The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-09-01
Correspondence Belle Piaine Union,
Railroad Prospects.
Mn Enrrop

After you left Of
tumwa for st Louis, had an cxten-
sive conversation with the President
and Secretary of the Ottamwa & st.
Paul RR., Co., in which the subject
was fully discussed in all its bearings.
It being of general interest to the
readers Of your paper, l forward it
for publication.
Gen. Hedrick, the financial agent
of the company, had just returned
from New York, where he had con.
suited Geo. Opdyke & Co., and other
leading bankers who negotiate the
sale of railroad bonds, who assured
him that if the company could get q
subscription of about "a, 900 per mile
there would be no difficulty in selling
tho bonds, and getting the money to
build the. road with. This would
amount to about $4,000.
Of this sum the city of Ottumwa
will raise. ............ $780, 600
Mahaska County. 900
VlctOr ....,......... zV,OUV
Belle Plaine. .............. 600
Tama County..................... 900
Black Hawk County.............75,00 900
AOtol..''....s......... ......ss'.".SflVyVVV
Now don't understand me to say
that the company promised US the
road if we would raise that sum, for
they did not, and will not till the
other line is surveyed, but l will
give it as my opinion that that
amount would secure it to us soithout
any doubt.
The company are not prepared to
receive tax in aid Of the railroad, but
prefer Subscriptions
The reason is, that it is doubtful
about securing enough votes to carry
q tax, and if carried it is still very
uncertain whether the Courts would
sustain it, and if sustained the road
might not be built, and you lie out
Of the nse Of your money two years
which would entail loss of so per
cent. as money now rates.
The company want TO know ia,me-
didtely what We will do, and that can
only DO determined by subscriptions
under existing circumstances.
On my return Ispent several hours
at Nictor, and was assured by her
leading men that they would raise
$40, 900 in 30 days.
Last week was in North Tama
and found the people ready for action,
Waterloo is wide-awake, and anxi.
ous to secure this road in preference
to . southwestern connection. Mon.
tezuma is coming into line with her
SO, 900.
York and Oneida have already
raised three-fifths Of their $25, 900,
and the work is still going on.
What is Belle Plaine doing; Delays
are dangerous; as strong efforts are
being made to secure the location ol
this road via Blairstown and lnde.
pendencc.
And We are threatened with u new
danger.
j. B. Grinnoll was in Tama county
last woek, and said that in about two
weeks he was going to work to raise
subscriptions sufficient to finish the
old Toledo route to Cedar Falls.
With that road completed it would
not pay to build one through tho Salt
Creek Valley and would forcc the o.
& st. p. Road east of us.
With Blairstown on tho east and
Tama City on tho west, both having
a southern outlet, and strong compe
tition in freight, what would become
Of Belle Plaine?
Its business would be gradually
absorbed by these rival towns, and its
property would soon dcrreciato SO
per cent.
Our saiUation lies in Immediate action.
Shall We awake to our interests, OF
shall wo sleep on in fancied securi
| ty. G. G. MASON. S
II - rapSy,fsad that tho No1v YnrL