The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-12-19

Dubuque, in Dubuque county to Keokuk in Lee
county, concluding with prayer for grant of
land to the State of Iowa, to aid in the construc
ton of said road. Which Memorial the commit
tee respectfully submit to the consideration Of
the citizens of Iowa, for their approval and sig
nature, and solicit their calm and dispassionase
attention to the utility of said Railroad, and trust
that in considering its Importance to the State,
they will raise the subject above the influence of
party politics and local interests-that it may be
considered purely as State work, in which ev-
cry citizen of Iowa should feel special interest,
in connection with the citizens of the MISSISSIPPI
pi valley in general. ears-. :..... . S.
The committee deem it unadvisable to reca-
pitulate in the address the points named and the
statistics contained in the survey of the road, a.
dopted by the Resolution of the General Assem-
bly,, of the 10Th of January, 1S49, and the various
memorials heretofore forwarded to Congress, as
they are fully set forth therein as adopted by the
General Assembly But we briefly invite the
public attention to the importance and general u
tlity of the work. This railroad commences on
the Mississippi, at Keokuk at the foot of the Des
MONIES Rapids; at the head of steamboat naviga-
ton for boats of the largest class and at the point
where the navigation is seldom, if ever obstruct-
ed by ice, and runs northerly through the east
ern interior Of the State about two hundred miles
and strikes the Mississippi river at Dubuque, IN
Dubuque county, above the distractions in the
Upper Rapids of the Mississippi. 1t may from
thence be easily connected with the Galena and
Chicago Railroad IN northern Illinois, as we'll as
by Railroad through Wisconsin, with Milwau-
kie on Lake Michigan; and when the interest of
the country may require its extension, it can be
extended to point opposite Prairie du Chen
and connected with the improvements Of Wis
consrn river, extending to Green Bay, as well as
with improvements opening a communication
with the immense mineral regions and fisheries
on Lake Superior.
This Road, when completed from keokuk to
Dubuque will offer to the citizens of the interior
of Iowa, at all times, facilities for the transport
taton of their produce and for travel, freed from
the expense and delay necessarily attendant on
the obstruction Of the navigation of the MISSISSIPPI
pi at the time Of low water, as well as from OBJ
structions by ice; and will open to the citizens OF
f., Wisconsin and Minnesota certain communlca-
ton at all seasons, from Dubuque to the foot OF
the Lower Rapids on the Mississippi.
The Railroad, in its course, as adopted by a
Resolution of the General Assembly ofthe 18th
of January, 1949, is intersected by the Maquo-
keta, Wabsipinicon, Cedar, iowa, and SKUNK
rivers, all of which susceptible Of improve
ment, and which the committee consider as idcn-
tilted with this railroad, which, when completed
in connection with the removal OF the obstruc-
at the Rapids, on our eastern boundary-the com
pletion of the improvement Of the Des Moines
river, running diagonally through the south.
western interior Of the State-and when united
with the northern branch of the Great Western
Pacific Railroad, which the committee confident
ly believe will be the case, running from Coun-
Gil Bluffs on the Missouri river,#by Fort Des
Moines, Iowa City and Davenport, in its direc-
ton to Chicago-these improvements will inevi-
tably open to the citizens of Iowa new and in
creased market for their produce-will afford IA
cilties in transportation that will develop in ac-
tivity the immense resources of the State; in
crease our population; invite the introduction of
capital; stimulate industry and enterprise; in
crease the value of our produce; raise the stand
ard of property, generally, within the Ste, to
one equality Of value with property in the older
States, and place Iowa among the first States in
the Union. All of which is respectfully sub
mtted to the consideration of the citizens Of To-
wa by the committee