The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-09-29

track, lying waste and beating no evil
ceCce except the road you were rid |
ing upon, that their solitudes had
ever been disturbed by the footstep
of civilized man. These extensive
uncultivated wastes are generally held
by nonresident proprietors, who, dur
Ing the mania for entering wild lands
from 1884 to the beginning OF the
year 1887, entered large bodies OF
lands. thus preventing their settle
ment, and forcing the hardy sons OF
toll to seek a home on the western
shores of the Mississippi, where they
found country open to settlement,
not a foot of the soil of which with
the exception Of two or three small
reserves) had ever passed into priv
ate hands. The territory now consti-
tuting the state of Iowa, was then
owned by the United States, and by
the various tribes Of Indians residing
within its borders. The great revul-
sion of 1887 came. In 1888, the first
public land sales in Iowa took place.
There was an almost entire absence
of speculation. The purchasers were
almost exclusively from the ranks OF
those who had settled on and improv-
ed the lands; and this state Of things
continued some ten years, Or until
the close of the war with Mexico. The
lands in the meantime were gradual
ly entered up by actual settlers, and
the result is, as have before assert
ed, that there are today a greater
number of acres of land in cultivation
between this city and Fort Des
Moines, than can be found on any
road OF the same length leading out
of any city in the entire valley OF
the Mississippi.
The practicability Of this road has
been proved by actual and careful sur
, veys. It's grades are easy, the work
upon it light, and in view of the facts
, have stated, no person can doubt
t its utility, it's necessity to the coun
try through which it runs, and to ouI
, city, or it's profitableness when com
, pleted The idea that. because the
. capitalists of the eastern states, In
their anxiety to invest their money
!. where it would be directly undel
j their own eye, have built railroads al
v cost in some instances of over $50,
v 600 per mile, through rocky, and, II
n an agricultural point of view, an al
r most barren country, with competing
roads on either side, and have beer
. disappointed in their expectations o
profit, therefore the cold shoulder
i must be turned to all railroad enter
prises In the fertile valley of tn
Mississippi, where roads can b.
!, built at an average OF $4,000 pc
9 mile, is only calculated to excite
derisive smile.
y 1t Is true we lack the ready mean
!. to carry out the various improvement
:, which the wants of the country i'm
= negatively demand; but the time
. not distant, when we shall have tn
y ability, as we have now the will, wit
- warm hearts, to disregard the col
shoulders" heretofore turned to III
: and to carry them out triumphantly
: End. 'eThe Keokuk, Mt. Pleasar
y and Muscatine Railroad"
a 4 preliminary survey has bee
% made of this road, under the directio
of its efficient president, Col. Dewe
!. showing its entire practicability, an
:. that it will be an important link
- the system of our roads, finding the
~ terminus at this city. l learn VII
Measure that it is the intention
this company to put that portion
- this road between this city and II
~ head of the rapids under contract Tn
:. season. This will afford a reat
- means OF transit at all stages OF wat
-. =. for goods and passengers around q
- rapids, increasing our already exten
ed trade in the heavy and staple a
icles of sugar, salt, &C.; and l ca
Ies not forbear here to call your atte
'ur ton to a most important and sign
- cant fact, viz: That our city q
,es from its position, successfully co
'e, pete with any city north OF NJ
ing Orleans in the sale of those descr
me tons of goods. Being at the head
or uninterrupted Except for sh'
Jul time by ice) steamboat navigation,
use can shin direct from New Orleans
ny Keokuk at about the same prices
,oii from New Orleans to st. Louis. II
.iso in the sale of those articles no c
~ on the lakes can successfully C
ION pete with our merchants is obyi'
loi from the fact, that the additlo
cen cost of transportation by railr'
On. across the entire state OF lllin
- would, of itself, on goods Of this
20 scription, amount to a profit p"
cue which our merchants would be anu
'an. antly satisfied. :,
~, . 3rd. THE Des Moines River ~
,.a CATION Company, E. h. black"
W. Esq, chief engineer"
'eA' This work, recently re-commen
by responsible and energetic
De- pany, is one in which every citizei
ON Keokuk must feel a deep inter
sud- with it's thirty dams. at each OF WI
be- viii spring up thriving manuf
ai.s' uring village.
cep- Meandering, as does this RI
IN,