Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-07-18

For the Quasqueton Guardian.
CITIZENS OF BUCHANAN COUNTY,
READ TTHS. OUR RAILROAD.
Having an interest in the lands of Bu-
chanan county, feel deeply interested in
its railroads, and now propose to give my
views fully upon this subject. The best
class Railroads in this country pay from
6 to per cent The man who deals in
money only, can do far better than to in
vest in Railroads, and who, then, are
benefited Answer.-The travelling pub
lie and the owners of the soil in Railroad
localities. The real benefit derived is the
advance Of real estate along the line
That class of farmers along the line, thus
benefited, have decided advantage over
those residing at greater distance flom
market. Farmers residing on the line Of
Railroads in New England, New York,
and Pennsylvania, are living monuments
Of this established truth. Improved farms
in Ohio not favored with water commu-
nication, lying from one to ten miles from
railroads, are worth $40 per acre-ffteen
to twenty miles $50 per aere-twenty to
twenty five miles, S25 per acre. The
we'll known Illinois Central cost S28, 600
per mile, the rise of real estate fifteen
miles wide, or seven and half miles
each side, has been twelve fold, or SIC
per acre, which is the average price, as
appears from the company's sales-thus
including the whole length of the line,
even down into Egypt. where white peo
pie can hardly live,--"a hard country
for the wolf and the rattlesnake." 1t is
the opinion of the officers of the Illinois
Central, that the construction of that
road has created an extra value of $40
per acre.
Now let us apply the benefits of Rail-
road to Buchanan County. u miles each
side of the Wapsipinicon Road, in this
county, there are e88,o0 acres of land
If the experience of the Illinois Central
will apply to this company. You may add
an extra $40 to every acre on the line of
said road, and it will amount to SO, $780,
600, and this we believe low estimate
In the towns, the lands adjoining the
smaller depots will be worth 500 per
acre, and lots from S25 to 500 EACH
In the larger towns, lands adjacent will
be worth 5000 per acre, and lots from
road shall be constructed, will add, in
Guiding the value of the Road, more than
two millions of taxable property to the
county, but suppose we only say 81 900
600. This will make the increase of tax
able property in the county, sS, $50, 900.
Here let me say, the advance does not
stop "a miles each side of the Road
but like pebble thrown into the sea, the
waves will be felt to the remotest corner
of the county Now for the debtor
The county has loaned her credit to the
Wapsipinicon g. St. Peters Valley Rail-
road for $3.50, 900, and in all human pro-
liability she will never be called upon to
pay; or if she holds so much stock in the
Road, it may be sold at par, or at a pre-
mium-in the latter case, speculation
to the county. If the county were to
pay this amount, she would be the gamer
of So, $50, 900 by our estimate. But the
Wapsipinicon Railroad Company agree
to give good and sufficient security
to the proper officers of the county, for
the interest and principal. Although,
by the proclamation, the principal does
not appear to be covered by security
that was the original intention, and the
records of the company show the fact,
that at the time they moved to petition
the county Judge on this matter, they al
SO specified the terms of the proposition
to be to secure the county against the
payment of both principle and interest,
and the omission in the proclamation is
but clerical error, and the Company SO
declare. This alone should be sufficient
guarantee to induce every man to vote
against resembling the former vote
These bonds will not be used unless there
is probable certainty of the completion
of the Road. and then their proceeds will
be used exclusively in this county. But
suppose we look on the darkest side oI
the picture, and at maturity of said bonds
the county pay both interest and princi-
pal, to wit: $3.50, 900, and we swell the
amount to cover all conceivable contin.
gency, to 81 ,0O0,O the county would
then be the gamer by 33. l30, 900, TAX
ing our estimate. and We challenge inves.
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