Minnesota weekly times., 1857-04-25
Office of Dubuque, st. Peters and ST. Paul Railroad
Company.
DUBUQUE, Iowa, April lst, 1857

DUooSon3 AV"A3 &APAAA ASs3 ~~o''
We learn by the Proclamation of the Cover
nor of Minnesota, that the lands granted your
Territory by the last Congress for the construc-
tion of certain Railroads, will be disposed OF by
the Legislature at an extra session, to be held
on the 9th day of April, instant. We therefore
have taken the liberty Of addressing you, as we
believe the Importance of the subject and the me-
cessity for immediate action, will be sufficient
reason for so doing. We are making an effort to
construct road from this city direct to the north
line of the state, on the shortest and most prac-
tcable route, to the st. Peters river ana SAINT
Paul.
We desire and expect to connect at the state
line with a road running through your Territory,
and are authorized by our charter, to consolidate
with such a road if for the mutual benefits OF
such roads.
We think we can offer such inducements to you,
that your interest as well as our own, will require
such connection as we desire. Dubuque is fast
becoming large city. Its population IS now
about fifteen thousand. Its business Tar exceeds
that of any city west of Chicago and north OF
St. Louis, and is fast increasing. The Post Of
fee at this place. is the sixth in the United States
in amount of distributing business, as the Post
Office statistics will show. Our people will have
an equal. if not controlling influence in the
Steam Boat business of the Upper Mississippi.
We, 1.-THE Dubuque, st. Peters and St. Paul
Railroad Company have obtained vote OF this
City to aid us in the construction of our road,
to the amount of seven hundred and fifty thous-
and dollars, by the issue to us of their bonds.
We shall be able to secure by private subscrip-
tion, from three to four hundred thousand, and
think we can obtain corporate subscription from
the counties on the line, to the amount of three
to four hundred thousand dollars more. We have
secured depot grounds, jointly with the Dubuque
Western Company, to the amount of about fifty
acres on the bank of the Mississippi river, within
the city limits. We have every assurance that
the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad Company
will extend their southern branch from Wayne
As miles distant, to this place. and have the same
completed, as soon as we can complete our road
to your line.
This road will connect US with Chicago by
GAINESVILLE, and the Fond du Lac road some thir-
teen miles shorter than by the Illinois Central
and the Galena and Chicago Union road.
The people of this place have projected a
road down the river to intersect the Racine road,
at Savannah, and the Dixon, air line road at
Fulton, and part Of it is already under contract.
We have had survey made to the state line,
and find a good route, with easy grades, and not
exceeding 135 miles in length, and will have no
difficulty with your land grant road, from Saint
Paul to our state line.
By making this connection, all of your country
between st. Paul and the state line, including the
valley of the st. Peters river, can reach Chicago
with some forty or fifty miles less travel, than by
any other projected route, and when you reach
this place, we offer you the choice and the COM
petition Of three routes, (the Milwaukee and Mis-
sissippi and Fond du Lac roads, the Illinois Cen
trail, and Galena and Chicago Union Roads, and
the Dixon air line road) to Chicago. We also Of
fer you a direct connection with Milwaukee and
also with Racine, and we also offer you a direct
connection with st. Louis, Cairo, and the South
generally, by the Illinois Central road.
We think these advantages, and also the i'm
portance which this city occupies as CONNER.
cial emporium, will be sufficient to make it fol
our mutual interest, to connect and consolidate
our Railroads.
We ask you to examine this matter fully, Sc
that your Railroad grants may be so disposed of
as to be Of the greatest benefit to the people o.
your future state generally.
We have secured a basis which will insure th,
construction of our part Of the road, and expec
now to put the same under contract, in the earl,
part of the summer.
Yours Respectfully,
F. E. BIssRLL,
GEO. w. JONES,
w. j. BARNEY,
JAS. L. LANGwoRTHY,
WARNER LEWIS, fDHectors'
JOHN w. TAYLOR,
JOHN HoDGDoN,
GEO. L. NIGHTINGALE,