The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-10-11
Dsmocratia Majority 4a7.

THE Mr.. PLEAsAxr RAILRoAp.-Ths elsc-
ton is over, and the river improvement con
tracts have been taken, and the contractors
are already under full headway with their
preparations for the work on the Canal.
What now shall the Keokuk public do ? Shall
~ rest on our oars and wait for something to
turn up, or shall We engage, heart and
hand, in some enterprise for the promotion
Of The interests of our city and the dsvel,
opment Of the resources Of the country The
time and circumstances are favorable for the
concentration Of our efforts and our capital
upon an enterprise which viii tend, above all
others, to increase the business and enhance
the growth and prosperity Of our city. We
sllude, Of course, to the extension Of the rail
road from the Junction TO Mt. Pleasant. For
some months past that measure has been per.
mitted to rest, and wait for more favorable
occasion; and now, a. that occasion has
arisen, the people should make up for lost
tune by prompt energetic, and liberal &C.
ton.
The situation Is critical, 80 far a. the
| interests of Keokuk are concerned. The
| road from Cedar Rapids, BY way Of Iowa
CITY to Mt. Pleasant, is under contract and
in process Of construction, - We understands
along the eutire route, Blu, the delay south OF
Mt. Pleasant is having bad effect on the op.
erations along the line, and may cause the
suspension or defeat of the project, and thus
deprive our city of the incalculable benefits
which would flow in upon us as the southern
terminus of long line of railroad running
down from Minnesota through the old settled
and best improved portion of Iowa.
! But a few miles east of that route another
line of railroad has been projected and is in
successful process of construction, with it's
southern terminus at Burlington. Unless
the people of keokuk move IN this matter at
once, effectually and in earnest. there is great
reason to apprehend that Burlington will Sc
cure all the benefits to result to the sole and
exclusive terminus of whatever north and
south railroad, and the branches thereof,
shall be constructed through the eastern por.
ton OF our State. The loss of such adyan-
tage by Keokuk, and the gain to Burlington
would be i'm mense, and would tend very great
to settle the contest between these rival cities
| against US.
Such calamity may be readily and easily
prevented by united action on the part of our
citizens, and due provision for the promo
ton Of the interests Of our city. One hun.
dred thousand dollars would secure the con,
struction of the road from the Junction to
| Pilot Grove, or some other point on the
northern line Of our county. That would
| open up most valuable and extensive trade
| to our city, and secure the custom of the bes,
| part of our county, which now finds mar
ket elsewhere. Complete the construction OIL
the road to that point, and confidence in the
speedy completion of the connection will be
restored, and means will be found without
difficulty to gil up the gap through the south
ern half Of Henry county.
Let the Directors of the road have meet
ing at once, complete their arrangement.
| and present . feasible plan Of operations
under the superintendence Of parties having
the public confidence, and there ought to b.
no doubt OF the success Of the measure with
out further unnecessary delay.