Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-12-26
COMMUNICATIONS, ms
TOT Tho Express.
DUBUQUE AND KEOKUK RAIL ROAD.

DUBUQUE AND kEOKUK RAIL ROAD,
The prospect-of obtaining a grant of land
| from the General Government, ut the present
session of Congress, calls, perhaps, for some
legislative action OH the part OF the State of
Iowa.
Should the lands asked for, bc obtained, to
aid in the construction Of the contemplated
road, it is important that no waste of time
should be allowed. AS there will be no rcgu-
lar meeting Of the General Assembly for nearly
two years to come, would it not be we'll to have
a law passed, TO act pr, spectvcy? 1t is sug-
{ csted that these lands should be given a once
TO any Companies that will cnguge to com.
! plele the Rail. Roads in question. Experience
has shown that those enterprises are accom-
plished best by individual efforts. Should the
State engage IN the work Of building this road,
it is feared that the avails of the land would
| only pay the SD ]aries TO officers attending up
on the same. Should the matter be left in the
hands of the Board Of Public Works, delay
and failure may be anticipated. The only
correct plan, it seems, will he 10 grant the
land as an induccmcnt TO foreign and domestic
| capital. $500.
Let the General Assembly give them at once,
under proper conditions, and the work will
progress at once.
The cost per mile, as estimated by the En-
gincer, is ubout 900, when in operation,
VIII I'LL u ppehudSeS Conp!etc.
| If Iowa procured grant Of land equal to that
applied for by Mr.. Douglass for Illinois, the
avails would amount at Congress price, to the
handsome UNI of 81 500 per mile. This is 4S
per cent OH the entire cost-an amount more
than sufficient TO build the road complication
the rails, locomotives and cars, which may be
had on time. and paid for out of the proceeds OF
the road ITSELF Who will not invest THEN
surplus means in an enterprise, where the a
mount Of all the labor is actually paid in? LIE,
US Sec One mile Of usual prairie grading will
cost, in labor, with teams, ploughs, and scra
pcrs, on the average, say about 81 900; cost o
longitudinal stills and cross. timbcrs. about
81 200; placing road bed 81 so: bridges anc
culverts, average say $500; depot and water
ing sta ions, 5000; and all other expenses no
included in the above estimate, say 9600-wt
have the aggregate cost Of the labor in figures
Of So, 500. The balance required for the roat
in full operation may be paid by annual instal
mcnts, and secured by bill Of sale on the roat
itself.
Any good farmer may we'll afford to tax.
from 100 to 500 dollars worth Of the stock, ant
pay in labor. Owners Of saw mills may fur
nish lumber. All, in fact, may become, i
they choose, in one way and another, partici
pants ir constructing the road, as well as tn.
blessings that are to flow from it.
Companies associated under the General In
corporation law Of this State, although al pre-
sent detective, having grant Of land upon tn
completion of the value at 81 800 per mile, an,
4 prospect for business equal to the most ia
vored thoroughfares in our country. Thi
road. when in operation, will command tn
carrying for an immense region Of country
and be IN important LAX in the great chain o
communication now being extended from tn
Atlantic cities to the grain growing district
0f r. WcSt. while m q
as great improvement TO southern trade, il
affordins egrcss from our interior to deep wa
ter at Kcokuh, the head of certain navigate
1t is comparatively easy for a community t
accomplish work of such magnitude as III
one .low in view, by united effort.
Give us the land, then, and We will max
the dessired improvement.