Nebraska advertiser., 1869-09-02
Total cost oFFoad..


OFOne million one hundred and sixty
thousand dollars for herOad ready for
the rolling stock, or about sixteen
thousand dollars per mile for q road
that would possess many advantages
over almost any road projected in the
West. From its long grades and di-
rect alignment it would cost but lit
Tie to operate ik.
Il runs through the finest valley in
the West, and, I believe, the finest
agricultural region in the world. The
valley IL fairly settled and will now
produce more freight than almost any
district OF equal extent, and the pro-
ducts will more than double each wear
for some time to come. More land
has been improved in the valley this
year than all which has been worked
previously.
There are a number of fine towns
which would Immediately afford q
paying business and would increase
their business indefinitely.
Hamburg, at the south end Of the
road has at least two thousand inhab-
itants. 1t lays at the mouth of the
Nishna valley and on the Missouri
bottom, and Is the natural outlet of a
vast country to the east and south of
it. The freightsa at Hamburg the past
year have been over five thousand
dollars per month, besides the receipts
for passengers, and with the compile
ton of the Nishna Valley road, would
be more than doubled in a short time.
Red Oak, the county seat of Mont
gOmery county, is at the crossing of
the Burlington and Missouri Railroad
and the Nishna Valley, and is a thru
wing village with fine prospects. The
leading men are awake TO the necessi-
ty of the Nishna Railroad, and would
afford to it a liberal share of patron
age. Tt is growing so fast that to
make any estimate Of its business any
length of time ahead would be impos-
sible.
Lewis, the county seat of Cass coun-
ty, is a fine village which, being off
the line of any railroad has rot prog
crossed as fast for a year past as it
otherwise would, but it has one of the
finest water powers in western Iowa,
and its mills will always afford a large
amount of freight, and its fine farm
ing vicinity will give immense sup
port to any railroad which shall reach
them.
Atlantic, at the junction of the
Book Island Railroad is q wOnderful-
ly furnishing town, although but a
few months old it looks like a city,
and has the elements of more pros.
perity than many tOwnsO Of three times
its population and fifty times it age.
I viii Only add that I do not believe
any practical railroad man can pass
over the line have surveyed without
being convinced that the owners Of q
road down the Nishna Valley have a
most fortunate investment.
Aside from the local value of this
road it possesses great value in its
prospects for extension. BY prOlOng-
ing it sOuth-WesteTIy TO the Missouri
river, and crossing that stream near
the mouth Of the Litele Nemaha. It
Nebraska at Brownville. n
the middle of the finest portion Of the
and continuing in the same d.
rectiOn will run through the best dis.
trict of Nebraska, and can be contin-
ued through Kansas and indefinitely
southwest always keeping in a dis
Grlcts any part Of which viii afford a
large traffic. II will cross 3 number
OF railroads, but I know of no other
which Is projected which will be ia
any sense an opposition TO it.
1 propose in a short time to make a
further report of the inducements Of
fered for the road from Hamburg
southwest.
Respectfully yours,
Z. O.. FERRIS.