Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-12-12
Railroad Convention.
FAIRFIELD, Dec. Sd, 1919.

Kal1EOad convention.
FAIRFIELD, Dec. Sd, 1S49.
A Convention of delegates from
several counties met at 10 O'Clock
A. NJ, in the Presbyterian church
and temporarily organized by calling
DR.. S. NJ. Ballard, of Johnson coun.
ty to the chair, and appointing DR.
S. d. Carpenter Secretary.
On motion of Chas. Negus Esq.
The delegates from the severa
counties were requested to presen
their credentials; whereupon it wa.
found the following counties were
represented, viz: Linn, Johnson
Washington, Jefferson, Keokuk ane
Van Buren,.
On motion of Mr.. Slagle,
All gentlemenfrom adjoining coun
ties present were invited to partici-
pate in the convention.
On motion of I. NJ. Preston,
A committee of five were selected
to report permanent officers for the
convention; upon which the follow
ing gentlemen were selected: Messrs
Preston, Culbertson, Casey, Parker
and Specs.
On motion,
The Convention adjourned, tc
meet in the same place at half-pas1
one O'Clock, P. M.
l! O'clock, P. NJ.
Pursuant to adjournment, the con.
vention met, and the committee Sc
lected for the purpose, reported the
following gentlemen as permanent
officers of the convention:
JOHN NJ. WHITAKER, ESQ, Of
Van Buren, county, President,
S. S. BRowN, Esq, of Keokuk Co.
DR.. HENRY RrsrINE, of Lin, Co.
Col. w. G. Coop, of Jefferson, Co.
DR.. 5. M. BALLARD, of Johnson Co.
Vice Presidents.
DR.. S. -. CARPENTER, of Linn
county A. FoRD, of Jefferson county
Secretaries.
W. H. Lyons, Esq, moved that a
committee of seven be appointed to
draft resolutions expressive of the
sense of this convention, and that
c. w. Slagle be chairman of that
committee; whereupon, C. w. Sla-
file, Esq, of Linn, S. Goodrich, Esq.
and DR.. Parker, of Washington, John
II. Day and DR.. Specs, of Van Blu
rem, and DR.. A. J. Jones, of Keokuk
were appointed said committee.
On motion of E. Drown, ESQ,
A committee of five were ap-
pointed to draft memorial express
i've of the wishes of this convention;
whereupon, the following gentlemen
were chosen for said committee:
Ezra Drown, Esq, of Jefferson,
DR.. l.. H. Sales, of Washington, ].
NJ. Casey, Esq, of Keokuk, VIM.
Smyth, Esq, of Linn, and Tymothy
Day Esq, of Van Buren,.
These committees having retired
for the purpose of preparing there
reports, VIM. P. Hammond, of Linn
county being called, responded in
an eloquent and argumentative adj
dress upon the utility of the road,
which received great and merited
applause.
Mr.. Negus, of Jefferson county,
followed in an imprisoned and
pointed speech, enthusiastically set
ting forth the great advantages pc
cuniary and social conferred upon
society by STEAM; more especially
when applied to railroads; also set
ting forth at considerable length the
vast amount of benefit that would
accrue both to the north and the
south of the State by the completion
of the road under contemplation, on
account of the coal beds in Jefer-
son county, from which both sections
of the State and country generally
could be supplied by and through
this road.
Mr.. Cook, of Linn county, being
called upon, took the floor, and in a
brief and happy manner, showed
conclusively that the route of rail
road under contemplation by the
convention, was emphatically the
the route, and that the road MUST.
be made.
On moti>n of ]. M. Casey, Esq,
The COZ vention adjourned till s.
o'clock p. NJ.
6 O'clock. P. NJ.
The convention met pursuant to
wherenpon the COM
nlt.ee appointed to draft resolutions,
exported the following:
Whereas, the enterprising and
commercial character of our nation
demands and requires speedy inter-
communication, and the spirit of the
'ge is being as rapidly progressive
IS the requirements of the country;
md whereas, the unparalleled pro-
,ress of our young State is rapidly
ending to give her a prominent