Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-09-17
Railroad Memorial.
10 Tie Senate and House of Reprcscn-
t0tiucs of the United States.


TO The Senate am. House of Repyescn-
tatiucs of the United States.
our memoralists, the Genral as
sembly Of the State of Iowa, respect
fully represent that preliminary
Survey has been made and com
pany organized for the construction
OF Rail Road between the cities OF
Dubuque and Keokuk, in this State.
That this projected Road will COM
mence at the commercial centre of
the mining region, in northern Iowa,
pass through country in its whole
extent nm excelled in fertility by any
portion Of the State; a country already
over spread to great extent with
cultivated farms & filled with thriving
towns III requiring augmented facil-
tiles fceinterchanging their commod-
tiles with those of other States of the
Union and of the world. That the
southern extremity CT the road is on the
mississippi River below the last great
obstrucf6n in that stream, and from
whence the communication with st.
Louis and the south is INSTRUCTED by
ice but ! small portion of the year
Your memorialists further represent
that 9 eohnection Of the Atlantic and
Pacific. leans by means Of Rrail-
road up6k the parallel of Lake Erie,
tne ~ md sof Lake. MichiQan,
Council Bluffs and the south pass Of
the leoskey Mountains is entitled to
the immediate consideration of Con-
gress. That the face of the country
through our state is evidently adop-
ted to TIE construction of of a road
runninstin that direction. That the
necessity Of intercommunication be-
tween tie towns and settlements of
the two great rivers of our state will
soon render a link of this kind neces-
sary for the use and convenience of
our ownpeople themselves, and that
the geographical portion of our state
taking in connection with the va
rious Other works of like character
already in progress or soon to be
commenced, point to the proposed
route through the state as one of the
links Of the great chain that is soon
to span the continent. In view of
the wantof means incident to the con-
dition ofthings in a new state, and
this Increased in no small degree by
the drain required for the purchase
Of our land, it will be impossible for
US II unaided to construct either of
these lines Of Railroad for a long
period oftime, these roads will be Of
great Importance to the Federal Gov
srnment by furnishing the means of
Easy and rapid transportation for
roops, supplies and mails and also
~ augmenting the value of and
hereby causing more ready sale of
arge districts of the public domain.
cur memorialists therefore would
'anestly but respectfully urge your
honorable body at its prestent session
0 make an appropriation or deduc.
ion OF land to the State of Iowa in
ID OF the construction of the con-
Railroads from Dubuque to
Aeokuk, and from Davenport to
,ouncil btaffs upon routs which shall
g found 70 be most practic able and
lost conducive to the interest of the
eople ofthe interior of the state.
Resolved, therefore that our Sem !
tors be instructed and our Repre-
entatlves be requested to exert their
and unremitting energies 6
secure tpe appropriation or grants !
land asked for in the fordgoing 6
'emorial and that the Secretary Of !:
tate be directed to forward a COPY !.
this memorial and resolutions to
ach of our Senators and Repre- 3
'ntatives in Congress. !:
Passed the Senate December goth u
$50.
P. B. BRADLEY.
Secretary Of Senate. \
Passed the House Of Representa- !
yes December 81, 1850. :.
9. G. ROCKWELL. Chief Clerk.