Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-07-25
Resembling THE VOTE.

Resembling The VOTE.
~ We have, in our two last issues.
endeavored to meet and answer some of
the most important objections which we
have heard urged against the Railroad,
and we now propose briefly to say some
thing in regard to its benefits. This sub
ject we deem of more importance to the
people of Buchanan county than any up
on which they have hitherto been called
to act. 1t seems to us so completely in
terwoven with our prosperity--so init
matelv connected with our future sue
cess, that it will abundantly excuse the
attention we have given it. The benefits
of the road to us must be of such far
reaching character, that it is impossible
to graduate them, while the injury that
its loss must entail upon us must be alike
incalculable. The effects of narrow
and ill-advised policy now, may be ire
trievable, and it behooves us to weigh
well the evidences, when upon our verdict
hangs so much of good or i'll.
There seems to be an absolute terror to
some people in the prospect of the coun-
ty undergoing any pecuniary risk, no
matter how grand or how brilliant the
results expected to flow therefrom. The
same fear or disinclination, extended to
the sphere of private business, would eff
fectually stop the wheels of industry and
progress for all time. There is no bust
ness enterprise without risk, and the
man who stands waiting For such an on
PvrvurrTrJ, WIN remain statue until the
dawn of eternity. The farmer would
never reap harvest were he afraid to
risk his seed and his labor, nor would
the grand mechanical triumphs which we
every day view, have ever been achieved,
had the capitalist been afraid to risk his
means. There must be risk attendant
upon everything in the way of business,
and men but compare that risk with
the promised results. If those results
warrant the risk, they engage in the en-
terprise if not, they refrain.
Let us see, then, what is the risk, and
what the promised results to the people of
this county, of this project. How much
could the county lose by it? Why, not
more than $3.50, 900, at the outside, that
being the full amount of principal and
interest. This is all, this is every cent,
that she risks. On the other hand, what
are the promised benefits-to how much
do they amount? To millions, without
doubt.
There are, in this county, 1868, 900
acres of land, which would be, bv the
construction of this road, advanced fully
three dollars per acre, independent of
town property. This is certainly reas-
enable calculation--but alone gives an
increase in value to the county of 81 lo4-
600, considerable over the whole amount
the road would cost us, providing we paid
the full amount of the bonds, principal
and interest. Besides this, there would
be an advance in town property of-how
much? We have, at the very lowest cal
culation, about a million and a half of
dollars worth of town property in the
county. There must be depot at the
lower end of the county, and how long
would it be before there would be town
there worth half million of dollars. 1t
would not take FIVE years at the farthest
Then there is Quasqueton, Independence,
Littleton and Fairbanks besides. Would
it, then, be too much to place the ad-
vancement of town property in this coun-
ty, in five years, if the road is construct
ed, at two hundred per cent, or three
millions Of dollars? We think not
This would make S4, 104, 900 already
gained.
The competition that would be excited
between this road and the Dubuque and
Pacific road, is another important benefit
which we shall derive from this project,
creating a reduction upon freights and
rates of travel, and insuring to farmers a
greater amount of profit on their pro-
duce, as well as cheapening the goods
they are compelled to purchase. And
how much shall we gain from this single
consideration, think you? How long