Nebraska advertiser., 1859-03-03
AMERICA.
Substance Of Remarks Made By II. D.
JONES, Respecting the Completion of

Substance of Remarks Made By II. D.
JONES, Respecting the Completion of
the So, 10. and Hannibal Railroad.
He said We have been called together this even
ing through the medium of public posters for the
interesting purpose of giving expression to our SEN
timents respecting the completion Of the first great
iron thoroughfare connecting together The two great
est watercourses in the United States. Being no
other than the noble father of waters and our own
adopted channel of commerce, the lengthy, turbid
Missouri.
This union has been affected between the cities
st. Joseph on the Missouri DC Hannibal, a prominent
town on the Mississippi. This connection unites
the "important and rapidly growing and aecumu-
lating interests of several Of the sisteThOod Of the
great northwest whose graneries are now groaning
under the bulthen of the results of the fruitful ex-
ertions Of the energetic husbandman.
The prairie wilds of the several States AMI Terri
tories of the West, have already been robbed of
their natural and charming beauty, by the active
and industrious pioneer, who has deemed it expe-
dent and profitable to turn the sod of natures
green for the more useful purpose of procuring the
benefits to be derived from the thick black mould
which lies beneath from which to obtain the neees-
saries of life by the sweat of his face
Among the most noted and prominent Of the
statesand Territories to be benefited by this result
is more Immediately the State of Missouri, with
all her commercial connections in every direction,
lying as she does as q great and important western
center of trade, being divided by the most prOmi-
nent leading water course on the ives. which has
been already of Incalculable advantage to the from
tier settlements. Already that State has several
important and wealthy cities within her boundaries
which are rapidly growing into extensive notoriety.
for enlarged mercantile business and enterprise
Then come Kansas Gnd Nebraska, and the future
Mountain States on their western frontier, as pre-
dicted by Colonel Benton, and also New Mexico and
Utah.
A line Of States rich in productive soil, suseepti-
bic of a high state Of cultivation, and from which
must result abundant and valuable harvests of c.
reals and with excellent wild fruits which so much
abound in the Mountain regions of Jefferson Terri
tory. All this accumulation must nc. esSarily flow
to the Missouri river at Omaha and other points of
note along its western bank and eventually find its
way in part to the Hannibal and St. Joseph Rail-
road.
In this calculation I have not taken into consid-
Grafton the great and all absorbing subject Of the
day, the results of the Jefferson or Nebraska Gold
Mines. 1t is supposed by many that a hundred
thousand or more of active energetic persons will
assemble there during the approaching summer,
whose explorations and operations will bring a vast
immediate trade to the eastern borders along our
adopted river, the "Big Muddy" through the Gov
ernmental thoroughfare by way Of the Platte VAL
ley to Omaha and other cities.
Then, again, is the eastern portion Of the renown-
ed Missouri Valley, consisting of the western slope
of the young and AOurishing State Of Iowa, which
now seeks an outlet in common with other States
and Territories through the Missouri.
From what ] have said, it necessarily will follow
to a considerable extent that much of this vast trade
must, of course, pass over the Hannibal & st. 10.
Railroad, until others are completed through the
State Of Iowa, and place themselves in competition
for the trade of this vast region. This brings me
to consider another subject of equal Importance tc
the country at large, but of much greater or more
immediate benefit to our own section of the prolific
west. l mean the construction Of the st. JOSEPH
and Council Bluffs railroad.
Under the name Of the Platte country railroad
the State Legislature of Missouri was induced to
loan a corporation formed to build a road from St
10. to Council Bluffs the sum of eleven hundred and
fifty thousand dollars which; together with q large
subscription from the capitalists and citizens imne-
diately along the line, insures the construction of the
road to the Iowa line without much doubt.
From the south line Of Iowa to Council Bluffs
the distance as aseertained by an actual survey with
instruments in the hands of a competent engineer
is forty-eight miles.
The estimates made during the Summer Of 1853
by Mr.. Mutt, the engineer employed, shows the cos
, per mile to be twenty thousand dollars, including
the running stock, and indeed the entire expendi
lures for the construction Of the road, and its full
equipment ready fer use.
The terminus on the Missouri line is about a mile
north Of Linden landing, or the narrows between
the Nishnabottony and the Missouri rivers, and thu
average grade one and a-half feet to the mile, bur
in no section more than three feet.
1t is very nearly a straight road, appr0ximatin.
within FIVE hundredths, with curves scarcely notice
able.
Between sixty and a hundred thousand dollars ba
been subscribed by individuals interested in tn,
l road, whilst the counties Of Fremont, Mills and Pot
taWattOmie) have given much encouragement il
the way Of %proHering the swamp lands Of their re
spective counties, which, by the way, | believe ha
not been entirely consumated, nor surely obtaine,
for the road.
Thisroad would not only be of great convenience
in giving US a connection with the St Joseph anC
Hannibal road, which would give us a direct quite
to the Mississippi on our Eastern course, but ais
2 place US in immediate connection with the st. Loui
and Pacific road, which would provide US with south
ern connection at Kansas City.
Besides the advantage it would give to the sur
rounding States and Territories in a commercial
l view, it would add largely to the value Of the prop
erty, not only of land in the immediate vicinity bu
make a ready market for miles On either side OF IN,
Z river, both in Iowa and Nebraska.
This portion of the road is destined eventually +
become one of the great links of the chair. whicl
r in time vii! be under construction from st. Louis I
the fertile valleys and Pine forests of the Saint Pc
tiers, in the SISte o. Minnesota; by way of Siou.
City, and Big Sioux, or tho beautiful and exten
siYe valley of the Boyer river, the latter of whicl
would become the main artery Of trade for all wcs
tern Iowa.
Companies already have contemplated the advan
tages to be derived from such a road, and have uni
ted their energies and capital in corporations for th
Sioux City and Council Bluff road. Whilst anothe
company have united in n corporote cspacitv. undo
the name of the Council Bluffs and Boyer Vale
railroad company.
Both are regularly organized and ready for opera
[ ton in any manner to advance the condition Of thci
respective roads, and may ere long expect to elea
$ much from what now only appears as is general
o termed the wind work or first gas of the company
7 efforts.
J, There must always be considerable talk before any
thing can be permanently ACCOMPLISHED. In an
commencement of Railroad construction. they ST.,
e with wind and end with steam.
The Hannibal and st Joseph road must cventu
5 ally md a connection with the Platte Valley an
:, South Pass Railroads at Fort Kearnev. which. an
. parently, can be easily accomplished BIZ traveilin
the Valleys Of the Missouri, Big Nemaha, and Blu
Rivers, which lead very favorably in that dire
ton.
This line Of connection would also accomnodal
large number Of the intelligent and enterprisin
e citizens Of Kansas and Nebraska BIZ extending raj
! road connections TO the doors OF the Agriculturisr
U Of mich the Iesf ucrfionc Of fl,,,r To-r:.-: