Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-12-30
try around them. What, then, will our
"town" be but settle" for small Sway
station" upon line of Railroad running


"town" be but "cite' for small SWAY
station" upon line of Railroad running
from Davenport to Oskaloosa VIA thu
/ riHuge OF Muscatine When that road j:
completed our city cannot depend upon {
1.-THE of the farming country to support it
that it does to day. Inecd not resort t.
petty qnibbling to prove this. Let us ex-
amino.
There will be dcpos at Washington, anu
all the produce raised within twenty miles
! cast Of that place, and which has always
come to this city will find a nearer market
at that depot. Another depot st Moscow
will receive all the trade Of q large tract Of
country comprising an area Of six miles d.
verging at every point from that town, and
that, toe, consisting Of trade which mom
comes to this place. The Cedar Rapids
country trade will be cut of from us by
certainly rs many as two railroad depots
between this and that place and all of this
trade going right straight to Davenport
will make Musc.tine even less important
business point than young Moscow will be
for the reason that Moscow will have q larger
tract of country to support it than Musca-
tine.
When, then, the roads are completed as
contemplated, all that can console us is the
pery pleasant idea, that we spent our money
to build up our prosperous neighbors and
fbs hauH fbs n that hand In v-;li
prove our ruin yet. What earthly use will
the river be to us, bend or no bend, if one
great market for the western produce is at
point on the same river 80 miles above
us, and another 20 miles below? We may
obtain a little southern trade, but do we
not know that Iowa will look to the east for
her market, when her railroads are COM
pleted9 1t is true there will be some mer-
chandise coming from the south to go to the
west, and that we shall get, but be assured
it will be but small pot ton compared to
what has been done during the season just
closed. With line Of road completed to
the Mississippi, our connection with the
east will be much more advantageous than
it ever has been with the south. This fact
trust will not be denied.
Now then with road to Oskaloosa and
also to Moscow, the Locomotive will come
into our town-give one whistle--stop a
moment to taSe on what little freight
would be brought from, distance of fire
miles-give another screech, and rush off
across the plains, before the people of Mus
catine would have time to examine the pant
ing steed. Well, that is indeed, co soling.
The enquiry next arises, if these things
are so, what is to be done? | shall make
no suggestions only to say that NOW is the
time tc act. | have no doubt that the NJ.
& NJ. Co. intend to build the Oskaloosa
road, aud feel myself that il they would
be satisfied with that, such tding would
well be worth rejoicing over; but the after
piece puts altogether different aspect upon
affairs. lie we are to be used ms plant
tool to fill the Golfers of those vi no take no
interest in our welfare, |, perhaps "solta-
ry and alone," shall ask the privilege of en-
tering my most solemn protest.
Now, Messrs. Editors, have l been deal
ing with facts? l hope that may be mis-
taken, and that these doubts may all be
satisfactorily explained; but slrs, rest as
sured that if the grounds taken are legiti-
mate and true, the people of Muscatine will
necer consent to have their means appropri-
a,ed for any such base uses.
My motives in communicating this article
are sincere and unselish; am prompted
only by desire to see the interests and
welfare of Muscatine and other points upon
the line, promoted. Therefore do not
est down sught in m1icc'