The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-04-16
From the Magnolia Republican.
Council Bluffs and Sioux City Railroad.

Messrs. Editors:-
In my last endeavored
to show your readers that We were in need
of Railroad, and also stated some of the
benefits We should experience by having
both East and West, North and South Rail-
roads. .-...-
As the East and West roads are already
established, propose to speak only of the
North and South Railroad, and answer the
question shave we a good route for such Il
road,' or in other words scan it be easily
constructed ?" answer, yes; for nature has
almost graded it, leaving little for man to
do. ..
As in other cases, so in this, there are two
or three distinct routes, each claiming certain
excellences for itself, and having certain ia
vorites, owing to interest and difference of
Judgment in the premises.
The first shall call the River route, the
second the Bottom route, and the third the
Bluff route. The first will suppose to ieav o
Crescent City; and pass along as near the
Missouri River as circumstances will permit,
running through Cincinnati in Harrison, and
OnaWa in Monona county. l cannot speak
definitely of this route, having never trayers-
ed it's lch0ie course. But it must be quite
evident to all, that his route would only ac-
comm odate these two towns and few bot
tom people. This would do manifest in as
tice to the other inhabitants Of those two
counties, and besides, these two towns have
n river communication during the summer,
and should be willing to give the other
tolcRS, farther back, the Railroad commuui-
cation, unless, upon survey, there should
be found nsurmountnble obstacles to the
construction Of a Railroad along their line.
The Bottom Route, after leaving Crescent
City, would pass through the whole length
Of the Missouri bottom, and running inter
mediate between Onawa and the Bluffs or
Little Sioux river--accommodatiDg no town
or county, but making straight shoot from
Crescent to Sioux City. This route is OF
iectionable, from the fact that it would tray-
erse one side of these two counties, and
would furnish no reasonable business ac-
CONNIE dations to these two counties, as such.
Besides large portion Of the ground on tbs
route must be quite soft, (being covered
with water during some parts of the Year,
and require large fills, and gravel to be car
ried from the bluffs to complete the work for
the construction of it, and the repairs Of it,
to bcepit in running order, be attended with
great expense.
The third or Bluff Route, will suppose
to continue from Crescent City under the
bluffs, touching near St. John, Calhoun and
Little Sioux, in Harrison county, al1 near
Bcvdere and kennebec, in MonOna county,
passing nearer the centres of these counties
than either Of the other routes, and touch
ing several business points, viz: ST. John,
or the outlet Of the Boyer from the oiutis !;
Calhoun. or the outlet Of the Willow Little
-; H. -l.,t of lei,
derc, or the outlet Of the Maple Kennebec,
or the outlet Of the Little Sioux river.
This route also adapts itself to the con-
templateI lrlnch roads, that are to shoot
out from ,Ac main trunk, viz: one up the
Bower valley, and the other up the Little
Sioux. Till route is Of an easy grade, pc.
ing the n%tural fall of the Missouri nearly
all the way on hard !&nl-runnng through
many gr&ycl b"ds on the route-nceding no
fills, and lat slight cuts easily kept in re-
pair-reQuiriug 70 bad or short curves, and
but short increase in distance, over the
other routes. Indeed, there can be no pos
sibIe objections to the bluff route, except it
be found in the cures and increase Of dis
lance. The former can be obviated by ju-
diciOus engineering, and the latter is more
than compensated by its other advantages
over the other routes. However, it is not
likely that Harrison and Monona counties
will vote an appropriation to this Railroad,
till the bluff route has been thoroughly and
judlcIoasIv surveyed, and also it be u-cer-
tanned beyond cayll, that there are nsur-
mountahle objections to this route because
it is by this route, that these TWO counties
can be in any measure accommodated in their
business operations, and because the rioters
Of these counties furnishing the means to
build the road, must ne"es$Grj'y have :heir
feelings consulted in its location.
In my next will endNavor to answer the
question, havo we the means at our com
mand to build the road %
/ JUNIUS.