diff --git a/include/mapnik/attribute_collector.hpp b/include/mapnik/attribute_collector.hpp
index 9ad579c5f..9ff8b56cc 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/attribute_collector.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/attribute_collector.hpp
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 #include <boost/concept_check.hpp>
 // stl
 #include <set>
-#include <iostream>
 
 namespace mapnik {
 
diff --git a/include/mapnik/config_error.hpp b/include/mapnik/config_error.hpp
index b2f13e930..c37d5617c 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/config_error.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/config_error.hpp
@@ -23,12 +23,13 @@
 #ifndef MAPNIK_CONFIG_ERROR_HPP
 #define MAPNIK_CONFIG_ERROR_HPP
 
-#include <iostream>
-#include <sstream>
+#include <exception>
+#include <string>
 
 namespace mapnik {
 
 class xml_node;
+
 class config_error : public std::exception
 {
 public:
diff --git a/include/mapnik/hextree.hpp b/include/mapnik/hextree.hpp
index 50102a812..9d399188c 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/hextree.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/hextree.hpp
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 
 // stl
 #include <vector>
-#include <iostream>
 #include <set>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cmath>
diff --git a/include/mapnik/json/feature_collection_grammar.hpp b/include/mapnik/json/feature_collection_grammar.hpp
index 54c749dd4..6bd86590b 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/json/feature_collection_grammar.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/json/feature_collection_grammar.hpp
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@
 #include <boost/variant/apply_visitor.hpp>
 #include <boost/variant/variant.hpp>
 
-// stl
-#include <iostream>
-
 namespace mapnik { namespace json {
 
 namespace qi = boost::spirit::qi;
diff --git a/include/mapnik/json/feature_grammar.hpp b/include/mapnik/json/feature_grammar.hpp
index 13c11e836..f8e710579 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/json/feature_grammar.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/json/feature_grammar.hpp
@@ -34,9 +34,6 @@
 #include <boost/variant/apply_visitor.hpp>
 #include <boost/variant/variant.hpp>
 
-// stl
-#include <iostream>
-
 namespace mapnik { namespace json {
 
 namespace qi = boost::spirit::qi;
diff --git a/include/mapnik/json/geometry_grammar.hpp b/include/mapnik/json/geometry_grammar.hpp
index 6792725d0..64a776f3e 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/json/geometry_grammar.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/json/geometry_grammar.hpp
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@
 #include <boost/variant/apply_visitor.hpp>
 #include <boost/variant/variant.hpp>
 
-// stl
-#include <iostream>
-
 namespace mapnik { namespace json {
 
 namespace qi = boost::spirit::qi;
diff --git a/include/mapnik/memory.hpp b/include/mapnik/memory.hpp
index 1da40bd44..9cdda0337 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/memory.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/memory.hpp
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@
 #ifndef MAPNIK_MEMORY_HPP
 #define MAPNIK_MEMORY_HPP
 
-// stl
-#include <iostream>
 #include <cassert>
 
 namespace mapnik
diff --git a/include/mapnik/octree.hpp b/include/mapnik/octree.hpp
index c9d4211af..35b64c0d1 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/octree.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/octree.hpp
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 
 // stl
 #include <vector>
-#include <iostream>
 #include <deque>
 #include <algorithm>
 
diff --git a/include/mapnik/palette.hpp b/include/mapnik/palette.hpp
index ed94fd07e..703e38c02 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/palette.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/palette.hpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 // stl
 #include <vector>
 #include <map>
-#include <iostream>
 #include <set>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cmath>
diff --git a/include/mapnik/pool.hpp b/include/mapnik/pool.hpp
index e7f96cb7e..efe338ce9 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/pool.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/pool.hpp
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@
 #endif
 
 // stl
-#include <iostream>
 #include <map>
 #include <deque>
 #include <ctime>
diff --git a/include/mapnik/projection.hpp b/include/mapnik/projection.hpp
index a1578eba4..0e5aba2dc 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/projection.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/projection.hpp
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@
 
 // stl
 #include <string>
-#include <iostream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 
 namespace mapnik {
diff --git a/include/mapnik/svg/output/svg_output_grammars.hpp b/include/mapnik/svg/output/svg_output_grammars.hpp
index 818624c05..8ff11f3aa 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/svg/output/svg_output_grammars.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/svg/output/svg_output_grammars.hpp
@@ -40,9 +40,6 @@
 #include <boost/fusion/include/struct.hpp>
 #include <boost/fusion/include/boost_tuple.hpp>
 
