Iowa Territorial Gazette And Advertiser

CURIOSITY IN THE INDIAN COUNTRY.

The greatest curiosity we saw in the Indian country, was our old friend, Mr. Uriah Biggs, with chain, compass and Jacob-staff in hand, surveying the country and slaving away at mill sites as earnestly as if he had a malicious intent, to do something. We understood that he had run the lines of a new county west of Van Buren and had found (or "plumbed") the centre at or near a very valuable water power in the Des Moines, which it was thought would answer for a town site, county seat, and several large mills into the bargain. But when the enterprising Uriah found the centre, he also found that centre already claimed! Here was a terrible job, to be sure. Because Uriah had been a long time trying to find the centre, therefore he was entitled to the centre—besides, there were fifty persons composing the "Rapids Company," and numbers should be respected. Two or three citizens of this vicinity happened to locate first—and being somewhat tenacious of their rights, they compelled the "Rapids" gentlemen to abide an arbitration. The question was adjudicated by a government officer, who, without reflection, and much to our regret, assumed the dirty job, of which, we are sure, he will sooner or later be heartily ashamed.

But the matter of greatest surprise to us was to find Mr. Biggs so extensively engaged in the claim-making business, when, according to his returns to the Surveyor General, he had in former times, found so much difficulty in surveying a part of the Black Hawk Purchase on account of the obstacles interposed by "settlers claims" and the settlers themselves. When Mr. Biggs was submitting these things for Mr. Clay to predicate his ponderous anti-preemption speech he suppose that he would ever occupy the position of an 'armed settler' Or is Uriah merely taking the advantage of circumstances before the country is purchased to survey before the settlers get in his way?

It is surmised that there will be some amusement in the next Legislature in dividing off new counties and in establishing new county seats. We throw this out as a mere rattle to let certain doubly speculators know what vicinity they are in.

Let no man or woman be ashamed to work.