Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-07-10
BURLINGTON HAWK-EYE.

The exceptions taken by the OquawSa Specta-
tor to the resolutions of the Stockholders of the
Peoria Railroad, at their late meeting at Knox
vile, come with bad grace from Oquawka and
Henderson county, that have not taken dollar
of stock in the road, nor heretofore manifested
the slightest interest in it. The Stockholders at
Knoxville, had no evidence from which they could
presum. that the people Of Oquawka desired the
road to that place. Indeed they had the right to
presume that they did not want it. How was
their conduct to be interpreted? what else could
the Stockholders do? Oquawka and Henderson
county were not represented--they had taken no
stock. Did they expect they could lay on their
oars, and rely upon the estate system' and s'leg-
islative policy" to bring the railroad to their
doors? If they did we fear they arc destined to
be disappointed. We have no right 10 speak for
others, but we think that il they desire or expect
the main line Of the road to be completed to their
place, they must set to work anu build it them
selves to Monmouth. This they have perfect
right to dove presume they have the ability
and if they desire it, they have only to set about
it with right good will, and it is done. Upon the
showing Of the Spectator, the cost Of the road
from Monmouth TO Oauawka win be far less
than from Monmouth TO Burlington. This will
be so much in their favor.
But the Spectator says that the capitalists Of
Oquawka s'will not take stock in the road until
they are sure that the money thus subscribed will
be applied in their own county" Now the ed
tor and the citizens of Oquawka ought to know
that such policy would be suicidal to the inter-
ests of the Company. As Stockholders they
would receive an equal share of the profits of the
road, and should not expect policy to be par-
sued not consistent with the interests of the whole
company The Eastern end of the road must
necessarily be the first to pay either dividends or
expenses. Tpenty-eiyh! miles are graded already,
and may be put in operation in short time, it
the company have the credit to buy the iron. As
soon as it is in running order, it will commence
paying dividend. The interests Of the Stock
holders will then be to push forward the road
westwardly as fast as possible, until by reaching
the Mississippi, they draw to their road the i'm
mcase travel and BUSINESS, TO and from Iowa,
which of itself will render the stock of the road
profitable.
If Oqnawka with her line of the road, can ac-
commodate the trade and transportation Of Iowa,
she should by all means be up and doing. She
should take all the stock she can. and expend it
within the limits of her county. and borrow more
money to build the road to Monmouth. Burling-
ton expects by her branch of the road, to afford
outlet to the business of Iowa to the East, bu;
she will cheerfully take up the glove and accept
Oluawka as a rival for this trade. Let the main
trunk to Oquawka, and the branch TO Burlington
both be built
The burden Of the Spectators complaint, is
that the Stockholders have pledged their faith 10
complete the road from Monmouth'to Burlington
first, leaving the main trunk to Oquawka TO be
completed afterwards. 'Why, he asks, ''shouli
the faith of the company be pledged TO construct
the road to Burlington" We answer that the
company have the right so to do under the char
ter, and in doing so, they are consulting the in
terests of the pany, and of the people Of ILL
nois, no less than of the people Of Iowa. Surely
it was something, too, TO be considered in coming
to such determination, that the City of Buring-
ton and the people Of Iowa have taken stock to
the amount of $3.50 900, and the people of Oluaw-
ka have not taken dollar.
We do not sec, therefore, that any thing has
been done of which the people of Oquawka have
any right to complain. A little more interest
and a little more exertion on their part, might
have brought the road TO Oquawka first. As it
is, however, Oquawka has nothing to do but to
build the road to Monmouth. 1t is rather too
much for her to expect that it should be built for
her by others, ,rithous her assistance and against
her rishes.