The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-02-24
THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY u, 1853
SOMETHING FOR YoU To READ

SOMETHING FOR IOU TO READ.
10 our zeal Tor Railroads and with the
laudable desire to see Davenport, one of
the ver,ebra in the back bone Of Americas.
we must no, lose sight Of the smaller cir
cumstance, that we are yet comparativel,
an insignificant p,ace.-That there is s,ill
considerable land around us which is sus.
ceptible Of greater improvement, while
within the corporate limits there is yet
space for number OF even larger class
buildings .-Tha, while our merchants, me.
chanics and craftsmen of all kinds are
thriving, We; there is room for extension Of
business. We Americans are go-ahead
people and while sometimes we do not stop
10 consider whether we be right, We; from
the variety Of modes Of egress presented in
this rapid country, We are pretty sure 10
come out right. 1t is characteristic Of
the people OF the old country to settle down
in one spot and content themselves with
small gains, satisfied If they obtain little
more than bare subsistence, aud some
times fattering themselves with the unc.
ton that their promising offspring, when
they come 10 fill their boots, will expand
the business 10 which they have legitimate
ly become heirs. This may be happy
idiosyncrass, but II is foreign TO the Amer
lean disposition. With him confinement,
to one business, or to one location is ruled
bore, and no employment is more readily
sought than that which keeps him on the
wing. The American lives faster than
the phlegmaiic foreigner, though be ma,
endure to no greater age be lives twice a
long! Those who come among US from
foreign lands, if not too old, soon conirac,
the American habi, of shaking haste 10
get rich" and acquired habitr, asa general
rule, are stronger than natural ones.
All Of which is preliminary TO the re-
mark, that though prosperous our citizens
must not await the slow process Of build
ing Railroads in order TO secure greater
prosperity Two OF three years will roll
round before any certainty is vouchsaied
Us Of hearing the puff Of the locomotive as
il starts on its course westward During
that time We must not be idle, or our neigh
bors, less favored by nature, will cut off
the channels oil trade aud we will be thrown
upon the single resource Of Railroad.
magnificent 10 its conception. passing our
doors with the rich products ofthe interior
and bearing them on 10 The sesboard mar
kets. Within year the projec, Of Rail
road connection with those markets has
been reduced to certainty we can see il
we can almost grasp tive begin to
realize n-bat what have we done proper
uonal 10 facilitate our communication with
those portions Of the surrounding country,
upon which we mus, depend for that ali
ment which is 10 constitute Us place Of
Importance? Literally nothing. No sub
sisntisl effort has been made even to retain
the trade which seeks this point. le, alone
the recovery Of that portion which legi,i-
ma,ely belongs TO Us, bu, has been attract
ed TO other towns by The induceuent OF
good roads. The farmers Of Cedar and
nd If rssn 4
prefer dealing al Davenport, as the market
Is reliable and the prices average higher,
while goods are equally low, but ,hey are
lnterdicted BY The impossible condition oil
The roads. Farmers on the Maquoketa,
now conveying the products Of their farms
TO Dubuque, have assured US, that were the
market Of Davenport as accessible they
would prefer trading al this place.
"The Gods help those who help them
selves" is heather proyeIb tina, amid The
peculiar advantages that nature has thrown
around Us, il were well we should renem
Der. We have the best natural site for
city in the Staie--iis local advantages can
not be equsiled-yet the facilities present
ed for locomoiion are not superior to some
OF those towns that have been literally
carved out Of The hillside We have as
good natural roads and as bad artificial
roads n Scott county as are to be found in
Iowa. From the complaints Of our farmers
we conclude, that The roads Of Scott coun-
ty hare nerer been in so bad condition
as they are al Ae present time, and tina, too
in view Of The speedy location Of Rail.
road depot here. We may plume ourselves
upon the fact Of depot being established
Of this, The present western terminus Of The
great iron highway that 10 to spen our con
tnent, but Of what utility will be this de-
pot itisrmers are prevented reaching il BY
the wrslched condition of The roads? Pro.
duce will go TO Muscalne and il will 20 to
Dubuque; il will come up The river and
down The river and il will all 60 TO Rock
Island, and what advantage will il be 10 us
Now we individually have .,,a: