The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1866-01-11

an extension of their lines since your last
session. New lines running from Mis-
souri, northerly through this State are now
projected, and at least one of them Is al
ready i'm process DEMONSTRATION. The i'm
portance of Railway connection with st,
Louis by which the products of the Des
Moines, Iowa and Cedar Valleys will find
a cheaper and reader exit to market, than
eastern lines are able to afford, is being
duly comprehended in enterprising and
intelligent commercial circles. Expert
ence has already sufficiently demonstra-
ted the incapacity of existing lines of Rail-
roads for conveying our immense agricul. T.
tural productions to tn eastern markets.
And it is also equally clear that, whatever
may be the capacity of these eastern lines,
their immoderate thirst for monopolizing
the avenues Of transportation, and their
exorbitant charges for carrying stock and
grain, render them formidable enemies to
our agricultural prosperity. For this, the
only permanent remedy is the establish
ment of competing lines. In this question
the farmers Of Iowa are deeply Interested,
and She time for prompt and decided
measures upoE their part has arrived.
The projected Railway connecting us di-
rectly Sith st. Louis. and by this means
affording us the advantage of navigation
10 the Ocean at all seasons, in spite Of low
water in sum n4or and ice i'm winter, must
he admitted as commercial and agricul-
tural necessity. Such road leading up
the Cedar Valley, and to st. Paul, wouid
also bring us in more direct and .certain
connection with the pine regions of the
North, enabling our rapidly increasing
AMI cheaply supplied. # -
But it is not 10 the East alone that we
should look for our future commercial re-
lations. Iowa occupies a central position,
u pivotal point, between the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts. The mountains and the
unproductive re sfons of the West must
ultimately look To this State for large
portion of their agricultural supplies, while
the Pacific States offer powerful induce
ments to our commercial enterprise
These vital considerations must not be
disrcgarded. o.
Every rational calculation for the future
urges the great Importance of Immediate
ly sezing the opportunities now offered Of
securing asese' natural and invaluable
tributaries to our commerce. Is it not OF
the highest Importance, therefore, that we
take immediate steps to secure the extern
sion Of the Union Branch of the Pacific
Railroad through this State? The Gener-
al Government has already given aid to-
a. xl~..-
road through Kansas. znl it is certainly
not too much to expect that Congress
would be equally generous towards this
State. This road must inevitably become
one of the important military lines Of the
Government, as intelligent statesman will
not fail to perceive. But space'will not;
permit me to siscrIss the Importance of
this enterprise ut greater length. 1, there
fore, most earnestly recommend that you
address joint memorial to Congress ask
ing the proper aid for extending this road
from its terminus on the Missouri River
to some prsctica'tie point on the Des
MOines where it can be united wigl ono
fthe lines running eastward from that
point.
MILITARY. ....
Without extending this communication
much beyond the proper limits, it will be-
quite impossible to present even general
outline Of our military history. The faith
full services rendered during the lateswar
by the troops,from this Stae and their adj
mirable conduct upon all occasions have
furnished themes for ADLER pens than
mine. Their fidelity and hcrOism have
been often and appropriately acknowledge
ed by the distinguished generals under
whom they have served. 1t was their
fortune to have borne a conspicuous part
i'm all the renowned campaigns ofthe West
ern division of the army, bravely partici--
pating in its bloodiest and most decisive
engagements. When the history of thss
great conflict shall have been fully and
impartially written, it will contain no
brighter pages than those upon which the
achievements Of Iowa soldiers are record
ed. A State which before the war was
scarcely known except as patch upon
the map of the Republic, to-day has
name calculated to excite becoming emo
tons in every manly and patriotic breast.
But the evidences of SORROW yet visible on
every hand remind ny that this good name
has been earned at a fearful cost. Some
| of the brightest names which adOrn tho
annals of rfie war are ours; and citizens Of
10 VIA are numbered among the hoblest OF
the fallen horOes.
Our average population during the war
has not exceeded 7OO,00G and Of this we
have furnished s..e-niiah to the. NATIONAL
armies. The aggregate of the quotas as
signed to this State, under all calls for the,
war since the first regiment WAS organized
being reckoned at their equivalents in
three years men, amount to 20 S36, and
the number claimed by MS to havebee
furnished upon these quotas is "a, 24O. Not
included i'm this statement ara the First
Regiment of Infantry. 962 men, furnished
under til" three months call Of April, 1861,
twelve two years recruits, $3.50 one wear
recruits, and 1857 one hundred DAYS men;
which last were volunteer offering by
the State, and independent Of all calls,
making total aggregate Of 7S,O59 men,
These figures are not strictly accurate, but
are IA nearly so as they can be made from
tn" data Mt our command. On accO mt of.
discrepancies between the credits given by.
the War Department and our own records,
much difficulty was experienced i'm OBJ!
tanning proper credits for all that we claim
Ell, but the accounts were finatiy-so far adj
justed in January, 1865, pending the pre-
vious December call, that in consideration
If olr ynnnr.,I II pass hx,S al