Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-09-26

Du-y Jets OF steam from our manufactures
the constant rumbling OF arriving and de
| parting trains, and the never ceasing hum o
an active cityA will testify, that although
our beginnings were comparatively small
still. by fostering our resources and mani.
festinS indomitable energy, we had been
enabled to become great.
| lhe committee, in approaching the mat
ter for which they were appointed. would
observe, that having had but short time
! to make an exploration Of the country, a
reconnaissance Of one route only was made,
and from its elaine to consideration ss being
. most desirable and advantageous connec-
ton to establish, possessing the essential re-
iuirements for the formation Of good and
cheap rad, would strongly recommend it
to particular attention. The estimate in
full OF this line is presented, and upon 1t is
predlcated the basis Of an estimate for the
other route. which from the favorableness
OF the flrst must place the second in an ad-
vantageous light.
In order to make judicious connection
with Cedar County from this city civerging
from the NJ. d N. Railroad, two routes ma
turally suggest themselves-the most west
erly. from Durant to Mt Vernon in Linn
county. viG Upton, interesting the c. l. 4
N. Il. (mOre familarly known as the Clinton
railroad) at that place, which would require
thirty-six miles Of new road to be built, and
would traverse region Of country entirely
outside OF Scott county and the most east
erly, from q point between the Walcott
Station and the west line OF Davenport
township, to Wheatland, q station on the
Clinton road just west Of the Wsubsipine.
con River. requiring only twenty miles Of
new road. and running nearly the whole
distance through the county Of Scott. The
latter is the route which has been particu-
isrly examined. By the construction Of this
twenty miles at cost Of $276,6S9, a dis
tance Of fifty miles is made tributary to our
market, there being already thirty miles
building west of Wheatland, in the direc-
tion of Cedar Rapids through one of the
best cultivated regions in Iowa. Assuring
them, that road from Durant to Mt Yer
noon, ria Upton, can be built as cheap per
mile as the one mentioned to Wheatland,
thereby giving the former most favorable
comparison, it will been seen that the west
erly route will cost S4OS,O24, an excess Of
s22l,S 1885 ovsr the easterly line. whilst the
same extent OF country is reached both
ways.
The route examind by the committee di-
verges on an elevated plateau in "a north
westerly course to the west side of Hickory |
Grove, about one and half miles from |
Maysville. The country SO far presents an |
unequal evenness of surface for six miles, |
descending northward at the rate of about |
10 feet to the mile towards the Valley of
Muddy Creek. The line should then bear
q few degrees to west SO as to follow said |
valley between the old road to Dixon and
the present road to Big Walnut Grove.
leaving Aliens Grove about two miles and |
Dixon mile to the east In this reach
there would be four miles of level grade
and two miles not exceeding 30 feet to
mile. The line would then cross the valley |
Little Walnut Creek, and following up a
branch oft, heading northwest, to within
a fourth OF a mile south Big Rock, where
an elevated table land is easily assembled
and followed on to the valley Of Yankee
Run, where q suitable connection can be
made with Clinton road at Wheatland.-
The last eight miles would have about one
miles. going each way, for the maximum
grade of 40 feet per mile. The entire route
is well adapted to good and cheap road
Abundance of rock necessary for structure
can be had conv veniently. When surveyed,
The line will not measure more than half q
mile over an air line. The country too, is
rich and well cultivated. There are good
farms the entire way-no waste land. The
plough has been busy everywhere. On
The roads are to be met heavily laden teams
vending their way to your city, over badly
kept public roads and bridgeless streams,
and yet. they will come from the neighbor.
hood of the Clinton railroad, preferring the
increased prices which they can procure at
his market.
The following is the estimate of the cost
If construction and equipment, in detail Of
he proposed road. In this the item of su
and contingencies have not
,een included, which would amount proba-
oly to $4,000