The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-07-07

lneTe was an OMISSION Ill inc hallTOau
Proposition as published by us last week,
occasioned by leaving out of the copy fur
nished us, a material portion. 1t was no
fault OF ours. The Statesman, being behind
time as usual, the mistake was discovered
and corrected in that paper, a circumstance
which that one horse concern deemed of so
much Importance, as to call for a special
puff of themselves, characteristic in matter,
manner and spiri'.
We are sorry and surprised to learn that
some of our citizens, and among our best and
most highly esteemed citizens, are seeking TO
defeat this proposition. Doubtless they think
they see their line of duty and interest to lie
in this direction; but as we cannot look up
on the matter in the same light they do, we
shall be compelled to differ with them. For,
we know not how many years, have we been
turning over, canvassing and discussing this
identical Depot question, and under the most
favorable circumstances for bringing it to an
issue, for we don't live very much isolated,
and have had town-meetings pretty much all
the time, daily or eveningly, for the last doz-
en- years or thereabouts, and on this subject
too /; and we have no hesitation in saying if
there has been, at any time, matter Of local
Government in this community, about which
we have supposed perfect unanimity to pre-
vail, it was the expediency and justice of Civ
ing Depot grounds to the B. & NJ. r. r. Co.,
or aiding in the purchase of such grounds,
upon the completion of the road to Ottumwa,
and when they were needed. For a long
time it was supposed that we should have to
raise $4,000, and we never heard of but one
opinion in relation to that proposition, and
that was in its favor, most of those now op-
posing the present proposition, being prom
inent advocates Of that. And when the time
for fir al action came, and the City Council
had the matter under advisemcnt, the pub
lie had due notice, and were invited to par
ticipate in the discussion, with the view of
advising the City Fathers as to the views
and wishes of the community in the premi-
aes, the result ofwhich discussion was uni
versal approval of the purchase Of the thirty
acres of Blake, and the conveyance of the
same to the Railroad Company, upon condi-
tons contained in a contract then drawn up
and carefully read several times The only
objection taken to the provisions of this con.
tract, tina, we heard of, was to the clause
obligating the City to procure the right Of
way through private property for the Com
pany, and that was waived ....
Under this state of fact, the presumption
that the contract was approved of by the
public was a natural one, and the Council
were justified in regarding themselves as
virtually instructed to complete it, with the
strong presumption that its submission to
vote of the people would be mereva for
malitv--t that it would be adopted by vote
approaching unanimity. Such was our i'm
preston, and such the impression of every
body else, so far as we know.
We are therefore surprised at the opposi-
WIN "ihSti VIC hlS lOii lids lStiI
to this proposition within the past few days,
not comprehending why it should have been
reserved to this late hour, to form party
upnR, and create division among us at a
time when perfect unanimity and concert of
action in matters of local concernment, is ex-
ceedingly important.
We sincerely believe that the best interests
ofths city will be greatly jeopardzed by dis
turbing the present arrangement, and enter
ing upon the doubtful experiment of new
negotiations. We should despair ofever get
ting from the Company much more advanta-
geous stipulatins-the chances are that we
might not secure as favorable. The bare ad
iustment of the question upon terms as IA
vorable as is provided for in the present
proposition, is worth many times what it
will cost us. So believing, we feel it to be
our duty to advocate and vote for the rail-
road proposition, and we hope every citizen
Of Ottumwa, who desires its prosperity, will
conclude to do the same. -.....
lnI % +In FOL