The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-01-13

uOt6Ss koDk tn6 CARS IoT CssuuW0t uu 1uos
day morning, stopping few hours at Mt
Pleasant, all night at Fairfield, and some twt
hours at Ottumwa. AT the latter place, ",
left the cars with regret and took to coaches
The weather was intensely cold, but the car,
were as comfortable as home sitting room
They were clean and neat, well warmed and
we'll ventilated. The road il admirably fin,
ished, thoroughly ballasted, and as smooth al
some OF the Oldest eastern roads. Indeed i,
compares we'll, in every respect, with the
best OF them. presume there is not sim
gle road west of the Mississippi equal to the
Burlington and Missouri, and few east of il
superior, and understand that the credit ID
mainly due to the executive ability and thor
oughness Of the Vice President and Super
intendent, Mr.. VIM. b. Reed. The country
through which ii runs is vastly benefited In
every way. But fear that the stockholders
and owners will not be remunerated for years
to come. The public lands to which it is en-
titled lie mostly west OF the Des Moines, and
are wholly unstable at prices that would be
taken, IL not at any price. As to the bust
ness of the road, not much can be said. For
few weeks in each year it is crowded with
hogs and cattle, but the cars GO back empty,
thus constituting only half business, and
hat for only q short siaas. a1a.even this
will be greatly lessened when the Keokuk
road Ia ovtopdad "a EAlvrsllo
My trip up the valley has more strongly
than ever convinced me that the whole valley
naturally looks to Keokuk, and the business
Of the valley naturally gravitates the same
way. The people up this way appear to be
deeply interested in the success Of Smith,
Leighton & Co.'s negotiation for the iron,
and business men, who are nos running off
to Chicago or to the North Missouri road,
will belglad to return to Keokuk just 30 soon
az you elevate yourselves to that grade of
artificial improvement which other and rival
towns have achieved. You must keep pace
with their facilities Of access and egress, or
else Keokuk must remain indefinitely, as it
now is, especially in the winter, by-eorner
of the world. Put yourselves in connection
with the great world by means of iron-rails
and the telegraph, and there is no telling
how quickly you will rebound from your
present depression, nor how rapidly you will
advance in the career Of progress. Shrewd
men estimate that Keokuk will pack 150, 900
head hogs the very first year after the COM
pletion OF the road to Eddyville. This can
not be regarded as q wild estimate, and, If
we can count certainly upon the extension
and opening of the road to 0ttumwa or to
Eddyville this year, then we may certainly
count that Keokuk mas touched bottom, has
turned the corner, and will go ahead on the
high road TO prosperity. My confidence in
the success OF the road is increased by the
fact that Messrs. Reid, Kilbourne, Perry,
Leighton, 60, must know that they are "gone
ooons' il they do not succeed.
II spoke of being transferred from the
cars to the coaches. AT Ottumwa twenty
seven persons were jammed into three coach
es, and nearly all of them were very tall or
very broad mean tbs persons, not the
coaches. The latter were good, but we had
merry time slowing away ourp pedal extrem-
tiles, and, If any thing, merrier time in
finding them again. But close packing coon
omized heat, and that was quite useful and
necessary with the mercury nearly down to
zero. We preferred to stop in Oskaloosa
over night, and the next night arrived at the
Cspital-all in good plight except our friend,
the Senator from Henry, who by long prac-
toe in his stores and bank has acquired such
habit Of casting up aecountsn that he
couldn't pretermit it even in a stage coach,
We sympathized with him, bat sympathy
didn't reach the case. am happy to say BIZ
is all right now, and ready for business.
In reference to the organization, every
thing yet is in state of confusion, though
elements of order are gradually educins
themselves out of chaos. The claims of th,
various oandidates-and their name is Le
gion, owing, doubtless, to the hard times
have been canvassed, and the members hay,
mostly made their selections. There mus
necessarily be more dis appointed than ap
pointed, but it is to be hoped that oil tn
former, like good patriots as they are, vii
quietly fall back into the ranks, and agail
do the country good service as high-privates
II their merits are not appreciated this time
perhaps they will be next. And they shout,
remember that, whether their claims hav
been properly weighed or not, the countr
has claims on them for their best licks in tn
coming National contest. The notes Of pre-
paration for the great campaign Of 1860 ar
already audible. Besides the discussion o
| the claims and qualifications Of the variou
Presidential candidates, the nomination q
delegates from Iowa tor the Chicago Conven
1 tlon ia Attrarfsn0 ntfnnt snp Euo~v hndu