The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-08-25
~ a From the Dubuque Tribune.
MlssisslPel Valley Railroad--Iswa and n1inns-
V< - Fink.

mlssase1Rel waller Rot1ruad--1oWaS oud Mtnne>
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Mr.. EutToR :--Agreeably witA your personal
Rsuggestloh, some facts relating to the progress
OF the plan of the Mississippi Valley Railroad,
designed to connect the Gulf of Mexico with
the Fails Of ST. Anthony, mainly on the West
bank OF the river, are here offered for the con-
sideration of your readers. ..
Starting from the city of New Orleans, the
New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern
Railroad, reaching in its line to Canton, Miss,
forms the first link !; the Mississippi Central r.
r., reaching in this lineto Grenada, Mississip-
pi, forms the second link and the Mississippi
and Tennessee Railroad reaching from Grena-
da to Memphis, Tenn, forms the third link.
On these three links the work has been pro-
crossing more than three years, and the line
of road is now. nearly, finished from New
Orleans to Memphis, the distance being 800
miles. 81 'eits'r- k<c1i
Crossing the river at Memphis, the Arkansas
link of 20 miles is provided for by an organ
lied company, who can build the road with
ease, as the whole line is over level surface,
and the people of Memphis are enthusiastic in
its favor. sa.e-sf ~ .-is. ,as -s,
:. From Arkansas, passing the Iron Mountain
of Missouri to the city OF st. ouis, distance
Of 220 miles. the line is under the charge of the
st. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad COmpa.
ny, who have purchased 5000 tons Of rails, and
on the road this year.
From st. Louis to St. Charles, 20 miles, the
North Missouri Railroad is finished, and the
road was in operation last mouth.
| From St. Charles to Keokuk. 40 miles, the
line is under the charge of the Mississippi r.
r. North Co., which organized on the 18th OF
June last, at a convention of the counties along
| the line. held ON that and the succeeding day
at Hannibal, Mo-, where a resolute determine
ton was shown t. build this portion at the ear
liest possible period. A bill granting $4,000.
900 State credit in favor of this company is
now pending before the Legislat Ire of Missouri:
having passed the Senate it is expected to pass
the House next November.
From Keokuk TO Muscatine, IS miles, the
line is surveyed, and the portion from Keokuk
to Montrose is now advertised for contract
while from Muscatine TO the Iowa river. 70
miles west, the road is expected to be finished
ON the LIST of Jan. 1856.
Muscatinc and Davenport arc also expected
to he united by railroad communication Oh
the 10Th of September, 1855, by the road going
north from Muscatine IL miles and forming q
junction with the Davenport road, rs miles o.
which, to the junction, are expected to be in
operation on the 25th of this month, while the
engine is now running more than half that dis
lance from Davenport.
Thus it is shown that Muscat;ne is OILS, and
Davenport 952 miles from New Orleans by
Mississippi Valley Railroad route, while they
are both more than 1900 by Railroad from
Boston; by which means they gain the advan
tage OF about 800 miles to an ocean market
while at the same time they have choice be-
tween the Southern and Eastern markets
which facts will necessarily throw population
and capital into Musca inc and Davenport, sc
that they will naturally grow in numbers and
wealth with twice the rapidity they would had
they railroad access My to the East.
BY an extension Of this line north from Mus
catine IS to the city of Dubuque, it would in
CT ease in population and wealth with a similar
ly accelerated rapidity, as Dubuque would bt
only 900 miles by railroad from New Orleans
while it is now 1925 miles by railroad from
Boston.
The Minnesota road, from Dubuque to the
northern end of the Mississippi Valley R. II.
which Minnesota roal is also extended north tt
Lake Superior, is provided for with an organ
lied company of New York capitalists. having
$40, 600, 600 subscribed. and 100000 now Iy
ing in their treasury.
From all of which facts il appears that the
Mississippi Valley Railroad is 1900 miles il
length from che Gulf of Mexico to the Falls o
st. Anthony and that every line in the vas
chain, exo"pt the Iowa and Minnesota link i.
prepared to be welded that the emily difficult
ty which occurs in the line, is in bringing to
gether Dubuque and Muscatinc, which arc 4
miles. or subtracting IL above mentioned, are
63 miles apart.
Is it possible to establish some harmoniou.
plan, throughout eastern Iowa, in favor of the
Iowa and NJ nm ,sota link of the Mississippi
Valley Railroad And as by this line Du
buquc would be 225 miles nearer to New Or
leans than to Boston, would it not only give g
double impetus to the value of property in Do
buque, but also to the prosperity of the Du
buqe and Pacific Railroad?
These facts and suggestions are presented
rather for the calm consideration of your read
ers than for any speedy decision of their mer
it's. Very respectfully, &C..
HENRY COBB.