Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-05-31
P. A. LORIMlER, Chm.
May 29,h, l848. En-. LON

To THE Executive COMMITTEES APPOINT.
ED BY THE Iowa STATE CONVENTION HOLD
EN- AT Iowa CRY IN JANUARY, l94s.
The undersigned Chairman ofthe Com
mittce appointed by you to report upon the
subject Of the contemplated Rail Road from
Dubuque, via Cascade. Marion, Cedar
Rnpds, Iowa City, Mount Pleasant, TO
keokuk Ut the foot of the Lowe Rapids OF
The Mississippi River, submit the following
from this and the adjoining counties.
A good way may be had for the road, b y
taking south wesley direction to p. a.
Lormcr's Smelling furnace, thence through
the vale leading to Catfish Creek near Mr..
Borson's Furnaces; thence up the bank OF
that stream to its extreme head near G IA
hams Grove, and thence in quite direct
line to Cascade; or by affirming the table
land Immediately west Of the city Of Du.
small valleys leading in that direction, u,
and near this point.
The grades OIL this route would not ex
coed thirty feet to the mile. the surfice be
ing generally prairie and moderately level
In regard to the produce o! this county
it will only be necessary to say ,htt will
compare in amount and value with any 9th
er county in the state.
The staple articles are Lead, Wheat.
Corn, Oats, Barley, Rye, Pork and Beef
| The Lead manufactured in this county n
mounts annually to 4 500 OUO pounds. The
Wheat and -four shipped in ls47. according
to the most reliable data amounted to about
S26.UOO. The other articles alluded to,
will be found IN Msj. NewhaI;'s Statistics
Of Iowa recently published. The City Of
! Dubuque would however. as the terminus Of
the road III question:, become the depot for q
number Of counties IN his State and III wes-
tern " isconJn, as tar north as the Falls of
st. Anthony. This vast country, with it,
mineral and agricultural productions and
pine lumber, would all make this poin: for
shipment. Its produce would find its way
to the Eastern markets, by the way of the
Chicago and Galena Rail Road, and its
lumber be forwarded west to supply the
prairie LANDS in the interior Of this state
The lead manufactured in Grant and Craw.
ford counties w. L. and in Clayton county
Iowa, amounts annually to ub out 3, 5OU, GOO
and in point of other surplus produce pros.
pectively ut least. will furnish vast amount
Tor export. 1t will be perceived that Du-
buque City rs the terminus Of this road, vii!
be the point for shi pment east to Lake Mi
CHG an ut Chicago. and south through the
Interior Of Iowa to Keokuk, giving choice
OF either market.
As the navigation Of tho Mississippi Riv.
er is closed in thus high latitude, at least 5
months Of the year, and the remaining por.
ton ecrously obstructed by rapids at thi.
po,nt.-Expenslve and difficult IF access n,
all times, such rcud from this pluce would
be almost alone reliable. 1.-THE bill which
Mr.. Douglass has introduced into Cprgres.
should become law, making grant Of al.
,ernute sections ofland to the State Ct Hi
nois for the construction of Rail Roat
from Chicago to the Mississippi River, ane
provide also for its Western termination a,
Jordan's Ferry opposite the city OF Du.
buque. Then if Congress makes tn.
grant to Iowa IN conformity with the me mo
rial Of its Legislature, there would be q
choice Of either ofths great eastern OF SOU
them markets. By reference to the P!ats
in tns Office Of the Surveyor General it viii
BIZ seen that majority Of lands in the int.
rior of this State, contiguous 10 and upon
this contemplated road, remain unsoid ans
utterly unsnIcabIe. they will continue waste
aud uncultivated without the fostering care
Of the General Government. The rich ant
abundant harvest they might be made t
yield, will never wave its golden sIleavc.
until facilities are afforded to transp part III eli
isuit to market.
Such are the views Of your committee,
which are respec fully submitted.
Dubuque. May Goth. ls4S.
i. II. LANG WORTHY.
RAILROAD MEETING.
! Al a meeting Of the citizens Of Bower