The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-03-24
Look at It.

We hope our readers will look ut
the map, and consider the great ad-
vantages the Ottumwa & st, Paul
Railroad has.
First let them note that there is
only about ono hundred miles of a
gap between Ottumwa and Water
loo, or Cedar Falls, one of which will
probably be the northern terminus OF
tho road,
That railroad called the "Ccdar
isalls and Minnesota Railroad" il
completed from Cedar Falls and
Waterloo, to St. Paul, and that it is
row leased for twenty years to, and
doubtless will be ultimately owned
by the Illinois Central Railroad
Company, which, rich and powerful
corporation, is anxious to build, iron,
and run our road, as soon as we raise
respectable local aid along it, as
said company cannot fail to be great
" interested in tapping the system
of Southern Iowa Railroads at this
point.
That in coming south, the Ottum-
Wa Il st. Paul Railroad Company
runs through magnificent country;
sncxhaustible in resources, and that
1t crosses in the distance Of one hun
drcd miles four or FIVE of the most
important Railroads in tho State;
that it travcrses, perhaps directly
through the centres of Tama and
powesheik Counties; that the entire
country through which it runs has
had immunity from similar projects,
aud that the people are therefore
comparatively unembarrassed, and
that they are able and anxious to
subscribe enough along the entire
line, to put it ready for the iron.
That the whole country is desti-
tute of coal, for which they now pay
40 to 80 cents per bushel, while it is
great wheat producing country,
anxious for southern market.
where they can exchange their
breadstuffs for our fuel.
That it is country without large
towns, or well established trading
points; that their trade, like the at
Traction of gravity, would irresista-
BILE tend this way, because every
mile they come in this direction they
would be getting nearer to market,
cheaper goods and fuel, and higher
prices for their produce.
That when completed it would
make the only direct Railroad route
between ST. Louis, st. Paul and Su-
per'or, and would unquestionably
become the straightest and best
paying north and south railroad in
the State, and would give Ottumwa
then four great Railroads, one lead
ing to every cardinal point of the
compass, so that in the future as in
the past, she would continue to BIZ
the Queen City of the Des Moines
Valley, and for all time to come, tn
principal Commercial, Railroad, ant
Manufacturing city in southern
Iowa.
A company of your own citizen
with sufficient means and energy, ha
been organized to put this thing
through; to advance the money to
keep an agent in the field, to make
the preliminary survey; to collec,
the statistics, and publish pamphlet
with maps &C., to aid in the negotia
ton of bonds, and in word, to bear
all the annoyances and expenses o.
working up sufficient stock alons
the line TO secure its success, anG
only asks their fellow citizens here, tt
give their notes, payable when it il
an accomplished fact.
They will never move peg, with
out liberal aid in Ottumwa to start
with.
If you fail to improve this opportu
nifty, as you did with the Cameron
Railroad, one Of these day foreign
company will be here, seesawing be
tween Oskaloosa, Ottumwa and 81
Courtney, for this road is bound to b.
built, other by your own company o,
by a foreign one.
1t remains to be seen whether
you want to sce-saw or be see sawed
We repeat again; study the map
consider its feasibility; nay its inev
liability, and then as sensible mer
come forward to the aid of your OWL
company, with sufficient promptuest
and liberality to the end that they
may, in behalf of your own proud
young city, be masters of the situa
ton.