The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-10-11
For Congress. Samac, Il. Curtis.

For Congress. samuel II. Curtis.
Aside from party principles and party pref
ndices, we ask the people Of keokuk to con-
slider whether they have not strong local
and personal interest to subserye in the re-
turn Of Col. Curtis to Congress. We recent
ly solicited prominent gentlemanto come to
Keotnk and make speech. lie declined,
with the remark that be would come il he
thought he could do Curtis any good but he
though. il unnecessary on that account
s'for," said he, ssif you have not local inter-
est and feeling enough to insure him full
and strong vott, you don't deserve to have a
representative in Congress, and hope you
wont have.o That Is the way II strikes a
stranger. And is not that the way it strikes
. sensible man at homef
But hare We any particular local matters
OF importance that need the assiduous atten.
ton of an interested man to watch over them?
perhaps some may ask. Indeed, we have,
and re,y importons ones, too.
First, we may mention the diversion Of the
river improvement lands for the benefit of
the keokuk and Fort Des Mones Railroad
Every one feels the great Importance Of that
measure, both in respect Of its ultimate and
its immediate influence, We have CONNER
cial competition to wage with contempora-
ries. We have been put at disadvantage by
the favor Of Congress bestowed upon others.
We must overcome it as best we may. And
we cannot afford to wait, either. We must
do it as soon as we can. Other railroads are
going ahead. They are reaching out for the
trade that We now enjoy. We must keep ut
even pace with them, il possible, for il is
much easier to keep trade that We have than
20 win back that which Is once lost. Blu. we
have no more money TO put into the enter
prise. We have done much--done nobly--in
extending it so far, substantially With our
own means. But our own resources are now
exhausted. And no body, now, has money
to lend, for railroad purposes. To borrou
money for that purpose, We must wait the
slow return Of fusher, faster times. The only
immediate resources that seem within our
grasp, are the improvement lands, for the
diversion of which to the construction Of oui
valley railroad the State has given her con-
sent. The road now awaits the consent OIL
Congress in order TO obtain the benefit 81
that valuable assistaoce-~to set TIE idle Ia
b,rers once more Of work upon her line AMI
bring the merchants and mechanics Of keo-
kuk still nearer to their patrons. The action
OF the Legislature was too tardy to enable
the bill introduced into Congress agreeabl,
thereto. to be reached before the close OF til,
last session, overwhelmed ne that body il b,
private aad local bills However, we hay,
strong hopes Of its passage at the next SEES
sion. But that session is q short one---o
only ninety days duration. In the gren
scramble OF brief and turhuen. session, i
may unfortunately 20 over. But il may b
asked, Why the Importance Of the presene,
of Col. Curtis to its ultimate success, in cas-
OF that misfortune9 We will tell you. Ii
the first place. he introduced il. lie know
iis position. lie understands, the characie
and extent of the orposrions that will b
made against X. He has partly prepare,
the way Tor It's passage. lie has partly pre-
pared the means q defeating its opponents
If another man IL sent in his place, all tina
labor has got to be aeHe over again Al
that time will be lost--of course. Again, b
has o personal interest in its suceess---a yer
strong personal interest. He has no; iii
mere interest arising from Willingness or
desire to serve some constituents in a distal
part of his district. Another man may Q
may not hare that interest, but he canno
hare that strong, personal, active, anxiou
interest thst Col. Curtis has. IL il reason
ablato suppose SOP Farther, it should no