The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-07-04

In another place wilisbe found an artI-
Gle from the Ed, vile Free Press. copled
entire, The omrliments TO its own thriv-
ing town included. We are glad to notice
ii. for - interest manifested in The cen.
struction of The road, aud the good will
and good understsn ing which discus
sion Of such matters tends to promote
Keokuk yet shows no signs OF "pre.
mature decay" An increase of business
Of more than so per cent. and building
and city improvement more than doubling
that Of any former year. with an addition
70 our population altogether unprecedeat-
cd, indicxte something else than that
But We assure our neighbor that we are
fully aware Of the great Importance Of i'm
proving those natural advantages which
have made Keokuk what she is in so
short space of time, in order to forify
the position which she has acquired in
the commercial world, and insure that
speedy growth and ultimate greatness
which sound ard discreet policy will
certainly achieve for her. Especially are
we alive 10 the importance Of binding 10
us in the bonds of positive and enduring
interest. the thriving towns and the
matchless country drained by the beau,i-
ful Des Moines. We feel that upon the
trade Of that country we must mainly de-
pend We feel assured that our position
and the means which we possess, give us,
above every other point, the power Of
rendering it for their interest to effect
their exchanges and transact their heavy
business here. And we are determined
70 make tie most Of that position and
those means. We are determined SO TO
employ them that their advantages, to us
and to the interior, shall be a matter ad-
hitting Of no doubt and suffering from
no delay.
The reasoning of our friend is correct
In respect OF the relative imp ortarce Ct
this and other roads 10 the Des MONIES
Valley. They touch it only at intervals
wide apart, and as of course but very
small number of roads will ever cross The
river from east TO west. their advantages
to the Valley. though great, will indeed
be limited in comparison with those of a
road which traverses It's entire length,
touching every city and village and ham
let from end to end, and giving them all,
in the order of their distance, an equal
advantage in the race for improvement
and prosperity. AS our friend argues. it
WiN have an equalizing effect. and dis.
tribute the trade and business along the
Valley wherever it can be mos, economi.
calis transacted. 1t will confer no mon
oPoly upon any one town or vicinity. Ii
Gill afford them all an equal means of
imProving to their utmost every natural
advantage which their respective locations
may chance to possess. 1t appeals TO the
interests OF all alike, and alike it will sub.
serve the interests Of al. Above and be-
yond all others, it is tho road for the PEG
pie Of the Valley. Whatever advantages
other roads have to offer. by crossing and
connecting them it will extend those ad-
vantases clear up through all the country
It passes, and in addition will afford
highway common to all down TO the mouth
Of the river. which nature has rendered
tbe most eligible point upon the Mlssi.-
sippi for receiving and distributing the
products OF the interior.
The road has suffered an unavoidable
delay beyond the hopes Of its friends. But
it could not expect to escape the influence of
the times which affected the mos. solid
and substantial enterprises in tho land, and
which utterly Frustrated SO many Of them.
But meantime the Company were perfect
ing tn cir plans and preparing for an eper-
getic prosecution Of their work whenever
favorable opportunity should occur -
The times have grown more propi'ious.
and the Company have entered the field.
They haven't gone up in your region Of
country 10 trouble you for means TO as
sist IN the construction of the road in our
ricinify- We have raised the means our
selves, with the little assistance that has
been procured between this point and the
tsrmination Of the present letting. We
have got perfectly safe and sure basis