The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-03-26
THE RAILROAD MEETING AT
LANCASTER.

THE RAILROAD MEETING Al
LANCASTER.
We cannot but regard the movement initiA
ted at the nsetir, Al the above place on TAI
2lst - one Of vast importance to Davis an,
Wapello counties, and indeed to the entir,
State Of Iowa. To convince every reade
that 1t 10 90, It seems to us only necessary 4
refer to the proceedings Of the meeting II
another column.
The subject under consideration, II will b
the North Missouri Railroad into snd through
the State Of Iowa. taking into consideration
the interests Of the company having that i'm.
provement in charge. The meeting origina.
ted in Schuyler Co., Mo-, with thoss who ar.
deeply interested In the road, whose geograrh.
ical position and familiarity with the country
enables them to judge more correctly in re,a.
ton 70 the claims Of the several rontes, tha an
any body else. and whose real interests stimu.
late them to act impartially and wisely.
The object desired by the meeting to be ef.
fected Ia the divergence Of the road in ques.
ton from the point near the south | ne OF
Schuyler co., 10 which II is by th. Charter
located, and where all the sur.
veys or proposed routs terminate. some two
or three miles Eastward Of the divide route
a. it Is called, on which 1t has been proposed
to extend the road in the direction Of Fort
Des Moines, far to the west Of the valley Of
the Des Moines. through the centre and Coun-
" seat Of Schuyler co., by way Of Bloomfield
Davis co., to Ottumwa, wapello county.
The N. NJ. 10 ono Of the Railroads aided
by the State Of Missouri, and its means from
the State ard private sources, amount to up
wards Of $1,000 COO. nearly enough TO build
the road to the State line, deducting discounts
on bonds and interest. The portion OF the
road between st. Lotus and 81. Charles ID
and In operation. The portion be-
tween the latter place and the junction Of the
Hannibal and st. Joseph, is graded to some
extent, ayi Il expected to be completed tn.
present season. and thu remaining portion to
the northern line, it 10 confidently believed
within two years from this time.
The reason assigned BY the friends Of this
road in Northern Missouri, for desiring the
change indicated will be found clearly set
forth In the resolutions Of tie Convention
They are. in brief, that the Western ronts
leaves the trade and commerce Of the Des
Moline, valley and the whole of Eastern Iowa
to be carried of BY Eastern roads; that while
the distance from the State line to Fort Des
Moines, 10 some lao miles. the distance to OF
tumwa,i 10 but 30; that at this latter place q
junction would be secured with two Of ths
principal roads Of Iowa, at q point favorable
TO- competing for the business Of the State,
thereby securing more business for the road
with the cost OF 30 miles construction. than
conld be secured by building TAO miles. to say
noshiag Of the time that would be consumed
before junction could be formed with any
road, and before 1t could be made profitable
II seems to us that those rea-
sons are so weieh!y and appeal 90 strongly to
The interests Of the N. M. r. Co., that they
must exert controlling influence upon the ae-
lion Of the Directors In the premises. Wise
and discreet men, actnated BY the manifest in
terest Of the road, they will doubtless examine
ths relative advantages Of the tw, routes, and
decide in favor OF the one promising the larg.
est amount Of business with the least expendi
ture Of time and capital In construction, and
1t the same time securing the most numerous
md desirAbIa connections.
We have everv assurance that this proiec
Il regarded with the greatest favor by the
County Of Davis. A large delegation Of the
citizens Of that county attended the Conven-
ion at Lancaster, and pledged hearty co-ope-
.a'ion. and liberal aid. They have already vo-
ed $50, coo to be divided between this and
he Fort Madison road, in such proportion az
he County Judge may decide to be for the
interests Of said county.
In relation to Ottumwa and Wapello county
re can say that there 10 no assistance within
'ur power consistent with previous engage
nents to other roads, which we ought not ard
vhich we will not cheerfslly render. The
IIvantages to us will be incalculabls. II wants
,ut this road to make our railroad system per-
ect. Give Us direct access to 81. Louis. in
edition to the Burlington and Keokuk roads,
md We shall be unquestionably the most i'm
,ortant railroad centre in the State, or per-
laps in the West, excepting Chicago. Its ef-
'ects upon all our interests, agricultural, manu-
'asturiag and commercial, can readily be i'm
lgined.
The location OF the N. M R. to this place.
Q not only important 10 the local interests O.
his City and County but II will be Of incalcu-
able value to our two Other roads, both Of
which, will secure through ito agencya large
rade and commerce which they could not ex-
'ect without it. The Burlington road, which
Ne have already aided, and the Keokuk road
which We are only awaiting an opportunity to
lid, will find in the N. M. an active but at the
'ame time useful competitor. This might be
sasily demonstrated. Railroads desire above
Ill things numerous connections, at the same
point. The more the better for all. They are
mutually beneficial.
We commend this whole subject to the ton
liberation Of our citizens not doubling bat they
viii agree with us that it 10 one of the most i'm
portsnt that has ever claimed their attention,
sympathy, and cooperation. The extension
of the N. NJ. r. to this place 10 not BY any
means new project; but it comes now 80 back
I'd BY the wishes, and interests Of Northern
Missouri, and Of the road itself, that it looks
D. I'll