Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-02-13

lhe l0qui6ltive traveller, SEEKING =
home, or speculative opening, in the
Western States, will be likely to be ia
vorably impressed with the Topographic
cal beauties Of the State Of Iowa. The
surface Of the country, though moder-
ateIy undulating, 10 nowhere roughly
broken by mountains. or high hills. The
southern portion Of the State especially
abounds with grassy lawns and serdsnt
plains, interspersed with groves, many
small streams, aud intersectcd by the
Des Moines, Skunk and Iowa rivers. The
scenery Of the north is bold and striking;
the country is elevated, hills and mounds
are common, tall oaks are often seen in
all their native majesty, while the rivers
tumble over precipltous edges OF craggy
rocks 10 the lower plains.
A glance At the map will show that
Iowa is destined at IN early day 10 be
the seat Of An important railway devel-
opment. Situated between the Misss-
sippi and Missouri rvers, with impor-
tant rivers OF her own running as tribu
tarics to these great water boundaries,
with agricultural resources unlimited sud
with abundant coal and lead riches. only
awaiting development, return OF pros
porous times only Is needed to revive
the railway scheme OF the young and
promising sister Of the West. A friend,
we'll acquainted with the resources of the
State. and her history and hopes, has
handed us the following paragraph IN re-
gard to her railways, present and pros
pectlve:
"No inland State in the Union pos
sesscs better natural commercial advan
tages than Iowa. The two great rivers
OF the continent wash its eastern and
western shores, add to this fact the wise
and rapidly developing railroad system
of that State, assisted by munificeDt
land granite, which system, when com
peted, will place every farm at furthest
within twenty miles OF railroad or nav
lgable river, and we cannot but admire
the wisdom Of its Legislators, and con-
graduate the fortunate possessor OF any
Of its fertile domain. Whenever the
public fully appreciates the early and
complete development OF Iowa by her
railroads, emigration will again swarm
upon her prairies, and sit down on her
rivers sides. The second begirs of emf
Grafton is to be composed of those who
seek to be within sound OF tho locomo-
tive whistle AZ we'll as the church bell
Iowa, living in direct line of travel and
traffic from New York to the South
Pass, has projected five parallel lines
from The Mississippi to the Missouri,
about forty miles apart. OF these the
Burlington and Missouri River Road is
the most southern route--tetmini, Bur-
lington, on TIE MISSISSIPPI, and mouth of
the Platte, on the Missouri. THIS road
is completed and running to Ottumws,
IS miles, reaching the Des Moincs river.
1t has a land grant OF $4,000 acres. No
work tcyold the Des Molnes has been
done tho completed inc runs through
the most populous part OF tie State, and
the unfinished portion beyond the river
stretches into one Of the best agricultur-
al regions # the couL.ry. The Missis.
sipri and Missouri Railroad has for its
ternin on the east, Davenport and
A'uscatine on the west, Council Bluffs.
On the line Of this road are Iowa City
and Des MONIES, the capital of the State.
The road is completed and running to
Marengo, about ono hundred miles, and
will early the ensuing Spring reach
Grinncll, twenty five miles to the west
ward, with good lrosI ect of reaching
Des Mones one year thereafter. Des
Moines is centrally located, and has a
Of 5000. This rod has a
grant Of 100000 acres, lying chiefly
west Of the Des Mone.. The Iowa and
Nebraska Railroad, from Clinton, on the
Mississippi, to Cedar Rapids, a distance
of 80 ,nles, has been in operation near
~ two years. The Cedar Rapids and
Missouri River Railroad, from Cedar
Rapids to Decatur, on the Missouri river
ian extension of the Iowa aud Nebraska)
We learn, will show evidence of vitality
the coming Spring; length 24O miles !;
land grant, 100000 acres Of the finest
lands in the West. This line crosses the
Iowa River at Marshalltown, the Des
Moines at Boonsboro, at both points
touching some Of the largest coal beds
in the State.
The Dubuque and Sioux City Rail-
road has for its term,ni: on the east,
Dubuque, and Sioux CITY, on the Mis-
sour, At the west length, 325 miles !;
land grant, l,O5l 900 acres road COM
plrtcd and running 100 miles, to Cedar
Falls. Principal points on this road are
Independence. Cedar Falls, and Fort
Dodge; the latter on the Des Moines,
and pro- ably, commercially considered
the most important inland town in the
State, having incxhaustible coal forma-
tons, the largest gypsum beds in the
United States, abundance of kaolne
and limestone, and, as far as geological
formations indicate, saline springs may
be found BY boring, al Of which must
be developed by the building Of the ID.
and S. {. +. r., and the road mp the
valley Of the Des Moines. That these
roads will endeavor to reach Fort Dodge
early can be safely conjectured.
The McGregor and Sioux River Rail-
road has for its termini, McGregor on
the Mississippi, aud Nekimi, on the Big
Sioux river aud near the mouth Of tho
Red Rock river. This road has no iron
laid down, but nearly twenty-five miles
graded. The chief points on the road
are ST. Charles. or the Cedar, and AL