Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-12-12
To the People Of the state Of Iowa.

| ventiOn assembled at Memphis, in Tennessee, O,
the 23d Of said month. The convention at st. Louis
declared by their resolutions that .hat convention
in its spirit and object strictly national, having
no party, no SECTIONAL no local interest to serve
promote, but having at heart the interest of tn,
whole country that it was the duty Of the Generr
Government to provide at an early period for tn,
construction Of Central National Railroad from thu
Valley OF the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean, an,
that grand trunk railroad with branches to St
| Louis Memphis and Chicago, would be such cen
trail and national railroad. The convention at Mem
phis adopted several resolutions reported by com
mittee appointed tor the purposes declaring it as tn,
opinion OF that convention, that it was the duty
the general government to provide at early peil
cd for the construction of National railroad from
the Mississippi river to the Pacific Ocean.
That to facilitate the advancement Of that object
it was the duty of the General Government to cons
titue efficient and com etent corps of engineers
to make complete exploration and surveys Of all
the routes that have been designated by public op
inion proper for the line of the road. That afe
the proper surveys shall have been completed, that
it the duty of the General Government to locate
the line Of said road upon the route which is the
easiest Of access. best caated to subserve the pr
poses Of National defence. convenient to the people
Of, and far practicable central to the United
States.
That to carry into effect the object of the first re-
solution that the public lands constitute Legitimate
and proper fund, that after the construction Of a
national rail road trunk from the Mississippi to the
Pacific Ocean, that it was the duty Of the Congress
to aid by the appropriation of the national domain
in the construction of such branch railroads viii
best connect 1t with the northern Lakes and the
great thoroughfares, leading to the Atlantic Ocean
and such other points on the Mississippi as will
best connect i: with the line in contemplation in
course Of construction, and that II the duty OF
the Federal Government 10 provide under liberal
conditions for connection ct yeen the main trunk
Of the national railroad and all railroads now made
or which may hereafter be CONSTRUCTED by the auth
'rits Of the several States and Territories Of the
Union.
We would also call the attention of the citizens
of Iowa, to the opiaions ssed in resolutions
adopted by the Legislature of Illinois at their recent
session. Tha bpdy declared that they proved OF
the general proposition of constructing national
railroad, nmencing at some point the eastern
line Of the Territory lying between the States and
the Pacific Ocean, such route shall after due
and proper explorations be founi most practicable.
That the eastern terminus Of hid road should be
fixed at such points as should be found most easy
approach to and with the channel of the eastern
and western railroads running through the States t.
the Atlantic now lii progress Of construction, and
without special regard to the local interest of any
town or city. That point as far north as Council
Bluffs, between that and the mouth Of the Kans
river for the eastern terminus of said national rail
road, is the most eligible point for 4 union OF said
road with the before mentioned roads leading east
wardly through the States to the great commercial
marts on the Atlantic, thereby subscribing the best
nterestes of the cities the Lakes, the intere SIS
of the interior of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Mis-
souri,, and the country south of Ohio river, and in
structed their Senator'S and requested their Repre-
sentatives to conform their action on he subject
referred to in said resolutions in accordance with
the principles therein expressed.
In calling the attention of the citizens Of Iowa to
the proceedings Of the 4 Louis and Memphis
Conventions, as well those of the Legislature OF
Illinois, sens bly, impressed with the unanI-
nifty of sentiment expressed by bnth OF said con-
venions well as the legislature of Illinois, In
favor of great central nat onal railroad, extending
from the Mississippi river to the Pacific Ocean
| with branches to accommo late the various inter
ests Of the nation AS far we have been enabled
to judge from the facts that have come under our
notice this subject is rapidly concentrating pubic
opinion in favor of speedy accomplishment OF the
work, and when this opinion is brought TO bear in
full power upon the government the mandate of the
people must I've obeyed. Public opinion, as far as
il has been expressed unites in recommending to
the General Government the establishment OF great
central national railroad from the Pacific Ocein TO
the western borders Of the States agrees that the
same should he located as best calculated to accom-
moate the general interest of the nation. with BRAN
ches on the west over to San Francisco, in Cafor-
mia; and the other TO the mouth Of Columbia river
or Pugenps Sound, in Oregon, and on the east, one
branch southwark to Memphis, one central, to st
LOUIS, and one northward to Lake Michigan, q,
Chicago. In viewing the subject at this time We
will call the at ention Of the people Of Iowa IN an
especial manner TO the northern branch, SO far as
may run through the State OF Iowa and believing
that the direct route and the one that is be 81
calculated 10 accommodate the greatest public in
terest, will be ultimately adopted, we briefly invite
their attention to the route from the Council Bluffs
on the Missouri river, by Fl. Des mones, and lows
City, TO Davenport on the Mssissippiriver, at Rock
Island.
The first General Assembly Of Iowa, at their ex.
ira session passed resolution dated the 21h day Of
January. tS4S, lnStruCtin0 Senator's. anu re
questing our Representatives to procure from the
government of the United States grant OF land &c
aid in the construction OF railroad from Davenport
~ way of Iowa City, Raccoon Forks to some pon
near the Council Bluffs, on the Missouri river, ant
and bin was reported in the House Of Represen
tatives Of the United States, making the grant pray
ed for. but failed on its passage. The present Gen
eral Assembly at their regular session took mp the
| subject anil passed resolution, dated the 29th De
cember, l34S, giving similar instructions to ouI
Senators and Repre- sentatives. Thus it will be per
ceved, that both General Assemblies, elected unde
the Constitution of the State, by thiir official acts
approved this route. The Council Bluffs, on the
| NJ ssouri, and Rock Island, at Davenport, on the
Mississippi, are generally admitted to be the mos
| suitable and convenient points for crossing thes'
rivers with railroad, and being on the most direc
route for the northern bran n Of the great centra
national railroad in ITS progress to the east, whicf
from necessity must pass south OF the southern enc
of Lake Michigan, the Nlaumee and Sandusdy Bays
and down the southern shore of Lake Erie, to con
meet with the Buffalo abroad, extending by Alban!
| to Boston.
BY reference to the most approved maps, 1t vii
be found that the Council Bluffs, and Davenport, a
Rock Island, about the parallel Of ATTITUDES
and that Fort Des Moines and Iowa City are situat
ed within few miles OF direct line between thes'
two points. and that in extending the route east
ward, the south bend of Lake Michigan. the Maumet
| and Sandusky Bays will he within a few minutes o
the same parallel Of latitude.
| The road from Davenport to Council Bluffs i.
three hundred aud twenty FIVE miles, thence, FAC
| cording to Mr.. Lougeboroughs estmate) to tht
| South Pass. eight hundred miles. making the dist
ance from the Mississippi TO the South Pass clever
hundred and twenty five miles. From st. Louis t.
the mouth of the Kansas river PTS miles. thence tt
the South Pass 900 miles, making, om st. Louis t.
the South Pass ITS miles-6fty miles greater thar
the distance frnm Davenport to the South Pass
thus will be perceived, that Rock Island, by the
way of Council Bluffs, is the nearest point at which
the Mississippi river can be reached, and on the
most direct route to Chicago, and the south bend
Lake Michigan The road, 10 its proereas eastward
from the Council Bluffs, will intersect the De-
Moines improvement at Fort Des Moines; will eros.
the Iowa river, and intersect the Dubuque AMI Keo
kuk railroad at Iowa City, and on its approach t.