Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-05-07
SUMMIT STATIONS.


Tie location Of stations along the lins
will generally occur on the submits, SO that
starting either way from the summit will
DO downward grade.
cuavATIoSs.
Where line conforms 90 much with the
ridges and streams there il necessarily more
curvation than on prairie route. l see
nothing, however, on this line to prevent
our getting first class road in this respect.
There will be no point hn this road where
hard curvation will be combined with the
heaviest grades.
There are but four bridges Of any note on
tho entire route, and neither Of these are
very expensive.
The advantages Of timber along this line
cannot be oversstimated a. facilitating the
building Of the road as well ~ operating
the Same when iishall be chmple.sd. be-
lieve there is an ineXhaustable supply At
Canton, Brush Greek and Strawberry Point,
with large supply at Cascade, Hopkinton,
Delhi and Fayette'
RIGHT OF WAY.
Ia consequence Of this line conforming
more Or less with the streams q considers
BILE portion OF the distance, the farming
community are less cut up, hence the ex-
pesse Of right Of way, II any At all, win be
comparatively light.
From the general direction Of this line, and
its conformity with the streams, l believe
there will be less damage in consequence Of
heavy snow storms.
DIRECT FROM POINT TO POINT.
The line from point to point is very direct.
| believe the distance in most cases will be
shorter than the common roads.
As "A PAYING ROUTE,
II is perhaps unnecessary for me to speak
OF the prospects OF this line a. . paying
route when completed. You are aware
the line specified centers the wealt hest
most fertile. and denssly populated portion
OF our State. 1t runs directly through the
great manufacturing interests Of Iowa, and
If extended to ST. Paul, will reach the great
manufacturing interests of Minnesota,
~ we'll as touching the largest
commercial town on railroad centre, and
spring through these the extensive wheat
growing region even of the Red River Of
the North, together with the immense lum-
Der trade. l see no reason Why this line
shsald not compete with railways already
completed running TO Chicago, beth in
passenger and freight transportation as far
North - 81. Paul. Davenport. reached on
tho South below the upper rapids, it has
the advantage Of three important connsc
tons to Chicago by way Of the Chicago
and X. l. Rsilway-directly sast-inds-
pendent Of Chicago and tho St. Louis con-
nsction which is made either by rail or riv-
er transportation. This route also divides
the country between the Mississippi and
Cedar rivers, and has ample room to draw
from either side. 1t has generally been
conceded for the past ten years that line
Of railway extending through this section
would be the best paying line west OF the
Mississippi river. but would be an expen-
sivc line to build to make it . first class
road, in consequence Of its proximity TO the
Mississippi. This last objection in my
opinion cannot apply at least on the frs.
1870 miles from Davenport. believe the
time has coms when this enterprise can be
taken hold of and completed. speak oft
with good deal Of confidence, more par
ticularly because I am 90 thoroughly &C.
quaintsd with the resources Of the route
throughout its entire length.
L. BALDWIN, Engineer.