The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-02-15
Great Excitement among the Kco.
kuk1ans-..Trem n d Gus Sensation
NJ inc Cate. Mayor sample I'm Jail
IN New York for SwindIfngI

terdsy from Keoknk says that tele0raphic
despatch was received there the day previ-
Gus which created great commotion. The
despatch was from the Mayor of Keokuk,
who is now in New York, trying to compound
with keokuk bond holders, and informed his
anxious friends that be had involuntarily re-
moved his headquarters from the Astor
House to the Tombs. 1t seems that he has
been buying few bonds, from outsiders,
probably on his own account, at Is cents on
the dollar, and the victims becoming dissat.
ished, had him arrested for swindling. Those
desiring to communicate with him will there
Tore address him as above, until further no.
tice.
IN The people at large are well Informed
OF the credit Of Keokuk abroad. In a con-
dltion OF open reputation, the head of her
City Government, while laboring to screen
the city from the payment of her honest
debts, is incarcerated In Jail for sharp prac-
tices. That her condition at home is equally
bad is proven by the Gate City, which says
that EIGHTEEN HUNDRED CASES are
upon the dockets of the District Court, now
IN session at keokuk, for trial at the present
term,
In New York city the people were 30
anxious for the sight Of Keokukian, that
having recently caught Sample of them,
they placed him in the Tombs for safe keen
ing.
The above items appeared in the editorial
columns Of the Burlington Haukeye on Sat.
urday last. There is not the slightes found
alton OF truth in them, nor was it expected
that they would be credited in Iowa. The
evident intention was to put them in shape
that would secure their circulation in Eastern
journals for the purpose Of general defama-
ton against Keokuk and her city officers.
Mayor Sample arrived here Saturday night,
and the Editor of the Hdwkeye will find that
he cannot charge with impunity that cit
izen OF Iowa il incarcsrated in the Tombs
for swindling. The wholesale lbeller of
the County and City Corporations and of the
Railroad Companies Of the State, will be
held to answer in a court of justice, now that
bis false and malicious libels have reached
the conduct and character of private indi-
viduals.
The Hbellous assaults, in which the Hack
eye has been INDUCING with such bitterness,
against the Keokuk and Des Moines Rail-
road Company, were designed to prevent the
contamination of pending negotiations for
the construction of their road. And what
ever effect the articles may have in that d.
rection will be injurious as well to the entire
Valley as TO the Company, the City Of Keo-
kuk and the County OF Lee.
Its malicious efforts to defame the city and
citizens of keokuk are prompted by an i'm
potent rivalry. and its only weapons are mis-
representation and detrac,ion.
The city of Keokuk, like many Counties
Cities and States, carried away by it's enthu.
siasm in behalf af Railroads, subscribed sew.
eral hundred thousand dollars stock to Sc.
cure the construction Of certain Railroads.
Soon. after, and before any considerable,
portion of the Railroads had been compile
ted, the financial pressure occurred. 1t be-
came necessary for the city to provide TO
the interest on these bonds, and she foun,
herself unable to do it. The United State
and the State Of Iowa had both been reduce,
crisis,and both were forced to 60 into the mar
ket and sell their bonds to raise money t
defray the ordinary expenses Of Government,
The City Of Keokuk could not follow thei
example except at a ruinous and unjustifia
bic sacrifice.
The city authorities therefore sent a Gil
cular to the creditors of the city, stating til
amount of our Indebtedness and the impol
siblity Of collecting taxes at present, suff
cient to meet the interest, and further sug
costing that it would prove mutually advar
tageons to the city and her creditors, IL a
arrangement could be effected by which Ii
creditors would take the Railroad stock
the city in nart payment Of the debt. A cor
ference with the creditors was requested
New IoiA 10 talk over the matter.
In all this there was no reputation az
design OF reputation. There may have bee
folly in contracting the debt, and it certain
was very unfortunate, ns things turned GU
but certainly there has been no dishonest
on the part Of keokuk in regard to 1t sine
There are hundreds and thousands Oh con
panies, and Of individuals, and quite nun
Der even in the good city Of Burlington, wi
incurred larger indebtedness than they ha,
been able 10 meet. Why 10 the city Of Ke
kuk and its citizens denounced As swindle
and repudiators, and Why should the Hau
eye persist in the effort to misrepresent /
case and 10 stigmatiss Keokuk as nest
swindlers and repudIators for failing to p
Our city debts promptly, when it 10 notorio
tina. States, counties, cities, railroad Al
bank corporations and individuals throug