North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-09-30

Missouri to the main line of the Pacific
, road, somewhere near the north bed of
the Platte. Any one can see by consulting
the map that the injury inflicted to our
line of road by Mr.. Allison and his friends,
cannot be repaired by that extension. The
injury that We complain of is: that under
pretense CT giving US connection with
the Pacific railroad Mr.. Allison's company
runs down the east bank Of the Missouri
river Tor some twenty miles to or within
few miles OF the Northwestern road,
which is our great rival, a connection is
made, that gives it double advantage
not designed by the law, takes from our
road the trade of the upper Missouri, and
deprlves US OF direct communication with
the Pacific. | say, without fear Of contra,
dictlon, that the injury thus inflicted on
our line OF road, and upon the material
interests OF all Northern Iowa, was pre-
meditated--and is lasting-that while we
may be willing to excuse the act in private
individuals, we cannot be 30 lenient to-
ward MIR. Allison, who was sent to con-
gress to protect our local interests, as we'll
as to serve the public at large.
1t shows how strong can be the p.eju-
dices and partialities of the friends Of
successful politician, when they will at
tempt to palate or excuse such wanton
sacrifice OF the interests committed to his
hands: Many excellent people may re-
gard this as partisan attack made upon
a publlc servant on the eve of the nomi-
mating convention for the mere purpose of
accomplishing a sinister end. can only
say in reply to this last insinuatiou which
has been freely used, that the writer chal-
lengcs refutation of single charge or
statement that he has made and asks that
blind partiality for the individual NAV
not be allowed to cloud the Judgment in
an examination of the fairness Of his pub
lie acts. Y.
To the Editor ofMe Dubuque Times:
desire to trespass again for a trief
space on your columns, merely to show
that MIR. Allison. in his letter published in
your columns in February last, admits all
that have charged in relation to his con-
nection with the Sioux City Pacific Rail-
road speculations. and would be glad if
you could re-publish his letter entire. I
herewith annex couple of extracts which
will fully corroborate what have already
asserted:
"Mr. Thomas says that Judge Hubbard,
Platt Smith and myself got up a company
and secured from President Lincoln az
assignment Of the Sioux City branch to
ourselves for the sole and only purpose of
selling out to the Northwestern Railroad
and MIR. Blair. This is wholly untrue
and has not in it the shadow of truth. This
new company was organized by the lead
ing owners Of the Dubuque & Sioux CITY
Railroad (then completed to Cedar Falls}
and the Cedar Rapids & Missouri Railroad
(then completed to Mashalltown,) Mr..
Smith then being director in, and I
think vice president of the former com.
pany.
Judge Hubbard and myself were urg-
ed to join as incoporators. To this I
reluctantly assented. The company was u
substantial one and has not sold out in
any manner, but Is rapidly completing the
road. MIR. Blair was one of the original
incorporators, is now the president, and l
believe the largest shareholder. The SUBJ
scrbed capital stock is about 81 600, 900
In all, Az per cent, of which has been
paid in. The company was anxious that
Iowa men should be interested in the road,
and ample opportunity was offered for all
who desired to take stock. l originally
subscribed one thousand dollars and after.
wards increased my subscription to five
thousand.
mo one can regret more than I that
Dubuque is not now on the main line of
the Pacific railroad, but it is not, and all
we can do is to see that our roads in
northern Iowa make the best possible con.
nectiOn with that line and its branches.
1t was with that idea that consented to
assist in the organization Of the Sioux City
and Pacific Railroad. If that road as pro-
posed to be built, will not subserve that
purpose, then l have made an error in
judgment as to what was the only practi-
call y course left to pursue.'
| MIR. Allison says in this article that he
consented to assist in the organization of
the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad COM
pany," with the idea that the ''roads in.
northern Iowa might make the best possi-
BILE connection with the Pacific Railroad
and its branches, and says further if the
road proposed to be built does not subserye
| that purpose, then he has made an error.
The munificent grant by congress, known
as the Pacific Railroad act, had fixed our
connection with the main line by way of
Sioux City; separate and distinct from the
Cedar Rapids and Omaha road, known as
| the Iowa branch. What right had Mr..
Allison and his confederates, who he ad-
mits were connected with the rival line
to Omaha, to change the route and give
double connection to this favored line, at
the expense of all northern Iowa; contrary
| to the intention of the original act 1t is
no justification for him that he reluctantly
consented. Like Donna Julia he shows
an easy virtue, who "vowing she would
ne'er consent, consented
The assumption OF Mr.. Allison's letter
is, that there is no practicable route for
the Sioux City branch of the Pacific Rail-
road west Of the Missouri river from that,
point, and therefore they were justified
in locating branca down the east bank
of that river, for sixty miles or more, to
tap the favored road by Omaha, thus cary
ing the trade of the upper Missouri river
beyond the reach of our road, and making
US tributary to and dependent on rival
line. That practicable route for n
branch of the Pacific road does exist
beyond the Missouri river from Sioux City,
no sane man can doubt. If the Niobrara
route does not afford it, some other route
will. When roads can be built over snow
capped ranges Of mountains, it is not
worth while to talk Of lesser obstacles in
terposed in the plains near the Missouri
river. Neither is it any excuse for Mr..
Allison that John l. Blair and other capi.
talists mainly interested in the Cedar Rap.
ids line, as well as some who were inter-
ested in the Gid Dubuque & Sioux City
road, engage in the new enterprise, and