The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-06-01
TO the Tax Payers Of Dubuque County.
rHx Dusvaur Ass PACIFIC RAIL ROAD.


In few days from now, the people Of thu
County will be called upon to vote on ques
ton Of the mos, vital Importance ever presented
to them for the exercise of their votes ; a ques
ton fraught with interests Of the greatest mag
nitude, but st the same time, surrounded by cir
cumstances of very grave character.
great deal has been said through the dali.
press Of this city for and against the propriety o
this county taking 100000 stock in this Road
q kind Of basis on which to start it.
The object Of the writer is to G We his views
calm and unprejudced, upon this subject look
ing neither to the right nor to the left, but Keep
ing in view the interests of the whole County'
and the individual interests of which its corpo-
rate capacity is formed.
That a railroad, in any direction west from
Dubuque, would be of the greatest possible ad-
vantage, to the people of this City and in Ger
tain ratio to the people of the entire county,
very few will deny. But the true question Is,
il il Of such nature as to induce the tax payers
Of Dubuque county (who will ultimately have to
foot the billy to give 1t their sanctions Alter
looking at the subject from different points OF
view, and giving it all the reflection my humble
can,c;tv permits. l am constrained 10 say it is
not.
/ regret TO be obliged to say this, for ii is in
direct conflict with my private interests. but ex-
pediency, in matters Of this kind, must give
rJ.ca Ia nrinciOle
The advantages of this county Cor rather the
people Of the county, as stock holder, as lar as
the profits arising from the earnings OF the
road are concerned, would be equal; but
the equally ends here. Would the &C
commodation afforded be equal BY no
means few people living contiguous
10 the line Of road or some Of It's depots would
no doubt be vastly benefited, as would also those
living in the immediate neighborhood in such
adjoining county, as it may touch; but what ac-
commodalion, would it be to the farmer living
20 miles or ten or even 6ve-who would have
to haul his produce, as he has now, over impass
able roads and swoolen creeks? None. That
the contemplated Railroad would advance the
value of real estate, in given ratio, over all
this county is admitted, and that there are cir
cumstances under which county might profit
ably take stock and be an individual benefit, is
also admitted Such for instance as an int rior
inland county wanting channel of trade, like
those in the State of Ohio, which have been re-
ferred to by some writer discussing the subject
in one of the papers. That argument, however,
does not apply here. Dubuque ia to all inten's
snd purposes a maratime county; her centre of
commerce (Dubuque) will in the course of few
months be in an nnbroken connection by railroad
with most Of the Eastern markets, giving the
people Of Dubuque county all the facilities they
could expect from railroad enterprise, lSDIvID-
UALLY.
If you wish to pay taxes, to meet ten per cent
interest on $sOO,00O for the chance Of making
it profitable as an investment, | fear it is very
little of it will find its way back into your pock-
cts again.
Most people are pretty well able to take care
Of their own affairs but when it comes to public
matters (such as what is every mans business
is nobody's business they can't see things in
the same light.
will not here speak Of the constitutional
discussion connected with this subject. AS far
as that goes the proposition to submit it to the
Supreme court is satisfactory and is no longer,
on that account, any objection with me.
In the examination of this subject have asked
myself the question how could the county of
Dubuque be mos, benefited by loan Of $780,
600.
The conclusion forced itself upon me Build
with it, together with 100000 to be borrowed
by the City, three grand Plank or Macadamized
Roads to the verge Of the county
say one West snother North West and the
other South Wei Bridge the various creeks
which are so daI .erous to the safety of the ci,-
liens in times Of high water, and frequently
prevent people from attending to their town
businessin even ordinary stages Of water. Let
each township be organized for the construction
Of Township Roads to intersect the trunk Roads,
and you will have made the county of Dubuque
one Of the happiest and most comfortable, if not
the weallhiest, in the Mississippi Valley. You
viii also have the advantage Of the argument,
used in favor Of the railroad, Of having the
money all expended back again amongst you,
with this other advantage of yourselves being
its recipients.
Such q loan as the above purposes indicate,
would come clearly within the power Of the
County Judge, and believe would be cor
daily responded to--at least by me. In
the mean time, Dubuque is bound to have a
Western Rail Road. If that highly respec,a-
bic and wealthy Company (he Illinois CentraD
don't find it 10 be their interest to build Rail
Road West @ feeder for their Eastern and
Southern, the Southern Wisconsin Rail Road
in which Dubuque is already interes-
ed, will, trust, BY the time their Road reaches
the Eastern bank Of the father OF waters, oppo.
site to Dubuque--have attained strength and
po,osr and means enough to construct Du-
buque and Pacific Rail Road.
With these views, hurriedly thrown together,
I subscribe myself,
Your fellow citizen,
49, B.J. OHALLORAN.
Dubuque, May slst, 1858.