Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1858-05-13
Railroad Tecting..Interesting Facts in
regard to the Progress and Resources
of the Dubuque and Pacific Road.


Railroad N.ecting-.Interesting Facts in
regard to the Progress and Resources
OF the Dubuque and Pacific Road.
Gf- The relation which the Dubuque
and Pacific Railroad holds to the people
of Buchanan county and their material
interests, particularly at the present time,
when the construction of the road through
tie county would open for our surplus
produce market which we much need,
renders any statement regarding the fur
Their prosecution of the road, matter Of
considerable interest to US. For this
reason, detailed report Of the facts clio
lied at the meeting held in this place on
Thursday last we think will prove ac
ceptable to our readers. We cannot give
us full and just a report of the remarks
of the speakers, as we could wish, nor
follow in detail their arguments, but can
simply present, in brief, few of the
main facts and positions advanced.
The meeting, although but a few hours
notice was given, was we'll attended, and
throughout an unusual degree of interest
was manifested DR.. f. c. BIDwELL was
called to the Chair, who called upon
PLAT SMITH, Esq, of Dubuque, Vice
President and Attorney Of the Co., for an
explanation of the objects of the meet
ing, which he stated to be, to lay before
The people OF this vicinity some intelli-
gence as to the condition, prospects, and
wants of the Company.
Mr. SMITH first gave brief history Of
the organization, and spoke Of the origi
nal hteht of that organization, and of the
primary expectations Of the incorporators.
They had then no expectation Of receiY
ing grant Of lands TO aid them, but yet,
taking tho experience Of the Chicago and
Galena road as g basis, they calculated
unioubingly upon the investment being
Il paying one. He detailed the reasons
which they presumed justified the con-
clusion, and said the present earnings of
the road had proved the correctness of
their estimation. The Chicago and Ga
lena Railroad has been one Of the best
paving roads in the whole country, and
yet, while that road, when opened 40
miles. paid but 8 800 per mile, per an
nun. the Dubuque and Pacific road,
with a length of road of only 80 miles,
earned from the llth of May to the 3lst
of December, $50, 67O, which is a. the
rate of Sc, 696 per mile per annum. Mr..
SMITH then Instituted a comparison be-
tween tic natural and artificial advantages
Of Tic two roads, to show that while the
former load rapidly advanced in its
earnings as ii advanced in length, until ii
reached, in 1856, with 1873 miles of road,
$4,000 per mile per annum, there was
every evidence that the earnings OF the |
Dubuque and Pacific road would increase
in even greater ratio. This country is |
fully the equal of Illinois in agricultural
capacity, and is not inferior as regards
water power. The country, too, is bet
ter settled and more fully developed than
WAS that along the line Of the Chicago
and Galena road at the period of the lat
ter's construction. In lS49. the value
Of property in the counties bordering the
line of this road, from Chicago to
Dunleilh, 1873 miles, was SIT 100000, |
willie in the counties through which the
Dubuque and Pacific roads passes, from
Dubuque to TT. Dodge, 100 miles, the
value of the property was, in 1856,
sea, 100000. Illinois, too, has one mile
OF railroad for every 500 inhabitants,
while northern Iowa, with population
of els, 900, has but one mile to every six
thousand. Besides, the Galena and Chi
cage road comes in competition with the
upon its western terminus,
which greatly diminishes its business,
because railroads cannot compete with .
water carriage. Mr.. SMITH instaneed the
fact TINT although this road may be said
to terminate within the mines OF Du
buqae, yet scarcely a pound Of lead went
b. market over tie road, because il found
lis way there By the cheaper channels OF
he Mississippi and Ohio. With sath I