Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-02-18
Musca tine and Osk;alOOs;l X. Il.

We mentioned, last week, that Messrs Dix,
Farnam, and others connected with the M. &
NJ. K. r. Co., were in this place, and that
some negotiations wore pending, looking to
the issue of the bonds of this county to that
company. These negotiations resulted in the
submission of a proposition on the part Of the
company, in substance as follows: Nah" ska
county to issue bonds to the amount of tive
hundred thousand dollars, bearing ten per
cent. interest, the county paying the interest
on one-half the amount. The company agree
to finish the road to Oskaloosa in the month
of September, 1860, to locate the depot within
a half-mile of the public square, to expend
fifteen thousand dollars in Mahaska county
during the coming summer, to meet the
interest on one-half the bonds issued until the
road is completed, and in the event of not
completing the road by the time specified, to
refund the interest already paid by the county,
and for the faithful performance of it's part of
the contract, the company gives its penal bond
in the sum of S25o,oOo. The proposition was
signed on the part of the company by Jno. A.
Dix, President. 1t was subsequently signed
by the County Judge of this county, with the
provision that, in addition to the bond of the
company, personal security for the faithful
pel oIuldlCc VI us pdit VI Illc COlCIdCI NOulu
be required.
Wegive the proceedings of the mass meeting
held in Union Hall, on Saturday last, in
another column. A good deal of interest was
manifested, the hall being crowded with a
large representation from both town and
country. 1t was in accordance with the
unanimously expressed wish of the people
there assembled that Judge Reinehart con-
sented to sign the proposition presented by
the company. We have rarely seen more
unanimity and enthusiasm than was mani
tested by the entire meeting The proposition
of the company was considered on all hands
to be a fair one, and as favorable to the county
as could be expected under the circumstances
We look upon the completion of the NJ. &
NJ. road to this place in the summer of 1860
as one of the fixed facts of the future We
haye heretofore expressed some doubts as to
the ability of the NJ & NJ Company to COM
plete the road to Oskaloosa in the time speci-
fled. But better acquaintance with the
company and its resources, and the readiness
shown by some of the most wealthy and
influential citizens of Muscatine to Individually
endorse the bond of the company, satisfies us
that they not only can, but that they will
complete the road, and have the cars running
to this point as soon if not sooner than the
time mentioned in the proposition signed by
both parties. Hence, we congratulate the
people Of this county on tn il present pros
poets for an early connection with the Miss
issippi and the eastern States by railroad.
The intention is to commence some of the
heaviest work Immediately, and to have the
cars running this side of Skunk river by next
September. This side of that point, the
grading is comparatively light, and will be so
forwarded that, by the opening of the Spring
of 1860, there will be no hindrance to laying
the track rapidly forward to this city.
1t may be proper to say single word in
regard to the Keokuk road in this connection.
No action was taken by the meeting, on Sat
urday, in regard to the valley road, simply
from the fact that we have not yet received
from the K, Ft. D. & NJ. r. R.
Company. We read letter from Gen. Reed,
the President of that company, few days
since, in which he says that the arrangement
in progress for putting the road under con-
tract had not been consummated, but that the
Company had good reason to hope that such
would soon be made. We shall
ook with interest for the result Of the nego-
:iations. = Oskeloosa Herald, 11h.