The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-02-13
CorrespondenCe.
For the North Iowa Times.
The Incorporation Of McGregor.

Shall we have an incorporation, is
question daily asked. and daily answered,
by the question in reply-why shall we
not? Itmay possibly be thought by some
to be impolitic to agitate the question at
the present time, or indeed to agitate it
at all, still the public will not be Satisfied
with an evasive answer. They are be-
ginning to demand plain Yes or No, and
the reasons for the same
1t is reasonable to assume that public
opinion will not remain dormant, but will
take some progressive course, and it
should be a matter of concern to those
most interested, to see that that course,
is the proper one. Is this then the time
to agitate the question =? We have just
closed up the business of the past season
and two months will pass before the open
ing of navigation will bring the hurry and
hustle of another year. We have now
ample time and leisure to lay the ground
work Of our social and mercantile pros
perity for the future. The most indiffer-
ent can scarcely feel content to spend anoth-
err year in making money, in place where
streets have become, and will remain, a
perfect wilderness of sloughs, woodpiles
and hundred other Instructions. Let
us examine the question in another light.
We are confidently expecting a population
of two thousand by another winter
What social order can we maintain in a
place of that size with mere squatter
organization True, we have law ahid-
ing community now, but the influx of
population by Rail Road and Steamboat,
will bring the idle, the vicious and the
abandoned. AS mere question of self
defence, it behooves us to bestir ourselves.
Let it at once be known that McGregor is
one of the few towns where vice may
stalk abroad at MONDAY with NO authority
to question its license, and how long will
it be before we will become byword,
among our sister towns? Vice, like an
article of merchandise, will 90 to the
place which lays the lowest tariff on it.
1t is idle to argue that We are possessed
Of all the advantages we desire or deserve,
for the purpose of preserving good order.
We are fast becoming standing joke,
and it is due to us that we place ourselves
"a least, on the common level of respecta-
bility as town. ~g
Another matter of equal importance to
those who have erected buildings, and to
those who intend to do so, is to have some
grade established. AS it is at present,
every man has his own grade, and if the
matter is much longer delayed and a
grade is eventually established, one build
ing will be left standing on stills, while its
neighbor will be converted into a subtle
ranean vault.
Our side walks, from the head of Main
Street to the levee, will be succession
of stairs, and their successful passage in
a dark night, will be feat which the
"oldes. inhabitant" can boast of in years
to come. The dangers of the passage
round Cape Horn, will sink into insignif-
canoe on comparison. The "frst impress
ion' of town, like the FIRST impression"
of an individual, is of the highest impor-
lance in fixing its permanent reputation.
We are an utilitarian people, but the most
intense Yankee that ever left the land of
nutmegs, prefers competence in place
where some regard is paid to beauty and
comfort, to one where he may obtain
wealth, and still be in want. We must
take it for granted that men of capital and
enterprise, and such are the men we want,
will not settle in a town where the settled
disposition is manifest to keep it in con
dition Of town inhabited by semi-barba-
rians.
! The question reduces itself into q
small compass. We must incorporate
sometime, if we are ambitious of any posi-
ton higher than that of squatter settle-
ment An incorporation will be the source
of numerous advantages. Shall we avail
ourselves Of them now, or live deprived
OF them for another year
). HAWKEYE.
RELATIONSHIPS. NJ. M. Wakeman
will preach in the American Hall next
Sabbath at 10! o'clock A. M. and 2 o'clock
P. NJ; subject: "The Bible, a Divine
Book and mans need of Revelation.
I EE The Salem (Ill.) Advocate men
tons case of catalepsy which is exciting
much interest in that town. A young
woman, 25 or 81 years of age-a stranger