Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-03-11

!. !R2tAYyTEENPoRT, R2tAYyTEE IOWA. SATURDAY MxRCH L. 1885,
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The iatsest tiiaE 4 beisg evisesa il
sailssad mAtosgs q this toe b truly ~
ffsshine. Il vunld sssn q though III
oustwas bsoksa, ana ~ might Vt smsrgs
| from our SbssSlated sondition and move oa
with sc0s degree Of energy. Il IL true,
p4aaps, ~ ous. ilsas ~ tAkieg Aseae.
wiak .wids ssnge, reasiins. y Aisnst eco
tions, while our own immediate neighbor-
hood remains undeveloped. But it a1l
means improvement. This railroad spirit
to become available, must be concentrated
upon some single, or series Of objects, ID
the proper order Of their importance.
Though al the suggestions are good in de-
gree, yet al cannot call for immediate en-
srgetic action. In our view, - they recede
farther from our center, improvements be-
ZONE Of less vital importance to Us. Dis
tant trade is likely to pass by us when
channels are opened, unless we have first
attained to importance BY securing that
nearer home. Still it may be proper to
give our countenance to any projects that
shall enable US to compete for trade. We
must, however, secure the trade near our
own town or stand convicted Of weakness
or folly.
To perfect our home communications with
the country naturally tributary to US, and
Of most importance to our welfare, we need
but twenty eight miles of road. To build
this link, it seems to us should command
our first and most earnest attention.
A railroad to Wheatland or Loudon will
connect us with q completed railroad ex-
tending one hundred and fifty miles west Of
the connection. A road nearly completed
to Dubuque, road being built up the
Cedar River, to terminate at st. Paul, on
which much work has been done in fact,
the cars are now running on some fifty miles
Of it. From st. Paul to the head waters of
Lake Superior is only one hundred and thir.
ty miles, little south Of north, on to the
head Of navigation on st. Louis River, one
hundred miles. TO this point railroad
is being constructed n part of it is now
in operation. When these roads nve com.
pleted this is destined to become the great
route from Lake Superior, through st. Paul
and Davenport, to st. Louis and New Or |
cans. Take map and draw straight line |
rom st. Paul to ST. Louis, and you will find
hat no part of this route is more than tren. !
'y.tsre miles from it. To complete . con-
nection south, as well as to open up new
and direct eastern route, tits only necessary |
to construct road from Coal Valley to |
some thirty miles
Any one examining the maps, not some
Rdilroad map, of this section, for
the first time, will be astonished to see how
little, beyond what will evidently be carried |
On without our aid, is needed to make Davss
enport the greatest RAilroad center of the |
Northwest, except Chicago. Accomplish |
Ehese little tasks and our position for all |
titne TO come is assured. We then need fear |
no opposition. Art will have becone The |
:onsort Of nature to make this beautiful I
pot the commercial met 81 g tAe Up
per mississippi, queen bek0sy, kihg Of COM
nerce, handmaiden Of arts, home worthy !
# wealth and capacity, 90 much 70 readily
within our grasp If we extend our hand SO
title way. Shall we falters TU wfst may we |
lot aspire9 A rival of Chicago? No, we need
40 such rivalry. There is room enough for
10Th. But give US inlets and outlets-inlets |
rom the country naturally tributary to US
outlets to our eastern and southern markets |
The year round without paying tribute to
and few wears will see our bord-
era extended beyond our most sanguine |
hopes. Now is the turning point. The
causes that are put in motion-now must |
solve the problem-of metropolis Of tho |
Upper Mississippi. Do we sleep, or are our
seses in state Of activity If they are
capable of action let US put them to use by |
studying up our position and needs, and |
then apply the remedy.
If sixty miles of road with what will be |
built without our aid, will put US in connec.
ton with the east by new route. In con-
nection with the south, the vest, the north. |
west and north, let us see lift is not policy
10 build it, with such aid SO we can yet come |
if we do spend little of our own money,
not doubling that it will be returned to US
ten, twenty and one hundred fold.
CEDAR VALLEY.