Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-02-19
VOL. w. ].


Of Burlington, and Hon. WIN. irhomp-
son Of Mt. Pleasant, were seyerally call
ed for, and addressed the Convention.
On motion, the Convention adjourned
to @ o'clock, p. M. .rsa. a.
.haa O. O'Clock, p. NJ.
The Convention met pursuant To al.
tournament, and was called 10 order by
the President. Communications were
read from Hon. Charles Mason aad
James w. Wood, Esq, of Burlington,
and w. G. Clark, Esq, of Monroe CO
MR.. WOODS LETTER.
BURLINGTON, Feb, 10th, 1852.
To Messrs. w. II. Brum6eli aud 9th.
ers, Committee of Invitation to the
Oltunwa Railroad Convention: sf
Sins Y our invitation Of January
2lst, 1852, requesting my attendance
and participation in the proceedings of
the Convention, was duly received, and
had promised myself the pleasure OF
being present, than which nothing could
have afforded me more satisfaction, bu,,
business which will not admit OF delay.
prevents my being a, Ottumwa, on the
18th inst, but could no, let the occa.
sion pass without giving you my best
wishes for the success Of the cause. /
feel deeply the vital importance Of !.
Railroad communication from ,...s r,lst,
reaching the great Father II ~ aters, anu
extending its iron arms 20 the Missouri,
and may be reruiitied to add, Ultimate
ly shaking its ,nirs, in the Pacific. I'm
mediate and concerted action is necessa-
ry TO overcome the many obstacles we
shall, and now have 10 contend with; but
believing as ] do tina. i! is only necessa
ry to direct public attention 10 ensure
success. Such has been the course pur
sued BY Other and Interested points. So
unreIen,ing in their abuse oil our project.
that i: seems as if they were los, 10 all
sense Of decency and propriety, and If
we are true TO ourselves their abuse and
vitupera,ion will fall harmless, as only
the bitter wailings of disappointed hum,
Juggers. Ii would seem that Keokuk
had a, last awoke from her Rip Fan Hin
Me sleep. but we need not fear her, for
like RIP Fan of old, she has been do
zing so long, she has aroused TO find her
self without lock, Stock or 6arrfk.-
"Molh and rust hath consumed her,
and it will be quite enough for her to
keep the hinges of her grea. Gate in or
der, to let them pass, who have been up
and doing. entertain no donb. Of our
ability TO build the Road whether we ge.
mid from Congress or not, permi. me in
conclusion to propose a sentiment, "The
Firs, Rail Road in lowa--The Burling-
ton and Missouri River Rail Road"
| remain respectfully. Gem aass
tlemen, your obedient Servant,
JAMES w. WOODS.
MR.. CLsRKS' LETTER.
CLARKs' PoIST, Monroe co.,
1854 February 9th, 1852.
Messrs. Brumfeld, Ilendersho,t and 9th.
ers: ft a - ''Eaa
II is with pleasure acknowledge the
receipt of your note OF invitation TO a
convention to be holden a. Ottumwa on
the 18th inst, for the purpose of taking
into considerations measures, expedia-
ting the early construction of a Railroad
from Burlington To Council Bluffs, via
Mt. Pleasant, Fairfield, Agency City and
Ottumwa. ai t4A 35
l am very sorry, gentlemen, that il, is
not in my power to meet with you on
that occasion, yet, sieze upon this op-
portunity 70 express to you, that the pro-
jected work in question, meets with my
most hearty appreciation. f95f2 aa' q
have been a citizen of this district of
country from the first, and while have
listened to projects for works OF similar
nature, both north and south, have stood
with amazement. TO see the people resi-
ding in that section, lying between Bur
linglon and Ottumwa, speechiess.
have no doubt, whatever, that il is
one Of the mos, feasible, mos. practica-
BILE, and one Of the most useful routes
that there is within the State Of To-
wa, also one that is certain to meet the
approval of Congress, and Il will ven
,ure the asser.ion) the first that will be in
operation in Iowa. 2s
have traversed this route from Coun-
Gil Bluffs to Pittsburgh, and ] am CONT
dent that j. is one of the best projects es-
er started in the United States, and is,
ultimately, certain (in view of the Allan
tic, the Pacific and the intermediate
country to become the mos, important
highway upon the continent.
am in hopes, gentlemen, tina. the en-
serprise viii p.ove successful, that sue
cess awaits us, and | pledge myself to
do all within my humble abilities for the
fur.hsrance of that object; bu, should il
not, lesus not despair, but press on again
and again with renewed energy and we
shall win. .1eollist uai
Perhaps il would not be inappropriate
at this time to suggest few thoGs nts
relative to another route, connecting the
interior Of Missouri. Iowa and Mime
sofa. lying between the Mississippi and
Missouri Rivers, with the southern mar
ket. 3sg Gag s b 3
This j conceive 20 be one Of The most
natural routes for Rail Road upon the
Globe of the same extent. Leaving the
forks OF those great Rivers. within ten