Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-12-21
From the State Register.
Iowa Central Railroad,

For the following facts relative to the
progress and prospects of the above
road we are indebted to Peter Melendy
OF Cedar Falls. The initiatory steps
towards building the road were taken
at Cedar Falls in September, 1864.
Since that time SO miles of the track
have been graded, as follows: 10 miles
in Black Hawk county, from Cedar
Falls south to the county line; II miles
i'm Tama county from Toledo north,
and miles from the Missouri line
north towards Abba. Or the remain
der ofthc route, the miles uncomp!eted
between Toledo and Black Hawk Co.,
are under contract to be graded this
winter. The stock in Mahaslla Co., is
nearly raised, and the contract will
probably be let within thirty days.
Mr.. Il. f. Roberts has the contract to
grade the tract from Eddyville south to
where it is already graded, and is to
complete his work by the first OF Sept,
1867, when the North Missouri road
will be finished, upto the State line.
So that by one year from this time we
may expect to have communication
with st. Louis via Eddyville, Abba,
and North Missouri Railroad. Powe-
shiek county is little behind in rails
ing its subscription, but from its loca-
ton and interest in the road, as well as
from the well known enterprise OF Its
citizens we can not believe it will long
hesitate to fill up the gap between Ma
haska and Tama, and thus give the
counties north of it an early communi-
cation with the Southern part OF the
State and with Missouri. The citizens
of Black Hawk county having done
their part towards securing the compile
nf m nj
are now directing their attention north
ward, and will provide during the COM
ing winter. for the road to the southern
line of Butler County. Steps will also
be taken during the winter to raise the
necessary stock in Butler, Floyd aud
Mitchell Counties to complete the road
up to a junction with the Minnesota
Central Railroad, which is now within
thirty miles of the State line. Since
the inauguration of the enterprise, sub
scriptions have been raised to the value
OF Sl45 900, and steps have been taken
which render the raising of the remain
ing stock certainty.
From the above facts and figures our
readers will perceive that the Iowa Cen
trail Railroad, the very name OF which
was new year ago, is being built with
rapidity highly commemorate to the
enterprlsing spirit OF the citizens OF the
counties through which it passes, and
unparalleled in the history OF any 9th
er railroad enterprise depending entire
ly on the people. 1t is no slight under
tax ing for the citizens of the young
snd sparsely settled State of Iowa to
grade a road bed 200 miles in length,
reaching across the entire State from
Minnesota to Missouri.-lt is an enter
prise whose successful execution will
speak volumes for the public spirit of
the Hawk-Eyes, and demonstrate the
fact--which well informed people un
derstoou before, but which our Eastern
friends are slow to believe-that consid-
ering its limited wealth, the Great
West, in the scope it plans, and in
the indomitable energy and persever-
ance manifested in their execution is
without a parallel in the history of the
world. The history and prospective
success of this enterprise should prove
a lesson to all who are anxious for cross
lines OF railroad in other parts of the
State. Let them learn from this how
they are to be built. First, live or
ganiZation of determined men must
take hold Of the matter in earnest, and
agitate the subject until they get every
man along the route interested. The
facts must be fully set forth, the advan-
tages duly proclaimed, and then the
people must take hold and grade the
road. No other course will insure sue
cess. 1t involves much time and q
toierabIy heavy contribution ut first
but all this, and much more, will be
returned in added prosperity to the
counties interested, and i'll the enhanc
ed value Of the property. D.. .