. but when compared with the
gratis Of that period it looked
like small deal. The only connec-
ton the government had with the
former attempt" to improve the Des
Moines river was in being robbed of
many thousands of acres of the best