The Davenport gazette., 1849-12-13
ROCK ISLAND AND LA6ALLE RAIL-
ROAD.

ROCK ISLAND AND LASALLE RAIL
ROAD.
The Importance Of tho speedy compile
,;on of the above shoro0ghfare % imptesses
| itself upon our mind, and 20 many argu'
ments arise 10 il favor, that We fear We
.hnll tiro our renders with articles upon
The subiect-equslly convinced, as We
have no doub. they are, Of the intrinsic i"
portsnce Of its early completion. The pa
pers Of Chicago, conversant upon the sub
|jec,, oppose the southern DETECTION OF the
Road to Peru, upon precisely the same
ground, that We have adyoca'edit. The re
marks Of the editor Of the Tribune are y
| Apostle that We must be permitted 10 give
IN extract from them:
ssThere are numerous considerations which sat
i,fy us that it is highly 70 the interests
Of our city that the road which il to copnec' "
with the Mississippi At Rock Island should be as d.
rect as the face of,he country will permit. Inc
most important perhaps ofthese Is the fact tue
situation Of Chicago is such as will make i, y
properly seconded by the efforts OF its citizens
the great Commercial Emporium Of the North
West; and hence the importance ofhaving all ave-
nues to il from the interior direct as possible.
In attempting 10 secure the commerce ofthat Por-
ton Of the Upper Mississippi which this road
will penetrate, we come directly IN eonpeiflon
with The city Of ST. Louis. connected with it BY
the natural channel oftrade, the Mississippi river.
Il will at once be seen that our success will de-
pend not alone upon the relative prices OF pro-
ducts in the two markets, but also upon the rela-
tive cost Of transportation. II, BY means Of rail-
road, we hope to compete successfully with river
carriage it must be plain to every comprehension
that the route must be direct possible, avoid
ing change of cars, storage, &C., by the way
Transportation from Rock Island to Chicago, via
Peru, would perhaps be but very little more per
hundred pounds than upon a road between these
points in direct line. But in these days Of
steam and electrici,y-of rapid exchanges and
quick returns, competition is bringing everything
down to the smallest possible margin of profits
and We should be blind to one oft The most remark
able facts Of the age did We fail 10 take this into
the account when considering projects Of the
character Of the one un.'er discussion. An addi-
tional charge of one cent per hundred pounds
might be sufficient TO turn the trade Of a season
from our city.
sAnother consideration ofimportance is to be
IL .a..;h;i:t. ,r tha evoaJv canine nen-
ment OF the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, and the
certainty of making Council Bluffs the eastern
limit Of that road, tar as the patronage OF the
General Government is 10 be employed in its con-
struciion. By reference to a map, it will be seen
that Rock Island is on direct line from Chicago
to Council Bluffs. expectto make our city
a stopping-place on thisgreat National Highway,
we cannot begin our measures too early. BY an
other glance at the map, it will be seen that Peru
is situated almost on direct line from La Porte,
Ind, TO Rock Island. Should road be compile
ted from Peru to the latter place. it would create
stronge inducement TO capitalists TO continue it
on to La Porte. Already, papers in the east, of
great influence in the commercial world are adj
W. atng termination OF the Michigan Southern
Railroad at some point, say La Porte or Michigan
City, on the eastern side ofthe Lake. twill thus
be seen that combination oil interests may be
readily brought to bear 10 defeat US, both in re-
spect to our anticipated direct connection with
the Atlantic cities, and our expected important
position upon the Atlantic and Pacific Rail-
goad. These facts, we think, demonstrate the
Importance Of speedy and definite action on the
part Of citizens OF Chicago in reference to this
matter The golden opportunity is presented US
Of pouring into our lap the rich and beautiful pro-
ducts OF Rock River vailey,-the garden Of Illinois,
and the magnificent commerce of the Upper
Mississippi. a. little delay-a seeming laggard-
ness in taking hold ofthe enterprise, may rretiey-
ably deprive US ofwhat nature has placed almost
within our grasp"
From the above it will be perceived tha,
upon reaching Peru, the choice will be left
us-provided the citizens Of Chicago do 10,
have their iron horses awaiting our arrival
Ito unite with the Road in the direction Of
Chicago or the more direct one from La
Porte, Indiana. II matters little, however, il
the Railroad from Chicago to Peru be COM
ple,ed at that time, for just as certain as
the Road from Council Bluff. westward is
commenced, SO sure will Road from La
Porte unite with US ut Peru; 90 that the
prospect is favorable fthe Rock Island and
Lasalle Railroad branching at Peru-a
circumstance that would attach to it double
value and confer upon the towns of Daven-
port and Rock Island an Importance inferi-
or to that of no two cities in the West.
PEpDLI.e TOMB SToNEs.-A man is engaged in
the business of peddling tomb-stones in North
| hampton county, Pm. He carries load of ready