The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-11-17
Letter From David A Neal ESQ.


8 BERNuART HEM.
Letter From David A Neal Esq.
The following letter from David A. Neal ESQ
to gentleman in Galcna, we take from the G,
lena Jetfersonian. 1.as ssffegs n :5ssaosfs.4 Z
| 1t contains some very good advice to Gale
mans. We hope they will profit by it. cav
CHICAGO, Oct. 1852.
DEAR SIR IL returned here yesterday afte
most pleasant journey in the interior NJ,
views of the resources Of this State have beel
in no degree diminished. There is an energ,
in the character OF the people that well com
pares with the strenth and prodnctlveness o
their soil In traversing the vast praries, on,
feels the same sensation that have often expe
rienced on the broad ocean, that Of weakness
and Of strength at once Weak when we fnt
ourselves, or our party, alone on an expanst
with n" limit but the horizon. Strong when We
reflect Low easily we appr pirate it for our &C
commudaton and our pleasure. ~
was much pleased il it'll the interviews
had with TIE gentlemen to whom had the hon
or Of an Introduction, and whose attentions gave
me the opportunity of seeing for my self The ca
pabilhies both OF Galena and Dubuque l think
neither need be jealous of the other; for, if moi
now there viii, soon be, business enough and
wealth enough for both aud pouring in upon
tl EN- from every direction.
am glad to learn that the Conncl will wal,
the report OF their New York Committee. Il
think they will admit that the Company is bound
to proceed, but if they are not, it is clear hers
will No one will undertake TO say to the tide
f prosperity that is now rolling westward with
much force, 1.Thus far shat thou 90 and
no farther, and here shall thy proud waves be
stayed" If the Hmmalaya Mountains could
BE- moved from their base and placed across lis
current, they would form but slight obstacle
to its progress. 1t would work under, wear
through, or rush over them. Dut were it posi-
bic, it seems TO me to be hardly desirable. It
must l think, be better to be situated in the
midst Of fertility and abundance, than on their
verge; to be in the centre of garden than on
the borders Of u desert. Galena, in my view,
with is capital and enterprise, should extend
the facilities af intercourse in every direction !;
should shoot out its railroads and plankroads to
every point Of the compass. The mighty river
of the West flows past it and but few miles
from it. Will it refuse 10 make those miles
fnrlongs in point Of fact, and in craven fear cf
other lacaties let the vast commerce that is
borne on its waters, be drawn away by those
who are watching for this false move with the
ca gerness OF rivals, in the certainty, it it is
made, that it makes their fortunes; too? Let
Galena, instead Of being the great thoroughfare
Of the Western trade, become merely an oft ,hoot
from the line of communication that must be
uninterru Jedy established some where, and how
long do you think II will be the great mart and
depot Of the Mineral regions OF Illinois and
Wisconsin Let it establish a barrier that will
this line of niercommunication be.
tween The East and South with the West and
North, (and very little thing will do it) it will
i,,u
trade. | feel more anxious on this account than
on the change in the line or the extra expense
that may be incurred by the Illinois Central
Rail Road. look upon Galena as one of the
points from which We are to derive large por-
t on Of the business, and am desrous Of re-
tanning it, am still more desrous OF retain
ing the good feelings and wishes Of its inhabi-
tants towards our Company. | wish to be able
to unite with them in averting what conceive
will be great evil TO them, as well as to US and
the State OF Illinois, which has so great an in.
tsrest in our success. | wish, instead Of oncour
aging the Wisconsin road to pass by on the
other side, with all its traffic, to the Mississippi,
to induce it, for its sake, for your sake, and
for our sakes, to connect with al the State
llpc, and bring its accumulated mass Of mer-
clandise and travel into, as well as beyond your
city This will make Galena a central point.
1t will become to the Western what Chicago is
to the Eastern part of u. State.
In regard to the stea NIB sat interest, believe
| gave my ideas to you and others while in Ga.
lena. ltmay seem presumptuaus in me to give
opinions thus freely on your own peculiar bus
mess but have had some experience in regard
to the transportation Of merchandise by Rail-
roads and by Steam B pats i have before new
attempted "a competition with the latter, but
have always been reaten. The fact is, that
Fe evre river will still be their channel, and Ga
lena their point Of discharge, and all the rail-
roads that be built, cannot prevent it, unless
Galena adopts the pelicy Of Japan and refuses
all commerce except it comes from one paint,
and that under degrading and destructive regu-
lations But | have no fear that this will be
done.
Men of enterprise, themselves, will not seek
10 cramp the exertons If others. Men of trade
know to we'll how sooa it decays under OPP
pre- ssion, or seeks ether channels where it may
be free. The ILLINOIS Central Railroad simply
seeks PERMISSION to proceed 10 Galena and
thereon to point on the Mississippi, passing
through in such manner as will be most agree
able to your property holders, and making such
arrangements as will be most convenient TO the
busint IS portion OF the community.
Trusting | may soon hear from you again, /
remain very truly yours
81 DAVID A. NEAL