The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-03-19
THE NORTH MISSOURI n. n.

Tue proceedings VI mectiHS Heis OF Cdt-
urday, inreIation to extending the North Mis-
souri Raj! Road to this place, which we pub
lish in another column, will be read by all OF
our subscribers with great interest. We re-
gard this movement as one Of the most impor-
tant which has ever been made, in the degree
in which it affects the interests Of Ottumwa,
Of Wapello county and Of this entire section
Of the Des Moines Valley. A Railroad con-
nection with St. Louis is a consummation
most earnestly TO be desired, inasmuch as it
will afford an uninterrupted outlet::fo the pro-
ducts of the valley. The experience Of few
winters has taught us that there is serious
obstacle in the way Of our connection with
Cities East of u.s.: namely the snow storms
which so often obstruct travel and the trans
portation Of freight on the Railroads of North
communication with St. Louis desirable, to
say nothing Of the immense advantages which
would be derived from an uninterrupted com
mercial intercourse with so wealthy and pow
erful City. @ 10
The Importance Of this subject is 80 appa-
rent to every one, that it will not require US to
devote moments time in setting it forth.
The question Of locating the North Nilsson
ri Railroad through Ottumwa, it will be seen,
did not originate here. 1t was first mooted in
that portion Of Missouri directly South of us,
and the people Of Wapello county are simply
invited to cooperate with others in securing
the success OF the project, and it becomes us
to make the best possible use Of the advantage
offered. The design Of the North Missouri
Road is to secure as much as possible, of the
trade Of the Des Moines valley and the upper
Mississippi country generally. st. Louis de.
sires to recover portion Of that business, Of
which she once had monopoly. Before the
age Of Railroads she had nearly the whole Of
the trade of this region, and it contributed as
much as any thing else, to give to her the COM
mercial power and greatness which she has
acquired. But as Col. O'Reilly remarked at
the meeting on Saturday, she felt very sensi-
bly, the effects of the first Railroad which was
constructed to the Mississippi. A vast amount
of produce which before had descended the
Mississippi and been deposited in her lap was
taken off in another direction. Other Rail-
roads have been built to the Mississippi and
every one has tended to draw of from St. ou-
is the trade Of Iowa. St. Louis merchants and
capitalists are aware Of this fact, although at
one time they did not believe such thing pos
sible, and they are deslrous to recover the
trade they have lost. Hence the North Mis-
souri, Railroad enterprise. Their interests
demand that this road should be constructed.
It win undoubtedly secure to them consider
able portion Of the trade of this valley, and Of
Central Iowa. And the trade Of the Des
Moins valley is something which they may
well be anxious to secure. Those who have
ascended the river to its sources all bear the
same testimony to the wonderful native rich
ness Of this valley. We hazard nothing in
saying That ii is without its equal on the Cont
nent. There is no interruption of fertile soil,
from the mouth Of the Des Moines to its sour
ces. The Des MONIES valley, is capable of sup
porting an Empire, and it is not long before it
will be the seat Of a Commercial Empire
In the development Of the power OF this won
derful Western land, the region in which It is
our good fortune to be situated, will take the
very front rank. II is its destiny, ani nothing
can prevent lite accomplishment but an earth :
quake to sink ii. Such is the Des Moines val
ley, ard st. Louis, or any other City, which
aspires to commanding position among West.
ern Cities, IL she looks well to ker laurels
will omit no effort to secure its commerce.
St. Louis understands this well, and will strive
theoretically to effect the early completion Of
the North Missouri Railroad. $ fg'
1t is obviously the interest OF St. Louis to
construct the road through that portion Of the
State East of the Centre. II will undoubted-
ly do more TO her advantage, than it would be
II constructed through thu central or western
portion, aud for this plain reason, that it viii
intersec. larger amount Of trade and travel.
Ottumwa stands therefore fair chance for
securing the road. 1t is already located we
understand to point in Northern Missouri
about south Of us, and as we have seen, it will
be to the interest Of st. Louis to take it
through the Eastern portion Of the State.
But because Of this variety Of circumstan-
ces in favor Of Ottumwa, il is no reason why
Ottumwa should not make some Efforts
Strenuous efforts are being made west Of US to
secure the road, and it behooyes the people Of
this place to do all that is in their power to Sc
cure it here. 1t should be borne in mind that
important Cites do not spring up entirely Of
their own accord; nor are powerful CONNER
ciai interests created without efforts on the
part Of those to be benefited by them. There
fore il it is our wish 10 thrive as City, to as
sumo thkt position which our natural resourc-
es have placed within our power, and unless
we would see others in the possession Of the
prize which is now offered to US. we must err
ert sarselres. We trust our citizens appreci-
ate the importance of this subject, and that
they will do their duty as becomes them.
Well, well, Ottumwa it seems, 10 about to
lift up her modesthsad. She has always been
the most unassuming town in the West. Set
down behind the Bluff, she has not cared to be
disturbed from her propriety, by tie crazy din
which accompanies unhealthy progress
While she has merely been making prspara-
lions to 60 ahead, some towns around her have
sprung up like mushrooms, have been COM
menced an built and finished and perhaps