The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-01-12
KEOKUK, IOWA: SATURDAY. JANUARY 1e, 1861

SATURDAY. JANUARY 12, 1861.
portion of the line between Carthage and nine
aeand for the extension and completion of the tracks and
wharfs the River opposite Keokuk addition local SUBJ
scrpons, contemplate the and disposition of limited
amount OF first bond covering the whole line OF forty
miles OF road the aggregate OF which not to exceed
$4,000 per me and much less be found practicable
which, if negotiated reasonable rate, will be ample
pete the line during the ensuing season. per the
contract and the estimates of the Engineer
The enquiry would naturally arise whether this road would
the interest the cost together with the acng
&C. This be doubted proof Of which submit the
following facts and comparisons, wit
Gross earnings OF 900 per mile per would be consd
ample meet This would give on the forty
six miles the of Sl38 700 per Allowing 500 900 of
that for expenses and REPAIRS would leave the of 900 for
900, aHhough the cost sroud be much less than that sun)
and annual sinking fund Of $4,000 This sinking fund will
that the costbeng fair of the Of
western roads and will enable the fairly show the merits
OF our road
By comparing these estimates with the earnings of other roads
similarly situated the roads from Gslesburg Quincy
and Gaesbrg Burlington, will get approximate results
example we Will take the last three during which time
the West has been posated financial ruin general fail
ure of crops and business.
From Galesburg Quincy the distance is 100 miles:
Total earnings for 1857 1887 GIG So
1858 26s, 1892
!" :. - 1859 293, "a
From Gaesburg Burlington distance AZ miles,
Total earnings for 1857 s1s61l145
- !. 1858 103 50a 43
=. =" 1859 s5,o49.43
With the above compare from Chicago to Burlington
distance 20 miles
Total earnings year ending April soh 1860 81 1888 s
From the above certain facts manifest:
1st The Quincy branch earned in 1857 $3s7676 pei mile
3D. Burlington - 8 3OO265 ]" .s
3d. 3d. :. Quincy :. averaged years, s,sssss 8 q
5th g CHI. Burlington line earned in so 659027
The difference between the earnings of the road from Burlington
aesbug and Burlington and Chicago for the year 1859 may
be explained ways The knowing will find ample
solution Railroad rivalry and sagacy The earnings OF 1857
fair average The failure of crops and the panic fully
for subsequent reductions In 1857 the Burlington branch
earned $4,000 per mile and Quincy branch fallen below
by only ~ average Of these three depess
ing The failure in 1857 detract the merits of
the Burlington branch. Whenever present difficulties adjusted,
it will equal estimate and perhaps be entitled
proach to the large earnings of the entire line.
But this branch has natural embarrassment which worthy of
Its twenty five miles, being the breaks of the bluffs
and the oughs and inundated botton furnishes but
tle if any, local trade 1t line Every mile
of road controls large and increasing local trade r. there
fore, the Burlington branch with natural hndrances
financial trouble failure OF general bankruptcy OF
the people, and Railroad rivalry show average earning
S3 49, we NAV safely claim for ourroad free Iron I'll
these the which have That
will $4,000 per mile per there cannot be
sonable doubt.
In estimating strength of road however cannot stop
with the above comparisons There many other facts
to be noted The natural direction of the trade of Iowa East
and South This we'll understood by all acquainted with the
trade OF the Mississippi Any DETECTION from this per
force Our road meets the necessity of this trade Its direction
and connections will be such give the advantage distance
time and Dispatch with less distractions and changes than by
other South East by the following
To ST. Louis, Springfield and the Chicago Alton and ST.
LOUIS road Cairo and the South Decatur and the Illinois
Centralroad Louisville, Cincinnati, &C., Lafayette and
Indianapolis Pittsburgh, Philadelphia &C., ria Fort Wayne
and the p Ft W. Chicago road and the Great Penn Cent
lines and all the Eastern ports by the shortest direct and
best Toledo and the Lake Shore roads, with saving Of
from forty seventy miles in distance other
constructed and avoiding much delay during the
from the great and frequent mpedmens by and
the northey route ria Chicago, &C.
When consider the fact that requires but the construction
Of twenty miles of road between Carthage and Clayton
complete this great horoughfae extending from the the
State OF Iowa the west to all the commercial cities and
kets the South and East connecting with and contributing
much the interests and business of all the roads and
sad becomes wonder all why this work has been done
long The importance and absolute necessity Of its mmed
completion be apparent to all and the very small
Of aid asked for from the many connecting lines and
points be Immediately and constantly benefited by the
iion tg that will and should be longer delayed
By the construction OF short line Of road and
Keokuk derive than ordinary advantages that point
for Railroad 1t the head OF navigation for the
larger boats The but seldom obsucted by ice