Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1868-06-26
June, 1868.
The North Missouri and
the iowa Central Rail-
I.On6

I'Ostu.
Crossing the Mississippi river, the
first road we reach i'm the regular or
der that bears upon st. Louis, is the
North Missouri road. Tt forms the
railway outlet from st. Louis to the
northern half of the State. 1t Is now
completed one hundred and eighty
two miles north from st. Louis to
Atlanta, which is twenty miles
north of Mason City junction, and
tifty-thrce miles from the Iowa line.
One half of the fifty-thrce miles
of the extention is graded, and the
remaining half under contract. The
company are pushing it forward
with all possible energy, and will be
able in October to unite ut the iowa
line with the Iowa Central Road,
which forms northern extenson of
two hundred and twenty-eight miles
to the south line of Minnesota. OF
this latter road, the grading is COM
pleted with the exception of ten
miles to Oskaloosa, fifty-nine miles.
Between Oskaloosa, and Toledo, fif-
ty-two mile, nothing is yet compile
ted, although work is being done,
between Toledo and Cedar Falls, n
distance of thirty-eight miles, and
with the exception of eight miIes,
the grading is finished. From Cedar
Falls to Austin, Minnesota Is ninety
one miles i'm the further extension to
st. Paul.. OF this distance it is hoped
that the Cedar Valley road will be
secured. Nineteen miles of that road
are now operated by the Dubuque
and Cedar Valley railroad company,
and at least twenty miles more grad
ed leaving fifty-two miles to be
fitted for the iron, light task COM
paratively, rs the county is most
favorable for the work. During this
summer 1t is expected, at least, that
the line will be completed from st.
Louis TO Oskaloosa, a distance of l04
miles, and probably to Cedar Falls, a
1869, the entire line should be in rum
ming order. gga m 4.se.
The Minnesota Central is now
operated from st. Paul to Austin, a
distance of 100 miles. So it may be
seen that the outlet for st. Paul in
this direction is by no means dis.
couraging, and when completed, will
give an all-rail communication from
st. Louis to st. Paul, at a distance of
$40 miles, against more than 500
by river. A direct line would not be
over 400 miles. This northern line
will intersect seven east and west
roads leading to Chicago i'm actual
operation, aud three projected lines !;
all OF which are now serving the
most enterprising industry and the
most rapidly expanding commerce
west of the Mississippi.
The importance of this North Mis-
souri, road and its connections cannot
he overestimated. 1t is akin to the
Mississippi and Missouri rivers i'm
serving as an outlet to st. Louis and
the gulf of an extended region OF
young but growing country, whose
population, wealth and commerce Is
of an unlimited expansion,
and already forms an integral ele-
ment of the nation. Not only does
st. Louis have special interest in
the early extension of this road to
the greatest distance but Iowa her
self, notwithstanding the importance
and wealth that her already con-
structed east and west roads contrib
ute, will find this TOAD inestimably
more valuable TO her industry and
growth than any other. With the
Mississippi on one side and the Mis-
souri, on the other, this road, passing
up through her interior, furnishes a
highway through her products le-
ultimately flow i'm the direction of
the Fathers of Water. No road i'm
Missouri or Iowa will be fed SO
sumptuously by intersecting roads as
this. From every part of Iowa
freight will come in to it. On its
way south, besides, an unlimited
market for fruits and other products
Of milder climates will be found on
this road.-,X. Louis Times.