The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-10-03
Seo3,seo

- that 80 extensively used on RalYopds un0eI
fiowe's patent as it combines, with little var-
alton, more practical advantages than any other
plan which has been hitherto introduced. The
usual price has been $40 per ineai foot, for
span OF 1870 feet; ss25 has been allowed IN the
present estimate which leaves 5 GO extra for each
arch, or So OO0 for the whole bridge to cover all
possible contingencies. With respect 70 the ma
sonry, he price was predca'ed upon the impor-
tance Of perfect work, demanded by the greet
heighth and weight OF the piers also in reference
TO the beauty and durability Of the erructure.-
The approach to this great bridge on tho south.
ern side Of the river, 10 from two points IN the
line Of the r ,ck Island and a Sale Railroad, IN
broad A u, Wing between Moline and R 'ck L.
land, abou, 2j eet above the riv'r. irom which
two branch tracks would converge and unite
near the hrst butment, one communicating WIN
Rock Island, the other with the East The small
bridge on he sonth side Of the leland would BE-
27 feet above high water mark, and the embank-
ment across the Island. connecting with the
main bridge, would rise by a grade Of 20 feet to
the mile 10 the height reqnret.
ltis, however, needless to ufsne the enquiry
farther at present. in relation to ultimate objects
and iuture magnitude of this undertaking; an
immediate organization Of the company, hy the
lection Of such men ~ duly appreciate ifs im-
portance, and The position il should hold before
the public, seems Indispensable; prompt and eff
cent action al the presen, time. will command
support, connferaet the efforts Of opposing inter.
ests, and give confidence eastward as we'll as in
Illinois. Nothing can be more certain than the
ability of western stockholders 10 prepare the
road-hed and % place the ses npon il; il 10 un-
necessary thai they should suffer the control
and profits of their railroad to pass out OF their
hands, the intrinsic value Of the enterprise will
secure il 10 them if they duly appreciate its im-
portancf, and proceed at once to act with all
possible energy. Let them consider without
prejudice, whether the conclusions arrived at IN
this report are correct; let them reflect upon
what they xnots OF the various resources OF this
country. and how much will be lost by DELAY,
thew will have no hesitation in coming TO the
conclusion that, ersry year the construction OF
the contemplated work is deferred, the commu-
nifty will sustain m immense loss, even moro
than the whole capital required 10 build the road.
and that every dollar paid in TO complete the
work, or every days labor appropriated the
same purpose, is a better investment than can b.
made for any ther object.
In connection with the survey, it appeared
that simultaneous action was also necessary to
secure railroad communication from Lasalle to
Chicago, and in order to effect this object the
more readily, / undertook the supervise on Of
survey through Ottawa by the valley OF Fox riv-
er TO Aurora. The route is favorable for con.
struciion j, has no object enable curves, and
the grades do not exceed Is feet 10 the mils-
A tabular statement is appended descriptive Of
the route and showing also the g. nera! results
obtained. The cost Of grading and bridging
from Lasalle to OTTAWA, averages S2,6t6 per mil
which Tor l4a miles, amounts 10 S38s49O From
Ottawa TO Aurora, including bridge across
Fog river, the preparation Ot the rOad.bed wouid
be &2, 500 pr mile. or for 423 miles tsiO5, zoo 10
The branch railroad from Aurora. 10 intefseel
with the t;alena and Caicago Railroad 10 now
nearly completed, consequently railroad ex-
:! r., A sA.4it (arr, "a fpn
tinuous line to L IKE Mich gan. tits well known
that the citizens Of ottawa and i.asalle county
are mile 10 g,nde the road in question and in or
der to be satisfied that they riu do 80, Il 10 merely
necessary to enquire into the resources which
are TO sustain it. It must be admitted that ut
least ! Of the freghts as well ss OF the passen.
gers, from the Rock Island and L,salle R,,lroad
will surely pass over it, which in itself would al
ford handsome revenue, but at Peru or Lasalie
large portion Of the business Of the Illinois rv-
er would also come on to il. There are at least
200 passengers a day who travel in the canal
boats, who will inevitably prefer the ralroadJ
taking double this number only. as the aggregate
and average from both sources, through the year,
u 81 25 each (Which 10 . very low estimate) the
receipts for 3l3 days would amount to 6l50
In reference to freight, possibly the trustees OF
the canal might reduce he tolls sufi iently to
secure great part Of the river business, but the
call for southern products on Fox river valley,
and in exchange . large amt ofssricul.ur.i pre-
ducts, various manufactured articles, iumoef ~
the W nter season, and considerable quantity
Of coal, would constitute revenue scarcely m
terror to that derived from passengers. ThisPor.
tion of the freight would arise from the nature
wants and commerce the Fox river valley. y
should be remembered that with good ra,',
and on well managed railroad, at least halt the
freight from the Rock Island Railroad IN SUM
mer, and all OF il during winter, avoidine re-
shipment, would be carried through to Chicago,
or T.. It's place Of destinatOn~-ths would add
81 0.onn, increasing the whole annual seeeipss"f