-// std
-#include <iostream>
-
 /*!
  * mapnik::svg::path_output_attributes is adapted as a fusion sequence
  * in order to be used directly by the svg_path_attributes_grammar (below).
diff --git a/include/mapnik/utils.hpp b/include/mapnik/utils.hpp
index 73e68e551..24a5d3d54 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/utils.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/utils.hpp
@@ -33,8 +33,6 @@
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <limits>
 #include <ctime>
-#include <sstream>
-#include <iostream>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cmath>
 
diff --git a/include/mapnik/value.hpp b/include/mapnik/value.hpp
index cfe807d7a..8d986582f 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/value.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/value.hpp
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 
 // stl
 #include <iostream>
+#include <sstream>
 #include <string>
 #include <cmath>
 
diff --git a/include/mapnik/value_error.hpp b/include/mapnik/value_error.hpp
index 1e234e208..d95d7e8ae 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/value_error.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/value_error.hpp
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@
 #ifndef MAPNIK_VALUE_ERROR_HPP
 #define MAPNIK_VALUE_ERROR_HPP
 
-#include <iostream>
-#include <sstream>
+#include <exception>
+#include <string>
 
 namespace mapnik {
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp
index 1101108ae..2723488de 100644
--- a/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp
@@ -159,9 +159,8 @@ void csv_datasource::parse_csv(T & stream,
         if (file_mb > filesize_max_)
         {
             std::ostringstream s;
-            s << "CSV Plugin: csv file is greater than " << filesize_max_ << "MB "
-              << " - you should use a more efficient data format like sqlite, postgis or a shapefile "
-              << " to render this data (set 'filesize_max=0' to disable this restriction if you have lots of memory)";
+            s << "CSV Plugin: csv file is greater than ";
+            s << filesize_max_ << "MB - you should use a more efficient data format like sqlite, postgis or a shapefile to render this data (set 'filesize_max=0' to disable this restriction if you have lots of memory)";
             throw mapnik::datasource_exception(s.str());
         }
     }
@@ -258,9 +257,9 @@ void csv_datasource::parse_csv(T & stream,
     }
     catch(std::exception const& ex)
     {
-        std::ostringstream s;
-        s << "CSV Plugin: " << ex.what();
-        throw mapnik::datasource_exception(s.str());
+        std::string s("CSV Plugin: ");
+        s += ex.what();
+        throw mapnik::datasource_exception(s);
     }
 
     typedef boost::tokenizer< escape_type > Tokenizer;
@@ -345,10 +344,10 @@ void csv_datasource::parse_csv(T & stream,
                             if (strict_)
                             {
                                 std::ostringstream s;
-                                s << "CSV Plugin: expected a column header at line "
-                                  << line_number << ", column " << idx
-                                  << " - ensure this row contains valid header fields: '"
-                                  << csv_line << "'\n";
+                                s << "CSV Plugin: expected a column header at line ";
+                                s << line_number << ", column " << idx;
+                                s << " - ensure this row contains valid header fields: '";
+                                s << csv_line << "'\n";
                                 throw mapnik::datasource_exception(s.str());
                             }
                             else
@@ -398,18 +397,16 @@ void csv_datasource::parse_csv(T & stream,
             }
             catch(const std::exception & ex)
             {
-                std::ostringstream s;
-                s << "CSV Plugin: error parsing headers: " << ex.what();
-                throw mapnik::datasource_exception(s.str());
+                std::string s("CSV Plugin: error parsing headers: ");
+                s += ex.what();
+                throw mapnik::datasource_exception(s);
             }
         }
     }
 
     if (!has_wkt_field && !has_json_field && (!has_lon_field || !has_lat_field) )
     {
-        std::ostringstream s;
-        s << "CSV Plugin: could not detect column headers with the name of wkt, geojson, x/y, or latitude/longitude - this is required for reading geometry data";
-        throw mapnik::datasource_exception(s.str());
+        throw mapnik::datasource_exception("CSV Plugin: could not detect column headers with the name of wkt, geojson, x/y, or latitude/longitude - this is required for reading geometry data");
     }
 
