Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-04-27
THE IOWA CENTRAL RAILROAD.
Sensible Words from President Smith ia
the People or Sc. Louis. o

the People or st. Louis.
1 orE'ox q THE Iowa CkSTsAI. r. n. Co..
Il osKALoosA, Iowa, April II. 1855.
Editor Missouri Republican,. - r
For the Information of some of your
readers, l wish to state that this con,pa-
ny was organized In January, 1866, its
object being to build road from tho
north end ofthe North Missouri Rail-
road up to the "Chariton divide" to
Abba, thence down the valley of Gray's
near or west of Eddyville thence to
Oskaloosa, thence north through Pow
eshiek county, to Toledo, and thence to
Cedar Falls, q distance Of about $50
miles make n connection with tho
Minnesota Central Railroad thus
forming the most direct and shortest
line OF railway from your city to st.
Paul, and being one Of the connecting
links In that great chain of Railroads,
from Superior City to New Orleans
The right of way, depot grounds. and
local subscriptions for sufficient
amount of capital to grade, bridge and
line to Cedar Falls, will soon be fully
secured. Tho grading and bridging
from Cedar Falls to Toledo, distance
of 35 miles, IL now under contract, to
be completed by the first of July next.
Our Engineer corps are now actively
engaged locating thebalance Of the line
south, to the North Missouri Railroad,
and most ofthis desire 10 have under
contract by the first Of June next. I
already have propositions from respon-
siblc parties, to furnish the iron for our
entire line OF road. When we llave
our road bed ready, we will issue q
limited amount Of bonds, and offer
them to st. Louis capitalists, not only
as a good investment, but as ono adj
dressing itsolf to the interests Of your
city. What / now most desire, Is that
your citizens do not confound our en-
terprise, 1.-THE Iowa Central Railway"
with the est. Louis and Cedar Rapids
mot &. Falls Railroad" company
organized only last September by part
les, some Of whom were in the interest
Of Chicago, some, as they supposed,
representing st. Louis interest, others
local interests OF particular towns in
Iowa, and all supposing that such an
organization, proposing at that time
to locate their line via Sigourney, OF
tumwa and Bloomfield, would ulti-
mately discourage aud disorganize our
undertaking. However, our company
has pursued q straightforward course,
and the st. Louis and Cedar Rapids
Company having, under It's charter,
the right to go from Cedar Rapids to
the State line Of Missouri, without re-
gard to the interest of any particular
towns, Sigourney ut Ottumwa having
only been made points "if found prac.
, tical,' Is now canvassing the proprety
OF running via Iowa City, Washington,
Fairfield or Mt. Pleasant. In fact,
there Is q strong influence In favor OF
such route, ii being one that would
secure much material aid and personal
as well rs political influence, while ut
the same time the "Iowa Central"
would not be prejudiced la its building,
but could prosper with It's success. At
the same time, while local interests in
our State may just now keep up this
kind of rivalry, all must admit that ST..
Louis is much interested In the success,
first, of that line Of railway connecting
directly with the st. Paul Railway,
while it at the same time crosses every
line of railroad running from east to
west In Iowa, thus placing st. Louis on
a line Of continuous Railroad from SUI
perior City to New Orleans, and afford
Ing every facility for securing the trade
Of Iowa; and, when this link or por-
ton Of the main line is complete, then
will IL be prudent for st. Louis to en-
uIS Vi ottC IiHcSy UuL,
II st. Louis pursues a course to encOur-
age the present rivalry, the most
accomplished by 1t will be TO rctard all
the work and, Mt any rate, defer or
prevent thereby the completion of such
line, which, ii left alone might prove
an early success.
The railroad policy of our State Is en-
phaticohy in favor Of the building OF
the "Iowa Central Railroad" Tho
Governor of Iowa, who has no pecunia-
ry interest in our line, Is n strong fliend
Of the enterprise; every member OF
Congress and each Senator is enlisted
in our behalf Our recent State Legis-
lature unanimously passed a memorial,
asking Congress for 2 grant Of lands to
aid III the construction of the Iowa
Central" A bill Of this character has
already been passed to it's third reading
and been referred to the proper commit
tee, and Congressman Grinnell, Hub
bard and others, assure me they have
no doubt 1t will be passed. In short,
every important influence Of our State,
excepting those directly interested In
the "St. Louis and Cedar Rapids
route, via Sig0urney and Ottumwa, ia I
vors the policy of building the Iowa
Central, and no enterprise OF this char
acter heretofore undertaken has ever
tons of our State not Immediately in
terested. The policy of our State, Rs to
main line of railroad running from
south to north, having in all these vari-
GUS ways been arrived ut and concluded
on, 1t will occur to every one that it is
not the province or interest of st. Louis
to endeavor to disturb, change or inter-
fere Herewith. On the contrary, st.
Louis interests, by concurring In and
aiding the policy as above indicated,
may rapidly hasten the completion OF
an enterprise which will do more to in
crease the trade of st. Louis than any
other line of railway. In wears gone by.
your city had nearly all the trade OF
Iowa, but during the war this trade has
been transferred to Chicago. Our peo-
pie, as well as yours regard this transfer
but temporary. In the meantime, how
ever, Chicago, not unmindful of her in
terest, has built railroads into Iowa,
while your city has not now a single
connection of this kind in this direction,
and II you do not soon secure facilities
for intercourse with our people, our
temporary trade with Chicago, will be-
come q confirmed necessity, and the di-
rection of our trade having thus assum-
ed a fixed character, will ho much more
difficult to change in favor of st. Louis
than Ii properly cared for and encour-
aged at this time. In fact, assume
that our trade is so much gain to st,
Louis that all her energies should now
be put forth to secure and hold IL while
you can do SO. The trade west of st.
Louis lcgitimatcly belongs to your city,
and Gun be taken care OF at your leisure.
Respectfully yours,
WIN. 4. SMITH, President.
HOGS BEwARE,-A few days ago. ono