Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-03-14
wAPsrp1NrcoN VALLEY RAILROAD.

EE We last week gave brief outline
of the report of a committee in reference
to this project, which was as favorable as
we could wish, and decidedly more fiat
tcring than we had right to expect. A
meeting of all interested in the road will be
held at Independence on Thursday next,
in order to hear full report of the con-.
mi.tee, and to take the initiatory steps
for organizing Company to build the
Road.
1t is hardly necessary to urge upon the
citizens of this county the importance Of
now sestifying their interest in this pro-
iect. 1t needs but earnest and concen-
grnc unie 70 ACT. KIviatI interests Are n
work, and though no contemplated rail-
road route northwest can compare in ad-
,antages with this, yet by superior activ-
ity and energy, one other road, at least,
may deprive US of help which We may
now secure.
1t requires but a glance at the map OF
the State of Iowa to satisfy any one that
the route up this valley, as proposed for
this road, is one of the best, if not the
rery best in the State, and certainly far
superior to that Of any proposed route to
Minnesota. Starting from Anamosa,
in Jones county, it will run nearly in a
straight line northwest to Mitchell coun-
iy, connecting with road which is now
in contemplation, and which has just re-
ccived munifccnt grant of land from
Congress TO aid its construction, and
which is to run from St. Anthony and st
Paul in Minnesota, to the north line OF
this State, to some point not east of Nit
cLell county. In this course it viii in
tersect the Dubuque and P;sifc Road at
Independence, and the road running west
from McGregor's Landing, at Bradford,
in Chickasaw county.
With the exception ola few miles above
Anamosa, there will be no heavy grading
TO be done Oh this road. In fact it is pro-
iiounccd by those perfectly conversant
with the subject. to be the cheapest route
in the state. Timber and stone are plen-
ty along the whole route, aud the cost of
lies and masonry VIII consequently be
comparatively trivial. The country is
second To none in the State as regards
produc,iscncss, and il needs but the GER
,ain,y Of rail communication to dot its
surface with towns and villages.
1t is apparent to every mind that Chi
cage is, and must Of necessity be, the
great depot Of Western trade. and thatall
cities between her and the Missouri can
only BE-, at best. local markets. There
fore, the shortest and best route TO Chica-
70 and the markets Of the East, is the
grand desideratum with us in the selec-
ton of route TO the Mississippi. Let
us see how this route compares in this
respect with others proposed.
A road is in contemplation from Clinton
on the Mississippi. by, way Of Dewitt and
Upton. TO Cedar Rapids, aud thence up
the Cedar Valley to the north line OF the
STATE, connecting with Tie Minnesota read
before spoken of. This road is already
ogsaaized, and parily under contract. and
has received sock vote from several
counties along its proposed route. But
from Waterloo. in BlackLawk cpup,y, by
this route, il Is about 40 miles farther TO
Chicago, thai. iswprll BIZ By the Dubuque
sad pac.s. .cAs, aa1 as 3 matter % co,igse