Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-10-23
Drnreus, Iowa, Oct. 10, is6s.
10 Hon. f. N. Wiiiiams.

| Drnuers, Iowa, Oct. 10, ls6S.
| To Hon. 4. n. Wiliiam,:
| DEsR S,s- Your letter of the 9th inst.
| receive requesting information concerning tn
| location cf the Sioux city & Pacific Railroad, 0
| what is known as the Sioux city Branch tn
character cfthc country through which il runs
comparing this route with other suppose.
rouses, aud the possibility, or rather praetica
bshty of building road IN southwesterly di
section from Sioux city to columbus, or at,
poiut on the Cnie Pacific Railroad cas-. of the
IcctA meridian.
In the spssax VI ls6sI was employed By this
Sioux city 4 Pacific Rsiiroad with instructions
10 find the most sf,racticahleSronte from Sioux
city TO a connection with the Union Pacific Rail.
road at anv point east of the tVoth meridian,
crossing the N Mississippi river at Sioux CITY. as
he al th IL place as possible was not instrnc-
ted or advised 10 show reference to any parho
I lar route, but 10 hnl the most direct and prac-
ticablc | examined the country opposite SIOUX
city in a southwesteriv direction, but found is
impossible to reach the high lands with prsctie.
cable grades. The country in that direction, is
very broken, crossing the streams at nearly
right angles the valley narrow, deen and very
crooked the bluffs or ridges, high. steep and
marrow. Ieonsidercd line in this direction
impracticabie. l made an instrumental survey
Of the country and kaor whereoi& soak
Opinions of men lgood judges ray Erer: bu
I examined every possible show for prsc
ileaeie line from S'su. City down the river ant
inc road, nov located and being built. !:
tie route Selected and recommended in my re
pr. u Nov ist. ls66, 20 that Company. A.
( said then, L think it is the most direct prae
tieaeis line. Yours. truly. J. +. AINswoRrn.
Chief Eng. u. 4 :. c. X. r
With those who know Capt. Aidsworth hi:
statements need no confederation.
- r.
know 10 BE- reliable, state that direct line
aces not exist between Columbus and Siouz
City admitting Of grades not exceeding So fee
per nile. From the same sources know that
any road approaching or approximating to .
direct line from Sisux City to Columbus would
require grades Of at least 50 feet and that such
line would cost more than the Sioux City
Branch as constructed. including the portion
Of the Pacific Road between Fremont and Co.
iumhHs
On the authority Of Gen. Mcclellan . loco
motive can haul up grade Of eight feet q the
load il can haul up grade of 5. feet. and four
times the load it can haul up grade Of SO feet
A locomotive Of thirty cars, with four drivers
track slippery and in bad order, cen hasl
twelve loaded ears UP grade Of 50 feet track
in geod sgdcr, sixteen. On . grade Of eigh,
feet the load would be IS and "a.
The Siaux City and Pacific has Il miles from
p
= ruling grade Of eight feet 10 the mile and an
average Of Is inches. with but four curves
From the crossing of the Missouri to Fremouf,
- miles with ruling grade Of 81 feet. and
from Erenont 70 Columbus. SO miles of the Pa
cifc road of the same character ~ the road on
the Missouri bottom.
Taking il for granted that . road from Sioux
City to Columbus. wouldsbe built witt aruling
grade Of so feet. then, according to Gen Me
Clsllan, . locomotive would in the came time
haul the same hoad oyer the N miles Of the
Sisax City 4 Pacific road that it would over 19
miles Of the road direct from Sioux City
TO Columbus, and IS much over the % mile,
from the Missouri TO Fremont as it would over
81 miles Of the direct line, and seven miles Of
the sirecs road would be equal to the 80 be-
tween Fremont and Columbus. and the $50 miles
Of the sioux City 4 Pacific road to Coiumbu.
would be equal to 81 miles af the direct line,
and this Is only half the distance from Sioux
CITY 70 Columbus. The Sioux City 4 Pacific
road has double the capacity 81 any possible
road approaching direct line from Sioux City
TO Columbus.
We have sn example at cur own doors Of the
cost Of grades. There is not an employee Of the
McGreecr Western road Who does not know
thai so miles Of level road could be easier opera
ted than the Is between McGrcgor and Monona
And the State Of Massachusetts, has spent year.
and millions on tho Iioosae tunnel in q painful
effort to get rid Of the so feet grades Of the West
ern road.
The Sioux City 4 Pacific Co. has selected the
best line that exists for . connection with the
Pacific road they will have II completed year
sooner than by Law this road was TO be begun
Ii il tie best built road in Iowa, and We ART
already enjoying its advantages, and can only
compare the assaults made upon the Company
TO the barbarasm that would pluck the fruit Of =
tree and then cut il down.
Iaddress you this communication and through
you the public. . response 10 the unwarrant-
ed assaults upon Col. Allison becanse Of his con
necsion with the Sioux City Pacific Railway
COMPANY. address you not as . political op-
poseu, hut a- a personal friend who has lent &
helping hand to every public enterrrise.
Yours, truly. +. II. WILLfAxs,
Hos. 4. NOBLE. McGregor, Iowa