Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-08-01
POVERTY AND PLENTY.

| N- We were much struck, day or
two ago, by the observation of farmer
when speaking of the promising crops in
this vicinity, that there soould be but one
gear here betueen poverty and plenty, IF
WE COULD FIND A MARKET FOR ALL WE
CAN RAISE" Farmers, is this not the
truth? Would not one years yield Of
your farms place you in comparatively
good circumstances, if you could but
dispose of your produce at anything like
Eastern prices /? And how are you to Sc
cure this great benefit? Assuredly by en-
deavoring to secure the easiest and cheap
est communication with the Eastern mar
kets. And We ask you honestly, is there
can there ever be-a better opportuni-
ty for securing this desideratum than is
now offered to you by the construction of
the Wapsipinicon Valley Railroad? You
can, by your action now, secure this road
beyond doubt Tor contingency, and with
out an iota of expense to yourselves. You
have it now in your power to secure the
connecting link between poverty and
plenty. Never can this link be supplied
so readily and SO cheaply as now. If, by
an ill-advised policy now, you discour-
age this project, it may be years before
the effects of that discouragementc can be
obliterated. In sacrificing this road, Blu
chanan county sacrifices millions. She
entails upon herself tax upon every
bushel of wheat, corn and oats she may
send TO market-a tax upon every pound
of sugar, and every yard of dry goods
she consumes tax upon every foot of
lumber she uses-a tax upon every mile
of travel which her citizens perform east
ward
Examine this subject carefully. Can
vass it for yourselves Do not listen to
the voice of mere prejudice, but be guild
ed by your judgments. Ask yourselves
what benefits are to accrue to you from
the construction of this road. Think how
much it will cheaper the cost of trans
portation on articles of produce and of
merchandise. Think of the enormous
benefits it will bring you by placing the
prairies of your county into close prox-
unity with the timbered regions of the
north. Think of the effect it must have
upon the manufacturing interests of your
county. If you are not to raise fruits
here Gas many contend you cannot) how
much will it help You by bringing the
fruitage of Southern Iowa and Missouri
directly to your doors. Tapping, as it
will, roads running into the coal and iron
regions of your own State and of Mis-
souri,, 1t will place you in a capacity to
compete, as regards manufacturing inter-
ests, with any county in northern Iowa.
When your timber is gone, it will give
you lumber from the North, and coal from
the South. All these considerations will
tend to make your county more populous
your lands more valuable.
And what are you asked to do in order
to secure these benefits to yourselves I?
Simply to loan the company, for twenty
years, the use of your credit The com
pany is compelled to secure you against
loss before the bonds are issued, and
therefore you risk nothing in voting the
loan. Dr.. TABOR, in whose hands this
responsibility will probably rest, has de
clared that this must be done-the com
pany state they are ready to do tan,
what risk, then, do you run? Nota par
ticle. If you will but think upon thi
lquestion dispassiona'ely, you must com