Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-05-14
DAVENPORT / ST. PAUL R. 4.
MEETING.



most Influential citissns assembled at The
City Hall last evening, to consider the mat
ter Of building the Davenport and ST. Paul
railroad. As far - results are concerned,
it was one Of the most practical msetings
ye. held in the interest of this road. Here
tofors there has been more talk than tnsi-
body ready to acknowlsdgs
the importance Of the movement, and
every ybody just ~ ready to let soos one
else to do the work and foot the bills. Not
so at this meeting. There was much sarn,
est, practical talk and disposition to meet
the issue fairly and work together for the
road.
Mayor Donahus took the Chair and
John L. Swits acted as Secretary. After
listening TO the report Of the delegates to
the Hopkinton Convention. The Mayor
took the floor and spoke at length upon the
Importance Of the road to Davenport and
the necessity Of action on the part Of oil
our citizens.
A more earnest, practical railroad speech
We have seldom heard, and what made il
particularly effective was, that he was
ready to make good his words BY works.
Having visited the Northern part Of the
State, and seen the feeling Of the lpsopls;of
that section in the mstter, he was conf
dent that il tho project wss rightly apprs-
oiatsd, something substantial could b dsns
here. He was strongly in favor Of . private
subscription and willing to head the list
with fve thousand dollars, and further in
favor Of the townships voting subscrip-
tien OF one, two or three hundred thou.
sand dollars under the provisions Of the re-
cent act of the Legislature.
He meant railroad every time, and IL the
people could not, or would not take hold Of
the matter. If the city had road enough, bet.
tor fence it in and SAY 20. He reviewed at
considerable length, the advantages Of the
road, and advised immediate action. The
proposition Of voting the subscription seem
cd to meet with special favor, - il would
squalzs the burdens Of building the road.
Mr.. A. c. Fulton heartily seconded the
remarks Of His Honor, and was ready 70 do
his part in work, and subscription too was
in favor Of thorough canvas Of the town
ships through which the road was to run,
and gave some very good illustrations Of the
benefits that would accrue to the farmers
and property owners Of such townships
He closed his remarks by moving that q
subscription be started ct once. This
meant busnss, and 80 thought the meeting
JohniL. Swits WAS the first to object. and
thought nothing should b done until af.
ter the meeting Of the Directors on the 27th
inst. Mr.. Davies also objsctsd, was in favo
Of a tax first, and ifthat failed, he was:thsn
ready to put down his. name for 5000.
These oppositions brought the Mayor from
the chair with lively speech. The discus
sion then became general, during which,
several wholesome truths werc brought out
showing il to bs an easy matter to talk
railroad, and an entirely different thing Il
build one.
Mr. French thought it would cost $780,
0tO. or more, to build the road from this city
to Whsatland-was strongly in favor Of
township vote, but did not obj sct to sub
scription.
After some further discussion Mr.. Full
tons motion was carried, and Messrs. J.
w Stewart, A. G. Fulton and w. O.
wadswor.h were appointed committee to
draft form Of subscription.
Mr.. French then offered the following
resolution, which Was carried without dis
ssnting voice
Rs,slred, That A. c. Fulton, P. B. Hard.
ing, J. W. Stewart, Ernst Claussen and w.
G. Wadsworth be requested to prepare Q
petition to the Township Trustees, request
ing them to submit proposition to the ls-
gal voters of this township to vote the sum
Of four cents on the dollar towards the cap
itsl stock Of the Davenport and st. Paul
Railroad Company ons-hslf to be levied
the present year, and that said committee
cause the same to BE- circulated for sigma
turss.
By the provisions Of the recent act sna-
bling townships to vote such subserip ptions,
this petition must be signed BY ons-third Of
the taxpayers Of ths township 80 voting,
after which IL can only Be carried BY . ma
jori,y vote Of the taxpayers. We further
understand the act to contemplate the
township taking stock in the road to the
amount ofsuch subscription voted, the same
- au individual, and to retain it as such
until the company shall buy it up.
Aftsr some discussion Is to the manner
Of dsfraying the expense attending the
carrying out Of the resolution, the Execu-
tive Committee we're instructed to act - .
Finance Committee.
The same committee wsrs further in
structed to confer with those townships in
this county through which the road will
pass. and if possible have them call IN slsc-
ton for the purpose Of voting subscrip-
ten.
just previous to adjournment the sub
scription paper was handed around, and
from Eve Or six gentlemen received names
pledged for about $4,000.
Arrangements were then made for com
mittss meetings, and 90 adjournment VA
had, subject 10 the call Of the Exscu-
tive Committee.
"YR MEaals MONTH OF NAY" This gentle,
lovely month has % far not bssn true Ia
the trsditionsry name Of the "msrris''
month, but has had the megrims bad. She
has been sulky and cross, and in short, not
. bit like the gentle tempered Nay, whess
coming we are accustomed to hail with de-
light. Seine ono who hes evidently enjoy
Cd her ethereal mildnsss," discoussss in
this wise:
"For 10, the winter Il past,
The singing of birds has Gomez
Softly. my friend, not quite % fast,
Stay close BY your hre at home.
'sCeme, let us 20 forth to the 6slds,
Por the voice of the turtle il heard -
have tried it myself and know what il yields.
You will wish you never he'd stirred.