The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-10-11

be forgotten that there are opponents--nu
merous, active and influential opponents
this measure, 10 this Congressional district
Thosrmen will be equally the constituents
the representative whom the people may elect
Do we know that our interests and influence
and not the interests and influence OF others
| will control the action Of one whose personal
pecuniary interests are not identified with
oursp lie may be true to us, or he may b,
true to our opponents, or he may ssplay Off
in the most skillful manner possible not great
~ to offend either party. We want no such
man. We want a firm, fast, active, interest
ed friend, TO watch and work for our Inter-
ests--in these important circumstances, more
especially. Finally, the defeat Of Col. Our.
tis--of man SO strongly identified with the
measure--may be taken as, ut least in some
degree, an expression against the measure
itself, and prove disastrous to it.
| In the next place, the word sHy draulic" is
not seldom connected with his name, in a
sense Of reproach. But what is the meaning
Of Let us consider. Many eminent en-
gineers think the only practicable method of
improving the passage Of the rapids at this
point, is by canal along the western shore
from the foot to the head Of them. 1t seems
tolerably certain, now, that that would be the
cheapest, as we'll as the most speedy and use
full method Of improvement. There seems to
be no reason to doubt, moreover, that the
last appropriation has been made which ever
will be made FOR the prosecution of the i'm
provement upon the present plan. But it is
not matter Of doubt az TO whether or not
tho attempts to remove so serious an obstruc-
ton from 90 mighty . channel of commerce
will cease. They will not. II must in the
end, by some means, be overcome. There is
every ground for the assertion that the
adoption Of the plan Of Improvement by ca
nal is only question Of time. That canal
would furnish us the cheapest, largest, most
magnificent water-power upon the continent.
No greater incentive to manufacturing inn
portance could hardly be looked for. With
our position in regard to river and railroad
| communication 70 every quarter for thous-
ands Of miles, coal beds near at hand and
abundant, the enjoyment Of a cheap and ex-
| tensive motive power is nil that is necessary
to render our manufacturing advantages
complete and our manufacturing import
ance certain. That plan Of improvement,
is advocated BY Colonel Curtis. He ia a
member OF the Company to whom the le-
gal franchises were granted. He is, there
4 Fore, closely connected with the enterprise,
and deeply interested in its success. lie
has been active in promoting it--as active
as circumstances would allow, as it was q
question Of time, since the other plan, once
being adopted, had first to be satisfactorily
/ tested. Is there any thing obnoxious in that {
Is it not matter of great Importance, in
stead Is hardly any thing of more impor-
tance2 With respect to the progress and
prospects of that undertaking, are you will
ing that any body abroad should BIO permit
ted to take the place of Col. Curtis-of q
citizen citizen ct at least equal persona
inouenee in every respect, and Of infinitely
more influence, because Of moro knowledge
and experience, in matters OF civil engineer
ing, than a lawyer, with whom n is proposed
to suprIant him II SO, We think you over.
| look your own interests which, however, il
is your privilege TO do, If you choose. Blu,
the matter is worthy of candid considera-
ton, at any rate
There are other considerations, Of he same
general character, which we might urge, but
which will suggest themselves to the minds
of the rejecting and eonsiderate. And we
ask, as citizen Of Keoknk, Interested in its
welfare and pr ogress, that tn y should not be
overlooked or forgotten, but that the advan-
tages OF atownsman TO represent our own in
terests should be.daly and reasonably con.
sidcred.