Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1857-09-05
For the Journal.

MIR. EDITOR: The most prominent OBJECT
in my first ar,lcle was to state some facts for
the consideration OF the business men Of
this city, which if properly viewed would
fix upon their minds the necessity of doing
something to secure those advantages that
manufacturing must produce, and lead them
To develop ainoag themselves some new re-
sources for growth and development, upon
which the success Of Mu>catine must perma
nently linger. u c." has, it seems, CON-
menced to answ. r. some of my queries. II
he proceeds at his present velocity, it will
take him some three weeks to travel the
rest of the ground marked out for him. AS
railroad advantages seem to be the leading
idea with 81. CO. [ will dwell a moment
upon his last communication. lie could have
said in couple of sentences all that his ar
ticle contains that is important. Nobody
doubts that the railroad has been a benefit
so far as it has furnished facilities for OBJ
tanning goods, and taking away produce in
winter. Admit his argument, all, and to
what does it amount, or wherein does it af
feet The question of the future growth OF
Muscatine?
1t may perhaps be we'll to ask if rail-
road would ever be built unless great advan-
tageS were certain to accrue from il? No.
body supposes that Nluscatine would have
interested itself, and spent lis money in this
read to Wilton, if it would not certainly
! confer all the advantages urged by 81. c.
and probably a great many more? Now
what is the true position in which Musca-
tine finds itself placed by this road Ex-
acty that in which it will be obliged to de-
velop more ENTERPRISE within itself. Why
l. not the Urge trade which we formerly
had from Iowa City, largely, if not almost
entirely cut off by the facilities this road has
opened to that place from other channels
Do we get more than half as much trade
from the counties west of Iowa City as We
did before that road went into operation ?
II it furnishes us means by which we may
ship OFT produce, does it not at the same time
make new markets at Ipwa City, Wilton,
and other places so that we do not get the
same supplies? 1t is common but a true
saying, that railroads njure the cities, but
build up the country. " neither this re-
mark does not hold true of Muscatine as re-
specis the Wilton road may safely be ar-
pealed to the public judgment. Has not
the location of this road been rather dis
advantage than otherwise to the growth
and prominence of Musc:tine Having had
now the effect of two years railroad benefit,
with certainly as good a location as Daven-
port, what is our present rate of increase
compared with that city {? Has the location
of this road been Of any great benefit to
Muscatine SO far rs emigration is concerned,
or otherwise? What is the population OF
this city, this lst September, 1857, compar-
ed witt, what it was u year ago2 not less,
doubtless. but what ratio of growth compar-
ed with rival towns above and below This
is too late day to boast of what this city
might have been had this railroad been 10
Gated from Davenport to this point making
us directly in communication with it. and
with Iowa City. That was plan the CON
summation ct which was greatly t" be de-
sired, too great III its probable beneficial re-
suits to he relinquisl,ed. We have the par !.
tial satisfaction OF Il braHcl, tn Wilton with
all the benefits enumerated by -. G. and
likewise all the Disadvantages 1f it, unwlse
location believe wi b all the draw backs
that M,,scatine now suffers, which may or
may not have been in consequence OF this
railroad, that she is in toler.bly respecta-
bic condition to day, considering the times, }
and that she will thus continue but that she
will find ere long that her greatest seli-sns-
tanning power must ba developed by manu-
featuring, us .ully behave. Lest -. CO.
might consider the expression Of my good
opinion Of my own judgment IN comparison
with his own as foolish and silly inlperti
nece, refrain from inirusling it upon his
notice, by not following his examine.
CITIZEN.