The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-04-14

100Et OIL tu0 QubO&uum8u TX LII -
reaper's iocund laugh will b heard III
many : harvest 6eld To yalliss shall
rejoice, and ths little hills shall clap
their hands tho sarth shall yield her fat
ness, and plentious abundance will b
once more in the land, Tor man and for
beast.
Imbued by this feeling and inspired by
this hope, ! would respectfully but hur-
riedly submit some views on matters re-
lating to the interests Of the city.
1sT-GRADEs, STREET IMPROVEMENTS,
&c.
The grades Of the different streets
having been once established, there does
not require to be much said on that sub
ject. It would be we'll, however, to have
as little alteration made as possible in
any Of these grades, in order to avoid
vexations and troublesome lawsuits
against the city. The Road tax ought
to be almost sufficient to keep the streets
of the city in full repair and clearly or
der for the coming season, and should,
therefore, recommend the strictest econ
omy in this department consistent with
the cleanliness and health Of the city,
It is matter of much congratulation
that during the past season OF financial
embarrassment the health Of the citizens
was never better, and Keokuk may well
challenge comparison in this particular
with any city Of her size in the Union
Much Of this is to be attributed to the
thorough system of drainage introduced
during former administrations, and
which, / presume, will serve for city Of
so 900 inhabitants.
2ND-RAILRoADs.
1t is an easy and natural transition
from streets to Railroads in this utilita-
Ran age, and presume all Of Us agree
that boundless advantages would result
to Keokuk, commercially and financially,
we're the different Railroads in which she
is SO deeply interested, and to which she
has lent so much assistance, only COM
pleted. Our city has subscribed liber-
ally TO three Roads, and she is not in .
condition to render further aid, yet the
Council may be called upon to help to
devise ways and means to grade Fourth
street from Cedar street to Bank street, IS
it seems to be the settled wish of the mass
of the citizens, that the Keokuk, Fort
Des Moines and Minnesota Railroad
should be brought further into the city
than it now is, and . Depot built in the
neighborhood Of Bank and Fourth SITS.
It Is to be hoped that, besides this i'm
provement, and great accommodation to
the people on the part Of that Railroad
Company, the President and Directors
will soon have it in their power TO report
the Road Is being contracted for con-
struction oil the way to TT. Des MONIES,
and that the work will this year progress
with sufficient rapidity to enable US to
ride to Ottumwa by the LIST December
next. No one can calculate the advan-
tages which Keokuk would derive from
the completion Of this Road to It. Des
Moines, and the connections there made
with the Mississippi and Missouri Road.
The western two-thirds Of the State Of
Iowa, and the great regions lying be-
yond the Missouri River, would natural
| " seek outlet at this point, and the in
crease of business consequent thereon
would be amply sufficient to support q
city of the FIRST class. / am informed By
Eastern capitalists that this Road is nov
looked upon as the best project West oi
the Mountains, and they only wait thu
prospect of good harvest to encourage
them and their friends to lend : helping
hand to push this great enterprise t.
speedy completion.
!, / am happy to be able to congratulate
you on the fattering prospects of tht
Keokuk, Mt. Pleasant and Muscatins
Road. You are all doubtless aware oil
. contract having been made by THU
Company with Mr.. Chamberlain anG
others, under favorable auspices. Tha
We will be in connection with Ft. Madi'
son, by means Of this Road, on or abou
LIST July next, with West Point about L.
Sept. next, with Mt. Pleasant in the sum.
mer of 1860, and finally, when connec.
tions are made with the Cedar VALLEY
Roads, large share of the State o.
Iowa and one-half Of the State of Min
nesota viii pour their trade and trave
Over this mart into the lap Of Keok1k
Our people are most anxious 70 h1v,
direct Railroad communication with th'
Atlantic cities, and it is to be hoped tina
during the year the Western Division o.
the Wabash and Mississippi Railroad vii
be completed. It's surely not asking
too much that the hope we have all in