The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-02-10

dressed the citizens of Montezuma
on last Friday evening, plainly Civ
ing 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 dc 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 il hand, |
only united and determined action
on the part OF the people of this
county.
1t is estimated that 12,5OO tons of
steel rails will be required in ironing
the road. A French company
engaged in the manufacture OF the
best quality of these rails, proposes
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
bcttsr offers made by other compa-
MES. Ottumwa wants this road,
Sigourney hopes Ottumwa may have
it, through her. From sigourney to
Ottumwaa road-bed is already made,
and the Great Eastern Railway Con
struction Company has contracted to
iron and equip the same by August,
1870. Ottumwe and Sigourney are
willing to grant this road-bed to the
company whereof Mr.. Street is pres
ident, on condition Of granting the
road through Sigourney to otturrwa
aud the Great Eastern Railway
Construction Company, asserting to
this transfer, offers to continue it's
work, and, it the road bed of the en-
tire line be given them, to iron and
equip it oil, receiving pay ment in the
First Mortgage bonds of the road
taking for themselves, as such COM
panies are wont to do, that which
Mr.. Street very naively alluded to as
"a liberal margin for profit" Mr..
Street is confident this may be done
and the road still left in condition
to flourish.
The coal beds south of Montezu-
ma are Of the best the State affords,
and will be an inexhaustibie source
OF revenue to the road. So will be
the pine lumber of the North. AL
most the entire road will lie in a
country needing both the coal and
the lumber, and this road will possess
a consequent advantage over most of
the lines now in operation.
1t has been shown that at all
events there is one route practicable
Ind giving its protectors offers from
a reliable company to iron and equip
it, so soon as the road-bed is furnish
ed by the people along the line-that
running from Montezuma to Sigour.
ney and Ottumwa. If this route be
CHOSEN, the Great Eastern Railway
Construction Company stands ready
to give us our regular trains at an
early day. Mr.. Street thinks it pos
sible, however, to make even more
favorable negotiations with other
capitalists, and of such character as
shall leave the railroad company in
dependent of Sigourney and Ottum-
wa. 1t may be that some other OBJ
jective point to the south OF us will
be Observation-Disclosures, for instance
leaving the capital cities of Keokuk
and Wapello counties to build and
enjoy the 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, route
direct to that city from Montezuma
would look much better on q map
than if twisted around to take in
Sigourney. If the people choose to
furnish a road-bed, such o route will
probably be given the preference.
From Cedar Falls to Toledo a vast
deal of tho grading is already done,
and the road-bed is made far to the
south of Toledo, even Black Hawk
and Tama counties have agreed to
finish the work on tho road-bed in
their respective limits, SO far as this
work is assigned to them. Poweshiek
county is called upon for $4,000;
one-half to be paid when the cars on
this road reach Malcolm; the other
half when they reach Montezuma.
This looks. and probably is, reas-
enable and fair. Yet, we confess, we
prefer having the agreement with
Poweshiek county bind our citizens
to make payment only when the cars
wake the echoes within mile from
the Court House. Such an agree
mont would, we are convinced, be
much more to the wishes OF the peo-
pie. 1t is probable that such an
arrangement will yet be made. Mean
while, it is to the interest of every
man among US to talk and work this
matter up to a point which will in
sure the payment of the amount we
are called upon to raise. Cedar Falls
now has direct railway connection
with St. Paul; SO may we soon have,
AMI with st. Louis, also.
Let no man on the line of this pro.
posed road stand lazily by, wishing
and idling, while others work; and let
no man who is content with doing
this, draw himself up proudly when
he hears the whistle here and take
to himself the credit Of having been
10 the least degree instrumental in
having the "steam cutting" done.--
And when such an idler and miser
shall find his wealth increased by the
enterprise and liberal;ty of his neigh.
bors, let him reflect upon how IN the
character of a beggar he stood idly
holding his hat while others toiled,
and hoped TO see them drop their
aims into it. Let every citizen take
hold Of the work that is 10 give
to this county wealth and financial
prosperity.
We think that away on in the fu-
ture we shall hear in Montezuma
greatly increased sounds of busy COM
mercial strife rather than The whirl-
ing ofbats and the hooting 60 lis.
Our citizens have power to say Just
which of these sounds we shall hear.