Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-01-27
The Railroad TO the Hardin Coal .-l

The Hardin Sentinel, whose editsr was one
Of the Committee appointed by the citizens
of Hardin County to visit Dubuque and con-
fer with capitalists in regard to the construc.
ton Of railroad from Ackley. ON the d. &
S. c. Il. r., to Eldora, near the Hardin Co
mines, gives the following account Of tie
conference held with Plat Smith, ESQ:
Mr.. Smith, unofficial representative Of
some Of the capitalists of Dubuque, after Civ.
ing his views of the feasibility of tie project,
stantiSlly as follows:
"Wo (,hc r. r. Co. and capitalists) desire
coal and the thorough development of the
country along the line of the d. d S. G. Il.
r.; you (the COMMITTEE representing the PEG
pie of Hardin County and vicinity also de-
sire the development Of your coal resources
and railroad connection with the East The
basis Of the whole project, then, is coal As
a starting point let there be secured at least
one section OF coal land in as compact form
as possible, which shall form tho capital
stock of the coal company. Donations to the
amount Of nearly two hundred acres having
already been rendered, the remainder of the
lands are expected by further donations, by
purchase, and by putting them in at sn APP
praised value as so much stock in the com
.pany. When the required amount is obtain.
ed, the company to be organized in conform
ity with the statute authorizing such corpo
rations, when : thorough examination is to
be made Of the capacity of our coal field by
an expert appointed by Dubuque capital
lists, and at their expense. Should the result
Of the examination be such as we have every
reason 10 believe it Will be, bonds to an
amount sufficient to construct The road from
Ackley TO the coal fields, and predicatcd upon
the coal land, will be issued, which, we have
the best Of assurances, will be taken 10y Ger
tain capitalists, and tho money furnished by
them to build the road, and complete il at no
further expense to our people save the right
of way.
"Such, we believe, is the proposition in
substance.
"Some may lock upon the amount Of coal
land required as too much. Ifsuch will bear
in mind the cost Of thorough opening and
working of coal mines, and cost Of the rail.
road proposed. they will, at once, see that the
amount is no larger than it should be. The
cost of the road will not be less than $275,.
WV, 0ta Wv Soes VI SpShtnh TUG IiiHSs, VIII
the machinery and other utensils necessary
for the successful working of them, will not
be much less than $25 900 more. All this
to be furnished by capitalists, is it an unrea-
sonable demand of US to furnish the land, for
the greater Part of which we are TO receive a
reasonable prce2 We are not asked TO fur
nsh the land gratuitously, We are only asked
/ to either Sell it at a reasonable price, or pu,
it into the company as SO much stock; tho
aim being TO get control Of enough in body
. to make i, an object for capitalists to embark
in the enterprise.
"Ths resident owners Of these lands hav.
ing so large All interest in the railroad, will,
we doubt not, readily scceds 10 some one or
other Of the terms named our principal ap-
prehcnsions are difficulty Of securing such
/ as belong TO ron residents.
The committee will continue as hereto.
fore, to zealously press the matter, and, with
/ the co operation Of our citizens, they ope to
| be able soon to announce to Mr.. Smith that
having obtained the lands and performed our
part Of the engagement, we are ready for full.
. !llncns by tho party Of III, second part Z"