Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-02-24
Fur tho Journal.

For the Journal.
Y STOCK IN THE M. & I. g. r.. II.
MEssRs. EDIroRs; In your paper of last
week, I observed communication, signed
ga. b." in which the writer endsavers to
convince the citizens Of Muscatine that it
10 their interest to vote against the propo-
sition to take stock in the Railroad from
here to Iewa City.
A. B. gives four reasons Why We should
vote against the loan, and a. differ with
him in opinion, wish the privilege of
briefly answering him.
His first reason is, the debts We have
contracted, by our previous loans fer rail.
road purposes, both the city and country.
This 10 certainly the best reason he gives
for his opposition, and is entitled to ssri.
ous consideration by every taxpayer.
We should look upsn it as any other bu-
siness tranaotion. Shall We roalise "val-
ne received" for the loan? Will the road
be $55,0O0 advantage to our city, Will il
be paying road, when fnished2 All
Of these questions, think, will be ann
swered in the Affirmative. If tho road be a
paying one, then the city's stock can be
sold for the $55 900, and thus pay our debt
by a sale of our stock. Blu! take the worst
view of the case, and suppose we lose on
the stock, still We will be benefited BY the
road, to the amount Of oil our tax, by con-
Meeting with the Lyons road, at Iowa City.
It is certainly our interest to aid any COM
pany that will maksa railroad to Muscatins.
And, although We have voted literally for
oil the loans proposed for railroads, still
tho interests of our city demand another
effort. Besides, if you will read the ordin.
ancs, you will see the City Council have so
guarded it that the bonds are not to be issued
until the company have shown that they are
determined to build the road. 1t will c,st
US nothing to vote for the loan, unless the
road be built; and if we get the road by
lending the credit of the city for $55, 900,
think We will make good bargain.
A. BIS second reason is that We shall soon
have a connection with Iowa City via
Moscow.
Now the crossing Of the Cedar Rapids
and Davenport road, will he, perhaps, about
north Of Muscatine, which will be about
two miles cast Of the village Of Moscow.
To 60 to Iowa City, by that route, would
be to turn at right angle, at the crossing |;
besides, our Iowa City road, is part Of
khe road, that ultimately 10 to run to the
mouth of the Big Sioux River. 1t another
road, and another company, entirely sep.
crate from the Cedar Rapids one.
He speaks about the road crossing Cedar
river at Ovcrman's Ferry.
A straight line from Muscatine to Iowa
City, will cross some miles below said fer.
~. The idea, then, of going to Iowa City
by railroad, and to 80 north from Musca-
tine twelve miles, then west 26 miles, is
absurd. If you want to connect with Iowa
City, by railroad, vote for the loan.
ga. BPS" third reason ID, that Gen. Nys
said sthey would not call on Us for a dol.
lar" Such was the expression of an indi-
ridual. But the Company do ask US to give,
and rs we have given literally to other
companies. it is just and proper that we
should respond by voting the loan Of $55,
600. am unable to sec the force of this
objection to the loan
And his fourth objection is, that when
Niessrs. Woodward & Butler, last summer,
went to see the agents Of the Michigan Gen.
trail Railroad, with view to getting them
to assis. US inubuildins our railroad, tina.
they would not coneent to connect with Ia
and that subsequently, We had engaged with
the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Com.
pany. All this is true. But am unable
to sec the bearing it hos to induce US ia
vote against the loan. Our connection
with the NJ. & NJ. R. R. Co., has nothing to
do with the road from here to Iowa City.
1t is another company and another road al
together. And one in which Muscatine ha.
a deep interest. In all probability Messrs.
Woodward & Butler did not see the real
stockholders Of the Lyons Company. Indeed
il 10 almost certain they did not. And il
they did, it only shows that they 1.-THE
stockholders) have changed their minds. ]
am taking for granted that the stockhol.
ders in the Michigan Central, the Lyons,
and the Iowa City and Muscatine, are, ia
>some extsnt, tho same. II this be correct,
it only shows that those men have, at least,
seen the Importance Of connecting with
this city-the loud talk of the cisiz,ns Of
Davenport to the contrary notwithstanding
Any view you may take Of this subject,
see no good reason why We should refuse te
vote for the loan but on tho contrary, many
reasons why we should vote for it.
These are the views Of one who fsels :
great interest in the prosperity Of the city
OF MrscATINE.
/I!oGs PACKED ON run UpPER MIssIssIpP
YRlvxK.-We give below estimates Of thu
packing at fourteen different points on the
river for the seasons of 1852 and 1883
1854, made up by gentleman who lately
visited each point. Where the packing wal
lrA led IL - a.