The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-02-03
For The Davenport Gasettc.]
ATLANTIC AND UPPER MISSISSIPPI
VALLEY RAILROAD.
Nh IT


ATLANTIC AND UPPER MISSISSIPPI
VALLEY RAILROAD
NO. II.
The Company chartered BY the Lcgis-
lature oi Illinois to construct a Rail Road
from Rock Island on tho Mississippi River,
to Peru, on the illinois River, will open
their books 10 receive subscriptions to the
stock Of said Road, in oil this month, and
We entertain the hope, that sufficient
amount Of stock will then DO taken 10 au-
thorizc tho carly commencement Of the
work.
The Road when completed will form the
western link Of the great iron highway,
destined to connect our principal Northern
Atlantic Cities with the Upper Mississippi
Valley.
The entire country lying between the
Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, on the line
Of the proposed highway, presents an a.
most unbroken plain, perfectly dry and
with only one stream to bridge between
Peru and Rock Island.
Ofthe fertility Of the country intended
to be travcrscd by the PROPOSED Road We
deem it unnecessary to speak ut any grca,
length, but will simply remark, that il is
unsurpassed, by my portion of our great
Valley. The expense Of grading the line
from Rock Island to Peru, would amoun,
to sum truly trIfling. The slightest ex-
animation Of any correct map Of the wes-
tern. middle and eastern States, will abun-
dainty demonstrate, that Rock Island on
tho Upper Mississippi is the proper poin,
At present for tho western terminus of an
iron highway, designed to conncc, that por-
ton OF the Upper Mississippi Valley, lying
between tho 10Th and I'D degrees Of north
latitude, with tho cities IL B,Itimorc, Phila-
delphia, New York aud Boston. Il is loca-
ted in lat. fl.3O north, in the centre of our
great western granary,-at the foot of the
Upper Rapids Of tho Mississippi and on o
direct line with Council Bluff, in tho Mis-
souri, River, the route destined TO be Sc
lcctcd, rs vastly the mos. eligible for a con.
,inuous iron thoroughfarc, from our princi-
pal commercial cities on The Atlantic to the
Pacific Ocean. In very few years a
Rail Road from the Mississippi River OK
tending westward to Council Bluffs, will
doubtless be constructed. The grow
ing trade and rapidly increasing produc-
lions Of our young but fertile State, (Iowa, J
will require such channel across its ter.
ritory, in order 10 carry to tho eastern mar
kc.s, our surplus produce. Tho several
Rivers, having their sources in Iowa, though
OF considerable length, are not nnviyablc.
and therefore Rail Road from the Missis-
s'pp' TO the Missouri. travcrsng our State
rom east 10 west, will be constructed.-
The southern md central portions of Mich
'gan, southern Wisconsin, and all that por.
ton Of Iowa lying eastward Of tho Cotcau
Prairie, will fully compare in point Of agri-
cultural and mineral resources with Ohio.
Indiana and Illinois. No portion Of our
country contains a more cnterprising,
thriving and Industrious population, and
from the vast accession annually being
made 10 the population Of the States emu
meraied, some safe ind reliable avenue
must speedily be opened, between these
States and our principal eastern cities. AT
present all access TO the ems, is denied far.
mers of'he Valley Of the Upper Mississip-
pl proper for more than four months in cy
cry year, owing TO ice and low water. An
iron highway, connecting our principal
eastern cities with the Upper Mississippi,
would IL properly located, secure, in adj.
ton TO the trade Of northern and central
Ohio, Indiana md Illinois, the trade Of
Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa. No Dor.
ton OF the earth is capable Of supporting a
''cavicr population on square mile, than
tho region designed to be iravcrsed by the
proposed iron highway. In a few, very
few years, its aggregate population will or
coed 5.OOO,OOO inhabitants, md though this
portion Of our Union was few years pas,
10 the possession Of the Aborigines. il now
yields annually over 25,OOO,O 900 bushels,
of Wheat.
M doub! can be entertained therefore.
that thoroughiarc such as we have fecbly
attempted to advocate, commencing west.