The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-12-23
From the Daily Hawk-Eye
A Voice from Eddyyille.

Mr.. EDITOR We have watched with deer
interest the position taken by the Hawk. Eye
in relation to the location of the proposed
Northern branch Of the Burlington & NJ. r
R., the proposed terminus Of which is, for tn,
present, Oskaloosa.
1t would seem that the attention of our Burl
ington friends (and perhaps Of the entire r
r. Company has been directed to Agency
City as the point on the main road at which
the branch should diverge to the North, anc
thence follow the divide to Oskaloosa.
Now we believe tina. TO diverge at Ottmm,ca
and follow the valley Of the Des Moines river
to Ed1yrille, and then run up Muchakinoci
creek to Oskaloosa would be most advantage.
Gus to the Railroad Company, and as it would
1 be to our interest also, we ask leave to presen,
some Of our reasons through the columns of
your paper.
| 1. advantages in Constructing the Rood
The distance is less by some three or four
miles. The grading will probably be less per
mile than on the divide. Fifteen miles Of the
route would lie up the valley of the Des
Moines river, over the best possible ground for
Railroad while the divide route would be a
succession OF fills and cuts, unless directness
were entirely sacrificed to secure level track
Again, timber, rock, gravel, &C., are found
in abundance along the river and Mnchaki-
nocn, while the divide west, between Agency
and Oskaloosa, would not run through single
grove Of timber, or through gravel bed, or
by stone query. ..... .-.... $50.
Nor is this all-the right Of way would be
secured at half the expense along the valley,
and more than twice the aid could be furnished
to build tie DAD. ..
2. advantages in running and keeping up the
Road.-The diminished distance to be run
would, Of course, be SO much clear gain. The
bodies of timber and beds Of coal (Which lie
sleeping in every hill sde) would dimi nish the
cost Of fuel. The protection OF the valley
and the timber would make the valley road
pleasanter in winter, and secure the track
against the drifting SHOWS which bury it Oh
the Eraries.
3. .adrantages in point of balsiness.-One
local advantage would be the immense beds of
coal (son,e Of them seven and eight feet thick,)
which would be found directly on the road,
and the throwing open Of which would at
once establish the coal trade as an important
branch Of business, and at the same time make
Ottumwa, Eddyville and Oskaloosa important
manufacturing points, by WHICH they would
become valuable feeders to the Railroad. No
region Of country in Iowa is superior to tina
between Eddyville and Oskaloosa in mineral
wealth. Not only bituminous coal, but lime
stone OF the best quality, sandstone, and wa
ter.lime are found in abundance; Cannel coal
also exists, but the banks have not been dis
covered.
Further, the valley route would are the
trade OF both sides of the river, cut out com
pettors, aud secure the trade which would
pass up and down the river, il the road were
located upon the divide. With the Railro ad
upon its banks the river would operate as a
feeder to the Road otherwise it would oper-
ate as barrier, aud carry away its trade upon
its own bosom. There can indeed be no doubt
but the road wond pay better through the
three places named than to follow the divide.
The stages find that it pays the best, and SO
will Railroad. w. NJ. A.