USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens > Part 11
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"Gold none; silver none." This caused a re- action; the spell cast over the minds of men was broken, and there was no more gold land sold at fancy prices. The bubble collapsed. Briscoe lingered for a time, but finally went to Montana, where there is gold, and there engaged in a series of speculation, but none of these is a proper subject for a history of Wapello county.
It is perhaps unnecessary to add that the land on which Briscoe's "mine" was heated is now regarded as valuable only for agricul- tural purposes. There is no gold in paying quantities in the county: gold is widely dif- fused and the metal is found in small quanti- ties almost everywhere; it has been ie und in the gulches of Agency township and on Tur key creek, in Keckuk township. but there is not enough of it to pay the expense of - eur- ing it. The only persons that derived any benefit from the Brisene fever were the land owners in the vicinity, who wisely sold "min- cral" rights of the land itself to the city syn- dicates. It is to the credit of Major Ham- ilton, who at that time published the Courier, that he discouraged the craze through the col- umns of his paper. It was his belief then, as it was also the belief of others, that there never was a grain of gold found on Bear Creek. If is to be noted that the victims of the craze were business men of Ottumwa, and those who profited by it were farmers and owners of poor land, that was not then and is not now re- garded as worth much for agricultural pur- poses .
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CHAPTER XV
KELLEY'S ARMY AND HIS FLEET OF FLAT BOATS
WAPELLO COUNTY INVADED BY A HORDE OF ORGANIZED TRAMPS, WHO CAME ON FLAT BOATS DOWN THE DES MOINES RIVER.
In the spring of 1894 an "army" of dis- contented men. tramps and adventurers, gath. ered in Nebraska and other Western States. and at last entered Iowa at Council Bluffs. marching on foot and in wagons until they reached Des Moines. They terrorized com- munities, not by actual acts of violence, but by their numbers and threats, and in this way secured subsistence from towns, cities and the farmers. By the time the "army" reached Des Moines it numbered about 1,000 men, all under the command of | were met by Mayor La Force and a delegation Charles T. Kelley, who assumed the title | of citizens and aldermen of Ottumwa. It was of "General." He was a shrewd kind of ad- ! thereupon agreed that when Kelley and his | "navy" arrived at Ottumwa the city wouldl contribute. General Kelley had prior to this sent the following message: "To the citizens of Ottumwa: Desiring to give my men a day in which to rest and clean up a bit, and desiring also not to appear improvident, I have requested Mr. Harry ,Leason, of the Courier, to ask for 75 pounds of coffee and a quantity more of meat. . Also to ask the to- venturer and had great power over his lot of ragamuffins. The State and municipal offi- cers at Des Moines entered into ne- gotiations with the "army," and the city authorities and citizens contributed to a fund to feed the "army". After vain- ly importuning the railroads to give the men transportation, all hands set about to build flat boats, which were to be embarked
at Des Moines and float down the Des Moines River. After a delay of several days at Des Moines the boats were built. and the Kelley- ites, about 1.000 in number. embarked on over 100 boats. In the course of time the "fleet" arrived within the borders of Mahaska County and Col. A. W. Swalm met the "army" with provisions he had gathered at Oskaloosa. The "fleet" arrived at Eddyville about May 12th, halted. and received Eddyville's donation of groceries. Here General Kelley and his staff
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bacconists for such smoking and chewing to- bacco as you can consistently give.
"Yours, Chas. T. Kelley."
The Kelley "fleet" arrived at Ottumwa of May 14th at the dam west of the city, and an army of workingmen were there to assist the boats in making the plunge. The work of getting the boats over the dam was expedi- tious : a sluice of lumber had been constructed from the level of the dam above to the wa- ter below. the sluce being constructed of heavy timbers. The boats were placed in the sluce and a rope attached to them : the men then all disembarked and stood in the water to their waists to prevent the boats from capsizing. All the boats passed over the dam without material injury.
