The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-08-08
For the Gate City.


There is much inquiry as TO why the work
of grading Fourth-st., preparatory to bring
ing up the railroad track, has not been began
ere this. The expectations OF the public are
disappointed, because it is known that the
City Council has passed oil laws necessary
to effect that object. For the purpose OF in
forming the public as to the facts, this COM
munication is made.
For two years past much has been said in
favor of extending the road into the city
and about year and half ago over 1000
voters of the city petitioned the Council to
make provisions to bring it up Sd, 4th or 9Th
street, and oppose Its passage up the levee.
This Council took up the subject after the
election in April. 1t made provisions for
grading the street by an outlay Of some $l0,-
900, to be collected By tax, which grad
ing was in a street (4th) that must some time
be graded.
Persons opposed to its coming up Fourth
and in favor of the levee made desperate
effort to accomplish it's defeat, and appealed
| to the pockets of men in behalf Of their suf-
fering neighbors and made many Of the
friends of the movement believe that it
could not be done, thus discouraging every
one that could be affected, and getting pledges
that they would not pay the tax levied for
that purpose, although it was levied and AL
lowed to be paid in such manner that it
could be "worked out with men and teams
on the work" AT the commencement there
were persons enough desirous of paying the
tax to effect ii with ease, but by the time all
obstacles could be overcome in getting the
necessary laws passed, the opposition had
very much weakened the strength and ability
to effect it, making use of the plea of hard
times.
The last act Of the Council was to author
ize the Mayor to leave the damages of go
| ing through Messrs. Hiatt & Harbine's pro-
perty, (2S0 feet OF the foot of 4th), to Messrs.
Bridgman, Farrar and McCrea. They as
sessed the damages at $4,000, which sum
cannot now be paid in money, therefore the
work cannot 60 on. 1t was not expected by
that part of the Council friendly to the pro-
/ ject that the damage would be assessed at
more than from four to eight hundred dol
lars, which sum could have been easily paid.
At this time a part of the Council that
has hitherto been in favor Of 4th ST., is now
for the levee, If it cannot be extended up 4th.
Now the question is, do tho citizens Of Keo-
kuk want the railroad depot brought out Of
its present position into or near the business
part OF the city above the levee? If so,
this is the time to speak and act. The Coun-
Gil has done its duty-all that it can do, all
that any one can ever do, except to set men
and teams at work, which cannot be done
till the damage TO Hiatt & Harbine is settled,
and then the work can 20 on; although
many ,o,r shy, let the railroad do the grading
Of the street, who a short time ago were
sharp for it any way that it could be had
If the r. r. Co. 10 left to do the whole. it
will do nothing, for how can we expect that
the Company will grade a street for the city,
when it can get all the business it would 9TH
erwise get, although at n great sacrifice and
inconvenience to our citizens.
We ask what is now to be done If some
thing is not done soon, it will never be
brought into the central part of the city, be-
cause the friends Of the levee will bring il
there, and when once there, the Company
} cannot be induced or compelled to make any
further outlay for extensions and depots.
These matters are worthy the attention OF
4 all he 1oaG IN ba f,,fn IF an l,k
II may be repeated that this is the only time
that this important enterprise can be Sc
, cured. ID. REDDINGTON.
The Transrigurasiono Of M emory.
In Mrs. Stoves new novel Of "The Min
istcr's Wooing," occurs the following beau.
, tiful passage:
As there was an hour when the fishermen
Of Galilee saw their Master TRANSPORTED, bis
raiment white and glistening, and his face
like the light, so are there hours when our