     int feature_count(0);
@@ -948,10 +945,8 @@ mapnik::featureset_ptr csv_datasource::features(mapnik::query const& q) const
         if (! found_name)
         {
             std::ostringstream s;
-
             s << "CSV Plugin: no attribute '" << *pos << "'. Valid attributes are: "
               << boost::algorithm::join(headers_, ",") << ".";
-
             throw mapnik::datasource_exception(s.str());
         }
         ++pos;
diff --git a/plugins/input/geojson/geojson_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/geojson/geojson_datasource.cpp
index a118bd088..60f63b0b7 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geojson/geojson_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/geojson/geojson_datasource.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include "geojson_featureset.hpp"
 
 #include <fstream>
-#include <iostream>
 #include <algorithm>
 
 // boost
diff --git a/plugins/input/geos/geos_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/geos/geos_datasource.cpp
index e13e563c3..4cd780941 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geos/geos_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/geos/geos_datasource.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #include "geos_featureset.hpp"
 
 // stl
-#include <iostream>
+#include <sstream>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <cstdarg>
diff --git a/plugins/input/geos/geos_featureset.cpp b/plugins/input/geos/geos_featureset.cpp
index da5f88d4a..8c8fba58a 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geos/geos_featureset.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/geos/geos_featureset.cpp
@@ -20,10 +20,6 @@
  *
  *****************************************************************************/
 
-// stl
-#include <iostream>
-#include <fstream>
-
 // mapnik
 #include <mapnik/global.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/debug.hpp>
diff --git a/plugins/input/ogr/ogr_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/ogr/ogr_datasource.cpp
index b3b31d548..1125f9091 100644
--- a/plugins/input/ogr/ogr_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/ogr/ogr_datasource.cpp
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@
 #include <boost/make_shared.hpp>
 
 // stl
-#include <iostream>
 #include <fstream>
+#include <sstream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 
 using mapnik::datasource;
@@ -174,11 +174,8 @@ void ogr_datasource::bind() const
         const unsigned num_layers = dataset_->GetLayerCount();
         if (*layer_by_index >= num_layers)
         {
-            std::ostringstream s;
-            s << "OGR Plugin: only ";
-            s << num_layers;
-            s << " layer(s) exist, cannot find layer by index '" << *layer_by_index << "'";
-
+            std::ostringstream s("OGR Plugin: only ");
+            s << num_layers << " layer(s) exist, cannot find layer by index '" << *layer_by_index << "'";
             throw datasource_exception(s.str());
         }
 
@@ -196,9 +193,7 @@ void ogr_datasource::bind() const
     }
     else
     {
-        std::ostringstream s;
-        s << "OGR Plugin: missing <layer> or <layer_by_index> or <layer_by_sql> "
-          << "parameter, available layers are: ";
+        std::string s("OGR Plugin: missing <layer> or <layer_by_index> or <layer_by_sql>  parameter, available layers are: ");
 
         unsigned num_layers = dataset_->GetLayerCount();
         bool layer_found = false;
@@ -216,14 +211,14 @@ void ogr_datasource::bind() const
 
         if (! layer_found)
         {
-            s << "None (no layers were found in dataset)";
+            s += "None (no layers were found in dataset)";
         }
         else
         {
-            s << boost::algorithm::join(layer_names,", ");
+            s += boost::algorithm::join(layer_names,", ");
         }
 
-        throw datasource_exception(s.str());
+        throw datasource_exception(s);
     }
 
     if (! layer_.is_valid())
@@ -465,10 +460,10 @@ void validate_attribute_names(query const& q, std::vector<attribute_descriptor>
 
         if (! found_name)
         {
-            std::ostringstream s;
+            std::ostringstream s("OGR Plugin: no attribute '");
+            s << *pos << "'. Valid attributes are: ";
             std::vector<attribute_descriptor>::const_iterator itr = names.begin();
             std::vector<attribute_descriptor>::const_iterator end = names.end();
-            s << "OGR Plugin: no attribute '" << *pos << "'. Valid attributes are: ";
             for ( ;itr!=end;++itr)
             {
                 s << itr->get_name() << std::endl;
diff --git a/plugins/input/ogr/ogr_layer_ptr.hpp b/plugins/input/ogr/ogr_layer_ptr.hpp
index 62da2a027..26588aeef 100644
--- a/plugins/input/ogr/ogr_layer_ptr.hpp
+++ b/plugins/input/ogr/ogr_layer_ptr.hpp
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@
 #include <mapnik/debug.hpp>
 
 // stl
-#include <iostream>
-#include <fstream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 
 // ogr
diff --git a/plugins/input/osm/dataset_deliverer.h b/plugins/input/osm/dataset_deliverer.h
index 82ea029cf..217eb674f 100644
--- a/plugins/input/osm/dataset_deliverer.h
+++ b/plugins/input/osm/dataset_deliverer.h
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 
 #include "osm.h"
 #include <string>
-#include <iostream>
 
 using  namespace std;
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/osm/osm_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/osm/osm_datasource.cpp
index ba5b4d08c..b2ba7ff5b 100644
--- a/plugins/input/osm/osm_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/osm/osm_datasource.cpp
@@ -21,9 +21,6 @@
  *****************************************************************************/
 
 // stl
-#include <iostream>
-#include <sstream>
-#include <fstream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <set>
 
@@ -91,9 +88,9 @@ void osm_datasource::bind() const
         // if we supplied a filename, load from file
         if ((osm_data_ = dataset_deliverer::load_from_file(osm_filename, parser)) == NULL)
         {
-            std::ostringstream s;
-            s << "OSM Plugin: Error loading from file '" << osm_filename << "'";
-            throw datasource_exception(s.str());
+            std::string s("OSM Plugin: Error loading from file '");
+            s += osm_filename + "'";
+            throw datasource_exception(s);
         }
     }
     else
diff --git a/plugins/input/osm/osm_featureset.cpp b/plugins/input/osm/osm_featureset.cpp
index 568384f2d..42abad4f1 100644
--- a/plugins/input/osm/osm_featureset.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/osm/osm_featureset.cpp
@@ -21,9 +21,6 @@
  *
  *****************************************************************************/
 
-// stl
-#include <iostream>
-
 // mapnik
 #include <mapnik/geometry.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/feature_factory.hpp>
diff --git a/plugins/input/osm/osmparser.cpp b/plugins/input/osm/osmparser.cpp
index d92ae54fd..ec9ed3047 100644
--- a/plugins/input/osm/osmparser.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/osm/osmparser.cpp
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <cassert>
 
-using std::endl;
-
 osm_item* osmparser::cur_item=NULL;
 long osmparser::curID=0;
 bool osmparser::in_node=false, osmparser::in_way=false;
diff --git a/plugins/input/osm/osmparser.h b/plugins/input/osm/osmparser.h
index 5cc00e24a..21dffd7e9 100644
--- a/plugins/input/osm/osmparser.h
+++ b/plugins/input/osm/osmparser.h
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 #include <libxml/xmlreader.h>
 #include <cstdio>
 #include <cstdlib>
-#include <iostream>
 #include <string>
 #include "osm.h"
 #include <map>
diff --git a/plugins/input/shape/shape_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/shape/shape_datasource.cpp
index 736f7e913..b7f3833d4 100644
--- a/plugins/input/shape/shape_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/shape/shape_datasource.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@
 #include <mapnik/timer.hpp>
 
 // stl
-#include <iostream>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/shape/shape_utils.cpp b/plugins/input/shape/shape_utils.cpp
index a2685e67c..b62f38aaf 100644
--- a/plugins/input/shape/shape_utils.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/shape/shape_utils.cpp
@@ -23,14 +23,11 @@
 // mapnik
 #include <mapnik/datasource.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/params.hpp>
+#include <mapnik/util/conversions.hpp>
 #include "shape_utils.hpp"
 
 // boost
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
-// stl
-#include <sstream>
-#include <iostream>
-
 
 void setup_attributes(mapnik::context_ptr const& ctx,
                       std::set<std::string> const& names,
@@ -56,19 +53,17 @@ void setup_attributes(mapnik::context_ptr const& ctx,
 
         if (! found_name)
         {
-            std::ostringstream s;
-
-            s << "no attribute '" << *pos << "' in '"
-              << shape_name << "'. Valid attributes are: ";
-
+            std::string s("no attribute '");
+            std::string pos_string;
+            s += *pos + "' in '" + shape_name + "'. Valid attributes are: ";
             std::vector<std::string> list;
             for (int i = 0; i < shape.dbf().num_fields(); ++i)
             {
                 list.push_back(shape.dbf().descriptor(i).name_);
             }
-            s << boost::algorithm::join(list, ",") << ".";
+            s += boost::algorithm::join(list, ",") + ".";
 
