Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-05-07
DAVENPORT GST. PAUL RAllW WAY.
CONVENTION ATMOPKlNTON
a large and Emthasiastio Meet.
ing-The people sherenGhly ar.
ronscd--rhsy mean Railroad.
The Englneers Report.

The Directors OF the Company organized
under the name Of Iowa & Minnesota Trunk
Line, to build railroad from some point
on the Minnesota Iowa State line, North
ofFsyette, in Fayette county TO wheatland,
assembled at Hopkinton, Deleware county,
on the 9th ult., and were met by those Of
the delegates appointed By the scitzeas Of
Davenport to represent them there. All the
Directors, who live at various points on the
line were present, with . full delegation
from fayette, Strawberry Point, Delhi,
Cascade, Canton. and Maquoketa. Tho
proceedings we're marked with great unan-
unity and decided enthusiasm manifested.
Various minor matters were arranged, and
the name changed to that Of Davenport &
81. Paul Railroad, those places being the
objective points.
Ths report Of competent engineer, Mr..
4. Baldwin, who has made a preliminary
survey Of one hundred miles from Fayette
to Wheatland, was read a. published below,
showing the route to be one .of easy grades
and curves. descending two thirds Of the
distance towards Wheatland with no grade
in the direction ofDavsnport heavier than
about fifty fee, to mile.
Tho line will run through, or nearly par
allsl with timber, the chief portion Of the
whole route, cheapenins the cost Of con
struotisn and providing fuel for future
use.
While Wheatland is ths place 10 which
the company have surveyed, and connsc
ton with which, will mainly serve their
purpose, they are not insensible to the
greater advantages Of Davenport - ter
rninal point; and if We are ready to CO.
operate with them, they stand ready to
80 decide: and if the people of Daven-
port and Scott county want the road, and
will do fairly aud promptly their part in
furnishing pecuniary and moral support, the
headquarters of tho company will be made
here.
There is no limo Of $50 miles in length
- 10y DnNtuHuIb VIII
run through country so we'll improved,
% denso'y populated, or furnishing SO
much business, for ii IS almost exclusively
located through land now occupied and
titled, crosses all the streams at points con
tiguous to good water power, and through
towns not situated on any existing line Of
railroad running east and west, and
Will furnish our manufacturers and msr
chants a direct outlet TO large region Of
country, from which not dollar is now de-.
rived nor will any of the business be mere
ly transferred from an existing route in this
direction, but be wholly clear gain. 1t
will be disgracefui TO the property holders
and business men OF Davenport il they let
slip such an opportunity to secure so iich .
prize at e cost so small. No such a priyi-
less has been offered us before, and If We
fail to embrace this, and it is built to rival
interests, no other can be, for the enterprise
OF more wica~ake rivals will pre-occupy
the best routes, and we may be compelled
hereafter 10 build roads wholly st our own
expense, and almost parallel with the rival
lines, not 70 procure as in this case entirely
new business but in order 10 keep the little
foreign trade We have.
Al the request ofths Davenport dele gates
the Directors postponed final action aud ad
jonrned to meet at Davenport on the 9Th
of May, with promise that there would be
full turn out of our best citizens,
prepared TO pledge their money and in
huencs 70 build the road. or to decide
that We have all the outlets and all the bus
mess We need and are csutent to yield 10
more enterprising men, the rich harvest
offered us for the reaping. There is no
tims for delay.
Prompt and liberal effort will secure g.
Davenport the terminus of the road, the To-
cation Of the shops, Of the principal Offices,
q full share OF the management, and all the
incidental advantages Of terminal point.
We trust that no one interested in the
growth and prosperity of Davenport will
wait for others. but do his own part and
he road will be ours.
Our delegates, Mayor Donahue, W. II.
Holmes, and l.. G. Dessaint, returned this
morning and bring the most encouraging re.
ports. The proceedings Of the convention
were the most harmonious, and there was
manifested . determination to build the
road. They mean business and
that too from St. Paul to Davenport. 'Tis
not theory or idle talk with them, Mr..
Snyder, Of Cascade. DR.. TrumbulI and sew.
cral others have each subscribed SIC, 900,
and others have swsllsd the amount to
100000. They are ready to grade and tie
the road to Wheatland, aud ask Of us 10
meet them there at the wapsie.
Let Scott county now consider, they
open up 10 us one Of the fiasst countries
imaginable. and are knocking at our doors
with this great through line to ST. Paul.
We conno,-must not let this chanes slip.
Let our citizens themselves, call . meeting,
and hear the reports Of our delegates The
The following report of the Engineer of the
road will give perhaps clear idea Of the
feasibility ofthe Route Read it, aud con-
sider-and act for your interest.
10 tas Prssident Of the Darenpsrt end 81.
Paul Raii,cay.
SIR IL hereby report, that under veur
order, have made q reconnoissnce win !.
view OF locating railroad line from F.v.
ette. fayette county, Iowa, to wheatl.nd
IN Clinton county, . point on the I.yops =
Iowa Central Railway, and % miles north
west from Davenport Nv observations
have been confined 70 and between the fol
lowing intermediate points, csmmeneinr a,
Faystte. ..thsncs to Brush Creek, S,rawberrv
Point. Delaware Centre, Debit, Hopkinton.
Sand Spring, Cascade, Canton, Fremont
and Wbsatland. As the result, l have no
hesitation 10 saying that good practicable
route can be had over the entire distance
which is about one hundred miles. In nv
opinion the route will compare favorably
With any other railway now built in the
State. win mere particularly specify BY
noting some Of the advantage which have
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