Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-09-22

-"
-
CEDAR VALLEY AND DE Writ RAIL
Roads What are the reasons ,chy these
Raiirodds Should be buiA5 We answer that
the future welfare OF every department OF
business in our city imperatively demands
it. Now it is impossible to sell real estate
for anything like its fair value. What last
year was considered fair price for real es-
tate would now be considered as one hun
dred per cent above the value. Take all
the real estate in this city at what it is
worth, and would sell for now, and then
commence and build these railroads, and
this real estate would be enhanced in value
al least ffy per cent. Every owner Of real
estate then, has an interest of fifty per cent
OF the value Of that estate, in the success of
these railroads. This should make them ac-
'i0e 4" securing tie means of completing the
road What are rents worth to-day2 Hous-
es and stores that rented last year for enor-
nous sums, are either vacant for want Of
tenants, or renting for a sum that will bare
" pay the lowest rates Of interest upon the
investment. very large portion Of our
citizens have left the city in search of EN-
ployment, and the demand for houses and
stores has ceased. But if We commence the
work of building these roads, those who
have left the city will be recalled to work
upon the Railroads, houses will be in great
er demand, rents go up to something of their
former rates, the hundreds of thousands of
dollars spent for labor in constructing roads
will he expended among our merchants and
business men, and Davenport will again be-
gin to breathe with its former energy and
life.
Merchants as weH as business men haus
wtat interest an these improvements.
Now the access to country dealers and
produce raisers is cut off by the Waubesi-
pinecon river, by the Clinton Railroad, and
by the gallant efforts of Muscatine. A Rail-
road from Davenport to De. Witt would tap
the Clinton road and draw from the Cedar
Valley on the line of the Clinton Road, all
the freight that goes east of the Mississippi
river. 1t is no farther from Davenport to
DE Witt than from De Witt to Lyons, and at
Lyons all cattle, grain, flour and freight
have to be reshipped across the river at
great expense, before it can again be put on
the Railroad for Chicago. five had rail-
road from Davenport to De Witt, all freight
going east would come to this city, thence
across the Railroad bridge to Chicago. with
oat change Of cars.
1t is twenty miles to De Witt. The land
is good for cheap grade Of railrosd. 1t
can be constructed for $4,000 per mile. or
100000 in all A loan of 100000 would
grade the road and lay down the ties. Up
on this work bonds for slOO, 900 more could
be issued to buy iron and equip the road.
Who can tell the immense benefits this road
would be to Scott countyf Along Its route
the land of our farmers would increase at
least fifty per cent in value. New depots
would be constructed. villages spring up'
retail merchants be established nearer to the
farming community. and an easy and cheap
way of transporting produce be Effected
The farmers along the line of the Davenport
and Dubuque Railroad have - deep an in.
terest in this question ~ has Davenport it.
self.
The richest trade of Clinton, jackson,
Lynn and Cedar counties has heretofore
been secured to Davenport. It is rapidly
being lost. Now is the time to regain it,
and secure it against all future attempts to
divert it from US.
The Cedar Valley Road 10 also Of vital
Importance to Davenport A loan Of $780,
600 would secure the building Of this road
We have no doubt but that Cedar county
would give another $4,000, making
$4,000 as basis upon which to COM
mence the work. This would grade and
prepare forty miles Of the road ready for the
track. and upon that work bonds can be
issued which will iron and equip the road.
1t seems as though. somehow. the business
men Of Davenport are not sufficiently alive
to the great and noble work before them.
II We fail now, farewell to the laurels Of
Davenport Our beautiful city will then
commence period Of decay which viii end
| In the death of oil enterprise