-            throw mapnik::datasource_exception("Shape Plugin: " + s.str());
+            throw mapnik::datasource_exception("Shape Plugin: " + s);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/datasource_cache.cpp b/src/datasource_cache.cpp
index 04bfe209a..5d5d63616 100644
--- a/src/datasource_cache.cpp
+++ b/src/datasource_cache.cpp
@@ -35,8 +35,6 @@
 
 // stl
 #include <algorithm>
-#include <iostream>
-#include <sstream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 
 namespace mapnik {
@@ -74,17 +72,17 @@ datasource_ptr datasource_cache::create(const parameters& params, bool bind)
     std::map<std::string,boost::shared_ptr<PluginInfo> >::iterator itr=plugins_.find(*type);
     if ( itr == plugins_.end() )
     {
-        std::ostringstream s;
-        s << "Could not create datasource for type: '" << *type << "'";
+        std::string s("Could not create datasource for type: '");
+        s += *type + "'";
         if (plugin_directories_.empty())
         {
-            s << " (no datasource plugin directories have been successfully registered)";
+            s + " (no datasource plugin directories have been successfully registered)";
         }
         else
         {
-            s << " (searched for datasource plugins in '" << plugin_directories() << "')";
+            s + " (searched for datasource plugins in '" + plugin_directories() + "')";
         }
-        throw config_error(s.str());
+        throw config_error(s);
     }
 
     if ( ! itr->second->handle())
diff --git a/src/font_set.cpp b/src/font_set.cpp
index 06daf5b42..fdd04229a 100644
--- a/src/font_set.cpp
+++ b/src/font_set.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 
 //stl
 #include <string>
-#include <iostream>
 
 namespace mapnik
 {
diff --git a/src/gradient.cpp b/src/gradient.cpp
index 28452b8da..d8f6276f3 100644
--- a/src/gradient.cpp
+++ b/src/gradient.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
  *****************************************************************************/
 
 #include <mapnik/gradient.hpp>
-#include <iostream>
 
 namespace mapnik
 {
diff --git a/src/graphics.cpp b/src/graphics.cpp
index 64f3721c3..0a73eb47f 100644
--- a/src/graphics.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics.cpp
@@ -39,9 +39,6 @@
 // boost
 #include <boost/scoped_array.hpp>
 
-// stl
-#include <iostream>
-
 namespace mapnik
 {
 image_32::image_32(int width,int height)
diff --git a/src/layer.cpp b/src/layer.cpp
index 44abff6fb..0e8539747 100644
--- a/src/layer.cpp
+++ b/src/layer.cpp
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@
 
 // stl
 #include <string>
-#include <iostream>
-
 
 namespace mapnik
 {
diff --git a/src/shield_symbolizer.cpp b/src/shield_symbolizer.cpp
index 17238953b..f7b7d0f53 100644
--- a/src/shield_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/shield_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -28,9 +28,6 @@
 // boost
 #include <boost/scoped_ptr.hpp>
 
-// stl
-#include <iostream>
-
 namespace mapnik
 {
 
diff --git a/src/svg/svg_parser.cpp b/src/svg/svg_parser.cpp
index 6b049ce63..f745108fa 100644
--- a/src/svg/svg_parser.cpp
+++ b/src/svg/svg_parser.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@
 #include <boost/foreach.hpp>
 #include <boost/algorithm/string/predicate.hpp>
 
-#include <iostream>
 #include <string>
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <vector>
diff --git a/src/tiff_reader.cpp b/src/tiff_reader.cpp
index 8cf5f89ae..43a3beac1 100644
--- a/src/tiff_reader.cpp
+++ b/src/tiff_reader.cpp
@@ -27,9 +27,6 @@
 #include <boost/shared_ptr.hpp>
 #include <boost/filesystem/operations.hpp>
 
-// stl
-#include <iostream>
-
 extern "C"
 {
 #include <tiffio.h>