Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-02-04
Trip 10 Oskaloosa.

may not feel in the humor to write, and the
facts he his to communicate may be of the
most insipid nature, yet custom holds him to
the task.
Our trip to the Oskaloosa Convention was
made by railroad to Washington, 3s miles,
and thence by private conveyanees, via
Brighton, Richland, Martinsburgh, &C., a
distance Of about 60 miles. Leaving Musca-
tine at noon, Monday I'VE arrived at Oskaloosa
Tuesday evening, and found comfortable
lodging at the Madison House, kept by Mr..
F. l.. Downing, formerly of Muscatine.
| Oskaloosa contains about 8 1000 inhabitants.
The business houses are mostly of brick.
Some Of them are unusually fine for an inte-
rior town. Odd Fellows Hall, erected the
past season, is 80 by 40 feet, and three stories
high. The second story is to be used as
town hail. ''Oskaloosa College" is magnifi-
cent structure, with stone cornices, which is
now in process Of erection. 1t will be COM
pleted next season, at a cost of about $50, 900.
The college is under the supervision of the
Christian denomination. Coal mines aboand
in the vicinity of Oskaloosa, and it is said the
best coal in the State is found there. 1t is
delivered in the town at an average Of 7 cents
per bushel. Cheap fuel for prairie country!
Oskaloosa is one of the most prosperous and
substantial towns in the interior of the State.
Mahaska county has rich soil, and is already
we'll populated. The county was organized
in 1874, and Oskaloosa was laid out in 1S47.
The county is named from a chief of the Iowa
tribe of lnlans, and the county seat from ais
daughter.
Our stay in the several towns between this
city and Oskaloosa was too brief for us to
take many notes concerning them. Wash
ington, the present terminus of the railroad,
claims population Of $500. 1t has received
an astonishing impetus to its growth since
September last, when the cars commenced
running to that point. There are four or five
branches Of mercantile establishments from
this city in that place, and all appear to be
doing well.
Brighton, IL miles south of Washington is
flourishing village of 700 inhabitants, with
five churches, three hotels, seven stores, &c.
Travellers will find the very best accommoda-
tons and pleasant stopping place at the
Fleak House, kept by L. B. Fleak, Esq, for
merly resident of this city. Our party
voted unanimously that we were RECALLED with
the best supper in his house that we had ever
partaken of in the country.
Richland, nine miles west of Brighton, in
the southeastern part of Keokuk county,
contains about 600 inhabitants. The railroad
is located about a'mile and a half north of this
village.
The other villages on the ''divide'' road to
Oskaloosa are Ioka, Martinsburgh and Ere.
mont, containing from 800 to 500 inhabitants
each. The last named is in Mahaska county,
and the others are in Keokuk.
Waugh's Point--so called from being stu
ated at point of timber extending into the
prairie-is not village, but the farmhouse
and store of Mr.. Waugh, who located there
fourteen years ago, being the first settler in
that part of the country. Our party was
provided with a sumptuous dinner at this
place, and advise travellers on that road to
make ita point" in their stoppings. Waugh's
Point is in Keokuk county, 20 miles from
Oskaloosa. Butler Post Office" is located at
this place, of which Mr.. Waugh is P. NJ.
Perhaps the most interesting information
We can communicate to our readers is some
thing concerning the railroad route from
Washington to Oskaloosa. As is generally
known, the route defects considerably to the
south from Washington, in order to avoid the
broken country on direct line to Oskaloosa.
The road is to cross Skunk river three miles
below the junction of the two forks of that
stream, and II miles from Washington. The
heaviest grading is on this part of the route.
After crossing the Skunk, the line ascends to
the high prairie land known as the "divide''
between the Skunk and Desmoines rivers, on
which it runs to Oskaloosa. For nearly %
miles no grading whatever will be required
simply ditchng each side of the track is all
that will be necessary before laying the tics
and rails
The length of the surveyed route from
Washington to Oskaloosa is 55 miles. For a
distance Of about 90 miles, it runs parallel
with the Burlington road, the two roads being
only about Is miles apart. The work is all
under contract, although no work has been
done since the financial crisis took place.
About $50, 900 have been expended in grading
the road between Washington and the Skunk.
The stone is on the ground, and the piling is
already done for the bridge over that stream.
If work should be recommended, with an
ordinary force the grading and bridging on the
entire route could be completed in 18 months
On our return, We took particular notice of
the magnificent railroad bridge which spans
the Iowa river, 20 miles west of this city, and
having Mr.. S. B. Reid, the efficient engineer
Of the company, at our side, ascertained from
him some facts concerning the structure. Its
entire length is 2l0O feet, of which 93S feet is
truss and ll64 feet trcsscl work. The stone
for the piers was obtained six miles from the
site of the bridge. The bridge to be con-
structed over Skunk river on the line of the
road will be Of the same dimensions.
Our citizens are no doubt all anxious to
know what are the prospects Of commencing
| work apain for the extenSion of tho railroad
from Washington to Oskaloosa. If the action
of the Mahaska county convention of next
Saturday is favorable, and the bonds of the
county arc issued to the company, we have
the assurance that work will be commenced at
once, and prosecuted vigorously As far as