The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-12-01

The time is fast approaching when u
will be necessary Tor our citizens togtnrnl
their attention to lines Of railway up snd1
down the Mississippi river There are ar
ncles u commerce, snd especially grcce
ries, the whole OF which must come from
New Orleans and ST. Louis, eseniuaity'
and must be supplied at all seasons OF me
wear. During the warm meaths, the Low
or Rapids are serious bar to tfaaseostas
ton by water, and during the cold ones, the
ice presents difficulty not to be overcome
Facilities for travel should be presented
north and south MS well as east and west,
and the most direct lines between praml-
ucnt points should be selected,
By an examination Of the typography OF
the country, it will be seen that on account
Of Davenport aud Rock Island being on an
east and west reach Of the river, an airline
IRON Alton to Dubuque will strike the 10
caIiiy Of The "Twis Cities" exactly, The
distance il only about AIS miles, the eSsess
Of 400 miles measuring the space between
Davenport and the northern terminus, By
water, 45o miles al least, must be trasers-
ed BY steamers betmee ST. Louis and Du-
buaue, and the first named place is only
about % miles below Alton. 4 rSilroae
will make clean saving in distance OF 100
miles, and the river can be crossed hs
means OF the Great Bridge" in the bar
gain. The people Of Illinois throughout
the respective counties along the route, ap-
pear 10 be aiive to the enterprise. They
are voting handsome subscriptions TO the
Alton and Rock Island Railroad 10 such an
extent as 10 excite the observation Of cur
keen-sighied neighbots of Chicago, whese
disposition 10 turn every thing to their own
account has become quite prorerblal.--
WHY Davenport and Dubuque should be
tagging is mystery They are the most
prominent cites in Iowa, and, at this mo-
ment, are running an amicsble race Tor the
supremacy, which the construction OF a
| railroad between them cannot IN The least
| affect Both viii be benefited BY having
the matter put through; and both should be
turning their attention TO it with the great
est seriousness. Sometime the thing will
have to be done and why not at once, there.
| by giving proper set to the travel up and
| down the Mississippi Valley We invite
the attention OF contemporaries 10 the SUBJ
ject.
| We would remark further, that in going
northM ard. large tract OF most valuable
| country would be passed through DeWiil
and Msquoketa. perhaps, would be touched
aud the exit from Davenport can be
made very handsomely from dozar RAJ
vines, none Of which, We presume, would
be more applicable TO the pnrpose than .ha'
ahi,h sweeps so grae efully round the base
Of the bill upon which the residence o. our
public spirited citizen, Antoine h. Claire
Is situated. Thirty years ego this gentle
man saw our region Of country in its Prim-
esal state. with nothing present but iron.
tier fortress, giving evidence Of advancing
civilization And now. Whist change
May his declining days be cogHizant OF the
taet, ior many pleasant evening 10 years
10 come. and while vespers from Ste. Marga-
ret's fall softly upon the ear, mingled with
The soothing ripple Of the water against the
piers OF the noble bridge below. that with
the north and the south, with The east and
the west, extensive lines Of communication
are complete, as eVinced by the rapidly bur
rying trains TO and fro making his very door
way almost the centre Of that eonfsdetaey.
= hich in his more youthful day, hardly ez-
| tended 10 the Father OF Waters