The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-07-17

COUNCIL BLUFFS 1 ST. JOSEPH RAILROAD co.
Rspsr. Il he Dsars Il Dsssessss and Chief r.
sinea. rs &
To the Stockholders Of the Council Bluffs
and St. Joseph Railroad Compaay
The organization of this Company was
made on the 18th day Of May, 1858, ut which
time the present Board of Directors came
into Office. ~.a> g~
The Board at once proceeded to the dis
charge of their duties. II. c. MUTT, ESQ.,,
was elected Chief Engineer, and, with but
little delay, proceeded to make preIimina-
~ Survey of the route. For the result OF
his labors and calculations, We refer you to
bis elaborate and excellent Report herewith
submitted. The Report abounds with such
facts, observations, and information, as
must be interesting to all who desire a
knowledge of this important work.
The books have been open for the subscrip-
ton of stock since the first organization OF the
Company, and, though but little exertion
has been made to obtain subscriptions, yet
about 600 shares (sixty thousand dollars,)
have been subscribed by persons who, in
many instances, with difficulty, found the
Stock book in the hands Of some one Of the
Directors. We are satisfied that, with pro.
per exertion, the subscription Of Stock by
individuals may be increased to the sum Of
Three Hundred Thousand Dollars.
The indications in the COUNTIES along the
line of the Road, and in the adjoining coun'
ties in Nebraska, are, that no one county
will refuse to subscribe Stock, when called
upon, to an extent which each county may
deem its proportion. Already public meet
ings have been held in many localities
pledging themselves, by resolution and 9TH
erwise, to such policy. The Counties il
Iowa having Swamp Lands to dispose Of
and which they are authorized to do by late
act of the State Of Iowa, appear willing, Al
any time, to grant them, or the proceeds, te
aid in the construction of this Road. W.
have not, until now, progressed far enough
to ask these Counties to pledge themselves
by direct vote of the people, to any sum
as subscription to the Road, but have, as
basis for our conclusions, the general mani
festions of interest in behalf of the Road BY
those whom it will benefit, and by the citi'
zens of the Counties along the route.
The President of the Board. at the insti-
CATION of the Directors, visited the State Of
Missouri, for the purpose of ascertaining
the prospects for the progress of the Platte
Country Railroad, which is to connect US at
St. Joseph with the Hannibal and St. Joseph
Railroad, thus giving US an Eastern outlet ;
and, at Kansas City, with the Pacific Rail-
road connecting US by rail with St. Louis.
The President had the very best assurances
that Missouri would meet US ut the State
line. The Platte Country Railroad has the
benefit of the credit of the State of Missou-
ri to the extern. of $75O,OOO and the Coun-
ties along the line of the Road have made
liberal subscriptions of Stock.
The Directors have no partially to any
point, or Railroad Company, in the con-
struction of this road, their object being to
benefit the country and the Stockholders
If, therefore, they shall find it desirable, af-
ter the road-bed is completed, to lease it to
the Pacific K. r. Co., the St. Joseph and
Hannibal r. r. Co., the Burlington and Mis-
souri, r. R. Co., the NJ. & NJ. R. r. Co., they
will not hesitate to do so, and to that Com
pany which offers the best terms.
1t is entirely immaterial to US, personally,
or to the success of our Road, whether the
trade and produce of the country passes
South and East to Burlington, Hannibal and
St. Louis, or North and East to Davenport,
Burlington and Chicago. The Missouri VAL
ley trade will seek an outlet over that road
which can carry freight at the lowest rates.
Consequently it will be a matterof prime
Importance for the Eastern roadsto secure
the control and management of a ,oad tray
ersing, for two hundred and fftymiles, the
richest and most productive valley in the
world. Our first object, then, isto secure
the construction Of the road bed then to
provide means to place the supestructure
and equipment upon it, or lease to some
one of the various Companies whoe termi-
nil it connects.
Omaha and Council Bluffs will pon have
a Railroad connection with the last, over
the NJ. & NJ. road, as will Glenwool and Pa
ciic City, by the B. & NJ. Railroad and upon
this, these places can safely rely. The ac-
complishment Of this, however, will only
make more forcibly felt, the necessity of
road to supply the wants of all tha portion
Of Nebraska and Iowa fronting OF the Mis-
souri, River, and to bring into direct COM
munication with each other, and ino connec-
ton with all the Roads East and South,
Sioux City, Seargent's Bluffs, Nebraska City,
Omaha, and all the towns on both sides of
the River, so rapidly growing into import
ance.
The Counties of Harrison, Molona and
Woodbury., being Immediately Ntrth, and
the Counties in Nebraska opposite, feel a
deep interest in the construction of our road,
and are anxious to organize a Company for
its continuation to Seargent's Bluffs and
Sioux City. The Swamp Land Fund of these
Counties is very large, and, if granted for
the purpose, sufficient to grade the Road
through their limits. 1t is the wish of the
Directors to see the organization Of such a
Company, and an early construction of the
Road, thus making Tin connection with our