The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-03-02
WHOLE NO. 2Ol.
Prem, the American Railway Rsvsew>
IOWA AND AER RAILWAYS,

viii oe Nkeiy 10 pe I2Sofhoiv IuPtesscu VIVA
the typographical beauties Of the State Of
Iowa. The surface Of the country, though
moderately undulsting, is nowhere roughly
broken by mountains or high hills. The
southern portion of the State especially
abounds with grassy lawns and verdans
plains, inserspersed with groves, many email
streams and intersec,ed by the Des Moines,
Skunk and Iowa rivers. The scenery Of tho
north is bold ard striking, the country 10
elevated. hills and mounds are common, tall
oaks are often seen in all their native maies-
ty, while the rivers tumble over precipitous,
lodges IF erngsy rocks to the Tower plains..
A glance al the map will show that Iowa
is destined at an early day to be the seat OF
an important railway development. Situa-
ted between the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers, with sinaportant rivers Of her own
ru6 IS dsDdtaries to these ereat water
boundaffes, with agricultural resources un-
limited, and with abundant coal and lead
riches, only awaiting development, a return
Of prosperous times only is needed to revive
the railway scheme Of this young and promi-
sing sister Of the West. a friend, well ac-
quainted with the resources Of the State,
and her history and hopes, has handed us
the following paragraph in regard to her
railways, present and prospective:
No inland State in the Union surpasses
Iowa. The two great rivers Of the continent
wash it's eastern and western shores, add to
this fact the wise and rapidly developing
railroad system Of that State, assisted BY
munifcent land granite, which system, when
completed, will place every farm At furthost
within twenty miles Of railroad or naviga-
BILE river, and we cannot but admire the wis
dom Of its legislators, and congratulate tho
fortunate possessor OF any Of its fertile do.
main. Whenever the public fully appreciates
the early and complete development Of lown,
by her railroads, emigration will again
swarm upon her prairies, and cit down on her
rivers sides. The secondhegira Of emigrn-'
ton is to be composed Of those who seek to
be within sound Of the locomotive whistle
as well Us the church bell. Iowa, lying in
direct line Of travel and traffic from New
York to the South Pass, has projected Eve
parallel lines from the Mississippi to tho
Missouri, about forty miles apart. or these
the Burlington and Missouri River Road 10
the most southern route-termini, Burlipg-
ton, on the Mississippi, and mouth Of tho
Platte on the Missouri. This road is COM
pleted and running to Ottumwa, IS miles,
reaching the Des Moines river. 1t has q
grant Of $4,000 acres. No work beyond
ted line runs through the most populous
part Of the State, and the unfinished por-
tion beyond the river stretches into ono OF
the best agricultural regions Of the country.
The Mississippi and Missouri Railroad has
for its tcrmini on the east, Davenport and
Muscatinc on the west, Council Bluffs. On.
the line Of this road are Iowa City and Des
Moincs, the capital Of the State. The road
is completed and running to Marengo, about
one hundred miles, and will early the ensu-
| ing spring reach Grinnell, twenty. five milcs
to the westward, with good prospect OF
reaching Des Moines one year thereafter.
Des Moincs is centrally located, and has q
population Of G,000. This road has grant
of 100000 acres, lying chiefly west Of tho
Des Moines. Tho Iowa and Nebraska
Railroad, from Clinton, on the Mississippi,
to Cedar Rapids, distance Of eighty miles,
has been in operation nearly two years.
The Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Rail-
road, from Cedar Rapids to Decatur, on the
Missouri river (an extension Of tho Iowa
and Nebraska), we learn, will show evidence
of vitality the coming spring; length 240
miles; land grant 900, 900 acres of the fuest
lands in the west. This line crosses tho
Iowa river at Marshalltown. the Des Moines
ut Boonsboro, at both points touching some
Of the largest coal beds in the State.
The Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad
has for its termipI; on tie east, Dubuque,
and Sioux City, on the Missouri river, at
the West; length, 325 miles; land grant,
| ,05l 900 acres, road completed and run
ming 100 miles, to Cedar Falls. Principal
points on this road are Independence, Cedar
Falls and Fort Dodge the latter on the Dee
Moines, aud probably, commercially con-
sidered, the IN os. important inland town Of
the State, having inexhaustible coal forma-
tions, the largest gypsum beds in the United
States, abundance Of kaoline and limestone,
and, as far rs geological formations indi.
cate, saline springs may be found by boring,
all Of which must be developed by the
building of the d. and S. G.. X. R., and The
road up 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 Railroad
hn. for its tcrmin McGregor, on the Mis-.
sissippi, and Fekimi, on tho Big Sioux river
and near the mouth Of the Red Rock river.
This road has no iron laid down, but nearly
twenty Eve miles graded. The chief points
on the road arc st. Charles, on the Cedsr,,
and Algona, on the Des Moinss rivers. This
road has no land grant, but the Govern.
State that should be appropriated to the
building OF go important line. The other
roads are those crossing the above at right,
angles, and designed to connect with the
Minnesota and Missouri Railroad systsm.>
The Keokuk, Mount Pleasant aud Muses.
tine Road, designed to connect Keokuk and
Muscatine, has twenty miles built and run
ming from Keokuk around the Lower Rapids
Of the Mississippi to Montrose, with fns
prospects for further progress. The Kso-
kuk and Minnesota Road IL to connect.
Keokuk and St. Paul, vio the Des Moines
Valley, in Importance 10 second to none 10
the State, has already ninety miles compile
ted, to Ottumwa, grading well advanced
towards Eddyville, twenty-five miles, and
under contract to Des Moines. Il runs
through the largest and richest vslley 10 the
State, will compete with the D. and s. G.
r. r., for the traffic in gypsum. coal, h.,
Of Fort Dodge and the Upper Des Moines,
besides opening the pine regions Of Mime
sofa to inland lows. This road at Ottum-
va is to make q connection with s.. Louis,
ria the North Missouri Railroad. The st.
Joseph and Northern Missouri Railroad 10 .
projected road, to run up the river from ST.
Joserhs. We believe no progress has bseD
made. The Cedar Valley Rosd, to connect
with the Minnesota system, has made LITTLE
or no progress.
l, Will be noticed that the main east snd
west lines Of roads are extensions Of The
Chicago and Burlington, Chicago and Rock
Island, Chicago and Galeps routes two,
and Milwautss and Mississippi Roads. The
prairies Of Iowa are smaller than tAoss ei
Illinois, streams more rapid, rosoiss ovsr