Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1855-05-07
Burlington in the Ascendency.

Burlington in the Ascendency.
Our young and growing town is rapidly
emerging from its hitherto modest suburb
an airs into . finished, "well-regulated"
metropolis. The visionary, imaginative,
highly picturesque leaders Of the City Or
gan-the mania exhibited for suburban
residences as was witnessed at the Snyder
sale on Saturday last-with few Of the
minor indications Of City Life, such as
burglaries, riots, fast horses, fast boys, high
prices, the necessity Of night police, etc.,
etc.,-are external evidences that we are
approximating the climaxical point of
great, prosperous, unlimited City. These
are the papery shadows, thetransparent fan
cies--not the solid realities of veritable
Fart. We admit that Burlington is in
a somewhat transitory state-the natural
result Of extravagent expectations conse-
quent upon the completion and prospec
tive building Of certain important improve
ments. But will these brilliant anticipa-
tions be realized? This is problem Of
grave import, and we ask for it the earn
est consideration of those who are interest
cd in the future welfare of our town be-
yond the disposal of few vacant outlets.
The folly Of relying upon mere CONNER
cial supremacy as the only basis Of pros
perity has its melancholy monuments scat
tered along every great thoroughfare in
the Eastern and Middle States. In the
West, too, there are many towns which
years ago we're in a high state Of prosperity,
with their entrepots and depots Of trade
and commerce, but with all their wonder
full facilities they are now Wondering in
bankruptcy and ruin.
Great Commercial Capitals are the
works of the Almighty, and rarely found
in the western hemisphere, prolific as it is
in its wonderful adaptations to arts and
commerce. Manufacturing Cities are
quite another thing, and are built by men.
The former spring into being from actual
necessity-the other are dependent upon
caprice or circumstance for their origin,
and if they ever advance to the dignity Of
City, it must be through MANUFACTURES
seldom through the ordinary adjur cts
Of Commerce.
We hear on every side of contemplated
brick blocks of beautiful business rooms.
We are always pleased to chronicle these
items, as they 60 to show the world that we
have men of wealth and enterprise among
us. We hear, too, of new stores, new
banks, new hotels, and new enterprises of
various kinds that are about to be establish
ed. Main street filed up on both sides
with majestic mercantile establishments
would be grand, imposing sight. This
done, we might employ the architects,
having nothing else to do, to construct a
wall round the town, enclosing an elegant,
classical city-6nished to the last brick /!
This 10 no fancy sketch. 1t must be the in
cvitable result of depending upon mere COM
mercial reputation without doing anything to
widen and strengthen the commercial area
With competing towns all around US, Rail-
Roads will more likely limit than extend
our commercial area. Had We no competl
tors in trade and consequently no other
Rail. Roads than those which feed our trade,
our commercial supremacy would be secure
beyond any contingency. We need NOT say
that this 10 not our favored position, for any
one who will give the subject moments
thought, will see that in this respect we stand
only in the sphere of an equal with the other
mstropoli Of the Upper Mississippi. Keokuk,
Fort Madison, Muscatine, Davenport and
Dubuque, will have their respective Rail-
Road lines to attract trade from the East and
West. There will also be the great Central
Airline immediately north of US, which
stands at present on better footing than
any similar enterprise in our borders. With
oil these lights before US, q glance at the
map will convince the most ssnguine that
our traffic must be drawn from comparative
" small section Of country.
What, then, have we to do to give rs an
advantage over our neighboring competitors?
What will give rs that eminent superiority
We are oil aepiring to, and make Burlington
what we oil desire it to be, rich and pros
porous cityp We answer, emphatically,