Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-01-14


Elsewhere we give the proceedings of a
meeting Of citizens of Muscatinc, at which
delegates were appointed to attend the Con-
vsntion at Rome, on the 18th inst, to consult
concerning . direcs railroad connection
between Muscatins and Anamosa. 1t will be
seen that our citizens manifest proper inter-
est in this important railroad enterprise. We
hope the Convention at Rome will result in
the organization Of a company to commence
work at once on the line between the terminus
of the Upton road and Anamosa. There is
no reason why work on that section of the
road should not be progressing in the same
manner as between Muscatine and Upton,
and from Upton to the line of the c., l. g. N.
r. r.
While on this subject, we will say word
regarding the Muscatine Branch of the Upton
Railroad, which the people of this city are
now building. 1t is well known that the
| contractors commenced work about the last
Of November, and are still actively engaged.
A good portion Of the amount necessary to
complete the work has been subscribed. More
is needed, however. There are several of our
citizens abundantly able who have not yet
subscribed anything. The disposition, as in
all enterprises Of this kind, is manifested by
some to throw as much of the burden as they
can from their own shoulders upon their
neighbors. This is all wrong. If this enter
prise succeeds-and it will never do to say
Ja1I!-we must each and every one make
sacrifices Au must give something and do
something to push it forward. Wishing for
the railroad hoping for it-boastiag about it
and picturing to ourselves it's benefits when
it is completed-will not build it. These
things are wen enough to inspire confidence,
but in all cases should be followed by action
that kind Of action which gives the enter
prise material aid, and secures its consum-
nation beyond a peradventure. Its accom-
plishlncnt is within our power, and We deserve
to be written down as "old fogies" if we do
not secure it.
We learn from the Treasurer of the Com
pany that the subscriptions of stock to be
paid in goods, &c, have been paid promptly
as the installments became due, but the cash
payments are exceedingly meagre. Arrange
ments were made with the contractors to
require as little cash outlay as possible, but
certain proportion is absolutely necessary.
More cash subscriptions are consequently
required; and it is earnestly hoped all who
are able will come forward and extend as
much of the necessary aid as they possibly
can. As we have already remarked, some
sacrifices must be made if we would secure
the road. Let no one hesitate to make sac
rifice, seeing that the enterprise must result
in such great advantage to the city, and to
every man interested in its prosperity.
Evening Journal makes the following happy
response to this important interrogatory:
'The Administration party, which has
been two years deploring the agitation of
slavery, ever since last spring have insisted
that the slavery question was finally and con-
clusively settled. There has been no new
attempt at agitation on the part of the Oppo-
sition. But how is it with themselves
'The President sends in his Message, and
two mortal columns of it are devoted to fan
ming the flames of slavery agitation
Congress meets, and on the first day of
the session, Mr.. Mason, Chairman of the
Committee on Foreign Relations, acting in
behalf of the Administration, takes the earliest
uIoment to revive the slavery agitation by
calling up the claim of the owners of the
Amlstad negroes.
"The South Carolina Legislature assemblies
with a conceded Administration majority in
both Houses. Its whole time is taken up
with the discussion of proposition to reopen
the Slave Trade, and the revival of agitation.
'The Arkansas Legislature, also in session,
devotes its time to pro-slavery resolutions, for
the express purpose of keeping up agitation
'The North Carolina Legislature is agitating
the subject OF reducing free negroes to slavery.
s'The Alabama and Florida Legislatures are
agitating the Slave Trade.
"The Mississippi politicians are issuing
manifestoes, all to greater or less extent
agitating the slavery question. All these are
Democratic bodies.'''
Who are the "agitators p
~ The Railaoay Times says it would be
a national shame, to import foreign iron to lay
down for a national railroad right over our
own abundant mines of iron and coal. 1t
demonstrates that the foreign manufacturers
control and keep up the price of iron in this
country, simply because we do not encourage
home production so as to keep up healthy
competition. With the 10000 miles of rail-
road laid down in the United States, and the
many thousand miles yet to be laid, the
demand for iron to repair the old roads and
construct the new ones will be enormous, and
if the home manufacture ceases the British
manufacturers will have monopoly of our
market, and will have prices to suit them
selves.
Our NEWLY ELECTED CoNGREssMAN.-A
writer in the Boston Watchman md Reflector,
thus speaks of our newly elected Member of
Congress:
"Wiliam Vandever, the newly elected Con- |
gresham from the second or northern district |
of Iowa, is a man of high moral and Christian
character. He is a member of the Old School |
Presbyterian Church; the President of the |
Young Mems Christian Association of Du- |
buque; the Superintendent of Mission Sab |
bath School, &c. He is a man whose Repub-
lican and whose Christian principles cannot
be compromised; is we'll lread politician, a
clear and logical debater, and fair speaker
His age is forty. TO all human appearance,
he has bright future. The Christian young
men Of the West may well rejoice to have
such worthy representative in Congress"
TwxNTY-EIGIIr MEN STARVED TO DEATH.
The immediate destruction of, life and
property was net the only result of the fear
full explosion of the magazine at Havana,
on the 2Sth Of September. On the 23d ult.,
the bodies of twer ty-eight men were dug
from under the ruins, who had probably
died from starvation, although their were
soldiers enough, in ard around the city, to
have turned over every stone within a
day after the occurrence of the accident.
~ "Richmond," addressing Wings and
Americans through Zha Richmnn6 HHLsa |