The Portland daily press., 1867-02-19
RaiirOads in Iown.
(CoRREsPoNDENcE OF THE PREssl

| kailrOads iA Iown.
(CoRREsPoNDENcE OF THE PREssl
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Feb. II, 1857
Here, as all over Yankeedom, the first tonic
after the salutation, is the weather, which al
the present writing Is rather cool subject
Yesterday, the thermometer indicated the
mercury 1s deg. below zero, and judging by the
feelings of the writer, and the consumption Of
wood necessary to keep warm, to-day must be
several degrees colder.
we haze not had this winter such quanti-
.'eS OF snow as, we learn from the Press, you
Lave nau IN Maine, or even anywhere else,
nofth OF Mason and Dixon's line. At present.
there are about 10 or II inches of snow whore
1t has not been blown into drifts. But On tho
prairies, there are often many miles wboro ,ho
snow is SO thin that seighine is p;vina ,u,,,
for wagoning.
. THE RAILROADS.
Periodically, all this western country is
awakened by some new and wonderful rail-
road project which is going to build up large
cities where now there are none, and Is
sure to enlarge to an astonishing degree. cities
ofpresent tangibility.
just at this time the fever Is raging in re-
gard to railroad from Cedar Rapids to Keo-
kuk, which, If built will afford southern out
let for our products, and a constant water
communication with the rest of the world
from below the lower rapids of the Mississippi
The grading on the Cedar Rapids and st.
Paul (Minn.) railroad still progresses, and we
hope that the route to the capital of Minneso-
ia will be open in the course of a year or more.
The Cedar Rapids and st. Louis railroad.
which is in reality continuation of the road
from st. Paul, is now under contract, and the
necessary amount to grade the road and ac-
quire the right of way, is said to be subscribed.
A large force OF employees is at work, pushing
forward as rapidly as possible.
CEDAR RAPIDS AND MISSOURI RIVER r. r.
One may judge Of the manner railroads are
constructed in this country from the rapidity
with which the Cedar Rapids and Missouri Riy-
er Railroad has been pushed forward. Last
spring this road was graded to Boone on the
Dcs Moines river. In April the work of build
ing it through to Omaha was commenced.
Two weeks since the regular passenger trains
from Chicago to CouncilBlufis began to run.
The distance built in about eight months is
16O miles, through worse country than the
route Of the Androscoggin railroad, in Maine.
from Leeds Junction to Livermore Falls.
There were constructed in all 800 bridges in
cluding the large one over the Des Moines
river. Not a dollar OF the money to build the
road had been subscribed on the first of Feb
ruary, year ago, but the requisite capital was
subscribed in five days by gentlemen In the
east, one of whom headed the subscription
with $75O,OOO, which he paid. The entire cost
OF the 100 miles was about $4,OOOOOO, that is
$25,OOO per mile There is now a continuous |
line ofrailroad from Bangor, Maine, to a point |
on the prairie 375 miles beyond the Missouri |
river, distance in all of not much less than |
10oo miles. One may leave his home in Ban
sor On Mono"r morning, and if the trains are |
not blocked by snow, on rs.-...sdav or Fr;dav
night, he can reach point 375 miles beyu.s
the Missouri. -G.I -r
Allow me to correct an error which MOTTO |
ed In the Press day or two since. The
statement was made that the Chicago and |
Northwestern Railroad Company had CON-
pleted their road to Omaha. The Chicago and |
North western Railroad Company does not
own one foot OF railroad in the State of Iowa.
and has not expended anything in building
j >3ad a,o,5 70 = !, have lease OF the
own nothing in it, except rolling stock and de. |
serve none of the credit of having built in so
short time, railroad of so great length m-
der such unlavorable circumstances.