The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1868-12-04
o. HOWARD CO.. IOWA. DECEMBER. A. 1863 WHOLE NO. 43o
Davenport and st. Paul Rail
Road,

Davenport and st. Paul Rail
Road.
Quite . large number Of the bug
mess men of Davenport were in Ct
tendance At the City Hall on Tues.
day evening last, to listen to one o.
the clearest and best exposition.
| on railroad matters ever made IL
this place. Every man owning
property, or engaged in trade, Of
prosecuting . manufacturing inter
est. or in any way interested in the
advancement and prosperity Of thi.
locality, should have been there,
We hope to hear more ofthis kind
Of talk, for the reason that the
statements are perfectly reliable
coming as they do, from the cool,
calculating head Of one who has hae
an immense deal Of experience il
railroad affairs, and, that he is com.
pletely and unreservcdly identified
with Iowa in interest.
We believe it to be = fortunate
circumst ance indeed, that William
H. Holmes has been selected % the
President of the Davenport and st.
Paul Railroad. He is master ol
the situation. He understands ex'
sctly what ought to be done. what
the cost Of the road will be, where
the track should be laid in order to
secure che most travel and trsnspor-
tation, and what gradients should
be adopted or avoided. and wha:
the probable prospect of it, being
not only complete success. but :
profitable investment to stockhold-
ers. In regard to the latter points,
If his mind did not entertain the
conviction that in every aspect the
line would pay. he would be the last
person to stand before , Davenport
audience in its advocacy. He is ss-
sentially : practical man as we'll a.
honest.
President Holmes demonstrated
that by pushing out in generally
northwest direction for $50 miles,
Cresco could be reached. This 10 .
point on the McGregor and St. Paul
Railroad 81 miles west Of the Mis-
sissippi river, in the eastern part Of
Howard county, the third Of the
most northern tier of Iowa counties.
The Clint On railroad will be crossed
at Wheatland. the Dubuque and
and Southwestern probably at Sand
Springs, the Dubuque and Sioux
City 1t Dalcware Center. and the
McGregor and Sioux City At . point
about 66 miles west Of the Missis-
sippi. Eleven counties will be in
tersected and several others imme-
diately benefited, aud the whole
country from Whcatland to Cresco
q distance Of $50 miles, full Of
people and of wealth, is at this mo-
ment ready and anxious to proceed
with the work. This condition Of
sentiment is not dcduced from
hearsay, but from actual observation
BY Mr.. Holmes in person, and is
shown further by their voting, or
preparing to vote, along the whole
line, Eve per cent. Of their taxable
valuation foSthe purpose of grading,
tieing and bridging the route, and
also by taking enough stock to COM
plete the required sum. ltremains
for Davenport and the outlying
townships Of Scott county to take
care Of the thirty miles between this
place aud Whestland. In addition
to the four per cent. tax already
voted, there must be . further and
more general subscription to the
stock. This is the road We have
always believed would be of meal
culable advantage to Davenport
This is the road we must take stock
in, and the time to do it is now
without wasting . moment.
One other point which Was not
alluded to on Tuesday evening.
From the tortuous manner in which
the Mississippi fnds its way from
the north to the Gulf, tho bridge at
Davenport is naturally the crossing
between St. Paul and St. Louis BY
the most direct route. To. this fact
We have repeatedly called the At
tention Of our readers. Build the
road to Cresco and our connection
with St. Paul and Minneapolis will
be complete. It is our business to
see to this-to work for it uncess-
ingly-fo put 10 our means liberal
ly. On tho Illinois side of the
river measures are on foot to extend
the railroad north from st. Louis to
Rock Island By way Of Whitehall, !,
Beardstown, Rusbville, Macomb
and Monmouth. the work really be-
ing in process. When completed the
two roads will form the shortest lins
from St. Paul to St. Louis. BY cut
ting off the two great bends on each
side Of the river. During transit.
the river will not be seen or even
closely approached 1t any interme-
date point excepting the Daven-
port epOssing.
The importance Of this direct
line between tho two places and oil
Davenport as the crossing. will be
appreciated when We take notice Of
tho fact that Chicago il instituting
m easures To send her boarded grain