Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-10-18
EXTENSION OF rmE D. 4 8. c. R.n.

ExTEN sION OF THE D. 4 3. c. MN.
DrBuquE. Oct. 5th, 1867.
To the Editors of The Bulletin:
GExrLExES: Will you please publish the
following communication with my answes
thereto, and the resolutions to which the same
rc9ers, and oblige, Truly yours,
PLATT SMITH.
FoRr Dopep, Sept 26th. 1867.
John l. Blair, Esq, gnd P.dst Smith, Esq.
GESTLExEy: We, the undersigned, com.
missee appointed as fully appears BY the en-
dorsed resolutions, by a meeting Of the citi>
zens Of Fort Dodge and vicinity, held on the
2lst inst, pursuant to said resolutions, desire
TO ask Of you full information in relation 10
the extension Of the railroad from Iowa Falls
west:
]. What do you know relating to the pur-
poses Of the Iowa Falls and Sioux City rail-
rosd company TO extend the road
2. What are the facts relating to the leas-
ing OF the d. L S. G. R. r. to the Illinois
Central? Have they leased the road? Does
the lease provide for the extension? !? Do they
guarantee the bonds Of the company if they
extend the road? Would that company be
likely to lease the road il your company
should build it?
3. What do you know relating to the prob
abilities Of the Immediate extension Of the
road vest Our people have waited pa
,iensly on .he old company for nearly dog
en- years. and want plain statement Of these
matters in which they are so much interests
ed.
Respectfully yours,
b. +. GrE,
CsAs. c. SxrLrzER,
c. B. RIcBARDs,
W. N. NEssrRvsr,
c. H. KIxGsLEY,
J. +. DrxcoNDE,
GALusHA Parsons.
Hon. B. r. Cue and Others, Comm;ttse
GExrs. Your communication requesting
Information has been received. As I have
same subject. will take this method of re-
plying. Mr.. Blain will be out in few days
and viii then speak for himself.
About year since, became satisfied that
the Dubuque 1 Sioux City railroad company
would never build any more road. Their
pledges, written and verbal. were explicit
and emphatic on that point up to very late
date. consider the company ~ tied up by
these pledges that they cannot if they would
adopt vigoeous policy Of extension. And
that the prospect for extension Vas By them
wholly abandoned have had every reason
to believe, and it Vas not until al hope Of
extending the road had died cut that l re-
solved to sell out my stock and get up new
party to occupy the abandoned ground. |
knew that other parties had been ready to
furnish the money to extend the road and
had not been permitted to do so, unless they
would pay too much for the privilege Of
building il.
informed some Of these gentlemen that
the land grant would be at the disposal Of
the State next winter, and that the only con-
alteration that the State would in nv iudg-
ment require, would be the prompt compile
ton Of the road to the Missouri river. And
that thought such an extension very desir>
able on sound principles Of state policy, and
that il would be the only thing that would
save the stockholders of the old company
from serious embarrassment and loss.
thought no one would object, and told them
believed that no further obstacles would be
laid in the way Of their taking bold Of the
FCI~es oAA Pussthk Viz kVO0 totOuK0s 10~
fnenced BY these motives went to work to
get up new company called the Iowa
Falls and Sioux City Railroad Company"
Mr.. Blair and his friends are ready and will
ing, and have the undouhted ability to build
the road through to the Missouri river at the
rate Of fifty miles per annum, and connect
the line with the great Pacific route. They
haze built considerable portion Of the line
from Sioux City this year, which will form .
very important link 10 the chain Of over 400
miles from Iowa Falls to the Pacific line,
and which is necessary to make this line .
great through line. When this is completed
and in the hands ofthe Illinois Central it viii
form . route that will compete With any
other line through the State, and viii COM
pensate in . measure for the failure Of the
old COMPANY to carry out its solemn contract
with the State, which would have added,
millions Of money TO the material wealth Of
the State, and vastly increase her population
along the line.
The Illinois Central have nothing 10 do
With the extension Of the road. I presume
they will lease il, let Who will build Il.
They will take il OF the old company or IL
new company, and the great wealth and
known ability Of Nr. Blair to build railroads
gives every assurance 10 the State and peo-
pie along the line, that If be i permi,tsd %
70 do, he can and will put the road through
with great rapidity. Under the lease from
he Illinois Central the company can build
the road OF not as they please. A report
has been circulated that the Illinois Central
have agreed to guarantee the bonds Of The
old company. A moments thought will con-
vince any one that this is not true. The laws
Of Iowa in express terms authoeise the leas.
ing Of railroads, bat there il 40 sentence or
clause il aay Law that authorizes foreign
road company in thia State, and such .
guarantee il made would be simple nulli>
y.
When il vas known in New York that NJ.
Blair and his ftisnds we're determined to oc.
eupy this abandoned ground, without asking
the permissioa Of any body except the State.
some Of the members Of the old company
we're suddenly, and to me almost miraculous
", converted to the doctrine Of extensioa,
provided they can get clear Of the shackles
forged BY their own hands. OF their object
the people can Judge for themselves. How
well they viii succeed do not know, but one
thing is quite clear, and that Is, that the Blair
party never fail in what they undertake, and
that they will build the road il the people Of
Iowa viii let them do il.
Il is . grave question Of State policy that
ought to Be treated with . spirit Of candor
and fairness.
1fycu think the old company ought to b.
tried few years longer, ard that for their sake
Iowa ought ought 70 patiently wait and hope.
all right. If you are tired Of waiting and
think that our company win build the rod
through, Is am sure they will, you an a..
sist in giving them chance 70 do 90.
The lease Of the Illinois Central has moth.
ing 10 do nth the subject. The Central viii
NO doubt put the old road in order, ard that
uill b great blessing - far a. it s6ea And
If another nsv party will coupls1s IT, road.
then everybody VIII hxve geo4 Su6sGato wsl.
cone ths nsw parties as { g. 1npssssment
over the old one. The lS1fRkssg can AZ
TIA route and tho condidSss eu which the
grant vill b given. fhA foAd must b. bui't
. paEt e : through line from DueUque
sia. WslGhsr City and Fart podss. ! vii
no dnaht b leeked upon = . great sinneR
By thoae Who have the control o. The Sioux
City COMPANY, and who have had the power
TO extsad the road, but hare so ohen vehe>
mently refused 70 do il, for starting new
company, with certainly ofsvccess in case
the State will give encouragement to the en-.
terprise. But il has already bad the effect
to ssk . dead carrass to kicking, and il the