The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-01-09

line which you OoO SurVeEeCs nnO OF tue Ok
tensive country west Of Iowa City will ere.
ate more and more interest a. they bect me
more thoroughly known. Lying directly
west Of Chicago, being on the nearest and
best route, possessing facilities for bridg-
ing the Mississippi, no where else to be
found ia tho whole course Of that mighty
river, and in connection with tho suspen-
sion Of navigation 10 tho winter, the Rock
Island road is now commanding in the
great castcrn cities the attention and de-
cided preference to which its muliitudin-
Gus advantages enttle il. Il IS not, how
ever. the Mississippi alone which is the
source Of interest. The '.far ,oess" is also
sought for. Soon Council Bluffs will be
the point, and still the march Of improve
ment will be onward up the great valley Of
the Platte. Il is time for the State Of
Iowa to be alive to ber inierests, and to
appreciate the great movement which is
now agitating the eastern world. II a
a railroad is once in progress to the west
ward, other lines will sooner be construct
cd. The Dubuque and Keokuk rosd is
probably the next in importance. Il is
quite apparent that those places, by sus.
tanning your enterprise, can promote the
interests Of their own road most effsctually,
for besides the advantage they derive from
the general prosperity Of the State, they
viii, at the same time, hasten The period
when they may partake in immediate beu-
elits. These results have been generally
viewed, prospectively, as remote objects,
but they are approaching go rspidly and
with. such unerring certainty, that you
have the strongest Inducements, as COM
panv, no, to relax your effarts. Your
railroad route is not only exceedingly .fa
roroble in itself. but Is in the direct line Of
the great national thorough hfare--and
there is no instance upon record, OF 4 rail-
road upon great public line, however, ex-
psnsive, which has not, when properly
managed, paid enormous dividends, and
promoted to wonderful degree, the pros
peritv Of the country through which il pass
ed. Your undertaking can be accomplish
ed for sum comparatively small, and
every circumstance connected with its ope-
ration will contribute TO render it profita-
BILE.
thrust, gentlemen, your efforts for the
construction of the first rail road in Iowa
will be properly appreciated, 1t is an un.
dertnking in which all the people Of the
State are, directly or by indirection, deep
" interested for the whole population must
collectively, il in different degrees, feel its
benefits. consider il, therefore, my duty
TO repeat in conclusion the convictions
heretofore expressed, that the surveyed
route Of your road, as section Of the great
central road through Iowa, is far superior
to all others, because Il 10 % strongly mark
ed BY the hand Of nature, that there could
be no hesitation in the selec,ion-and that
in addition to its physical superiority, the
same circumstances which are establish
ing the Rock Island and Lasulle railroad
high in the estimation Of all the world,
must inevitably fix the Davenport and Iowa
City road as continuation Of that great
line. The inference, therefore, is in ac-
cordance with the dictates Of common
sense-that If the interests Of the whole
State Of lows demand tho adoption Of the
best possible route whilst the united claims
Of the immense population eventually dss-
tined to pass over it arc taken into consld-
ation--the idea chat sectional interests are
to turn il aside, becomes Preposterous.
have only to add, gentlemen, that having
entertained these views in reference to the
general interests TO be promoted by your
railroad, the survey, so far as my expe-
rience and ability extend, has been made
agreeabiy to them.
Very respectfully, your obj Servant,
RICHARD P. MORGAN.
ESTIMATES OF THE COST OF GRADU-
ALTON AND PRIDGEs-FlRsT DiVlS-
ION.
From station to station 400, miles,
Exc. walton and go ssi isl yd:; H.
10 culvsrts one bridge over Duck
efseA' 49, -we86. .4l0OO
SECOND DIVISION.
From station $50 to station $500
Excavation and emhankments
10000 yds. at al average o. 80 .oo no
II q ouiSss.. liver and small bridges, $500 %
THIRD DIVISION.
From station 1870 to station 24io
Excavations and smbantmsnts
a5s,932 yds. At an average Of 70 20
Bridge across Cedar River, l7,0W Oo
l6 culverts small bridges, 3S9O w
FOURTH DIVISION.
From station 24lo to station $3.50
Esossss;on 100000 "a. st ls ct. sss $500 500 9" 9"
'eol'''''' @su, 100
FIFTH DIVISION
From station 2600 to station 1912
5miles.
Excavation and embankments
l59932 yds. 1t II cts., Ss,y0 -
8 large culverts, i,ISV " .o 40
$al5,7a3.4
COST OF sUPERsTRUCTURE PER MILE.
| ell2 ties feet long equal in
1 measure me mt to a feet.