Daily Davenport Democrat., 1865-11-27

4 Few PLATA Words.

4 Few Flaln Words.
Under this caption We find two interest
ing articles-one in the Rock Island Union.
aud the other in the Argus. They are
worth reading, and thinking Of
The slow aud easy style Of some Of our
business men is characteristic rather Of the
days Of stage coaches than the age OF
steam. A stranger may look through the
advertising columns of both Of the Rock Is
land papers in vain for the business cards
for one quarter Of our Jusiness men. They
either do not know, or else have not energy
enough to avail themselves Of the benefit Of
advertising, and SO they go along "as easy
Is they can" satisfied with the business
which the natural advantages Of location
gives them, hardly realizing that their trade
is dropping of from day to day, while the
business men Of adjacent towns, and their
more enterprising rivals at home-for VIC
allow few exceptions to this rule even
here-are building up their own fortunes
and advancing the prosperity Of the
towns and cities Of which they are citizens.
These are the men who grumble about
the Rock Island dailies, and say that they
have nothing in them. Why, gentlemen,
some Of you don't deserve to have amonth-
ly paper here from the patronage and en-
enlargement you give them. You are a set
Of "slow coaches throughout, and are
growing slower every day, without life
enough to see it. Why dent some Of yon
who have the money invest it in maufactur-
ing enterprises aud thereby prove your
selves energetic business men and public
benefactors 2" Are you 80 timid that you
don't dare to risk your capital in something
that won't pay you a regular twenty per
cent from the time the first dollar is in
vested Why don't you convert your
available resources into coin, and bury it
in your cellars 1t would he safe enough
there if you don't let any one know it.
Here is a city of nearly ten thousand in
hab,tants, and IN very truth with no home
| employment for one half of its laboring
men and women. Every day We say good
bye, and God bless YOU" to some young
man who goes elsewhere to seek home.
because there is no employment for him
here. There is not one half of the business
done here that there might be, and you,
merchants. doctors, lawyers. grocers, prop
erty owners, even citizens who desire to see
business enough done here to afford him a
reasonable opportunity to earn his daily
bread and butter must take an interest in
THIS matter OF "home manufactures" or
you will lind before many years that you
will have nothing to do but suck your
thumbs and hoe in yolr gardens.
Rock Island may be commercial point
of considerable Importance if the people
here will only make it so. Gentlemen, many
| of you are asleep to your true interest
Sleep on, grannies. You will find young
| men building houses that will cast shadows
over yours, from the rewards of their own
| enterprise, and other cities calling off your
patronage. until you will have plenty Of
| first floors" placarded toilet" and find
your incomes too small to pay your taxes.
Union, 23d
There is good deal Of truth in the fore
going. 1t is subject which we have been
| talking about for the last ten or twelve
years, and the men in Rock Island, who
| nave money, will have to act upon it or see
their neighbors ontrun them in the race Of
| improvements. Some of our croakers say
| that, if the Warsaw Railroad is built the
Coal Valley Road extended; canal built to
| LaSae, etc ETC., that Rock Island isruin-
ed that it will Gu. off our grain trade. etc.
etc. But these same ersons never tire in
extolling the splendid grain market in Da-
venport, splendid country tributary to Da-
venport, etc, etc. Very well-what if all
Iowa is tributary to Davenport t-cannot our
business men take advantage of the fact p
Have they not the energy, spirit, tact, life,
enterprise, etc, etc, to build warehouses
and go over and poke among the million or
SO Of farmers who come to Davenport, and
buy their grain, their pork, their wool, etc,
etc. The more Of it comes there the better
for us. if our people have the spirit to take
advantage Of it. If land is cheaper here.
rents lower, living costs less, ETC., etc, so
much to our advantage. II ferry rates are
too hish-get another ferry charter, and,
by competition, cut down the rates so that
all Iowa can come here-so it be to the adj
vantage of our dealers to 90 there and buy
up whatever comes to that market. In the
winter we have free bridge, making one
town o: the two.
We believe the more railroads and canals
we have the better for Rock Island
But our people should not lose sight ofthe
grea. fact that, manufacturing can bo done
cheaper here than at any other point in the
west, and that the introduction Of cotton
| aUU NOotc IfIitlS " Ill uudhc NUN tuS
great point, in this region. We have cap
tal enough here to do it. What amount oi
United States bonds do you suppose our
banks have sold to residents of this city p
We venture to guess that the sum will no,
fall much short of two millions Of dollars
And do the men who own these bonds in
tend to avoid their share Of taxation, and
for the want of their capital and energy, al
low the grass to grow in the streets of Rock
Island? When they took the bonds, they
could plead that they we're aiding the Gov
ernment to put down the rebellion. But
that argument won't count any longer. -
We know Of few men in Rock Island who
never built even carpenters shop, who
have money in these bonds to build splen
did cotton factory, and a splendid wooler
factory-both Of which would pay them
more dividends than they get on 1905
Rock Island men have the money and The
ability 10 make this the finest manufactur-
ing point in the West. Will they do it p
Rock Island argus.
BY the way, we would suggest to ou'
ne,gh5ors that they take change Of venue
and move tn ir town over to this side of ths
river.
RIVER NEWS.
The splendid and fast sailing passenger
packet City Of Keithsburg, Capt. Campbell
will depart for Fort Madison and way points
to morrow morning. L. J. Conroy in the
Office. r. N. Prettyman, agent.
The Charley Cheever, Capt Mitchell
will depart for Dubuque and way points a
o'clock to morrow morning. X. II. Pret
lyman. agent.
ANOTHER STEAMER SUNK.-The steamer
Deer Lodge, owned by Capt Copelin and
others, struck q snag on Monday evening
below Palermo, on the Missouri river, and
sunk in eight fest Of water. She was an ex.
cellent low water steamboat. and insured for
$40, ,OO0.-.N. Louis Republican.
The Quincy Wing is informed that the
Northern Line packets will be Immediately
laid I'M for the winter