The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1860-05-10
across the State the advantages Of railroad.


southwestern portion Of Iowa, and 6nd By
comparison, that the construction Of your road
will bring thirty seven counties nearer 10 81.
Louis than they are or ever can be to Chicago.
have footed up tho population o. these
counties, and find it amounts to 1066OO; or.
in round numbers, 100000. There are sever.
al other counties where the claims Of your road
would be at least equal to those Of any other,
and you could reasonably expect large LEGAL
business. Now is the time to secure this trade
while there are no roads built into this section.
This trade would be valuable now, but 1t IL
only a fraction what time will make it.
our State, now representing 100000
souls, will represent million. And
wherever the tide Of business is then
found flowing, it will likely to continue
to flow. For all who arc at all acquaint.
ed with the practical operation of these
things, know how difficult it is to change
trade from an old channel to new one.
A very important item Of local bust.
ness will be the coal trade. Your road
passes over inexhaustabls beds Of it,
which arc now opened and worked with
great facility.
At Eddyville on the Des Moines river,
camel coal has been found, and should
further developments show that there 10
an abundance Of it, it vii! be mine Of
wealth.
The northern portion Of tho State Is
not nearly SO we'll tim bered as the south.
ern portion, and tho northwest quarter
is, comparatively speaking, almost tim.
berless It will be the province Of your
road to take the coal from Mahaska to
the north line Of the State, and some may
even ind its way tito the big prairics Of
Minnesota.
Your road will cross tho four land
grant roads, and by them will be able to
distribute this much needed article to
nearly every county in the State.
Your road leaves tho Mississippi riv.
err an average distance 100 miles on the
east, which will prevent them from com.
ing into competition for the local trade
that properly belongs to each. Forty
miles is frequently estimated % the lin.
it Of profitable trade on each side Of .
railroad, which leaves sixty miles to 60
to the river. These remarks apply with
equal force to the entire route from st.
Louis to St. Paul, except, perhaps, the
southern portion Of the North Missouri
Railroad.
THROUGH BUSINESS.
In speaking Of through business, I
speak Of tho whole line from St. Louis
to St. Paul.
The river will undoubtedly come in
competition with this great trunk, for
the through business and the question
arises as to the amount Of traffic that
will probably be diverted.
There are several serious difficulties in
navigating the river. 70 wit: frost, shall.
lows and bridges. Tho first keeps it
closed from four to six months Of tho
year say, on an average, five months cut
Of twelve.
OF the other seven months it 10 fro.
quently the case TINT the water on tho
rapids is so shallow that navigation be.
comes both expensive and dangerous,
and the time required to make trip al.
together problematical.
Another obstruction is the construc.
ton Of bridges. which has been 80 much
complained Of for years past but tho
bridges still stand, and tho probability
is that few years will SEQ still others to
keep them company.
From st Louis to St. Paul, by railroad, 10
$40 miles From St. Louis to ST. Paul, by river
is $40 miles.
This shows difference Of ESQ miles
in favor Of the railroad, so that passen.
gers can probably be carried By rail ~
cheap as by water, and in one fourth Of
tho time.
In looking this matter over. We do
not SEQ that the railroad need to fear
the competition Of the river for through
business for 40 has been shown, 10
should do al the business for. Eve
months in the year, and at other times
when the water is low.
Our route being 10 much shorter. We
should carry all the passengers and al
kinds Of freight where time is con.
we should do all express bus.
mess, carry Al! express freight, and tho
United States mails.
These items Of themselves would
make good business.
The people Of Iowa look to St.tLouia
as the best market they can 60 to buy
groceries. And she should furnish 6ve
hundred miles Of country; and will do
so when the proper facilities are furnish
ed. Let trains loaded with groceries
leave St. Louis for the interior Of Iowa,
distribute their wares, and return load.
ed with tho products Of the soil. Then
each party receive their benefits; ono in
the reduced cost Of sugar, coffee, 30,