Then was presented the spectacle of a special committee appointed by the city council meeting with Kelley to arrange terms. It was determined by these high contracting parties that the flotilla should land near Garrison Rock, about four miles below the center of the city, and the city would guarantee sub- sistence to the tramps for two or three days. Kelley agreed that he would prevent his men from going to the city for begging purposes and would maintain an orderly camp. Score ; of extra policemen were sworn in to prevent depredations. Before the "army" left town. however. Kelley demanded and the authori- ties granted that the camp should be estab- lished at Baker's Grove, on the South Side. and adjacent to South Ottumwa, and there
the camp was established. The city council then appropriated a sum of money sufficient to purchase 1.500 leaves of bread, 1,500 pounds of bacon, 125 pounds of coffee and 25 bushels of potatoes. Citizens, following the example of the city authorities, gave as much more, and the adventurers proceeded to have a good time. They secured the little park in front of the court house, and each night they dele- gated one of their "statesmen" to speak at the park and instruct citizens as to their duties. Meanwhile, every day they lingered strag- glers from the camp roamed through the city and country, demanding contributions of flour meat, clothing and anything else that they thought they could obtain. It was a lesson to citizens as to what an irresponsible band of vagabonds cost the country in actual contribu- tions, and as an example to the rising genera tion.
At last the Kelley flotilla moved down the river, finally reaching the Mississippi, but the "army" did not hold together; it broke up into detachments, some of which jomed Convey's "army" and reached the city of Washi- ington. That "army " arrived there, hera ded as the "big petition in boots," and there were many worthy but unwise people who imagined that the "army" would start a revolution, but sturdy Grover Cleveland, who was then presi- dent. paid no further attention to them than to compel them to "Keep of the grass" of the national lawns, and the movement collapsed.
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CHAPTER XVI
IMPROVEMENT OF THE DES MOINES RIVER
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH- THE VARIOUS VICISSITUDES OF THE PROPOSED ENTER- PRISE- CAUSES OF ITS FAILURE.
Inasmuch as the Des Moines River tray- verses the county and Ottumwa having had great hopes centered on improving its naviga- tion. the following sketch, which was written by Hon. Charles Negus, is appropriate for a work of this character. The scheme was abor- tive for the reasons that are apparent in the sketch and perhaps from other causes that are to be referred to nature. It is certain, how- ever, that at an early day the river was de- pended upon to a great extent for the transpor- tation of freight and products to the Miss- issippi. Steamboats continued to make trips from the mouth to Ottumwa as late as 1862 with some degree of regularity. A distin- guished citizen of this city, in the person of Hon. George Gillaspy, was one of the officers of the board of commissioners. It may also be said in this connection that Col. Gillaspy was one of the leaders of enterprise ; he established a pork packing house and was prominent in po- litical affairs. He was a unique character and a man of far more than ordinary ability. He
served as register of the board of public works connected with the improvement of the river, serving both as an appointed and as an elected officer.
THE NEGU'S STATEMENT.
"The river Des Moines has connected with its history many things of interest. It is pur- posed at this time to notice some of the histori- cal events connected with this river since the land through which it passes was purchased by the Government from the Indians.
"By the treaty of 1842, by which the Sacs and Foxes sold all their lands in Iowa, they were permitted to retain possession of that portion which lay west of Red Rock for three years, and the Indians moved up the river and located themselves near the Raccoon Fork, and the Government thought proper to locate a body of troops at that point ; and for the conveyance of soldiers and their cquipage to that place. the little steamer 'lone' was employed, and, laden
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with stores and a detachment of troops, landed on the site where is now the city of Des Moines, on the 9th of May. 1843. This is the first steamboat that ever ventured to disturb the waters of this river so far from its mouth. The 'Ione' having made a successful trip added greatly to the expectation of the estimated im- portance and value of this thoroughfare, which was brought to the attention of Congress, and on the 8th of August. 1846, a law was enacted. giving to Iowa, for the purpose of aiding to improve the navigation of the river Des Moines from its mouth to the Raccoon Fork, an equal rioiety in alternate sections of the public land remaining unsold, in a strip five miles wide on each side of the river, to be selected within the Territory of lowa by an agent, or agents, who should be appointed by the governor of the Territory, subject to the approval of the U. S. Treasury.
"When this grant was first made, it was not supposed by any one that it extended above Raccoon Fork, and Governor Clark, in com- municating the intelligence to the legislature. estimated the grant to amount to about 330,000 acres. This part of the Governor's message was referred to a select committee, for them to take into consideration whether it was advisable for the State to accept the grant, and if so, to devise the method of disposing of the lands and the mode of improving the river.
"The committee, after having the matter under consideration several weeks, through their chairman. Dr. James Davis, of Wapello county, made a very lengthy report, in which they took the ground that the grant was not
limited to lands below the Raccoon Fork, but extended to every alternate section for five miles on each side of the river to the north- western boundary of the State, if not to the source of the river. They estimated the grant to contain 400,000 acres below the Raccoon Fork, and 560,000 above, making 900,000 acres of land. The report of the committee at first was looked upon as visionary, and but very little calculation was made on getting any land above the fork of the river; but a matter of so much importance was not passed over without examination and full discussion.
" From this time on, for several years, the improvement of the river Des Moines entered largely into the politics of the State. Politi- cians became interested in it ; the construction put upon the grant by the committee was the popular side, and found many advocates, and scarcely any one opposed it. The committee reported in favor of receiving the grant, with provisos, and a bill for creating a board of pub- lie works. On this report the legislature passed an act accepting the grant, with the proviso that it was not to form a part of the 500,000 acres which the State was entitled to by an act of Congress of 1841, giving to each new State that amount of land for internal improvements. This was conceded by the General Government, and it also permitted the State to divert 500,000 acres from works of internal improvement to the purpose of education. The legislature, on the 5th of February, 1847, also passed an Act creating a board of public works, and provid- ing for the improvement of the river. The hoard consisted of a president, secretary and
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
treasurer, who were to be,elected by the quali- fied electors of the State, on the first Monday of the following August. The president was to be the active agent of the work, and was re- quired to make monthly reports of his doings, and of the progress of his work to the board : the secretary was to record the proceedings of the board and to sell the lands; the treasurer was to receive and disburse the moneys. The officers were required to commence the work on the Mississippi, near Keokuk, at the mouth of Dead Slough, or of the Nassaw Slough, and then up the Slough to the river. . And subse- quently the work was commenced by undertak- ing to dig a canal from the mouth of the Nas- saw Slough to St. Francisville, the first place on the river where it was thought practicable to build a dam.
"About $150,000 were expended in the ef- fort, but the attempt proved to be an impractic- able undertaking, and, after expending this large amount of money, the work of digging a canal was abandoned. At the August election. Hugh W. Sample, of Jefferson county, was elected president : Charles Corckery, of Du- brque county, secretary, and Paul Bratton, of Van Buren county, treasurer. The officers elected were qualified, and at first opened their offices at Fairfield. Col. Samuel Curtis, from Ohio, was selected by the board as chief engineer : but there was very little done this season toward improving the river, further than making surveys. The necessary surveys hav- ing been completed, early in the spring of 1848, the work was commenced. The canal and three dams were put under contract, and about 500
hands were put at work. On the 21st of Au- gust, the building of 10 more dams was con- tracted for, and there seemed to be a fair pros- pect for the speedy completion of the entire improvement.
"Glowing reports of the country and the advantages to be derived from the improve- ment of the river, excited the public mind to the highest expectations, and the people be- came very anxious to secure as much of the public lands as possible, that this great under- taking might be speedily completed; and to ascertain the construction put upon the grant by the General Government, application was made to the Land D'epartment for a decision. Richard M. Young, the Commissioner of the General Land Office, on the 23d day of Feb- ruary, 1848, in a letter addressed to the board of public works, gave it as his opinion that the State was entitled to alternate sections with- in five miles of the Des Moines River, through the whole extent of Iowa. This decision gave assurances that the amount of land claimed would be received. The board of improve-
ment made great preparation for rapidly push- ing on the work, and the public mind was ex- hilarated with the greatest hopes of speedily realizing the great advantages represented to be derived from this undertaking.
"But, as it is the lot of man to meet with disappointments, such seems to have been the result in this case: for it was found that the lands could not be sold fast enough to mect the expenses of so extensive a work as had been undertaken. To remedy this difficulty. the board of public works recommended to.
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the legislature 'that bonds, bearing the sanc- tion of the supreme power of the State. should be issued by the board, and pledging the pro- ceeds of the sales of the lands, as well as the tolls of the improvements, for their redemp- tion.' But this policy did not meet with the sanction of some of the leading Democrats of the State, who regarded such a measure as not being in accordance with Democratie prin- ciples, among whom were Ver Plank Van Antwerp. Van Antwerp, having held the of- fice of receiver in the first land office estab- lished in Southern lowa, and then holding the same office at Fairfield, and also, for a while, editor of a paper, was extensively known, and at that time exerted much influence among the people and he took a very active part against the proposition recommend- ed by the board. Ile claimed that the measure was not only anti-Democratic. but impolitic, and went to Iowa City as a lobby member, and made himself very busy with the members to defeat it: and the opposition with which it met from Van Ant- werp and other private individuals had its ef- fect with the members of the legislature, and the measure was defeated, much to the dis- comfiture of Sample. This interference of Van Antwerp with the recommendations of the board created a coolness between Sample and Van Antwerp which caused some singular results in the future political matters of the State.
"For the purpose of securing the full amount of land claimed, the legislature passed a memorial asking Congress to enact an ex-
planatory law confirming to the State the quantity of land claimed. But Congress did not feel disposed to do this, and the extent of the grant was a disputed question for several years.
".At the August election in 1849. the offi- cers of the board of public works were to be again elected, and the old officers were desir- ous of holding on to their offices, and Sample made great efforts to have the old officers re- nominated by the State convention for candi- dates before the people. Those who were in favor of issuing bonds for the speedy comple- tion of the work were in favor of re-electing the old board: those who were against this measure were opposed to them. AAmong those who took an active part against the old board was Van Antwerp, and his opposition was particularly made against Sample, which got up much ill-feeling between them. Van Antwerp. to accomplish his ends before the convening of the convention, prepared a stricture on Sample's political acts, which showed him up in no very enviable light. Van Antwerp went to lowa City, where the convention was to be held. a short time before it convened, and had his strictures printed in handbill form. and on the morning of the convention circulated copies all over the city, so that a copy found its way into the hands of every delegate. This had the effect to beat Sample. und the other officers of the old beard, and William Patterson, of Lee County, was nominated for president ; Jesse Williams, of Johnson, for secretary; and George Gillaspy, of Wapello, for treasurer.
"These individuals were all elected, entered
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upon the duties of their trust, and with energy undertook to complete all the work which had been put under contract. But they soon found that they could not sell lands fast enough to meet their expenditures, and had to suspend a portion of the work. But they did not do this until they had contracted a large amount of debts, which they had not the means to pay. The new board, on making settlements with the contractors, not having the money to pay them, issued bonds, or certificates of in- debtedness, pledging the lands for their pay- ment, and binding the board to redeem them as soon as they had the means to do it. So the new board, without the sanction of the law, did what the old board tried to get the legis- lature to authorize them to do by law, and for which policy they were turned out of office and others put in their place. Those contrac- tors who were stopped from going on with their work claimed damages ; legal proceedings were had, and some of them recovered large amounts.
"The course pursued by the new board met with much censure from the public and the newspapers ; particularly the Whig press was very severe in its strictures. The course which had been pursued by the board of public works made the improvement of the river Des Moines a prominent matter before the legislature which convened in December, 1850. The is- suing of bonds did not meet with the approval of that body, and a law was passed abolishing the offices of president, secretary and treas- urer, and the offices of 'Commissioner and Register of the Des Moines River Improve-
ment' were created, which, instead of being elected by the people, were appointed by the Governor, by and with the consent of the Sen- ate
"As soon as the law abolishing the board of public works went into effect, the Governor appointed Ver Plank Van AAntwerp commis- sioner. and George Gillaspy register of the im- provement, who, on the 9th of June, 1851, en- tered into a contract with Bangs Brothers & Company, of New York, in which they stipu- lated to complete the whole work, from the mouth of the river to the Raccoon Fork. in four years from the time, when for the in- provement of the river a confirmation should! be secured of the extension of the grant of land above that point. When the contract was closed Bangs Brothers & Company and the officers of the improvement went to work and succeeded in getting the Land Depart- ment of the General Government to recon- sider the decision in which it had been held that the grant of land only extended to the Raccoon Fork, and obtained a decision that it extended to the northern boundary of the State, which gave hopes that the river would soon be made navigable. On the first reception of the news there was much rejoicing. but when the details of the contract with Bangs Brothers & Company were made public, it was found that the contract provided that the lands below Raccoon Fork were not to be sold for less than $2.00 per acre, and those above for not less than $5.00.
"This gave great dissatisfaction, for a great portion of these lands was occupied by
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claimants who expected to buy their claims at $1.25 per acre, as others had done who had settled upon Government lands. This provis- ion stirred up much ill-feeling among the set- tlers : public meetings were held, and this part of the contract was condemned in the strongest terms; and such were the feelings that there were apprehensions of serious difficulties if this part of the contract should be enforced. But when these excitements were at the high- est news came that Bangs Brothers & Com- pany had failed, and probably their contract would be annulled, and this allayed the pub- lic feeling. Bangs Brothers & Company did not comply with their contract in furnishing means, and the work on the river did not go on, and the public expectation of a speedy completion of the proposed improvement van- ished.
"The officers of the improvement were ap- pointed for only two years, and at the expira- tion of their term of office Van Antwerp was re-appointed commissioner, and Paul C. Jef- fries was appointed register. But these last appointed officers held their trust but a short time, for during the past two years the work on the river had progressed very slowly : the contract with Bangs Brothers & Company had been declared forfeited. and it was understood that other sources were to be looked to for going on with the work. The officers ap- pointed by the Governor not being successful in their undertaking. the legislature, on the ist of January. 1853. repealed the law author- izing the Governor to appoint, and made these officers again to be elected by the people, and
on the first Monday in the following April Josiah Bonney, of Van Buren County, was elected commissioner, and George Gillaspy. register. And, for the purpose of adding the commissioner in conducting and concluding any contract on the subject of improving the river, the legislature appointed George (. Wright, of Van Buren County, and Uriah Biggs, of Wapello, his assistants, with equal powers of the commissioner in making and determining such contract.'
"From past experience it was not deemed advisable to parcel out the work to many in- dividuals, and consequently these officers were required by the legislature not to make any contract, unless such contract stipulated for 'at least $1.300,000 to be faithfully expended in the payment of the debts and liabilities of the Improvement, and its completion to the greatest extent possible. And, to this end. if it was necessary, they were authorized to sell and dispose of all and any lands which had been or might hereafter be granted by Congress for the improvement of the river. and, if it was necessary to effect a contract. they were authorized to convey the right to tolls and water rents arising from the Improve- ment, for the length of time and upon such terms as they might deem expedient. But in disposing of the lands, they were not to com- tract them for less than $1.25 per acre: and if
no contract of this character should be made before the 1st of September. 1853, and then the pay of all the officers connected with the work, except the register and one engineer, was to cease, and all oper-
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ation connected with the work, except such parts as were under contract, were to be sus- pended until further action by the legislature. The register was required to put all unfinished work then under contract in such a condition as to prevent it from injury, and to see that all property of the State connected with the work was carefully preserved. If the register, at any time subsequent, should receive proposi- tions which he deemed sufficient for consider- ation, he was to submit the same to the com- missioner : and should a contract be made on the terms required by the legislature, then the pay of the officers should commence and the work go on as though it had not been sus- pended.
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