The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-12-07

The People ~ Sne CaPlsoa LoeAlng -
wards Bnrllhgtom fer -. y. Facll-
ieiess
The people Of Des Moines City - well q
those Of OsksloosA are beginning to SEQ that
their only chance ~ 4 naiIroad il in counect
ing with tho B. = n. 4. Railroad at O.sumwa
Or some other point this side tie Des Moines -
After copying the article Of the Oskaloosa
Herald On this subject the Iowa Statesman
says:
From ihis it appears that the people Of Os-
kaloosa, like ourselves, have been depending,
somewhat confidently upon the promises Of the
N. 4 N. r. r. Company. But the dissppoint-
ment has caused them to turn their attention to
another roulette Burlington--which IL al
ready nearer their boundaries than any other,
and which, by its acts, shows that it is lire
Institution.
Next spring the Burlington road will be open
to within rs miles Of Oskaloosa and within 90
miles OF Des Moines. Oskaloosa Is, as we have
seen above, particularly interested in making
the earliest possible connection with it, as we
are in making an eastern connection.
Aahaska and Polk counties have each voted
. loan OF $500, 700 to aid ia the construction of
. Railroad. And Mahaska, we believe, is viii
ling to-day, to divert their loan to the building
of the line between Oskaloosa aud Ottumwa;
and If the people Of Polk are prepared to divert
their loans to aid in tho construction Of a road
to Oskaloosa, we can soon secure railroad to
our town. Or, if the people OF Mahaska and
Polk, will put their means together, making the
snug sum Of 5000, 900, this sum, together with
such amounts as might, and would be contribu.
bated by Burlington and Keokuk, (ior both
cities are decidedly interested in extending their
lines as far and as rapidly as possible towards
the centre OF the State,) would do much to-
wards building the road Of but ninety miles
in length.
The topography Of the country between Des
Mones and Ottumwa, il we understand it
rightly, presents no serious difficulties to easy
grading, and there is certainly no such heavy
work upon it as npon the Iowa City route
BY keeping near the river through the county,
and afterwards following the regular divide TO
Oskaloosa. we are confident that an extremely
favorable route might be found, both in align
ment and grade, one that would cost less per
mile than any other route. We could build
out of our town.
The Iowa City route of l25 miles has. in
Guiding the subscriptions OF Polk, Poweshiek
and Iowa counties, not exceeding 5000, 900, or
$4,000 per mile. The route We propose, hence
to Ottumwa, 80 miles, with the subscriptions
OF Folk and Makaska counties alone has $780,
COO, or say $4,000 per mile. The $4,000 per
mile on the upper route would not more than
grade one third Of it. Thu So, 900 per mile on
the southern rout would probably grade two
thirds OF it. Our aid, then, would 20 further,
anu DC more productive TO US on the OskalooSa
than on the Iowa City route, and this certainly
should favor It's decision. Again, proportonally,
DO miles could be built in three-.ourtb, the
lime OF 10 miles; and this is an additional and
consideration in its favor.
The connection at Otumwa, with the Bur
ihgton road, would give US equal facility, in
.ime ana expense, OF reaching Chicago or points |
nrther eastward. II would beuiit az more in
helping US with our heavy loads from the St.
Louis market. 1t would bring Us into direct |
with ST. Louis and Keokuk. and
Enable US to reach all points in the South and |
he Southeast more readily than the other line.
u has all the advantages the other line could |
give, and additional ones in facilitating our |
rade 1t can be built more cieapy per mile, |
ma there are less miles to build. Our aid Civ |
n to II would be more felt and more early
productive OF substantial results. II would form |
INK IN the heokuk line, it is true, and might |
De built under their organization.
Now what we have to propose practically in
elation to this matter is this:
Let delegates from Polk, Marion, Nahaska |
md Wappeo counties, and from Burlington, |
Aeoknk, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Peih, Des Mones, |
md even IRON st. Louis, and from all points |
iirecty or indirectly interested in this matter. |
meet at some central point-say at Oskaloosa- |
md discuss the matter fully and earnestly, and /
make united efforts to devise plan by which |
his important line Of road can be built. II |
concerns US all intimately. Shall we act upon
t! what say our friends in these other places? /