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

MY DEAR Sri left Davenport quite un-
expectedly, otherwise should have spoken
with you further upon the subject of the
proposed loan for the Cedar River Rail
Road. 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
aqoin1a
have not the vanity to suppose that my
protest will have much. if any influence
| upon the conduct ofanv voter Of Davenport.
but If there is only one, that one ask to
vote on the safe side
was, as you know, strongly in favor Of
| the s20o.o0o loan for home improvements
Some portions of it did not approve, but
taken a whole, infinitely preferred its
success to its defeat. l cannot say that
would not pport a further reasonable loan
| for the benefit Of the :" " r. r. There
would be some reason movement
We already own stock in g. II read, in it We
| are most deeply interestci 1, and il a single
dollar is expended outside the city limits, it
should most certainly be towards the extern
sion Of that road West
But what have We to gain to war; us
in the expenditure Of S35o,ooo in the build
ing of the Cedar River .tai 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 ade will
seek the natural channel Eastwardly, and
any man of judgment canno' ut observe
that thirty miles at the outside is all We can
gain by the construction of that road, and
probably less. II We are warranted in ex-
| pending 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 so deeply interested, as in
the Mississippi 4 Missouri road in which
we already have large amount of stock,
and a road that must and miH, when con-
structed, bring us the trade for two hun
bred and forty miles of the richest country
in the world?
very much fear that there is feeling
against this latter road upon the 5th street
improvement question. which is tending
greatly to the injury Of Davenport. MOI
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, forcibly if they must" have no two
opinions upon this question, and think
express the opinion Of a majority of our PEG
Pile. when | say that the Council ought to
hold that company to a strict and immedi
ate performance Of their contract But dc
not, because the company fails to do us jus
tice, do them great injustice and ourselve.
a great injury thereby. We are certainly
in honor bound TO see the NJ. d NJ. X. r. il
a prosperous condition, before We lend oul
money 10 a project like that Of the Cedar
River Rail Road
have not time to say more, nor have
been able to speak to the point in what i:
written. 1t is enough for now. that entel
a determined protest against this loan.
hope you will take the stand and no,
only speak but a ork against the loan. l find
leading men here rom Muscatine jubilant
over the course tie Davenport authorities
are taking. and this Of itself is enough t.
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 $4,000, 900
Such an amount Of property will not war
rant the mourning Of $4,000 additional
debt without the very best of reasons.
You are at liberty to make use Of thi'
letter at any time and in any manner YOU
please. In haste,
Your friend,