The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-01-15
The Future Of Railroads In
Iowa. "'

passenger cars, 300 baggage an,
express cars. and 100000 freigh
cars. And yet tho railroad system
Of this country is in its very infan
cy. The great West has but com
rarativcly few railroads, while tn,
East seems to be just Weakening NJ
to the advantages of railroads. Al
the present time the state of New
York, for instance, has more nile.
ofrnilroad under contract than Al
nny time in it's history. \ pcrso,
would think upon glancing over .
map of the Empire State, that j,
was pretty we'll cut up with rail
roads. yet New York has just fairly
commenced to appreciate the ad-
yantngcs and benefits Of railroads
Iowa has been wonderfully sue.
ccssful in constructing railroads.
and yet We have scarcely entered
upon a good square railroad begin.
ming. It was said ten years ago by
one who knew what he was talking
about, that Iowa would support
ard make profitable Is the stock
holders roads running across the
state, east and west, only twenty
miles apart. 1t will probably be a
great many years before the roads
will be thus close between the two
big rivers. but it will not be long
before other roads are projected and
constructed across the state. kco-
kuk will one of these days be the
starting point for such a road. and
already a ywcaitI,y company are
preparing to build road from New
Boston, a point on the Mississippi
river between Burlington and
Muscatine, through the state to the
Missouri river. We believe the
Washington branch Of the Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific road, will
soon be pushed ahead in accordance
with tho original design, to Oska-
loosa and Council Bluffs. In time,
though it may not be Immediate,
the eastern road which is built to
Savannah, Illinois, will throw
bridge across the river and run a
line through Jackson county OF to
the Missouri riyer,--as rich coun-
try as ever tho sun shonc upon.
Tho Dubuque road is being pushed
ahead. and now that tho bridge is
completed, it will rapidly approach
the Missouri slope. McGregor is
talking of a bridge and must soon
attract capitalists thither who will
see money in q road straight west
across the state. ar .zrp&4U ~. - zz
InsNcw York they arc cutting up
tho state with railroads 50 as to
make it look very much like
checker board. Every town that
is off the main through line, is build
ing a road to the nearest point on
tho maia line. Thus the great
Central is being tapped in a large
number Of places, each new road
serving to add business to the Cen
trail and dcvclope the resources Of
tho state. The Erie road is being
treated very much tho same way,
and some Of the towns on this line,
which ton years a 60 had no cross
road, now have three, four, and in.
ono or two cases, five other roads.
The very same thing is being
done in this state. 1t was thought
II few years ago in Iowa, that north
and south roads would not pay
just as several years ago it was.
thought that cross roads would not.
pay in New York. But Iowa is.
pushing these north and south roads
with commcndablc enterprise. The
North Missouri road is nearly com
plcted to Ottumwa, and the con-
ttruction Of this lime is being pushed
along through Mahaska, Poweshick,
Tama and Benton counties, with q
fair prospect Ct one day being com
plcted. 4 A road is built from st.
John on the Northwestern road
west.to. Sioux City, and is already
considered a good Investment. A
road is projected from Montana, on
the Northwestern, south to Des
Moines; still another from Dcs
aIcincs through Nevada to the
northern part Of the state-and some
of the most active and energetic
men of the state arc at the head Of
this movement.
1t will not be long boforc some
parties, who want 10 make money,
will build a road from Blairstown to
Marengo, a dist ncc Of but ten miles
which would connect the Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific road with
the Northwestern. The Burlington
and Cedar Rapids people, and the
country Intervening, will soon have
road running between these two
points. The grading, bridging and
ticing arc already completed, aud
the iron purchased. OF course the
completion of this road to Cedar
Rapids, secures itsextention up the
red Ccdor Valley to Ninton, and
from that point north to the boun.
Diary Of the State. The Davenport
people have projected road from
that city north to intersecta the
Northeastern at Whea tland, ane
running upiiato the northern par
Of the State Our readers will 70
member that last summer a compa
ny was organized in this city. y
build O road from lie Claire vii
Clinton 10 Maaunketa and Dubu