Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-06-10
For the Journal.
Railroad Connection.

Since the destruction of the "Rams Horn /. o ho,o
heard nothing of the importance of railroad 10 con.
vey freight around the Rapids of the great Mi,ssnn,
river. This subject is Of equal importance as hereto.
fore, and the time has now come when the river tons
at and between these Rapids will soon see the neces
sy of overcoming these distractions 20 the free navi
CATION, at all seasons, Of river II these ostruc
tons are suffered to remain and no way to get around
them with our freghts our towns had better be able
70 boast OF interior locations where they could avail
themselves Of territory on al Sides which weud be an
advantage more desirable than three or for month,
OF unreliable navigation Of river and the emannR
eight or nine months without any or at such rates that
we would be better without IT,
we now propose to point out tho first opportunity
that has ever presented itself so invtingy and which
is entitled to some attention think we can saw with
the utmost confidence that the Iowa Western Railroad
Tor portion of i win be put under course Of con-
sruction within sixty days, from Davenport to oska
loosa. This line Of road will ruin in nearly direct
course towards Keokuk, from Davenport to the Iowa
river, distance of fifty miles then, BY running tie
road from Keokuk, direct line, to the place of
crossing the Iowa river by the Iowa Western Railroad
(Which is distance Of sixty miles) win save the OK
pense Of an additional bridge. BY taking this course
yon have accomplished the entire distance from the
foot of the Lower to the head Of the Upper Raps bv
THIS addition OF sixty miles, and without the cost of
second bridge over the Iowa, which, by theway ia a
very important saving. By taking this course, the
road viii be shorter than to construct il by way of
Burlington and thence to Davenport, while Burning.
ton can connect this road with her road west, fifteen
miles distant-and by adopting this line to the Iowa
western road, we pass through the richest and most
densey populated portion Of our State greatly TO their
advantage and to the interest of the road, and of
whom we can get all the assistance we desire equal
at least, to the grading and bridging Of tie read
Our object in making this alusior, at this time, to
the Rapids road is that those who feel an interest in
that line may give their view on IT, and that our
road may he constructed with reference to this con-
nection for deem it subject of vital importance
that we secure to Iowa this road around the Rapids
and not allow 1t turned in another direction for, as
We understand, there propositions now making for
the construction of a similar road through Illinois,
What do you say, Keokuk and others interested!
will you meet us half way, which win be on the
west bank Of the Iowa river?
The Legislature of Illinois passed law, last session
t, the effect that railroad companies should pay 900
for every passenger that should loose his life on
train through The carelessncss or reckessnes Of the
company or its agents. it stated in one of the
papers At this rate, the damages probably to be
awarded against both Of the trains that lately
came in collision near Chicago will amount to $l05,
00O for believe the number of lives lost was TWEEN
ts-or'. For what amount they are liable for manning
peoll Cor r:ie, II is not stated.