The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-08-10
For the Gate City.
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| MEssKs. EDITORS: Under the shove caption
N article appears in the "Gase City" Of the
9th inst, from Alderman Rsddingson, which
il full Of inaccuracies and mistakes, and
leaves On untrue and erroneous impression
in regard to the reasons why the railroad
has not been extended up into the city. He
might have fairly, trushfully and briefly sta
ted the cause by simply saying that tho Coun-
oil had not the money on hand and had no
immediate means Of getting it. He says that
the Council "made provision for grading the
street BY an outlay Of $40, 900, to be collect
ed" do. Now, that is not the case. No
such action Was had. The majority Of the
Council passed an ordinance levying tax Of
SIS 900 for general City purposes, including,
as they stated, a sum sufficient to grade 4th
street as proposed, to bring up the railroad
but the act making the levy said nothing of
the disposition Of the funds to be collected,
and the Alderman has no authority for say
ing $4,000 would be sufficient to do the
work, a. any person who is at all familiar
with such work can see in moment that
such sum is not half enough.
Again, Alderman r. says, cat the COM
mencement what commencement there
were persons enough DESTROYS Of paying the
tax to effect it with ease, but by the time oil
obstacles could be overcome in getting the
necessary laws passed, the opposition had
very much weakened the strength and ability
to effect it." That Alderman r. believes all
this stuff, have no reason to doubt, as he 10
too honorable man to make, knowingly,
false assertion; but dispute the whole state
ment. The ''persons" alluded to have not,
and cannot be found, enough to do one-tsnth
part Of the work. The 'strength and abili-
ty" that the Opposition weakened" never
existed outside the imagination of few blind
enthusiastic individuals like Alderman r.
aud some others, who had not given the pro-
ject u careful consideration; for | aver,
without tho fear Of successful contradiction,
that the project of extending the railroad
track up 4th street to Bank, or thereab outs,
without changing the location below the city,
and taking it out Of the bottom entirely, is
the widest and most absurd way to right a
wrong that ever was proposed by q rational
person. No business man who will divest
himself of local prejudice or preference and
look the matter fairly in tho face, can come
to any other conclusion.
In regard to tho award to Hiatt 4 Harbine,
Alderman r. says that sit was not expected
on the part OF the Council friendly to the
project that the damages would be assessed
SO high" Why they had any reason to ex-
pect it to be so small seems strange, - it is
well known that arbitration is . favorite
mode Of "skinn,ng" the City, and that oil
former ones have been outrageous and un-
justifable, and this one, in comparison with
them, 10 modest for-an obstruction.
Alderman r. asks, in conclusion, "What
is to be done2" In conclusion, l reply, If
he has "seen the folly of expectation" to
stop trying impossibilities and assist in the
only feasible plan, under the circumstances,
that of bringing the track up the Levee, and
he will enhance bis own interest, a. we'll ss
that Of all concerned in the prosperity of
Keokuk. COMMERCE.