Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-02-09

lFor shs Daily Gasss,s.
Reek Island Bridge detrimental . The Pros
psSity Of DAvsnpsst
Having formerly bssn resident = your
picturesque town Of Davenport. l have al
ways looked upon its growth and prosperity
with feeling of proud satisfaction. and al
most felt mys eli identified with its growing
importance.
Few points in our whole country possess
in 81 eminent, degree such combination of
advantages and attractions a. the spot upon
which your city Is located.
The view in ascending the river is one OF
the most beautiful to be found on the sur
face of the earth, andthe magnificent scene
~ from its surrounding heights will vie with
almost any scenery in either hemisphere.
tits butn few years since that Davenport
began her rapid strides towards her present
proud position, an, her progress has been
far beyond the most saEguine antieipations
OF her cnterprising citizens. But in the eN-
element OF great prosperity how often do
we attemp. too much and thereby lose
much that We have gained. This is an err
ror which not only individuals but conmu-
mites and even nations fall into. Il is, in
fact, an every day occurrence.
These thoughts have presented them
selves to my mind in contemplating the
strong desire manifested by the citizens of
Davenport for the erection of bridge across
the Mississippi river at Rock Island.
| Circumstances having caused me to trav-
ell within the past ten years over consider
able portion of our own country as well as
that of Europe, and observing the effect
that Railroads have upon the country and
towns through which they are constructed,
it has always struck me the most suicidal
I policy your citizens could adopt, to con-
struct Railroad bridge as now contempla-
ted at Rock Island.
/ In glancing over our middle and western
States where Il railroads have been extern
sively constructed. we see many towns
; which formerly did prosperous and thriy-
ling business, now in dilapidated and ruin
Gus condition, made $, solely by Railroads
passing through them.
I As long as Davenport is without bridge
lit will be place of transhipmcnt and il
: will do a heavy business both by the river
and Railroad; the business of the back
country must come to that point, at least, III
1.-THE business tina, is destined eastward, and
large portion that is destiued for St Louis
= or New Orleans.
When the bridge is constructed, 1t will be
a very different. Small towns and shipping
points will spring up at different places
. along the Railroad, and produce that would
. otherwise necessarily come to Davenport
and there be ,ranshipped either across the
river or to st. Louis, will be carried through
$ Davenport without its receiving any benefit
= therefrom /; the same will be the case with
f all merchandise going westward-aite
: leaving Chicago il will not be disturbed un
r Ill il reaches it> destination by Railroad.-
7 The same logic viii apply to all passengers
: instead Of their stopping at Rock Island Of
Davenport. as would be the case if there
? wss no bridge, they will be whirled across
4 the river and through said towns without
J.. time TO scent the atmosphere.
II With the Stockholders of the Railroad
{ the bridge is or the utmost importance; h.
d this they will secure large portion of thu
: trade west of the Missis sippi that woult
d otherwise stop at Davenport and be shippe'
: down the river.
$ Having no interest in your city or yicini
$ ,y, or any property that can be effected
either way by the bridge, this comnunica
ton is made wholly from disinterested mo
tives, and is the result Of unbiased reflection
further than sincere desire to sec your
city progress onward as it has done during
the past four years. }. I. r.
Bellevue, 9th Feb. 1850.
! New DEVICE. the East they have
l.