The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-12-09

- rv.eE snAs ooRxER or MAIN ASs rovRrs
OVER CAVE a RAfLEy's BOOK srvNr.
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BailYsass...TAs SCENE Anyhow
FsiaciPte.
We hnd the following item in the Fairfield
Ssntinei OF lest week:
Having always been. as We are now, a
warn friend III the B. L M. X. Railroad en-
tsspftsA, " hope our friends Will not consid-
g - csoeker when We say ~ believe this
4scous anyhow idea hns played the very
0--l With our best interests. Had it not
heee Tor thst, we might now be boosting Of
ne almost MAGICAL growth Of Fairfield
Oar local items, relative TO improvements,
sight have exceeded in number those Of any
other inland paper in the State. As it is, we
can boast OF some considerable improve
ments, tits true, but nothing to compare
with what We might have done, had we voted
the Loan last spring.
The Sentinel refers 10 proposition to
make corporate subscription to the stock
OF the road, which was defeated last spring.
The same results Of the same policy atilict
more communities than one. The fruits Of
similar short-sightedncss are shared with
our Fairfield friends BY the people Of many q
Locality who are bewailing the hardness Of
railroads, and the presumed inablityeto con-
struct them. In connection with the move
ment OF some people ut keosauqua, concern
ing the keokuk and TT. Des Moines road.
We advertsd to the same sentiment a few
days ego. For the purpose OF refreshing
their minds upon the subject, and Of calling
20 the attention our readers along the line,
IN othor counties, farther up the valley, we
take this occasion to allude to it again. A,
With the progress Of our neighbours road, SO
II 10 with our own. How fast il shall pro-
Erssss whsthcr, in fact, it shall progress at
all, depends upon the country through which
4 shall pass. II cannot be built rapidly, !.
certainly will not be built at all, unless the
counties through which II passes, either in
their corporate or private capacity, furnish,
not tho whole means, but the basis upon
which the means can be procured, for its
conssroosion. This country is too poor in mo-
ney for that basis 10 be furnished by private
subscription. That's not expected, and can
not be relied upon. That being true, in ad-
dition to what private subscriptions the
country can afford, corporate subscriptions
are and must be the great basis on which
our road, as all roads similarly situated,
must rely. THERE'S no other reliance. And
it i worse than unmitigated folly, it is sheer
psconary madness, in this country, with its
limited cash resources, to lean upon any
such expectation as that the road will "ccme
anyhow" It will NOT 'scome anyhow 1t,
eaaSof escome anyhow. Ii will not come,
and il cannot come, however much we or
you may desire 1t, however vital it may be to
our interests or important to yours, unless
you assist in iss construction, and assist in
the way in which you can assist the most e.
fectually. And it is right that you should
assist in some edectual way in the construc-
ton Of road which you all know and con-
Tess 10 to be OF so much benefit to yon,-
upon which you SO much depend to enhance
the value OF your property. Ii is tcrong for
you, in miserably selfish and misery spiri,
to Wal. Tor the enterprise, sagacity, and pub
lic spirit of Other people to improve your
property and your business, without dom.
anything yourselves. But it is no more
right that the people Of the counties along
the line should thus contribute in their pri-
vase and corporate capacity, than, rs we
have said, il is necessary.
Our directors have been along the line Of
their road repeatedly for the parpose Of as
cersaining the sense and disposition Of the
people. They are encouraged to 20 on, and
they are able 10 go on, only ast so far and
50 fast - that disposition is favorable. Our
citizens in their private capacity, DIR city
and our country in their corporate capaci-
ties, have substantially exhausted their ca.
pabilities to do more for it. Thcy have
done most extraordinarily, for they have felt
that they had great stake in il. Blu, they
have done all they can. They can do no
more, II the enterprise fails. Aud il may be
~ well understood - not, lit had hes. be
understood, wor that uness the requisite
basis 10 furnished BY the counties which il
traverses, and furnished in the only manner
in which q sulicient basis can be furnished.
twill not be continued, for it cannot be-
That Is plain and Cat enough, but ii is true.
u saying this We do not wish to be under.
stood - throwing any doub. upon the prose.
ention Of thu enterprise. We only wish to
bring every mans mind to a realizing sense
Of what IL rests upon. We have encourage
ment 70 believe that oil the requisite aid
AID in tho most e6sctusl form, the only form
which 10 available to . sufficient extent.
will be extended. But it is upon that aid
that Il relies, upon which il is Of necessity
forced to rely, and without which progress IS
impossible.
VOW. ~ important as this road 10 to as, il
u important, perhaps no less important, 70
the people along it's line. And as we cannot
build i entirely, however vital to us. for
me interest il Is to you, you must assist in
pniiiahg II, or II must step. We beg our