The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-04-14
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
& entlemen Of the City Council:
The policy Of my last two worthy pre-
deccssors has been to present to the CITY
Council in most full and complete manner
the condition and prospects, commercial and
financial, of our rapidly. growing and pros
porous city. These inaugural addresses have
been published and sent jroadcast over the
hand, and have contributed largely in giving
the public CORRECT information concerning the
great natural advantages of Keokuk as the
future commercial and manufacturing me-
tropslis Of Iowa. To these able inaugural
addresses our city owes much of her present
prosperity. Two years ago. when the Hon.
ID. w. knBoURSE was elected Mayor, there
were but 642 votes polled in the city. One
year ago, when the Hon. S. r. CuRrls was
elected, there were S15 votes polled, being
an increase Of about IS per cent. in the vote
in one year. Atthe election on the 5th inst,
there were ], 500 votes polled, being an in
crease OF about seventy five per cent. in the
last year, and about one hundred and fiftt
per cent. in the last ttoo years. 1t must also
DC recollected, that Mt our city elections,
naturalization and six months residence in
the city are required as qualifications for 70
tiers. AT the late election in st. Louis, where
they have population Of over 10000, af-
ter long and excited contest they gave only
about Ii 900 votes, being only one vote tc
each II of the population. At this ratio we
show population Of over $4,000. But |
think this estimate too high. We probably
gave one vote to each eleven Of population
certainly not more than at that ratio. This
woald give US population Of 1880 within
the city. This increase Of population within
the last two years, although great, has not
equallcd the increase Of the business and
wealth OF the city within the same period
Two years ago keokuk was ga village mt the
os of the rapids" but little known outside
g! our own State, and only spoken of in de-
rision by our neighboring cities. Not so
now. No city on the Upper Mississippi is
better known and appreciated in oil Of the
old States, North or South. This great
change in her growth Of wealth and prosper
ity is the result Of a combination o! several
causes her location OF the foot Of the Rapids
oil the Mississippi River, the great father of
waters, at the head Of uninterrupted nayica-
ton, except few weeks in the winter, when
frozen up by ice, al the mouth Of the Des
Moincs River; and being the natural recep-
tac!e and Quite. for the produce, manufac-
lures and minerals Of the Des Moines VAL
ley,--a valley within Itself that will have
population and wealth enough to support, u
clty with lo0,0 900 inhabitants. This great
and rapidly Embarrassing trade has mainly been
controlled By our merchants and mechanics
up 10 this time, and with the increased facil-
tiles by the completion Of the keokuk, Fort
Dcs MONIES and Minnesota Railroad, they
Will continue 10 control it.
Another cause of our prosperity is our
successful city Improvements. No other city
In Iowa has made so many permanent i'm
proyements. la this We have heretofore 90,
ed nnitediy. With the same union and per
severance ON your part that have character
lxed your predecessors, our city improve.
ments will continue steadily and prudentiy
70 progress, our hills will be cut down and
our hoilows filled up, and in their stead vii
be stately houses and active business, and We
will all be well pleased and better of by the
change.
keokuk, from being the least and most in
significant river town In the State, has with
in the last few years grown up TO be III,
largest in population, and us commercial
city, more than trebiing any other town il
the State upon the Mississippi. Can sh,
maintain this supremacy She can. sh,
has the natural position, and her citizens ar,
OF the right metal to do it. Union, heart,
and cordial, on your part, backed by the cit
liens generally do what needs TO be done
do II with will, and the future growth o.
keokuk will surpass the hopes Of her mos
sangune friends. But all mus, do their dat,
AL must work. We must build our rail
roads. The vital interest Of the CITY re
qulre that the keokuk, Fort Des Moine
and Minnesota Road should be built 10 OF
iumwa by December, 1855. dnd il can b
done. 10 this proposition let no one saw no
aud IL viii be done. Finish that road 10 On
tdmwa, aud kcokuk il the citg of Ioua :
With that road finished, and the Burlinrtel
and Missouri River Road finished 10 the Mi.
souri, River, and We are secure in the trad
OF Southern Iowa. am informed hy Gen
Reid, the President Of the road, that lie ex
rscc..- &c a..re 70 -ca4 = Es4.ttoispol., 5
miles, flushed in July next. The track
now laid distance VI % miles. And wit
) tie FIRST section VI 50 miles finished and mai
1og. he expects 10 have no trouble n raisu
the means 10 finish the second section 10 pt
tumxa within the next season.
The keokuk, Mt. Pleasant and Mascatir,
Road will be fnished TO Montfose, l2 mile.
within tue next two months. The secon
section, to Nit. Pleasant, il now under con
tract, with every prospect Of being speedil
completed 70 that point.
AT the last session, Congress made larg
grant Of land to Minnesota for the plrp6r
OF bailding railroad fran point on Ii
Iowa line, in Mitchell county, 70 ST. Paul
The object Of the people of Minnesota is /
GET Southern outlet in winter They eares
10 connect with one Of oar roads, either ii
tors Des Moines and Minnesota Road, c
with the Ksoknk, Meunt Pleasant and Mu.