Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-02-19
MR.. MAsoN's LETTER.
BuRLISoros. Feb. 9th. l05

| GENTLEMEs:--I receive ed few days
since your polite invitation to be present
at your Railroad Convention, to be held
at O,tumwa on the 18th inst, and at once
resolved TO nvail myself of the honor and
privilege thus rendered me. But meet
ing oil the directors of the Burlington and
Peoria Raili DAD has been since called, 10
be held at Knoxville on Tuesday the 10Th
inst, and il is Thought can most promote
The interests of our own Railroad by at
tending this meeting Of the directors OF
the Illinois road, and shall act according
lly. assure you | feel the very deepest
interest in the success Of the effort 10 con-
struct Railroad through the southern and
most popnlous portion of our State 10 the
Missouri river. No enterprise has ever
been undertaken in our country which in
proportion to its magnitude was more i'm
poitant, not only as it Affects the welfare
of our own State. but for the influence it
will eventually exert on the wealth and
strength end integrity Of the whole Union.
Fy lis prospective connection with the
southern and eastern Atlantic seaports,
as well as with those on the Pacific, il is
soon TO act animportant part in furnishing
us markets for orr produce as well as
those facilities of commercial and person.
al intcrcommunication SO necessary 10
make us in feeling and interest in fact, as
we are in name, one united people.
or the Feasibility Of constructing Rail
Road from Lafayette 10 Council Bluffs,
no honest and intelligent man can entertain
doubt. You all know something of the
nature of the ground through our own
State. The accurate and definite surveys
of practical engineers have shown tina,
from this place to Peoria, the route is ia
yorable in most extraordinary degree,
while from various sources We have in
dubi'ablc evidence that from Peoria 10
Lafay ctte, the nature Of the ground is
probably better adapted TO the cheap and
easy construction OF Railroad than any
other route Of equal length in any portion
of the country. AT Lafayette we unite
with works already completed or in pro-
gress, reaching TO Charleston in South
Carolina, as well as TO all the great sea-
ports in the east. ua &
That portion Of this great chain which
lies between Burlington and Peoria, is
now being prosecuted with thegreatest
vigor and determination. Within the past
week contract has been made for suifi-
Client quantity Of railroad iron to lay twen-
ty miles Of the track, and it will be land
ed opposite this place in the month Of
April or May next. The successful con-
struction of that road is basis on which
ours in a great degree must rest. The
| directory has determined to urge its COM
| pletion with the utmost possible dispatch.
II is their intention to have the whole
roate from Burlington 10 Peoria in full
operation in the fall of 1853. The wish
to lend all my efforts to the fulfilment of
this intention deprives me Of the pleasure
of meeting you on the 18th at Ottumwa.
Be assured, gentlemen, thai now and
hereafter, l am with you in feeling and
purpose, and tina. nothing on my part shall
be wanting to urge on to successful tss
mination the great enterprise which is the
object Of your present assemblage.
With sentiments Of friendship and res
pect for each Of you individually, ! re-
main yours truly, 2
CHARLES MASON.
To .WM. II. BRuMrIrLp, and others,
Committee. a.,
| f. w. Eastman, ESQ.,, Of Mahaska
county, was called for and addressed
the Convention. .aa ~
| X. r. Harbour, Esq. of Mahaska CO.,
}. ]. Child. Esq, ot Burlington, c. Me-
gus, Of Jefferson, James Norris Esq.
of Wapello, d. Anderson, Esq ]. of Mou-
roe. Henry Allen, of Lucas, Mr.. Allen
der, of Van Buren,, and T.. ID. Winches-
ter, of Polk county, then addressed the
convention. lsst
On motion the resolutions reported
by the committee were then adopted, by
unanimous vote.
On motion Of Mr.. Coolbaugh, the
Secretaries were requested TO forward a
copy of the proceedings of this meeting
TO our Senators and Representatives in
Congress. 155s
y ]. {. Hall offered the following reso-
luton, wii::ri, was adopted: .i.'. z
Resolvsd. Tha; he people along the
route OF The Burlington nd Missouri
River Railroad be requested % ''old To-
cal county and neighborhood meclaggs,
pass resolutions and adopt memorials 10
Congress and forward their proceedings
TO our delega iion i'm Congress, and that