The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-09-26

Sales of merchandise; lumber, &c, &C.,
very active, and the town packed full of
teams. See Hoffman, Benton & Co.'S
Price Current for details of the market.
Letter from Chicago-R ailrood to the
Cedar-SOmcthing New.
Below will be found letter which OK
plains itself. The writer is stranger to
US, but we are informed that hc is expert
enced in the construction of such lines of
road as he contemplates proposing to the
consideration of Northern Iowa. A COM
pany at Chicago is ready to commence the
work without delay. Brenchcs can be
built either Of wood or iron from any point
to the main line, and the roads will be as
accessible to farmers as the canals of the
east are. Time will turn the main trunk
into a railroad regular, but until the coun-
try is more improved and better able to sus-
tain railway it is possible the plan here
proposed, is the best for the country and city.
We give the public the letter of Mr.. Nor
gan and when he comes to see us our citi-
zens can give him their views:
CHICAGO, Sept 81, 1860.
Col. RlcHAEDsoN-Dear Sir My friend
Mr.. Bowman informs me that he has writ
ten to you in relation to Horse Railroad
from McGrcgor to Cedar River. The i'm
portance of such work to your place, as
wei as to the interior, is too evident to re-
quire comment; but do not think it's ef-
fects are justly appreciated. A railroad
operated by steam, under the ordinary sys-
tenn, would be very injurious to the inter-
ests of your city, but structure which
would continue to bring the farming COM
munlty i'll to do their trading and which
would reduce the price of transportation at
least to sixth part Of what it cost at pres
ent, could not fail of promoting the pros
perity of McGregor Experience has shown
in every instance that the wealth of the
! merce. Facilities which can be given
by cheaply constructed road, with light
rails and light rolling stock, and with a
well Macadamized horse path, extending
westward, whilst numerous spurs would
reach wide district Of country, would not
only double the present value of every
farm but increase to an incredible degree
the amount OF products brought to market
as we'll as the sources of all kinds Of bust
ness. have for many years been engaged
in the construction of railroads. | have
become amiliar with all their defects and
have observed closely the effects produced
by their operation. They have brought
about great changes by the expedition and
facilities of transit they have afforded but
they have fallen far short of meeting the
wants OF the community in the transporta-
ton Of freight. Someting between plank
roads and railroads, as they now exist, con-
stitute farmers railroad The capacity of
such road when propose for bringing
the products of the country to navigablp
waters, is greater than that OF any first
class railroad am acquainted with. This
assertion will appear extraordinary, but it
is not difficult to prove its truth. A freight
train hauled by first class locomotive, car
ries, when its cars are fully loaded, 200 tons
nett weight, or $500 bushels of grain of
TO pounds; the total expense, including
maintanance of way and repairs of rolling
stock, NC, amounts to one dollar mile
1t is found that, from the fluctuations tn
trade, the average load is only one-third of
the full load, hence the cost of running
three miles must be taken for each one mile
over which the freight is transported; hence
to run thirty three and one-third miles with
the train alluded to, the expense is 500.
The charges, however, necessary to cover
all contingencies would be three cents per
bushel, OF 1924. Add t. this the cost to
the farmer Of hauling his stuff to the depot
and OF commission, &C., the total cost
would be $3.50. On a farmers railroad it
would require Is pair Of horses and so
wagons to perform the same work, which
at 50 30 per day would be $40; allow that
the freight he brings back would only COW
er the cost of hauling to the depot, &c,
and we have $50 against SAG, with $l24
to be paid over to the railroad company for
the use of track and wagons, which would
be large revenue for the business which
road from McGregor westward would be
sure to command Although the number
OF teams to carry the same loading to your
town might be less than now required, the
total amount Of produce brought in and the
money received and expended would be
greater. A ght engine and car
for pass myers could be run twice day
over the road without difficulty, under
proper system.
propose visiting McGrcgor with Mr.
Bowman sometime next week, when hope
for the pleasure of seeing you and of ex-
planning facts more fully. | am convinced
that the future of your city is dependent on
the construction of a cheap road as des- |
cribcd. Without it all its resources will be
cut off, and with it you may defy the COM
petition of the Cedar Valley railroad or
my other that is likely to be built.
Yours truly,
RICHARD p. MORGAN.