Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-04-12
correspondence Of the Gazette.

Correspondence of the Gazette.
EDITOR GAZETTE.-As many of the
stock holders of the Iowa Central Rail
Road Company were not present at the
late meeting Of the stock holders Of
Black Hawk County, few days since,
at which time gave the condition and
the prospects Of the Company, in get
ting the road bed ready for the iron
this summer, I would ask for the in
sertion Of few items that may inter-
est those that have taken stock las
well IS those who have done nothing
to help in this great project--(and the
latter class, / would here say, are very
much concerned as to the speedy com.
pletion Of the project.)
The length of our line from Cedar
Falls south, one hundred and fifty-one
miles, 10 as follows: To Toledo, 80 miles
Toledo to OskaIoosa, 81 miles, Oskaloo-
"a to Eddyville, 10 miles, Eddyville to
Abba, Is miles, Abba to State Line, IS
miles. a
We have the grading and bridging
under contract from Cedar Falls to To-
ledo, 80 miles, and ready for the laying
of the track. The time of the contract
has been extended In Tama Co. until
September, at which time we expect
the road bed Of the northern end to be
ready for the iron and ties.
The contract for grading Of the road
bed from Oskaloosa to the State Line
has been let to Roberts & Co., and Ja-
misoa & Brown, the latter from Oska-
loosa to Eddyville, and to the former
from Eddyville to State Line, in all, 81
miles. There is now finished from
State Line terminus Of the North No.,
north, IA miles. The contract time of
the work on the south end is Sept. LIST,
1867. Making In all under contract 100
miles and road bed finished A miles
The surveying In Mahaska county
north of Oskaloosa is done, which is %
miles, leaving the % miles yet to sur
vey and locate. The engineering corps
are now surveying In Poweshiek and
will get through by the lst of June,
and we expect to have the road under
construction by the LIST Of July, thus
having the entire road bed ready for
the iron by June, 1868. The North
Mo. contracts are to have the road bed
ready, and track laid, and cars running
by the LIST of September, 1867. From
letter written by J. III. Sturgis, Presi-
dent of the North No., we learn that
the contractors are bound to complete
to Iowa State Line by October next
They will begin to lay the track in
May from Macon City north. Four
ship loads of iron for the track are now
in New Orleans.
We have everything to encourage us
in this great undertaking.
Mr.. G. w. Tracy, Chief Engineer, is
now here, making up a second party
to complete the surveying in Powe-
shiek. The north party will commence
at Toledo, working south. The other
party commencing on the north line
of Mahaska, working north. Mr.. T.
expects to finish the work by the mid
die of May.
AS soon as the line is located in Pow.
eshiek, the contract will be let, and it
is the Reorganization OF the Board of
Directors % have all OF the grading
and bridging Of the entire line south of
Cedar Falls finished by June, 1868.
We are getting up map of the road,
in st. Louis, showing correct location
of the road. 80
Mr.. Tracy also brings news that about
of the iron is now at st. Louis
for the North Mo. road.
We see by the Rail Road Journal, of
Chicago, that the Minnesota Atlas re-
ports that the Minnesota Central Rail
Road Company are having 90, 900 tama.
rack ties delivered at their depot
grounds, to be used In laying the track
of their road south of Owatora. to COM
plete the road to the Iowa Line, thus It
will be seen that Missouri on the south
and Minnesota on the north are push
ing the work to our borders speedily,
and are asking US for connection,
which, when completed, will be con-
tinuous railway owned by three COM
panies, viz: The North Missouri, Iowa
Central and Minnesota Central, extend.
ing from st. Louis to st. Paul. The
scheme Is grand and feasible one, and
will be accomplished within the next
two years. As the work progresses, /
win keep you posted.
Yours, @ p. M.
We have been permitted TO make the
following extract from the !" Union
School Chronicler - read at the close