Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-02-24
LOCAL. M.ATTERS.


LOCAL.. MATTERS.
ImPortans Railroad Messing.
We attended meeting Of our citizens at the Ogil.
vie House. yesterday afternoon, and found the people
still much interested in Railroad matters, notwith
standing the past inactivity of raroadbuilders. The
meeting was called for the purpose Of consulting with
the representatives Of the Lyons Iowa Central r. R.
Company consisting Of Henry p. Adams, Gen. Brown,
Col. Whiting, Messu Haun Elliott, Shaw and Arnold.
upon the subject Of Railroads. Many Of our leading
citizens present and an excellent friendly feeling
was exhibited by all There seemed to be dcterm-
nation to do something for the interests Of Muscatine
and, we believe, great and important step was then
and there TAKEN which shall tell the future Of our
city beyond the expectations of the most sangune.
The object of the meeting was briefly stated by W.
G. Woodward, Esq, who remarked that the people
had met for the purpose Of listening to and taking into
consideration any proposition the Lyons Company
might deem proper to make to them. w. q. Haun,
ESQ.,, at the request Of H. P. Adams, then made the
following proposition That If the people Of Muscatne
would raise $25,0Q), they would construct Railroad
from this city to intersect with the Lyons Road at
De Witt, some other point upon said Road, for the
purpose Of giving Maseatine an Eastern connection,
they (the Lyons COY would furnish the remainder,
and pledge themselves to have the Road in running
order in less than fifteen months. 1t was estimated
that the entire cost Of such Road would be about
100000 He also stated that, upon consultation with
Mr.. Adams, he was authorized to say that the Com
pany would take s50,00o less than the amount re-
quired of the people Muscatinc and johnson coun
ties to construct the Road from this city to Iowa City
making the necessary to be raised for that project
$500 900 and they proposed to have both Roads
the De Witt and Iowa City--completed within Is
months.
Mr.. Adams being enquired Of, gave statement of
the resources Of the Lyons Company, showing, we
suppose, to the satisfaction Of all present that this
Company was perfectly responsible and would carry
through anything they undertook. Says Mr.. Adams,
"even though we kept from youall knowledge Of our
responsibility. we should be considered ignoramuses
to spend $50 900 ON one Road before asking for one
dime from you and also furnishing fee dollars to your
one upon project requiring $500 oO0 and then aban
don the work at any stage Of its progress We want
to build those two roads becau.e they win pay, and
not only pay us, but they will pay you, and we wish
to identify our interests with yours that may
along in harmony. Even suppossEou do not chose te
raise anything towards these two projects, they vii
be undertaken and completed, but, perhaps, not in
just the way yoa would like, nor in the time thai
would suit your interests.
"Wth such a connection east, line of Road will be
extended below the Rapids ION your river to Keokuk
Tais, consider, must be the inevitable result and
that it must necessarily be built very soon.''
Mr. Ham spoke Of the unfavorabls reports that had
been circulated concerning tho financial affairs Of the
Lyons company, and showed that the ono or two in
stances of their bonds selling at moderate rates wa,
occasioned by their enemies disposng Of thsm at such
prices merely for effect, and that Mr.. Adams had
bought them up for the benefit Of the company. The
larger part Of their bond, had been negotiated fo
from IS to 80 cents on the dollar.
twas then agreed by the company that they woul'
take mortgages real estate and give in stock on
half Of the appraised value Of the security The mort
cages to from three to five years. bearing ten pc
cent interest, payable semi-annualy. The citizen,
necessary amount.
Mr. Adams then suggested the propriety Of the gen
tlemen in the interests of the Lyons Company, Leaving
tn, for while and allowing the citizens to tall
the matter over among themselves, which was accord
inyly done. T. NJ. Isett, Esq, being called to tn
chair, Mr.. Joha A. Parvin ossel resolution that tn,
citizens of Mucatne raise ths required $l25 Oo) forth
l with, which wasunanimcusly agreed upon. The re
ksult Of this meeting then reported I, the me n
bers of the Lynn Company. vii, then r,assurcd oil
people that the thing should be pushed through wit
all possible dispatch. - SOFA our proportion wa
rasel. They furthermore agreed TO put OF a corps
engineers in few days and survey the route at thei
4 own expense, between this city and De Witt.
We have seldom witnessed the unanimity OF feelin.
that perraded the VIII lie meeting. Ea h person sr
peared pleased with the very liberal offers made Their
and seemed determined to push the matter throagi
with all possible speed.
We are right CAD that slch meeting ha, take
place. and we feel confident that whatever opinion on
people may have heretofore entertained of the Lyon
Company, they can nov view them only in q favora
be light, for in the pithy language of Mr.. Alams
what fools they must be to make such propositions
and spend their money and abandon the work, merel
for buncombe. -"
We trust the vo:e for the city loan Of $4,000 viii
be carried wthou. single dissenting voice, for W
consider that loan the setting in motion If ball whic
shall not lose its momentum until Muscatne takes he
stand among the first cities Of the west.
Precscaiags Of the German Mass DIcesiu,
Held at Maj. Hare's Hall, in the city Of Muscatinc
OF Friday evening. February 18th, 1854:
On motion, H. Funk, Esq, was called to the Chair
and II. Aeuer, ESQ.,, was appointed Secretary.
The object Of the meeting being stated by the Chair
man. on motion OF Dir. bernstein, q committee O
seven was appointed to draft resolutions expressive
the sense of this meeting. The committee made th,
following report:
/ WHkKEAs, We contemplate, in the existing temper
ance fanaticism, which, though apparently manifest
ing to encourage and promote the morals OF the
nlnty yet, seeing that actually and in fact it on
engenders disorder and confusion among the people
it converts free people hypocrites and yolator
OF law-it undermines the foundation OF our repub
can constitution, and threatens by coalition to deprive
us of our political rights we, therefore, deeming
high time to extract from the mouth of this crawnl
serpent its venon0us TOOTH adopt in this Convention
the following resolutions:
In Resotced, That We unconditionally condemn al
humbugs whether they be Of POLITICAL social or reli
gous character and therefore, deprecate and depor
tue ruinous policy OF candidates making political cap
ial out of social and religious questions that ",
view the existing legal restraints upon ntemperanc
q Intellectual aud runous in their tendency TO an,
State organization IN this great Republic. because
incites men into hypocrisy and induces them TO be
came secret yiOaf6IrS of the law. SIZE