NUMBER XII.

FOR INCREASE OF MAIL FACILITIES.

JOINT RESOLUTION, Asking Increased Mail Facilities on Certain Routes in Iowa.

Be it Resolved by the General Aesembly of the State of Iowa, That the Senators and Representatives of this State in Congress, be requested to procure increased mail service and facilities on the following routes, where it is now insufficient for the accommodation of the people, viz:

1. From Waverly, Bremer county, via Shell Rock, Butler Center, and Clarksville, to Boylan's Grove in Butler county, by extending the route so as to connect with Union Ridge and thence to Hampton, the county seat of Franklin county, making one continuous route thereof; and that no change be made in the present location of post offices at Union Ridge and Boylan's Grove.

2. Tri-weekly services from Washington, via Lexington to Wassonville in Washington county.

3. Daily service from Atlantic City, via Lewis and Red Oak Junction, to Hamburg in Fremont county.

4. Daily service from Ackley, via Hampton, Chapin, Linn Grove, Mason City, Lime Creek, Glen Mary, North Wood, to Albert Lee in Minnesota.

5. Tri-weekly service from Concord in Hancock county, via Ellington, Forest City, Benson's Grove, Lake Mills, to Albert Lee in Minnesota.

6. Daily service from Corning, via Bedford, to Marysville in Missouri.

7. Daily service across the Mississippi river from Port Byron, Illinois, to Le Claire, Iowa, by the steam ferry, thus delivering the Eastern mail at Le Claire one day earlier than by the present route. 8. Semi-weekly service from Maquoketa in Jackson county, via Fulton, Otter Creek, and Zwingle, to Dubuque.

9. A daily mail from Pella, Marion county, Iowa, to Knoxville, Marion county, Iowa, via Iola post office.

10. Tri-weekly service from Storm Lake in Buena Vista county, via Sioux Rapids and Gillett's Grove, to Spencer in Clay county.

11. Semi-weekly service from Manchester in Delaware county, via Milo, Golden Prairie, Hazel Green, Uniontown, Buck Grove, Grove Creek, and Castle Grove, to Monticello in Jones county.

12. Tri-weekly service from Mt. Pleasant in Henry county, via Winona, Wayne, and Crawfordsville, to Ainsworth in Washington county.

13. Daily mail service from Loudon in Cedar county, to Monticello in Jones county, via Wyoming, Johnson, and Scotch Grove.

14. Tri-weekly mail from Melrose, Monroe county, to Garden Grove, Decatur county, Iowa, via Confidence, Bethlehem, New York, and Cambria, Wayne county Iowa.

15. A mail route commencing on the Dubuque and Sioux City railroad, at Floyd Valley post office, Plymouth county, Iowa; thence running to Galdaw, in Sioux county, in section 24, township 97, range 46; thence to Dorn, in Lyon county, Iowa, in section 30, township 98, range 45; thence to Ash Grove, Minnesota, in section 25, township 101, range 45; thence to Severn, Minnesota, and thence to Red Wood, Minnesota.

16. Semi-weekly mail route from Webster City in Hamilton county, to Belmond in Wright county, via Clarion, county seat of Wright county, and from Belmond to Concord in Hancock county.

17. From Marion, Linn county, by Rural, Waubeck, Wapsa, Central City, Nugent's Grove, Tower Hill, and Barryville, to Manchester in Delaware county, and back, three times a week.

Be it further resolved, That where any of said routes are not now established by law, so as to admit of said service, the Senators and Representatives of this State be requested to procure the legal establishment of the same as early as practicable, and that a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to them respectively, and to the Postmaster-General. Approved, March 23, 1870.

NUMBER XIII.

LOAN TO MEDICAL COLLEGE AT KEOKUK.

PREAMBLE AND JOINT RESOLUTION Relative to a Loan of $15,000 to the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk.

WHEREAS, By an act of the Seventh General Assembly, approved March 15th, 1858, the treasurer of State was authorized to loan the college of physicians and surgeons at Keokuk, the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, out of the school-fund, for the term of ten years, with interest at the rate of ten per cent. per annum, payable annually; to be secured by mortgage, and,

WHEREAS, Professor J. C. Hughes received said money, and to secure its payment, gave a note purporting to be in behalf of said college and signed by himself and others, as sureties, as also a mortgage; and,

WHEREAS, Neither the principal nor interest of said loan has been

paid and it is claimed that there are serious doubts as to the suffi ciency of the security; therefore,

Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That the Attorney-General be and is hereby instructed, at as early a day as practicable, to ascertain the condition of said loan, and of the security therefor; to take the necessary steps to secure and collect the amount due the State; and if practicable to report to the General Assembly at this session the condition of said loan and security and of his action in the premises; and, if he cannot at this session, to make report to the Governor relative thereto as soon as is practicable. Approved, March 30, 1870.

NUMBER XIV.

