Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-07-13
Railroad Tax.

=
Railroad Tax.
1. On the 9Th Of August next special election
wIllssns 81 n mrs cosIty ~ ascertain the
! ~ n 1eEsS66 w5th rsG1xvS so.tlss propriety
md policy 4. subscription to the capital stock
Of the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Com
pany; in other words to ascertain whether We
shall issue County bonds to the tune Of $50 900
TO aid in building the projected road from
Davenport to Iowa City.
short time since. was a similar question
fairly though not fully tested, in the case Of
the Lyons Iowa Central. The friends Of the
measure came up well to the polls, consider
ing the many duties which are now engrossing
the attention Of nearly all our citizens. while
its opponents prudently stood aloof from par
ticipation in an election the result Of which
could only have displayed more cons picuously
their want Of public spirit or selfish adhe
renee to selfish prejudices. There were un.
doubtedly among them, meRuHh no could not
consistently with tbeir Ao9s! Hne npeled
convictions, ID to
them at best ddO measure Of good
But we honestly believe that these men are
few and far between. and we trust and hope
that more complete sense Of our County feel
ing in this behalf may be taken at the coming
election.
Our opponents say that they shall come out
in their strength and that "sound common
sense must prevail" We doubt not it will,
whether they come out in their strength or their
weakness. 1t uiH prevail and continually pre-
vail against the Vaccinations, and manoeuvres
and rotes of those whose self absorption is only
equaIled by the effrontery Of their pretended
public spirit
We say that this railroad question was fairly
though not fully tested. 1t was at one of the
busiest seasons in the year. and great numbers
were indisposed to sacrifice their valuable time
for the purpose of attending special election
confident that enough would be ON hand to sup.
port their interests and advocate their com.
mon cause.
This apparent indifference on the part of
many proves 10 us as clearly anything can,
how implicit reliance was placed upon the
simple merits of the question itself as one Of
plain palpable expedlency; all this too after
the enemies Of the measure had tempered with
them to their hearts content and narrated bug
bear fictions, an prophesed horrfc conse.
quences, enough to form the basis of grand
political romance.
All was ofno avail however, and, straining
not single nerve, putting forth no cxtracrdi-
nary effort in its behalf, We carried our point
and carried it magnifcently.
On the 9th of August, another and precisely
similar question will be presented to our active
consideration. 1t is call uron johnson
County for $4,000 to aid in the construction
OF q road which has been before us, revolved
cogitated and discussed, for years and years
longer than any other pointing in our direction;
road than which none other in our borders
can become a better paying concern or Of more
essential benefit to the State at large In this,
we only judge from the constant growth of
trade and population IN Iowa and from her
inevitable and proud commercial destiny; from
and from the consumate skill land energy which
have from the first been displayed in its prose
cution.
We are called upon TO raise $50 900 dollars
and for what2 For an air bubble, or an i'm
mature scheme, for an Indefinite oil iect Ora
remote interest? Not a: all. 1t is to bs,cxpen-
ded within our own county and on the only
condition that the road shall traverse it, max.
ing Iowa City point. II is to be expended at
our very doors, passing into the pockets 0
employers and laborers who will consume our
provisions purchase our goods, stock, and
many necessaries Of life, and furnish employ.
ment in more ways than one to our working
men.
Scott County will unquestionably do her
part and more if anything. The recent vote
in Davenport and the enthusiasm Of the county
at large are sufficient guaranty of this Let us
rot then neglect to secure a connection which
it would be next to suicidal 10 reject.
All these matters; the road. its eastern con.
nec,ions, its direction, its entire nature; the
proposition before US in all its phases: the
election, its import,its consequences. its neces-
sity; all these matters,we desire to be carefully
ScVVAscu aHu CoHsiucTeu py our friends over
the county. Stiff, probe, unravel, disseet. as
far as is in any wise practicable. This is what
We want; the better it is understood, the surcr
are We that the vote will be triumphantly car
ried. We do not want our opponents to at
tribute the unanimity of public opinion to a
false or dim understanding Of the matter in
hand. Let the question be thoroughly under.
stood and let every man vote understand
ingly."
1t would be well for the different townships
to holo one or more meetings between now and
the election, to discuss and handle this ques.
ton with care and attention.
1t may not be an III wise suggestion also
that this subject be brought forward at the
general election which comes off on the 1t
day Of August, the Monday preceding the
special railroad election. Perhaps more hume.
rously than at any other time, the citizens of
the various townships will be assembled on
that day and measures should be taken to pre-.
sent the question to them in its true light. aud
prove to the doubtful and scepiical how trivial
the tax Imposed upon themselves by this sub
pcriptioni how merely nominal in fact. cont
paved with the inestiyna6lc advantages which