Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-08-31
Our Attack upon the Davenport
Road.

Our Attack upon the Davenport
Road.
An article appeared in the Reporter of last
week. especially and solely intended to defend
the Lyons Company from certain unjust asser
tions and riGicu!e, which we know to have
been levelled against it. In some instances
here in Iowa City, this article has not met with
that favor which We deem true regard for the
interests of both Roads should dictate. 10 say
nothing of the obligations attaching to the
course which the County has pursued viii re-
gard to Them.
An effort has even been made 10 construe our
remarks into direct and open attack upon
the NJ d NJ. Rail Road, thus virtually accu.
sing us Of abandoning the stand which We
took at the beginning and by which we have
in every emergency abded up TO The presen,
hour and by which we still intend to abide
hut we do not believe that the citizens of this
City or OF this coupty SO looksupon this matter.
They aloLe will consider il an attack upon
the Davenport Road, who feel conscious that
it is indeed directed against themselves, and
who would therefore take refuge in the outcry
OF, "What an unjust assault upon the Com.
pany!"
Wehave never supposed the Davenport PEG.
pie to be very amiably disposed towards the
Lyons Road, and for that reason are not sur
prised at their adopting the most unnatural
construction Of any article written in behalf of
the latter project. But We wish merely to say
to the citizens Of Davenport, who upon this
great question are closely allied with us in
M 81 md To he of oc, II:
have deep and common interes, in both en-.
terprises, that no such attack was DESIGNED
and no such attack made either openly or COW
er.ly, and we challenge substanliation of the
charge from the article itself
We believed then and we believe now what
We then said. We believe that individuals
are daily guilty of ipdiscretons to cal them
by no harsher name, calculated solely to arouse
spirit of bitter and uncompromising rivalry
between the two companies. And this is
spirit no more to be desired by one man than
another, by the citizens of Davenport Than by
the citizens of Iowa City. Against all such
endeavors, individually made and under Ger.
tain circumstances, we have hitherto raised our
voice feeling IL inperativey, matter of duty.
OF whom have thus far lived more than up to
their engagements to us, and who if DESTROYS
ola mutual warfare, may fight as long and
ind!ctively as they please, but without the in.
teIvention # this Press at least.
But We dcprecate deeply and honestly the
policy, especially of citizens of this county to
labor in behalf Of one project at the expense
of cb md IF bn. nj
we deprecate the policy Of others, out Of the
county, laboring to awaken prejudices and en-
mites against either road, knowing that we
have eon'mon and abiding interest in both
We have always advocated the operations of
the Davenport Road through thick and thin
We have done SO to the best Of our abilities
We have fought for it when others were labor.
ing to defeat its various plans and hopes but
then received no inimation from any source
that We were making an attack upon the Lyons
Road. Oh mol But now that We venture to
defend the Lyons Road from individual as
saul:s, We are at once arraigued before tribu
nal, few in numbers to be sure, and charged
for sooth with wanton onslaught upon the
Mississippi and Missouri Rail Road company
Leaving aside the injustice Of this charge,
the very idea is righteousness itself TIE idea
of attacking company so widely and favor
ably known as that proposing 10 connect us
with Davenport, is preposterous, and we feel
that no candid and impartial man can cherish
it for any length of time.
What the counties west of US will do, we
cannot say, but We wish to see fair play
throug hout, aud especially do We demur to any
intervention on the part of our citizens ca'cu
lated to create suspicious of both companies,
retard the progress Of both and more than a |,
disclosing spirit of faction and division on
the subject in Iowa City, which, we beg to as.
sure our friends at Dave npor, and at the west,
is not a general spirit, butcoufned to narrow
sphere.
In fine. no one doubts the integrity, the re-
sponslbility and the efficiency of the company,
which proposes to build the road from Daven-
port 10 Iowa City, but we may all well doubt
the wisdom of that policy, which would strive
TO commend this company to the especial favor
of Iowa, Polk and Poweshek counties, by mis-
representations and aspersions of the other -
Totally with a view Of correcting any wrong
impressions which may have arisen, We pub
lished our article, and whenever we are aware
that citizen of johnson County. is lending
his aid TO counteract and embarrass the western
We feel in duty bound to do our utmost, in
order 10 show the matter in it's true light