Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-01-18
os. H. D. STREET s. R. H. WARDEN, EDITORS.
0ttumWa, Jan. Is, 1850.
Plank Road 10 Burlington.

importance of moving in this matter i'm
mediately. It's exciting a good deal Of
interest just at this time also among our
farmers. They begin to look around
for the cause or causes why their pro-
duce does not command better prices and
find that the reason is because they are
too far from good and sure market
Other things, it is true, such as want
of diversity of labor-the scarcity Of
money-tend TO produce the same res
ult. Factories will soon spring up in
our midst, and we shall doubtless have
more abundant and stable home curren-
cy-this will partly remove the difficulty
but we must have good and sure mar
ket--easily and cheaply reached, to ov-
ercome the evil entirely, and secure good
stable prices TO our producers. How are
we to effect this9 By making good roads
to the best market. Such roads as will en-
able our farmers to take their produce to
market-speediiy and. cheaply. Where
is our best market to be found, is our next
inquiry? Wereply, without fear of sue
cessful contradiction, the eastern market,
by which we mean the eastern lakes and
eastern cities; this is easily proven by
reference TO the prices current of CHI
cago and st. Louis, of New York or
any Of the eastern cities and New Or
leans.
1t will be found that in the former, all
kinds of produce, beef, pork, &c., were
much higher at the same dates than at the
latter. Take, for instance, pork during
this winter, and while we find that il was
quoted at ST. Louis al $500 and So, 80,
it was at the same dates quoted in Chi
cago at $500 and 1925. So with wheat,
and as we before said, all that we sell.
This, then, is evidently our best market,
and it becomes our duty if we study our
interests, to connect ourselves with il;
If, by SO doing, we can reach it without
the freight and costs taking off too much
of the price we receive for it. We now
,expend third in reaching poor market
and when there, get less by 80 per cent
than we would at an eastern Market
This amount, which is an actual loss
would in a short time pay for the build
ing of a good Plank road to the Missis
sippi. The plan under contemplation, is
to extend the Plank road already com
menced from Burlington to Mt. Pleas
ant, to this place via the way of Fair
field, Libertyville, Ashland and Agency
City. Every days experience demon
strates the fact, that these kind of roads
combine the great advantages of cheap
ness in construction, cheapness in carry
ing freight, and yield handsome prof
of say from 20 TO 25 and even so Pc
cent on the investment. Another grea
advantage is, that our farmers, mechan
les and laborers can pay stock in thi
kind of a road in work or materials. Blu
why connect il with Burlington? We an
swer, because company have alread,
secured charter TO build railroad from
Peoria, on the Illinois river, to Oquawka
on the Mississippi river all the stock j
taken and it will be commenced early i
the spring. This road is to be continue
ont TO Burlington, and by connecting will
that place we should have by this line q
Improvements a continuous and chea
route to Chicago, and from there to th
eastern cities. This bids fair 10 be III
only cheap and sure connection that W
can secure with the eastern market i
any reasonable length Of time. Anolhe
reason why we should seek this connex
ion is, that we will some day (aoe tgusl
have water communication by the ri,
er TO southern market, and in that cas-
we could take our choice, and, go wher
our products command the best prices.
The propriety of calling meeting {
the citizens of the county, to meet
this place at future day to take this i'm
portant matter into consideration, ha
been suggested 10 US by number {
gentlemen. We have thought it best
make the remarks above, in order /
bring the whole subject more permanent
~ before the public, with view of ;
rousing our friends and business men /
think upon and examine the matter, b.
fore meeting to take measures to carr
out the above suggestions.
Weshould like TO hear from the pres
at Burlington, Mt. Pleasant and Fair
field, on the propriety OF calling cor
yenlion, at some convenient place on I'll
route, to consult on this important ma