The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-20
SAINT PAUL, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1860
Railroad Connection with Dubuque.

The Dubuque Herald says that the Cedar
Falls and Minnesota Railroad Company,
has executed a contract with certain Boston
capitalists, to build the entire line of the
road from Cedar Falls, Iowa, to the Mime
sofa State line, by Jan. l, 1868. This road
connects, at the Iowa line, with the propo-
sed Minneapolis and Cedar Valley Railroad
The Herald says:
The terms of the contract have not'al
transpired, nor is it material what they are
1t is sufficient to say that by the engagement
entered into by Col. Edgerton and his
friends, the road is to be constructed and
equipped to Waverly, the county seat of
Bremen county, by Jan. lst 1861 to Floyd,
in Floyd county, by Jan. lst, 1862, and to
the State line by Jan. lst, 1868, unless the
Minneapolis and Cedar Valley Railroad
should te completed sooner in which event
the contractors Obligate themselves to build
the road to the State line by the time the
NJ. G. V. R. r. is in operation to that point.
The contractors will commence upon their
work early in the spring, and will doubtless
complete the road to Waverly good deal
in advance of the lst of Jan. next; at least
in time for the removal of the next crop. 1t
is altogether probable that the extension of
the Dubuque and Pacific to Cedar Falls,
and the completion of the Cedar Falls and
Minnesota road to Waverly, will prove such
stimulants to business and immigration, that
the valley of the Cedar as we'll as the finest
portion of Southern Minnesota, to be drain
ed by this road, will demand the more rapid
extension of the road from Waverly north,
than this contract calls for.
The country traversed by this road is the
garden of the West, and has by its water
power and natural beauty attracted greater
population than any other section which has
not been open for settlement longer period.
Farms, mills, villages and towns are scat
tered thickly along its rapid and pure
streams, and everywhere an energy and
prosperity is exhibited which may challenge
comparison. But all this energy and pros
perity is cramped and retarded by the dis
tance and expense of reaching market, which
operation has hitherto consumed from 25 to
90 per cent. of the value of all their pro-
ductions. The same cause enhanced the cost
Of every article sold by the merchant and
cheated of his earnings. The completion of
the Cedar Falls and Minnesota Road sup
plies the remedy for this evil, and at once
enables the farmer to realize fifty to one
hundred per cent. more for his labor than he
has hitherto been able to do. Their pork
and beef, and wheat and corn and oats will
bring them very nearly as much at their
doors as they have heretofore done after
hauling them one hundred miles to the
Mississippi.
1t is important likewise from another
consideration, that it connects with rail-
road which in one hundred and three miles
reaches st. Paul, and one hundred and thir-
teen, Minneapolis large portion of which
is graded and which stands in about as good
position as any other Railroad in Mime
sofa. These roads, when completed, will
bring St. Paul within ten hours ride of
Dubuque.
| 1t will present not only an expeditions
mode of reaching this city, but Chicago also,
being the shortest and quickest route yet
projected between the Garden City and st.
Paul.
An idea of distance by the different
routes may be obtained from the following
| figures
From Chicago via G. & c. u, and 7. c. R.
r. to Dubuque. Observation-Disclosures. lSS
Dubuque via d. & P, G. F. & NJ. R.
K. to St. Paul. l................... 273
g Chicago to St. Paul via Dubuque. 46l
Chicago to La Crosse via c. q La c.
H. II. 5UU
La Crosse by projected railroad.... IT'S
g Chicago to St. Paul via La Crosse. ATS