PROPOSING AMENDMENT TO STATE CONSTITUTION.

JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to Amend the Constitution of the State of Iowa, and to Provide for its Reference and Publication.

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That the following amendments to the Constitution of the State of Iowa, be and are hereby proposed.

1st. Strike from Section one, of Article two, of said Constitution, the word "male."

2d. Strike from Section four, of Article three, of said Constitution, the word "male."

Resolved further, That these resolutions proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Iowa are hereby referred to the Legislature to be chosen at the next general election; and that the Secretary of State shall cause the same to be published for three months previous to the time of the next general election of members of the legislature in one newspaper in each congressional district. Approved, April 4, 1870.

NUMBER XV.

WILLIAM B. CRITCHFIELD AND HENRY C. ANDERSON.

JOINT RESOLUTION for the Relief of William B. Critchfield and Henry C. Anderson, late soldiers of the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry.

WHEREAS, William B. Critchfield and Henry C. Anderson, privates of Company C, 13th regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, were, on or about the 3d day of April, 1863, granted a leave of absence to go from

their regiment to Providence, Louisiana, which was near by, and during their absence were captured by Adams' Confederate Cavalry, and taken prisoners of war to Vicksburg, and there confined in a military prison, until their subsequent removal to the prisons at Richmond, Virginia, where they were exchanged and returned to their regiment at Black river Miss., for duty on the 16th day of October, 1863; and,

WHEREAS, After the return of said soldiers to their regiment, after said exchange, they were arrested by the authority of the United States and tried and convicted by a military court upon a charge of "absence without leave," and as a penalty said court ordered the forfeiture of all pay and allowances there was due said soldiers from the Government of the Uaited States; and,

WHEREAS, William B. Critchfield, on the 1st day of January, 1864, re-enlisted as a veteran in said regiment, and was, on the 16th day of January, 1864, promoted to 1st Sergeant of Company C, 51st regiment of U. S. Colored Infantry Volunteers, and on the 8th day of November, 1866, was again promoted to the office of 1st Lieutenant of Company F of said regiment where he served his country with fidelity and bravery until he was honorably discharged from the service on the 16th day of June, 1866, a period, in all, of nearly five years, during which time he was always prompt and ready, and ever found where duty called him, battling for his country and his country's cause; and,

WHEREAS, Henry C Anderson, on the 1st day of January, 1864, re-enlisted as a corporal and veteran in the Thirteenth regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served faithfully and honorably, and with bravery and promptness discharged the duties incumbent upon him as a soldier, until he was wounded at Atlanta, which rendered him wholly unfit for further military duty, when he was honorably discharged from the service on the 23d day of May, 1865, and is now a pensioner of the United States, caused by said wounds. While the said Henry C. Anderson was serving his country he had the highest testimonials of honesty, and fought bravely in the defense of his country, and for the preservation of its flag in the seige of Vicksburg, and in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka and Atlanta, where he was wounded; and,

pay

and

WHEREAS, This General Assembly of the State of Iowa is of the opinion that great injustice has been done to said soldiers by the findings and sentences of si military court, and that the same were erroneous and unwarrantable, and that the said findings and sentences therein should be reversed, and said soldiers be allowed all allowances taken from them by reason of the same; therefore, Be it Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That we hereby request and instruct our Senators and Representatives in Congress to secure such legislation as will set aside the verdict of said military court, and secure to said William B. Critchfield and

Henry C. Anderson all pay and allowances from the General Government, forfeited by reason of said decision, and that the Secretary of State be instructed to forward a copy of this resolution to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress. Approved, April 5, 1870.

NUMBER XVI.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE DES MOINES RAPIDS.

PREAMBLE AND JOINT RESOLUTION in Relation to Improvement of the Des Moines Rapids of the Mississippi River.

WHEREAS, The Federal Government has by appropriation provided for the improvement of the navigation of the Mississippi river by the construction of a canal around the Des Moines rapids; and

WHEREAS, The work thereon has been for a time in progress, and should be completed at an early day; and

WHEREAS, It is the wisest economy to provide for such early completion, to the end that the expense and risk of transportation over said rapids may be saved to the people, and that the salaries of the officers and government employes in charge may also be saved; and WHEREAS, It is an absolute necessity that a part of said work, to-wit: the blasting, opposite Montrose, should be immediately provided for, in order that all of that part of said work may be done in one season, as otherwise it will be necessary to incur double expense by the erection of two coffer-dams, instead of the one that will be required if the work is so provided for by the necessary appropriation; and

WHEREAS, The engineers in charge of the entire work have presented to the War Department an estimate of the appropriations needed for these said purposes; therefore,

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That our Senators in Congress be, and they are hereby instructed, and our Representatives requested, to use their influence in procuring the appropriations asked in said estimates.

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be instructed to forward a copy of these resolutions to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.

Approved, April 5, 1870.