Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-02-14
THE NEW RAILROAD PROJECT,
Davenport 4 Maqueketa r. Il
Meeting nt she City Hail.

Pursuant to call . fair number Of the
manufacturers and business men Of the city
assembled at the City Hall last evening, to
meet the delegation from Dewitt, and dis
cuss the feasibility Of . railroad from this
city to Maquoketa via De Witt. The meet
ing Was called - order BY Gen. J. B. Leake,
and on motion His Honor. Mayor Donahue,
took the chair, Ard John Lillis was appoint
ed Secretary. Tbs chairman explained the
object Of the call and introduced to the
meeting Capt. J. N. Gates, Capt. W. r.
Ward and Wm. Rule, jr., Esq. delegates
frcr. Dewitt
Capt. Gates being the first speaker, ad-
dressed the meeting at some length, explain
ing the route, ETC., stating that Maquoke.a
had secured the road bed of the old Iowa
Central road which was partially graded
from Lyons to Anamoss, and that If the
road now came by way Of Dewitt seven
miles of this bed could be used, whereas II
it went to Lyons instead Of Davenport
pie Of Dewitt, Msquoksta and inte, med ate
points prefer that the road should come to
Davenport, and are confdcn. tha. If the
people Of Scott county will do their part it
will be an easy matter to accomplish IL.
They furthermore say that il the people Of
Davenport and Scott county will build the
road to the north side Of the Wapsis, they
will meet us there with the road. Now the
question is not can or will we do il, but
caa Scott county and Davenport afford to
refuse or nsglec, to do it, Will cur peo
pc let the road go to Clinton and Lyons'
There is no need to point ouI the duty Of
this county and city in the matter
Capt. Ward followed, giving his views in
arelation to the importance and practicable
ty Of building the road, and gave tho meet
ing to understand that if our city wanted
the road. We must show something tangible
40 evidence Of that want, as Clinton and
Lyons were exerting every influence to Sc
cure it to themselves. and had the money
to back them up in the matter.
Gen. LeAke being called for responded in
. short, pointed and very applicable speech,
setting forth the advantages Of the road
and the effect il must have on the material
interests Of our city. His remarks were re
ceived with considerable favor
Ex-Mayor John l.. Davies being called
for stepped forward, and with his usu-
al lberalty and enterprise pledged
himself to be ono Of fifty to subscribe
enough to build the proposed road from
Davenport to the north side Of the Wspsie
river.
Mr.. L. Dessaint spoke briefly in favor Of
the movement. and pledged his whole sup
port.
W. G. Wadsworth, ESQ.,, offered the fol
lowing resolution, which was adopted unan-
imousy:
Resolred, That il is the sense Of this
meeting that it is Of the utmost importance
to the citizens of Davenport and Scott
county, to have a railroad leading from Dav-
enport north. through Dewitt to Naquoke-
ia and further north and west; aud that If
the citizens of Dewitt and MaqGoketa in
good faith guarantee that they will build
the road to the Wapsepinicon river il will
be built from Davenport to that river by
| the people Of Scott county.
J. 6. Drake moved that this meeting
would appoint the proper committees tocar
~ out the above resolution, ETC.; whereon
Hoa. J. l.. Davies moved that a committee
of five as an executive committee be ap-
pointed TO carry out the plans, etc. Agreed
to. Said committee are Hon. NJ. Donahue,
Daniel Gould, n. Kuhnen, Seth P. Bryant
and Gen. Leake.
Adjourned to meet at the call OF the Ex
ecutive Committee.
,JouN LILLIs, Sec'y.