The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-03-02
SATURDAY, FEBRuARY e5. 1854.


Railroad
The union Of the Atlantic with the Mis-
sissippi is complete. The marriage cere
mony has been performed. The twain arc
'one in interest and in prospects. What ha.
been joined together, therefore, not in silker
but in iron bands, let no (Eric) man put
asunder.
The shrill whistle Of the locomotive, as i,
makes hill and dale vocal with its peculial
music, reminds US that we have taken long
stride towards sun rise. Time and space
have been annihiated, and we are nearer
the city of New York to day than We were
to Chicago three years ago A "change
has come over the spirit Of our Dream" ane
instead Of feeling that we are in the fal
Northwest, We already begin to realize that
we are in close proximity with the grea,
commercial emporiums Of the Union. This
and commercial prosperity of fair young
Iowa.
Hail to the genius Of the Rail. Honor
TO the men who conceived and have carried
forward to successful completion this great
enterprise.
Prophecies have been neither "few mol
far between" for the last few years, as tc
what point on this Big Drint" should frs
be connected with the East by Railroad.
But now the .'die is cast" the Rubicon is
crossed, the story is told, the work is done
and speculation, and conjecture, and guess
/ ing, and assertion, and calculation and all
the family of uncertainties are OF no further
use to us in this favored locality, and the
stern and stubborn reality stares us full III
the face, that not Dubuque, nor Burlington
/ nor keokuk, nor any other place but Daven-
port, yes, Davenport, Scott County, Iowa
lis the first point on the west bank of the
Mississippi which has Railroad connection
with the Atlantic seaboard.
Did we say that time and space had been
annihlated, Yes, and other things have
been annihlated also Do you ask what!
We answer opposition to Railroads. Who
wants to dance to the tune OF "Nait for the
wagon" now. Nobody. Every body is in
favor of Railroad now, and that's right
But are we done! Is the completion OF
the Rock Island Road the final consumma-
ton ofour hopes, Byno means. "Coming
events cast their shadows before and this
lis but the shadow; what then think you
will the event be. We are safe in saying
that this is but the "beginning of the end. >
That spirit of progress which for the last hall
century has been increasing daily in impcr-
tancc, and which has laid under contribution
the untameable spirits of fire and water
and yoked them in iron names. has but just
commenced his course, firmly seated in the
place of power, the free rens have been
thrown upon the necks If these tire!ess
courscrs, and no calculation is made for q
muse. until the brazen hoois of the iron
horse, whose flood is fire, and whose breath
Lis flame" shall be bathed in the blue waves
Of the Pacific.
The idea that this country is TOO 'seo fol
Railroads, has become obsolete. But il
are is what we want for a country. Rail
roads are the very thing to give it, Is
country in its boyhood' Then give it {
Railroad, and immediately it puts on ''Boot'
and Beaver" and dofis the jacket and dons
the long-tailed coat, and steps right up ane
takes its position on the platform among tht
important places Of the earth Neither Ii
it a question merely of dimes and dollars
Ityr while it adds to financial prosperity ant
Importance, it also throws powerful weigh
unon the lever which raises from compare
tive obscurity, to morality and civilization
There is probably no truer saying thar
that "man needs closer acquaintance will
m,n the world over" Railroads bring thC
distant places of the earth together, oreal
down the partition walls of estrangement
removes prejudces fostcred and led, II
many localities, brings about comparison
,r ;dcas. and q mutual interchange oi bene
'... which must in their very nature an'
tendency blnl man to his fellow man. "n'
enable him fully to understand wh"' !.
meant by the term Universal Brotherhv'a'
Who will not say. in view Of oil th's'
Speed then, speed it Oh its inisson,
Speed it in its work Of good.