The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1873-07-31
DIES MoINE. Iowa,
July 26.h, 1873. J

IL July xO.us A0so.
Dear .ddrerfiser:-It II long time
since / awaited myself Of the opportu-
nifty of having chat with your many
leaders and with my friends OF the
days Of long ago. You are often In
my mind. and my thoughts recur, too,
with great pleasure. to the many acts
of kindness and forbearance ] always
received at the hands OF my Cedar
county friends. Hence the ADvER,
TrsER is always pleasant visitor. all
the articles being looked over and ma
ny read with interest. Many Of the
advertisements are quite interesting.
1t is pleasure to see the names Of old
friends in their business connections
and to see the ingenuity and enter
prise they possess.
Our city is prospecting about IS rap
idly as could be expected in considers
ton Of the scarcity Of money. Quite
4 number OF business houses are build.
ing, and some very neat and orna-
mental rs well rs substantial dwelling
houses have been constructed.
Work on the Capitol has been de-
layed greatly by the difficulty OF get
ting stone that are acceptable to the
Commissioners. The Quincy stone
they had contracted for have been
found defective. A seam running
horizontally through them that, while
it does not weaken them, detracts
from their appearance greatly. They
are . beautiful white stone and look
well when dressed with the defect al
luded to. The Commissioners decided
q day or two since to annul the con-
tract, and now are preparing to get
their stone from the quarries near
Iowa City. The Iowa City stone in
the aggregate will be about $4,000
more expensive it lie said. They hope
in very short time to be shipping
stone from the new Iowa City quar-
ries. The foundation, with the cross
walls, ID completed, and in few days
the whole of the first floor, which is
of brick arched and thickly covered
with concrete, will be laid. 1t is
grand and massive structure, and one
that Iowa may well be proud of. The
Commissioners are doing ell in their
power, I believe, to push the job along
Is vigorously as possible consistent
with economy and durability. Yet
some who have visited it go away dis
satisfied because more has not been
done.
We bad very intense excitement
here for several days after the fiend-
ish attack on the cars west, and the
death Of Mr.. John Rafferty,. Mr.. r.
was not shot as at first alleged, but
was killed by the cars. He resided
here-a block or two from where am
writing. He was quite favorite on
the road, and the whole community,
especially the railroad men were very
indignant. 1t was currently reported
and l believe 1t fact that an engine
and car have been in readiness on the
track for some days with a posse Of
men fully armed who have banded to-
gether to mete summary vengeance
upon the fiends could they have been
caught. 1t is now feared they will
escape.
We are hoping to get another rail-
road In here soon-the Narrow Gauge
from Ames. 1t Will cone into the
city on the East side on Fourth street.
All they require now, understand, is
for the city to grade up that street to
the city limits on the north, the cost
being estimated at from $4,000 to
SIS 900. We would be greatly bene-
fitted by the road, and yet there are
as many here as there used to be with
you, who oppose every enterprise,
however much they may be benefited
by it themselves, providing it costs
them something.
saw the statement day or two
since that the d. V. and the c. R. I
& P. railroads paid as taxes to the Co
Treasurer over S19, 900 on their bust
ness and capital this year in the city
of Des Moines alone, not counting til,
other miles Of road they pay taxes fo
in other parts of the county. So while
the people for one or two year
pay tax for road and then pay n,
more, the railroad is directly return
ing to them during all the futur
years they operate the road thousand
o. dollars. and paying them indirectl
vastly more by enhancing the valu
of their property and by affording bet
ter facilities for marketing, travel, &c
While our Granger friends are just
ly complaining Of high tariffs and un
just determinations they should ais
look on the other side, and If possibl
strike balance.
But thought as you now have u
Des Moines correspondent that
would once in two or three week
send you letter, providing you Ct
TEEN thew sufficiently interesting I
insert them in your excellent papei
So must be brief. Yours, j. +. X.