Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-10-14

DAvuFoa1, Oot. Z, -
EDIToRs Iowa STATE DEMOCRAT
Dear Sirs 1t seems to be the very gener.
al opinion Of the knowing ones of this city
and county, that there must and uiH be
between this time and the opening of navi-
cation in the spring. a large number Of our
fellow beings who need food and raiment,
as well as fuel, and will not be able to OBJ
tain those necessaries otherwise than by the
generous charity of their humane fel-
low citizens, to whom kind Providence had
entrusted a surplus, enalling them to per
form that cardinal. .d,tty''to relieve the wants
of the poor"
The serious financial pressure that has
pervaded this as well as all other sections
OF our country, renders it absolutely neces-
sary to commence energetic action imme-
diately.
The press, which is the great lever to
move the community to efficient action,
should be put in operation now, and should
persevere in energetic determined exertions
until the dire necessity ceases to exist The
mere published representation of the fact,
that many are now in deep distress and
very many more will inevitably be added
to the number, and the absolute necessities
of each one be largely increased by distri-
button of raiment and fuel, as the ther-
mometer will indicate, the imperative de-
mand on them, should be enough to call
forth the talent, energy, and efficient ac.
uon,of large number of the good and able
citizens to contribute both "money and
yarn" to accomplish great work which we
have the most warrentable assurance that
q christian people can ask for will insure a
profit Of "an hundred fold" The reliable
guarantee that charity will cover multi
sude OF sins" should enlist . goodly number
ofthe rich men of this neighborhood who
make profession Of christianity, in active
and liberal exertions to procure that in.
sured covering.
1t is the custom in cities generally in
emergencies such as We are in, and have to
pass through. for Board of Trade to hold
special meetings. appoint committees, whose
duties it is to act in their respective desig-
native capacities, to the duties assigned
them As they are generally intelligent
business men, they devise plans that are
efficient in procuring and distributing
means generally and judiciously. The in
duce action in congregations and organiza-
tions of society, as we'll as of humane indi-
viduals.
1t is an undisputed fact that fuel and pro-
duce can be procured when the weather and
roads are good, at much less cost than when
they are bad. Therefore humanity economy
and common sense under the circumstance
calls loudly for immediate action. The ar
ticle stone coal, is a commodity that is in
dispensable. and by prompt and judicious
action may be procur ed economically. If
proper exertion is made coal may by pro-
cured at the banks at moderate cost, say on
the line of the railroad, by which the cor
poration would carry it nearly it may be
hoped, if not free of cost The proprietors
of the banks would not be likely to charge
much, if any more than the cost of digging
and delivery to the cars. Corn and wheat
might be procured and delivered at the
mills now while the roads are good at mod
crate cost, and Millers might be induced to
grind the same at moderate rate. Very
many advantages may be taken to procure
relief for the poor that will increase the
benefit and diminish the expenses by early
action, whereas, delay will be disastrous.