The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-04-29

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end High slssstA
The CosoasaAr,oxAL Church i Located o.
High between lifth and Sixth strssts. The
Society was organised il tie Fallsf 1856,
and nanbered then aboa4 sixteen member.
These nat for vorahip i the Hall ovse %.
DEx's Book Store, near IL corner Of Main
and Second strests. Rsv. J. P. KnsAlL
Vas the 6rst pastor. The soc;sey new md
in 1867 was sadRcisatly vigoeoas % Purchase
lots and ersc: the church, which it now occu-
pies. An extension Ms made TO ~ bsild-
ing last season. Il = now ampls aad h;ehly
creditabls TO the Society and The City.
About $40, 600 hare been expended in gskt;ne
it into it, present condition. Following Mr..
KIAsALL there was no regular minister for
some time. The present incumbent, Rev.
GroRoE TEACHER, was called about six years
ago TO the Pastorate and has since continued
his ministrations here. During those years
he has won for himself an enviable place
in the esteem and affections of his charge and
OF our citizens. He has been tested q cit
izen and christian minister, and his worth
has been established. He is an eloquent
preacher; combines substantial and severe
thought with accurate scholarship; is lover
OF libery, truth, justice and righteousness, Of
God and lis country. Cautious and consid-
crate IN the formatiea Of his opinions, he is
fearless in the utterance of them, and doesn't
shrk duty or trammel what he deems the
truth. We hope that his Passionate relation
with the Congregational Society may long
continue.
From what We have said it will have
been inferred that this Society il in . grow.
ing and prosperous state. The Church will
seat about four hundred persons. We have
not been furnished the present number Of the
membership, but it Is large and they are alive
and in earnest. The Sabbath School mar.
shals about l5O scholars and % teachers, has
. good library. and is good indication Of the
healthy condition Of the Church.
KEoKtK AND IT'S RAILROAD IkrEREsrs.-
Anxious for the welfare and substantial growth
of our city, we give place to the following
communication. The measures likely to
conduce to Keokuk's welfare, should be care
fully considered. OF the utility and advan.
tage to US Of the State line road, We do not
propose now to write. We submit "J's'
statements to the attention of our citizens:
kEokuK, April 9th, 1866.
MEssRs. EDIToRs With your permission,
l propose to use from time to time portion
OF your columns in giving expression to views
pertaining to matters involving, We think, the
prosperity and well being of our city, not
only for the present, but for long years to
come.
Among the various schemes bearing upon
the advancement of our interests, and enter.
tanned by our people, there are some, from
Immediate Importance, deserving attention
now, and which, if not given, may soon pass
entirely and forever beyond onr reach and
control. While it is desirable to attain all, il
possible, yet certainly it is the part of wis
dom to secure that now, which passing il
gone forever, while something else, though
perhaps equally important and necessary even
but more distan. of accomplishment, loses
nothing by being deferred. Our more i'm.
mediate purpose at present is to offer some
suggestions in relation 10 the system of rail
roads connecting with Keokuk. While thu,
far Keokuk has done we'll for most of the
roads reaching out from it as center, re,
while the system, radiating from this and APP
propriately belonging to it, remains uncom-
plete from unfinished roads, the efforts in this
direction should not be relaxed.
The particular road whose claims for our
consideration we wish topresent is that known
as the "Iowa l. Missouri State Line AL.
though this road has heretofore receive fire.
quent notice in your paper, and in meetings
held IN its favor, yet its importance in con.
nection with the interests of Keokuk, we fear,
has never been fully realized BY our people
as it should be.
Before proceeding to any thing in detail
we wish to notice few facts in relation to the
present condition of the road. After an in.
terruption extending through the greater part
OF the war, arrangements have been nearly
completed for the resumption Of the work
under auspices which will insure the early
completion of the road. In the midst, Of the
difficulties through which we have passed,
and against the opposition brought to bear by
contending interests, the enterprise has been
steadily. though sometimes slowly, progress.
ing and all the time growing in the estima-
ton Of the community. A large amount Of
work has been done in grading, considerable
portions being completed, and the whole for
eighty miles, with the exception Of few
miles on the east end, being in such state
of readiness that it can be completed Is fast
as the iron can be laid.
Such are some facts respecting the present
condition and prospects Of this important
line. 1t is hoped the business men Of Keo-
kuk may be induced to investigate the claims
of this road and render the aid necessary 10
place its construction beyond the possibility
of doubt, and, at the same time in an equal
degree, to secure to themselves the benefits
resulting from it. That the road will ulti-
mately be built there can scarcely be adoubt.
Let comparatively small amount Of means
that can be spared be contributed and this
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