Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-09-10
The IRON Mount.in RailrOad.

Hon. Thomas Allen, who lately pur-
chased the Iron Mountain road, having
been applied to by the Mayor and Presi'
dents of the Board Of Trade and Union
Merchants Exchange Of St. Louis for
information as to his plans and tho
prospects OF the road, has responded in
letter, from which we extract as fol-
lows:
GENTLEMEN / take pleasure in an
swering your inquiries Of yesterday
date, in reference to the ST. Louis and
Iron Mountain railroad.
In January last, when thousand
miles or more from this city, negotiations
were opened and concluded by telegraph
TO buy this railroad of those who had
purchased il Of the State, bought it.
and came into possession Of it January
18th. chose my engineer, and gave
him instructions to make the necessary
surveys the same day. The country be-
ing covered with snow, he did not get
into the field with his corps until Febru'
airy. Since that time until the latter
part of June, he and his party have been
industriously at work making prelim''
nary surveys, during which time they
encountered the sAverest storms ana
floods ever known in southeast Missouri
They have surveyed over 400 miles IN
the aggregate, having surveyed three
routes through TO Belmont and one TO
theArkansas State line, and connected the
latter with the surveys of the public lands.
They could not make any report to me
of the details Of the different lines Until
early in July, and as the results settled
the route decidedly and beyond eontro-
versy, seventeen miles ofitwere promptly
nut under contract July 18th, 10 be nm
ished in November In the meantime
agents have been employed in procuring
right Of way, and are still at wor at IT
The engineers are also preparing Tor
contract over thirty miles additional, TO
be completed before the first Of January.
Such is the nature of that lower country
that it is scarcely practicable TO execute
railroad work there except during the
last six months Of the year. And as II
is desirable to get over those lowlands
this year, and cheaper to get our rails
and supplies at Belmont by water, It has
been deemed undoubtedly best TO COM
mence our work at that end OF the line
There are besides some unfinished PROB
lens connected with the question OF
definite location at and near Pilot Knob,
which has delayed the commencement
of the work upon them expecting to solve
them soon. Taking it for granted that
the Legislature intended that this road
sbould he connected to Belmont, we have
sought to nut il on the shortest, cheap
est leyelest and straightest line between
tbst Mace and ST. Louis. The line is
about lOl miles, with maximum grade
going south not anywhere exceeding
sixty,three feet, while nearly one'hait
the distance to be built will be straight
lines and near water level All other
lines are longer, more crooked, higher
grades. and more expensive to build and
10 operate. This line will enable US to
compete successfully with our neighbors
inIlinois for the trade which concen-
trates at Cairo and Columbus, and which
in the winter season is almost wholly,
and in the summer partly, diverted from
us. 1t will enable US, by adopting the
southern gauge, to run loaded car from
St. Louis to any southern city without
breaking bulk, and loaded cars can come
to st. Louis in the same manner from
any city of the South. This object, OF
such evident Importance TO ST. Louis,
can be accomplished within two years,
and probably will be, in the ordinary
course of business, if sustained by public
sentiment and left untrammeled by poll
ticians. Our contract requires the com.
pletion of the road to the intersection of
the Cairo and Fulton road within three
wears from the date of SALE and the ex-
penditure Of at least 100000 per annum
on the work This contract we expect
to fulfill if the State will permit US.
We intend TO keep our
road in perfect repair-construct 1t out
of new and best materials and most APP
proved patterns, and, in fine, to have a
line, when completed, firstclass in all
respects, connecting St Louis directly
with all the Southern States, and being
one of the best through routes in the
valley of the Mississippi.
Ithas, however, cost over four millions,
and will cost over four millions more.
We have, therefore, no holiday work
before US, and we shall need much public
spirit, much faith and money, and free
and fair field to work in, and liberal
treatment on the part Of the State au-
thorities.