St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-10-27
The McGregOr Railroad.

From the indifference, and we had
almost said opposition, indicated by
the people of McGrcgor, one would
suppose that they had either no direct
interest in the construction of Rail
road west. or that the interest of that
road was opposed to the welfare and
prosperity of McGrcgor. Neither of
which propositions is true, but on
the contrary every individual who in
tends to make McGrcgor his home is
directly interested in the success, wei
fare and prosperity of our western
Railroad. Why, therefore, this apathy
and snpineness on the part of our peo-
pie is astonishing indeed
1t is important if the people of Nc
Gregor wish to keep aud control the
heavy and valuable trade west and
northwest of us, that they now make
some effective exertion in opening up
channel of commerce commensurate
with the wants and necessities of that
trade, or it will be done by other
points. McGregor has no just claims,
and will not receive this trade only SO
long as it is made the interest of those
who control it to bring it here but
let our Railroad die out, and let the
Cedar Valley, or Dubuque and St. Pc
tiers Railroad, one or both be con-
structcd through the country west Of
US, which will most assuredly be done
within the next eighteen months. and
then we say, and all others may say
farewell to McGregor's prosperity and
greatness. That McGregor is now
one of the best and most available
points of trade in the northwest. is
manifest in the large amount of pro-
ducc that is daily brought to our mar
ket, doubling and trcbling other points
of three times her population but
that she will keep this trade, depends
entirely upon what progress is made
in extending westward facilities for
carrying off the produce and supply
ing the merchandise.
This question essentially relates to
McGregor's future. 1t is one of a
practical nature, and may be under
stood by all who will examine it. For
instance, now we have the trade of
the counties of Floyd, Mitchell, How
ard and Chickasaw, and those west of
them, all of which are well settled
and doing large amount of trade.
When the Cedar Valley road is con-
structed through these counties, they
will no longer look to McGregor as a
point of trade at all. Their people
will soon be strangers to us, aud our
town will have to circumscribc her
trade back again to a portion of Clay,
ton, Fayctte and Winnisllcik counties.
As much as we may deplorc this re.
suit it is inevitable, unless we fore.
stall it 10y extending to these coun,
ties facilities 10y which they may be
enabled to transport their grain with
out being compelled to wagon it,
The McGregor Western Railroad is
also important to Milwaukee and the
NJ. q NJ. Railroad. If the heavy trad,
which is now carried over the NJ. Il NJ
road to Milwaukee, goes off on the
Cedar Valley it will not only be lost
to Milwaukee, but also the profits Of
the carrying of it to the road itself,
and while we thus sec efforts making
to sap the very foundation of our COM
mcrcial prosperity both east and west,
may we not well say that we are sur
priscd that our people, and those
corporations and cities interested will
not arouse from their lethargy and &c
to work and secure to themselves and
their different interests that which le
ultimately belongs to them.
We are pleased to learn that efforts
are making to commence work upon
our western road again, and we hope
that it will receive a Just appreciation
and liberal support at the hands Of
our people. Let no local feeling in
tcrvcnc, but all take hold Of it with a
will aud determination to secure t.
McGregor that trade and prosperity
which is her legitimate legacy, given
her by naturc.-MGrfg0 Press.