The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-07-08

enormous debt to I'D il ne construction OF
railroads. Our oshsr indebtedness, although
large in many GASES, inprudsnsly incurred,
We could carry, and must with promptnsss
even during tho present times. Aside from
debts contracted in aid Of railroads, we owe
about @S00, 900 in all, making no allowance
for interest. The interest OF that amount
We could pay, and also provide for current
and necessary expenses, without burdsnsome
taxation. II II not the province Of this com.
mittes TO propose any particular financial
scheme for the liquidation and reduction OF
any part Of our indebtedness. Il should re-
ceive the early, thorough consideration of
the committee on finance. We allude to this
subject ~ it 10 connected with our public i'm
provements and contracts.
The FIRST regulate 10 thorough economy in
oil our expenditures. This VI have av0wed
a. our established policy, indeed necessity has
left ~ NO optioa. We recommend that the
outstanding contracts for city improvements
be settled up and Terminated with ~ little
delay ~ may BE- Dfaetioable. They we're
made in more prosperous times than the
present, and W oan do better with the still
unfinished work than meet the sxpsnse.--
Work can BE- lot now upon much better terms
for the city. The improvements already
made should be protected and kept in repair.
New work should be undertaken only whore
the want Of II i imperative, or the rsason
sufficient to justify the expenditure. Some
now work Will from time become necessary,
and when such II the ease il will he beneficial
to large numbss Of lsborsrs who are in
want OF employment. This consideration
should not be overlooked.
Il 10 doubtful whether any town in the
West has overlooked 90 much ~ keokuk the
Importance and utility Of good common
roads leading ont into the country. We
should take immediate steps to construct,
certainly - far ~ the limits Of the city,
su6oisnt number Of good common roads to
afford ready conmunication with the sur
rounding ssttlsmenta. Immediately in the
rear Of town on the "divide" there 10 only
the plank road, which, on account Of the toll,
Is highly objectionable 70 the farmers. With
little work ut different points, il il presum-
sble Grand Avenue may be rendered pass
able thoroughfsrs, and the liberal expsndi-
ture made upon it already, be rendered in
some measure beneficial to Us.
The business Of our town would be mate
rally benefited BY making . good wagon
Des Moines river ct Buena Vista. A large
q q Iowa and the northern part Of Missouri
in seeking the Mississippi river, passes down
the "divide" on the south OK the Des Moinss
river on account Of the superiority Of the
road on that side. This travel touches the
Mississippi river ct Alexandria, passes below
ne, and II destined to keokuk turns Cd ct
Alexandria and crosses the Dee Moines Ut Blu
ems Vista. The read leading from Ksokuk
to ena Vista, 20 far - II lies within our
corporation limits, 10 such that II 10 impossi-
Bile for team to draw upon It full load
ProGting BY this drawback 10 our way, Alex
audria has sold large quantities OF heavy
goods during the last fall and winter, much
OF which might otherwise have been pur-
chased here. The expense OF making the
proposed road would be uncomfortable COM
pared with the advantages which would BE-
derived from il. These subjects should be
submitted TO committee 10 connection with
the engineer at an early day for inveatig cation,
and report OF the best plan and probable
cost OF such work.
Our railroad enterprises are an important
class of public improvements. The city is .
large stakeholder in these roads. Many OF
the directors are prominent citizens OF our
place, and it 10 expected -sf them that they
will protect the rights and interests OF keo-
kuk. 0ftln condition and prospects Of those
roads We need not speak, ns the public are
usually we'll informed and the facts are read
lily accessible elsewhere.
But one matter should not be omitted in
this connection. The present depot Of the
Keokuk, Fort Des Moines and Minnesota h.
K. 10 below the most improved part Of the
town,--nsarly . mile from Main-st., in the
neighborhood Of which tbs principal business
of the town 10 transactsds There ia no good
road from the business part OF the city to the
depot. On that account the drayage OF
goods frsm our stores TO the depot 10 done at
heavy expense, about equal to the freight
on the goods from st. Louis 70 the same de-
pot. Merchants and dealers in tho country
Justly complain of this a. grievance. Ma
ny OF them 70 to 81. Louis for their goods on
this account. The expense Of transportation
from St. Louis to the towns in the interior OF
Iowa, il but little greater than from keokuk
200 miles nearer. They, therefore, buy q,
St. Louis, ~ the larger supplies at that place
are supposed to present better opportunities
to purchasers. This matter should receive
the earnest consideration Of our city council
and busipess men. The road should be ex-
tended up into the city asspecdily MS practi-
cable along one Of the cross streets Sd, 4th,
or 5th, ~ upon investigation may be advise.
BILE.
Many other subjects connected with our
finances and Improvements might be advert
cd to had We time and space, but they must
be deferred to Some other occasion.
Ia conclusion we will only observs, that our
examination OF tho ahsiss. Of keokak has not
impaired but rather strengthened our conf
denoe in the recovery Of keokuk at no very
remote period, from her present embarrass-
ments, and her same steady advancement in
population aad wealth. The prospect nov