Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-01-13
For the Journal.
URajjroad COnncctiOnS,N


of "O.' The first, left me at loss to
know the author, or his motive for writing
such communication. The last opened
my eyes in both these respects. propose
in this short answer, after allude to ont
or two things, to describe the author, and
show the real cause of his great anristJ
about our railroads.
The first communication was evidently
intended to prejudice the minds of our cit.
izens against the M. & nj. R. r. Co. by
holding ont the idea that Muscatine would
be ruined if the road to Davenport wen'
via of Moscow. But go" has already
found that those really interested in the
prosperity of Alnscatine, those who have
something at stake, are very indifferent
whether the road goes directly up the river,
or on the prairie via Moscow. In his last
communication he takes both sides, tina,
is, one part of.inis against all, each. and
every railroad. - has been or may be
spoken of in connection with this city an
other part of his sublime production "goes
iu'' for railroads, and very n"destiy tells the
citizens of Muscatine that their city might
s.become great and wealthy town" if they
would only consult Mr.. co. and follow his
directions.
But he ssrays few individuals are enieav.
oring to muzzle the press, and prevent the
publication Of facts which might possibly
affect them in pecuniary point of views
1
CO." will ind that the ssfcw" belong to his
clique, and that it is they who wish to de-
ceive the many; but it is true that a very
large majority of the eifizens of Muscaline
IRE trying (and have been for the last FIVE
years,) to publish those ''facts" to the
world, that would induce some railroad
company to build a road from here west
ward, and give us connection with some
railroad running eastwardly /; and this We
have been doing entirely to accomplish
something to benefit US sin pecuniary
point of view.'' For this we haye labored
too long, and spent too much time and
money, to submit quietly, now tina. we
are about to accomplish our object, just
ready to Commence work on the road SO
long desired, to yield our rights-to SUBJ
NIT to the sophistry of s'O,' and lose the
opportunity of accomplishing that which
we have so long desired.
| am not aware that ssfew'' are to 5e
| benefited more than others, except in pro-
portion rs they have more property in Mus.
satine. Every man who has any interest in
this city will undoubtedly be benefited by
this railroad.
But his argument concerning ssfrozen
hogs is a strange one for the interest of
Muscatine: and goes to show, will, other
remarks, that tho iaieres 5 Of Muscatine weigh
v.ry lille in his blanees. lie says, "wi.h
a continuous line Of railroad to New York,
| whole hogs frozen could be sent through at
less than one sixth OF the usual expense"
What misfortune to Cincinnati, Madison,
Lafayette, and all those large pork packing
cities, that SOP did not live there, 80 that
they would have been enlightened as to their
true interest, and not packed hogs in those
| places, but sent them ssfrozen" to New
York. If his assertions be true, then we
may expect to see, in few years, all the
hogs slaug Uttered in Mnscatine, Burlington
Ksokuk, &C., hung up until they are 'sfro-
GEN. and then sent off to New York, to be
packed. Now, have always been of the
opinion (until enlightened by "O,'') that
the more such work, as packing pork, &C.,
was done in a city, the more benefit it was
to the citizens. We look to the pork pack
! ing business Of this city rs one of great
Importance to us-as making employment
for hundreds OF hands, in the manufactur-
ing of barrels, etc., etc. II it be true, as
$50" says, (and man so much interested
in the prosperity of Muscatine should tell
nothin,, but tho truth) that labor is cat the
least calculation 80 l-3 per cent, cheaper
in New York than in Muscatine,' it will be
best for some thousands of laborsrs to leave
New York and come here, for living is much
cheaper than there. This is reason, then,
why go" should lie in favor of railroad to
the east; those pork packers, who work for
so low wages, in New York, would all come
here to get rich, as transportation and pas
sage would be cheap and then We could
continue to pack pork, and not be compell-
ed to send the hogs tsfrozen' to the city OF
New York, to be packed by the Gothamites.
After these "incontrovertible' assertions
concerning "frozen hogs" SEQ" goes on
for some time to prove that Muscatine will
not be benefited by the Oskaloosa railroad.
think it unnecessary to add one sentence to
prove to the citizens OF Muscatine that a
railroad west to the Missouri river, would
be of great advantage to them in "peeu-
MARY point Of view This subject we dis.
eussed here, and unanimously agreed that il
would benefit US long tefare zoe had the pleas
ure Of kno,oing such a man i,ed as 60"
But $50" says, 81 am quite sanguine the
Oskaloosa road will be built, and a connect
ing read cas-, and it behooves us MS sagacious
business men, to prevent that road being
constructed by individuals possessing the
controlling power, with their interests all
concentrated at a town jealous of our pres
perity." Again, he says, 'If look at the
matter right, the company that builds a
road from here to Iowa City could afford
to construct the Oskaloosa road upon better
terms with the people than Farnham cans
/ Hold on that will do. Here, citizens of