The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-08-14
RoADs-GooD ROADS.


| Sir: You will excuse me for writing
YOU. never expected to write any thin
Tor a newspaper, but it there 10 any thin
that would induce me to do so il il for III
benefit ofthe public, aud how can tho pub
lie be more benefited than by having goo
roads2 In reading your most excellen
paper discover there has been considers
BILE excitement about roads leading int
your city. lprobably may speak too plai'
on the subject, but | speak jus, as | think.
think tia, il is high time for the Cit
|zens Of Davenport and its vicinity to be ex
cited about their own interests. | woul'
say TO them not to stop to inquire who i
going to repair or make the roads good, bu
make start, draw UP a subscription pnpe
and let oyery man sign it--for | consider
every man interested.
Does the merchant say, 81 am not inter
ested in the roads, do no, have any bust
ness in the coun,ry?' That merchan
does not deserve to be patronized.
Does the mechanic say" III never trave
the road, and therefore | will give moth
lngw Does he not know that by having o
good road to his city that he can sell many
dollars worth Of his manufacture where he
nn,v CO. rcoly calls ona7
Does the drayman say that his busines:
is confined 10 the city and he does not care
how they &c, through the country? Does
he not know that by having good road
back fifty or hundred miles, it will more
Than treble his draying?
The inland merchan, will then land bis
goods at Davenport. Ask him why ht
lands his goods there and he will tell yot
/, is because they have good road, anc
fifteen or twenty miles is nothing.
Ask the farmer why he goes TO Daven
port with bis produce. Is it not grea
deal nearer TO some other point? Yes
Then why do you 60 there, do you ge'
more for your wheat aud pork? No. Whal
sheD' Why, sir, they have the bes, roae
and can draw more and do il great dea
easier for my team.
Does the lawyer say that he has no in
terest in the roads?
Does the doctor, or the tavern keeper
say that they have no interest. ] woulc
ask then where do they get their support
And every other MN, care not il be ha.
to work by the day for living, is benefit
ed by having good roads.
Does the farmer say, II live only five OF
six miles out md i, don't make much differ
ance " it'll me!n lam aware sir that there
are few such men living within six Of
sight miles Of your city, who if they hav.
got slough on their land which they can
not work, will leave that for road, without
trying TO improve i, in the least, but fence
up both sides with good pine board fence
| saw sample Of i, the last time / was il
your city. found man stuck fast n one
Of those sloughs tia, was loo wet for farm
ing purposes.
Arc the people Of Davenport asleep il
the matter! If they are those Of Musca
tine are awake aud are making efforts Il
get plank road to Cedar Rapids. VII,
do no, more people land at Davenport whc
wish to 60 into the interior? Why sir,
will tell you, you have no conveyance bach
in the country. and if they land at Musca
tine they can get stage. Give us gooc
roads back and will guarantee thst you
will have a stage from Cedar spids Il
Davenport in less than one year, and yol
will have ten land at your place where
there is now one.
| had almost forgotten to say anything
about Capt. Wilson. Ii he knew the a
noun, Of ferrluge he loses by not having I
good road leading from Davenport to ,hi.
county, he would give at least fifty dollar,
TO make one, And the owners Of the sa"
mills, if they look at their own interest viii
subscribe literally. The amount of lum
Der they would sell would soon pay then
back with interest.
Between Upton and Davenport there
is undoubtedly the best prairie in the State
md only The want of-good roads prevent,
its settling. Do not think me too tedlou.
and excuse the bad scholarship. lam evel
yours, A FARMER.
Cedar County, Aug. Isl 1851.
II ia id that the overs of the Ns