Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-05-28
Chicago, May &c. 1857.


Ny DEAR SIR.-I left Davenport quite I'M
expectedly, otherwise should have spoken
with You further upon the subject Of the
proposed loan for the Cedar River Rail
Road l shall not return now until after
| the vote is taken, but wish to assure YOU
| that I stand exactly where did when last
we discussed this matter, and | desire
through You to enter my solemn protest
dqoinIa
have not the vanity to suppose that my
protest will have much, if any, influence
upon the conduct ofany voter Of Davenport,
but ifthcrc is only one. that one | ask to
vote on the safe side.
was, as you know, strongly in favor of
the s2oo.ooo loan for home improvements.
Some portions Of it | did not approve, but
taken a whole, infinitely preferred its
success to its defeat | cannot say that |
would rot pport further reasonable loan
for the benefit Of the - y. r. X. There
would be some reason movement.
We already own stock in /, Al road, in it we
are most deeply INTEREST," |, and if a single
dollar is expended outside the city limits, it
should most certainly be towards the extern
sion If that road West
But what have We to gain to war; U us
in the expenditure of $685. 900 in the build
ing of the Cedar River Rail Road =? 1t is
true it would add something to our trade;
but that CO. ny will very soon be tapped
by the road running North of us, t lde will
seek the natural channel Eastwardly, and
any man of Judgment canno nut observe
that thirty miles ut the outside is ali We can
| gain by the construction of that road, and
probably less. If We are warranted in ex-
pending 50 much money there, are We not
bound to appropriate the very first money
we have to spare to the completion of II road
in which We are 50 deeply interested, as in
the Mississippi d Missouri road in which
we already have large amount Of stock,
and road that must and miH, when con-
strueted, bring us the trade for two hun
dred and forty miles Of the richest country
in the world?
very puch fear that there is feeling
against this latter road upon the 9Th street
Improvement question. which is tending
greatly to the injury Of Davenport No man
can be more decided upon that question
than am, have always thought, and think
now. that the company ought to grade and
pave that street at once peaceably if they
will, foreibly if they must have no two
opinions upon this question, and think
express the opinion of majority of our peo-
pie, when ! say that the Council ought to
hold that company to a strict and immedi
ate performance of their contract. But do
not, because the company fails to do us jus
tice, do them great injustice and ourselves
great injury thereby. We are certainly
in honor bound to see the NJ d NJ X. r. in
prosperous condition. before we lend our
money 10 project like that of the Cedar
| River Rail Road
have not time to say more, nor have
~" ""'S =" 'I'e"A " VIC I'oiut III "iat 10
written 1t is enough for now, that enter
determined protest against this loan.
hope you will take the stand and not
only speak but .'rk against the loan. find
leading men here rom Muscatine jubilant
over the course tie Davenport authorities
are taking, and this Of itself is enough to
caution us against hasty action Let the
matter slumber-let our people take time
to think upon the matter carefully. Our as
sessment in 1856 was only $500, 900
Such an amount Of property will not war
rant the mourning Of S35O,OOO additional
debt without the very best of reasons.
You are at liberty to make use of this
letter at any time and in any manner you
please. In haste.
Your friend,