The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-03-31
A Chance for a Railroad.

J. W. Street, ESQ, President of the
new railroad company whose propo-
sed route is from Cedar Falls through
Toledo, Malcom and Monteznma to
some as yet unsolicited point south
of the latter town, thus giving St.
Paul direct line of railway COM
munication with st. Louis, addressed
the citizens of Montezuma on last
Friday evening, plainly giving them
to know that which he hoped to be
able to do for them, and also that
which he hoped to see them willing
to do for themselves.
Taking for granted the plain state
ments and logical estimates of the
speaker, there seems to be needed, to
secure us the road now in hand, only
united and determined action on the
part Of the people of this county.
1t is estimated that 1850 tons of
steel rails will be required in ironing
the road. A French company, en-
gagged in the manufacture of the best
quality of these rails, proposed to
furnish the amount required for this
road, at $50 per ton, accepting in
payment therefor at least half OF the
amount in the First Mortgage bonds
of the road.
But there are other and probably
better offers made by other compa-
nies. Ottumwa wants this road !;
Sigourney hopes Ottumwa may have
it, through her. From Sigourney to
Ottumwa aroad-bed is already made,
and the Great Eastern Railway
Construction Company has contract
ed to iron and equip the same by
August, 1870. Ottumwa and Sig
Quincy are wiling to grant this road
bed to the company whereof Mr..
Street is President, on condition of
getting the road through Sigourney
| to Ottumwa, and the Great Eastern
Railway Construction Company, as
senting to this transfer, offers to con-
tinue its work, and, if the road-bed
of the entire line be given them, to
iron and equip it all, receiving pay
ment in the First Mortgage bonds of
the road, taking for themselves, as
such companies are wont to do, that
which Mr.. Street very naively allu-
ded to as "a liberal margin for profit
Mr.. Street is confident this may be
done and the road still be left in
condition to flourish.
The coal beds south of Montezuma
are OF the best the State affords, and
will be an inexhaustible source of
revenue to the road. So will be the
pine lumber Of the North. Almost
the entire road will be in country
needing both the coal and the lum-
Der, and this road will possess a con-
sequent advantage over most of the
| lines now in operation.
1t has been shown that at all
events there is one route practicable
and giving its projectors offers from
q reliable company to iron and equip
it, so soon as the road-bed is furnish
ed by tho people along the line-that
running from Montezuma to Sigour-
ney and Ottumwa. Ifthis route be
chosen, the Great Eastern Railway
Construction Company stands ready
to give us 0urdregular trains at an
early day. Mr.. Street thinks it pos
sible, however, to make oven more
favorable negotiations with other
capitalists, and of such a character
as shall leave the railroad company
independent of Sigourney and OF
tumwa. 1t may be that some other
objective point to the south Of us will
be chosen-Oskaloosa for instance
leaving the capital cities of Keokuk
and Wapello counties to build and
enjoy thu road they have begun
Once finished to Montezuma, the
road will not lack for invitations to
visit other points below us. Even if
Ottumwa be the point chosen, o
route direct to that city from Monte.
yuma would look much better on a
map than if twisted around to take
in Sigourney. If the people choose
to furnish road-bed, such q route
will probably be given the prefer
ence.
/ From Cedar Falls to Toledo a vast
deal Of the grading is already done,
and the road bed is made far to the
south OF Toledo, even. Black Hawk
ana Tama Counties have agreed to
finish the work on the road-bed in
their respective limits, SO far as this
work is assigned to them. Powe-
shiek coounty is called upon for $780,
600; ono halfto be paid when the cars
on this road reach Malcolm; the 9TH
er half when they reach Montezuma.
-Montesuma Republican.
| On Wednesday, of last week, Chas.
Mccoy, residing six miles south of
Indlanola, Warren county, took his
team and went to the timber to haul
saw logs to the mill. In loading by
the usual way-rope levers-he walk
ed behind the log, and the team hav-
ing pulled the same up as far as they
could, they let it slip, rolling over
Mr.. Mccoy the whole length of his
body, and resting across his neck
This was early in the morning, and
he WAS not found until Inward eve