Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-09-22
The Last Appeal!
READ! READ!! READu!

READ! READ!! RE.4Du!
Before another issue of our paper the
question of subscription or no subscrip-
ton, to the Railroad will be decided
But if the people decide against the SUBJ
scription. and, what we conceive to be
their best interest, it will be no fault OF
ours or the friends of the Road. Below
we copy letter written to several gen.
tlemen Of this place, which we think
will be a satisfactory answer to all OBJ
jections that can be made agains, voting
for the subscription. Any farther appeal,
or facts from US, we deem unnecessary,
for if this letter will not secure the sue.
cess of subscription, we nigh: preach
'ill we were gray, before we could make
any impression upon those who still re-
main skeptical:
BURLINGTON, Iowa, Sept. l6.
Messrs. J. II. d. Street, Uriah Biggs
ana 0GherS, Cftun1n1G.
GENTS: Your letter of 10Th inst, ad-
dressed TO HENRY w. STARR, Esq, has
been handed to us by that gentleman,
(now absent from Burlington with the
request that we would transmit an an
swer to the inquiries contained in it,
which we hope to be able TO do in such
manner as will be satisfactory to the
friends Of the burlington and Missouri
r. r. Company" in your county. The
position in which we sand to the Mich.
igan Central Company is simply this:
The active manager of that road (J. w.
Brooks, Esq, our Presidency accom-
panied by the Attorney of that Company,
Jas. F. Joy, Esq, (also one of our Di-
rectors) visited us in July last, and in
behalf of themselves and their friends
agreed to make the necessary survey of
the road at their own expense to the Des
MONIES river; and provided that the sum
of 100000 was raised in public and
private subscription along the line of the
road, agreed that they would raise the
balance of funds necessary to build the
road TO Ottumwa. "| q"
In pursuance OF this arrangement Mr..
Brooks has sent the presen. force of
Engineers from their road, who are now
employed on the line, under pay from
the Michigan Central Company. Thus
far there has been no failure on their
part to comply with their promises, and
we feel the most entire confidence that
they will no. fail to do SO hereafter. In
speaking of the michigan Central Co."
we mean of course the individuals and
principal stockholders in that Company
whom Mr.. Brooks represents. As dis.
tinct Company they cannot of course
embark in any enterprise not allowed by
their charter or construct any rail road
out of their State, but their stockholders
(among whom are some OF the wealthiest
men in the country can as any other
persons by subscribing to the stock OF
our road, become identified with it and
aid in its construction, and this is exactly
what they propose to do. All the direc.
tors in our road with the exception of
Mr.. Brooks and Mr.. Joy are residents
Of Iowa; so that the controlling influence
in the management Of the affairs of the
Company is exercised by them.
You say ''the directors to the Joan
urge that the bonds are to be issued at
all events, and then il the Company fail
to build the road or advance dollars
worth Of stock, the county will oe in for
the 100000" Nothing can be further
from the truth than this. In the FIRST
place it will be entirely optional with
your county authorities s0hen to issue
the bonds. By the condition inserted
in the Proclamation of your County
Judge, they can only be issued at the
rate of 5 per cent. per month, being the
same rate at which installments on pri-
vate subscriptions are to be raid. OF
one thing however, we can give you a
positive assurance. viz: that the authori-
ties Of your county wiA not be asked to
issue amy portion of the bonds until
sufficient means are raised to secure the
construction of the road TO Ottumwa,
nor until the road is put under contract
10 responsible contractors through your
county. We are willing to stipulate as
a company that not dollar OF private
or public subscription raised in your
county shall be appended out Of IL; and
we have every confidence in addition,
that the interest on all county bonds is.
sued in payment of stock accruing be-