Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-08-25
Rail Road through Iowa.

* 81 sA e y
be likely to meet with d Be tramelled BY
party, elsctioneering, Or other unnecessa-
~ excitement, il may not Be emiss 10 dis
cuss the propriety Of looking to the adop-
ton Of some measures to enhance the IA
cilities for transportation in Iowa. No
country, perhaps, onthe face Of the globe,
certainly no other state Of the American
Union, possesses within itself more ma
tural advantages for agricultural wealth
and greatness than does Iowa. To sol!
which is not exceeded in fertility by any
on this portion Of the continent, is added
those peculiar properties for obsorbing:and
retaining moisture, which insures, almost
beyond doubt, the certainty Of liberal rs-
ward to the husbandman. But SO long as
the cost Of transportation to market, as ut
present, nearly eats up the ordinary price
Of agricultural products, these natural re-
sources can be Of comparatively small adj
y .
vantage in increasing the aggregate Of tie
wealth Of our citizens. The question,
then is, how can this object Ee accom-
plished? 1t is with view to elicit dis
cussion and drar, rather than hrow light
upon this subject, that we breach it at this
time. Our object is merely 10 throw out
few desutory remarks upon this subject
a, The present time. We make no susges-
lions which We are not perfectly willingto
abandon when superior light and concen-
trated information shall have demonstrated
them 10 be less advantageous TO the inter-
ssts Of the people at large, than others
tina. may be put forward by more prscti-
cal and better informed minds.
An experience which, within the las,
few years, il has cost the citizens of Iowa
much TO acquire, has painfully demonsra-
ted that the Mississippi, above the foot Of
the lower rapids. is worth but little as
channel for draining the immense agricul-
tural product Of Iowa, upon which no pos
ifire dependence can be put at any time in
the year. There has been but very few
periods during the season of navigation
and those Of short continuance during the
three past years, that the ordinary boats
used in navigating the Upper Mississippi
could get over the rapids without lighting
a considerable portion Of their cargoes.--
For one month that this has been the case,
there has been two in which boats could
not pass the rapids at all, even by lighting.
These things, together with the well
known fact that the river is gradually get
ting lower every season-that it is closed
and rendered useless by ice on an average
one third Of the year, renders it highly
important that some other. safer and more
reliable means Of transportation should be
devised.
That Rail Road from the foot Of the
lower rapids at Keokuk to Dubuque,
would not only answer the purpose for
overcoming the obstruction Of the rapids,
but also be very desirable, as furnishing
the means of transport for considera-
bic portion Of the interior Of the state, is
too abvious 10 admit Of doubt. The
cheapest and most direct route for such
road would be through ten Of the best and
most thickly settled counties Of the state,
most Of them lying back from the river,
through country most Of it peculiarly
well adapted, from its local nature, 10 the
Of rail road would be about
enc hundred and seventy miles in length,
and have seven considerable streams to
cross, not one Of which can, properly and
without improvement, be called navigable.
Such a work would not be local in its |
character, as it would interest the people
Of the whole state, BY opening route to
both the southern and eastern markets.
In connection with the subject, we would
invite attention tothe circular Of board
OF the directors of the Galena and Chicago
railroad Company, published on our first
psge. A movement is being made on the
eastern side Of the river, in which the cap
italisls and business men Of the principal
cities Of the east are largely |
which will no doubt eventuate,
in the course Of a very few years, in the
Of the work projected. To
connect the two roads, will require an ex-
tension Of only twelve miles OF the road
from Dubuque to Galena.
No reasonable doubt can exist as to such |
) road being profitable investment, or as
10 its being such an one as would be readi-
" engaged in BY eastern capitalist. Should
The project be thought feasable, similar
in Iowa to the one TO which
allusion is made in the circular of the d.
rectors or the Galena and Chicapo Rail.