Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-05-18
IOWA CENTRAL.

The Iowa Central Railroad is now the
one in which the people of Cedar Falls
feel the greatest interest, and one which
they expect to do more for the prosperi-
ty of the city than any other line that is
or possibly could be constructed. This
road was contemplated six and eight
years ago, and before the war, surveys
were made for its construction. The
war, however, stopped the work, and
nothing further was done toward the
construction of this most important line
of railway till January, 1865, when a
meeting was held ut Oskaloosa, Mahas-
ka county, and company formed, Of
which David Morgan was elected Pres
,dent. Steps were at once taken to Sc
cure corps of competent engineers, to
procure the necessary stock-subscrip-
tions in the several counties through
which the projected road would pass,
and to inaugurate active operations at
the earliest possible day. On the 10th
of September the formality of breaking
ground on the new road came off at Ce-
dar Falls. There was large number
present, and the day was celebrated in
a jolly and enthusiastic manner. Soon
after, ten miles of grading and bridging
were let in Black Hawk county, the
100000 in stock apportioned as the
county's share having been already full
ly subscribed. Ten miles in Tana coun-
ty were also put under contract, and
the work of grading commenced in
earnest. This road will pass from &C.
dar Falls south through the counties of
Black Hawk, Tama, Poweshiek, Ma
haska, Wapello, Monroe and Appa-
moose, to the Iowa line, where it will
connect with the North Missouri Rail-
road leading to st. Louis, and already
built some distance north of Macon
City. The Iowa Central will cross ev-
cry east and west line in the State, and
therefore will be a competing line with
each. 1t will also open the southern
market to the people of the State, which,
in many respects, offers great advantag-
es over the eastern market. This road
will give much Importance to Cedar
Falls, which, being its northern termin-
US, will derive such advantages as any
one can readily name. The high stand
ing of this road in the State may be
judged from the fact that the General
Assembly last winter, with singular
unanimity (only one vote in opposition, J
adopted a memorial to Congress pray
ing that grant of land be made to aid
this enterprise. The Iowa members of
Congress, the Governor of the State and
all the State officers are doing all they
possibly can to further the interests of
this important railway undertaking.
The ease with which the road may be
constructed is seen in the fact that no
where on the line will greater grade
than fifty feet to the mile be necessary.
From Cedar Falls to Toledo, Tama
county, where the road will cross the
Cedar Rapids & Missouri River Rail-
road (which is an extension of the Chi
cage Northwestern road, the distance
is forty miles. Twenty miles of this
distance was let last fall, as we have
stated, and the other twenty miles will
be let on the 9Th of June. 1t il the cx-
pectation of the Company to have this
portion OF the road in operation in a
year or less from this time. Work is
progressing favorably along the entire
line, and few years at fartherest will
see Cedar Falls connected by rail with
st. Louis.