The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1870-07-14
CENTRAL RAILROAD OF IOWA.

10 our readers hereabouts it may
seem unnecessary to write this arti.
Gle, for they may say they are as
we'll posted on this matter as we are,
but to many of our readers it will be
a matter Of news and information.
Our State is traversed from east to
west by six lines Of railroads. nearly
all OF which are completed to wes-
tern connections, but we have not as
yet one route from south to north.
If a person desires to reach some
point to the north of us, he must now
60 west to Des Moines or Grand
Junction, and there take an eastern
route, thus goirg often five times the
real distance to the place. This
evil is about TO be remedied. A few
years ago company was incorpo-
rated under the name of the Iowa
Central, to run from the North Mis-
souri, II. r., at the Iowa State line,
to some point on the Minnesota
State line. Much grading was done
by subscriptions raised along the
line of the road, but the failure to
get responsible parties to run the
road finally resulted in its consolida
ton with the Iowa River road, W hich
then had few miles running in the
north part of the State, and change
of name to Central Railroad of Iowa.
Under this name with a new man.
agement, the bonds of the road have
met with ready sale in the hands OF
such agents as Jay Cooke & Co..
and others, and now there is money
enough in its vaults to complete the
entire 235 miles that will connect i,
on the South with the North Missouri.
and on the North with the St. Paul
& Milwaukee. The road has for
months been running from Marshall
town on the Chicago & North
western to Ackley OH the Dubuque
d Sioux City, distance of As miles,
and was, We learn, finished to Hamp.
ton, Franklin county, II miles farther
few days since, and is now running
thereto. Work on the grade, cul-
verts, bridges, &C., from State line
to State line, are being pushed with
a zeal which only determination,
energy and plenty of money can
bring about. Connection with the
St. Paul and Milwaukee road on the
north is promised in 80 days, and
Oskaloosa and Abba will be con-
nected before the middle of Novem-
Der, and it is said by those in pow.
err, who know, that the whole line
will be in running order before
winter sets in and indeed, the work
TO the north of us warrants the asser.
ton.
This road has many advantages.
First, it is the only north and south
road, through the State, and is
bound to be one of the States great
est and most profitable thorough
fares. Second, it runs through the
garden of the State. The richest and
most productive counties, agricul-
turally. are on its line. The best
coal region of the state-Mahaska,
Wapello, Marion and Monroe on the
south, and Hardin on the north are
tapped by it or adjacent to It's line.
M ahaska alone, raised last year,
nearly 1000, 900 bush, Is, and has
coal area capable of qnadrupling
the amount for thousand years.
The first l65 miles of the road from
,be Missouri State line traverse the
of Davis, Appanoose, Mon
roe. Wapsllo, Mahaska, Poweshiek,
Marshall, and Hardin. Their popu-
latiou is lee, 1852, In 1868 they pro-
aseed s,2es ,s4I bsshels of wheat,
lo.4ss GO bushels OF corn, and
2 ,227, s2i, bushels OF oats; and have
but sis,7ls acres under cultivation. /