The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-05-16
DAVENPORT, SCOTT IOWA. THURSDAY. MAY

ly discussed by inf1uc n,ial persons, deeply inter
esled in the affairs OF this company. Tnc dan
ger OF such result should bca caution TO thi
district OF country against procrnstination; be
cause the Influence of n successful enterprise
carries great weight with II, and can only b.
counieractcd by an early and unqucstionabl.
proof that nature has established much more dis
Inct indications in favor OF different location
The nllabiionis on the line Of the R,ck Is!ant
and Peru Railroad should demonstrate their con
Edence in its success by Immediately, subscri.
hing the amount required by the Charter
Measures should also be taken TO show definite.
j., that 0,000 are amply sufficient to place
the work in entire readiness for the iron, as vel
as TO show the advantages Of this line in every
respect. This being done at an early period
the most beneiicial effects will be produced
and the r. |. and In Sale r abroad Co, would
be iD position to command the MD Of Eastern
capital | am well aware that $500, 900, OF the
present time is large sum for this community
to subscribe: but let there be pledge given to
cal. in the instruments very moderately, and
belive that by little effort the whole amount
could be taken. This was the course pursued
in Wisconsin, where was engaged during part
of last summer and the past winter, in locating
the Milwaukee and Mississippi R,ilroaJ. The
farmers are l,rgely interested in The enterprise,
because they truly appreciated its beneficial ct-
fects.
Theyat once saw the importance Of an ener-
getic movement. Every one came forward to
subscribe and took stock TO the extent Of his
ability, from one share, to fifty. Man5 able
farmers declared that they were ready to sacri-
fee half their property rather than do without
the RiIlrond. But the times have heen in Wis
consin as here; light crops for two years past
and various other cnuscshave drainedthe money
from the country; therefore the Company pur.
sued policy in accordance, BY agreeing not to
cali in more thnn 80 per cent till the road was
completed TO Waulsesha, distance of 90 miles
BY the Railroad. Tney Il, first intended to con-
struct fifty miles this season, and applied TO the
Legislature for loan OF part of The School Fund,
offering 10 mortgage the road TO the STATE. This
being denied, however, the Stockholders came
forward and have actually morigagsd their
farms in the counties of II ,ek and Walworitl to
an amount over S2O0, 900, rather than ndopt a
poor rail. With such degree OF spirit an I
energy they will soon reap rich reward, from
the certain success of their road In these
counties with every indncement thar exists in
Wisconsin, the people have been alarmed at a
tax. whichin its effects would be no tax at all,
siinIl, on the principle that it is no more for
tvs enty men. 10 pay 5000 tax than for ten men
4, pay Ssl0J. The conducf or the Wisconsin
firmeTs has not been merely The effect of excite
ment they have been carefully investigating the
subiec. for more than year. Those who live
50 miles from the Lake have computed that the
saving hv railroad 10 every one who cultivate
a aquarer section Of land would be n, least $500 q
wear, whilst the increase oil business around him,
the influx Of settlers together with the induce
men,s to mechanics, and manufacturers, would
be SO m,ieh'angncn,ed that the ya!Ge Of real cs-
tate would necessarily advance 10 three Hold lis
sent prices. It. can hardl, b. doubted that
these results would apply in the case oil the X. L.
Road. Eycrv intelligent person who reasons
canddly on the subject, can come 70 no other
conclusion. Ifsnch eihe immediate collateral
effects. connected, merely with o grea, extent OF
fertile land lying distant from market, who can
estimate the result when The general effect OF a
road extending thousands of,niles, is taken INTO
the account, together with the multitude OF in
direct sources Of business which will inevitably
grow out Oft.
have no exact data TO determine the number
of acres OF unoccgped land within strip OF land
twelve miles wide on each side OF the route IN
Henry ard Bureau counties, but assuming ihaiit
is one half, (Which IoeHeve TO b. moderate
calcula,ion) there wouid be room and induce
ment for an additon farming population Of
5000 people, allowing fifty acres 10 each indi-
vdua. or 800 acres TO each family. These
wouldsbe accompanied by a due proportion OF
mechanics, cause more villagesto spring up and
create more business of every description.
The cfec. of railroad npon all o,herpropery
now existing would be equally fei, by increasing
it's value within the belt Of country alluded 10,
and far beyond il, even TO The south line OF inc
counties | am fully of the opinion that the di-
rec, operation of the Rock Island road would add
more than kree mi lions of dollars TO their actual
wealth and would render them more prosperous
in FIVE years than they would probably be IN
twenty wears without il. Il is sometimes dcsila-
ble to be near railroad but it frequently hap
mems that those who reside few miles distant
can with eqnal convenience reach depot. a
farmer who lives l2 or IA miles from raiiroad
can easily GO 10 il and return the same day, ana
can choose his time to store his grain or send It
10 market without interfering with any impor-
,ant operationa on his farm. Those who 1--we
near the rivor or canal will have choice and all
the advantage that will grow out OF competition,
But the inhabitants in the counties through
which The r.. T. Road will pass, will derive other
Indirect advantages, tic limits Of which cannot
adequately be estimated, but which are sure 10
Iephnpce the value OF every man's property. its
position gives it decided claims 10 beeome the
most imporanti,se between Lake Michigan ana
the Mississippi and if the attention OF eastern
capitalists can be directed to il at an carry
period. its great resources and ply steal advanta-
res would overpower all other influences ana u
would be adopted as that great national avenue,
which shall one dav command universal admira.
lion. Yes, sir, the Rock Island R,ilroad wonio
he in one sense ,the channel for the commerce
of the whole world, upon which an individual
might travel from r ck Island TO New York IN
Two da,s. What would be the Influence OF
such work! Would itnot be absurd to sup
nose that ii would only contribute to the va,ae
Of proper,v in the counties through which 1t pass
| es, The inhabitants Of the adjoining counties
will also share in these benefits, and to an eS'
tent which those only can appreciate VINO nave
witnessed The creative power OF Riilroads'-,
Who therefore, would say that q road oi such
magnitude should be turned foot from lis true
course, to accommodate any local interest y
Tha, numerous branch roads would necessary
ispriup into existence, is a sure result; aud -
general would snbserye the true interests OF tils
termini full as well as the mnn line; but INC
paramount object Of The R. Company, mus
Be seek the best possible route, regardless O
every other consideration, for by this means
aud ihismcans only, can il becems the gfea
tho opgh fare alluded to. To this effect, 'sls'h'
n enl1.