North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-01-19

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Passing over Geology" the ''pehiten.
tiary" a place We hope never to be
acquainted with, estate Historical Socie-
ty," the Capital" Counties and Cities.
Registry Law, Immigration, &C.," Ne
come to the more important matter OF
RAILROADS. - -.---a- esd
Within the last few years, MI our rail.
road enterprises have become imbued with
new vigor, and have pushed their lines
forward with rapidity, until now three
trunk lines Of railroad cross the State
from the Mississippi to the Missouri. q
The Cedar Rapids and Missouri River
railroad was completed to Council Bluffs
in 1867, prior to the last meeting Of the
General Assembly, aud was, therefore, the
FIRST to cross the State.
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific
Railroad Oelnpany,to which was trans
ferred at the last session of the legislature
the grant originally made to the Mississip
pi and Missouri Railroad COMPANY, at
once put on the line Of the road an i'm
mense force, andcarried the work forward
with such expedition that on the 9th day
Of June, 1869, in little over one half the
time allowed the company, the railroad
was completed and running into the city
of Council Bluffs, and on the 3lst Of De-
cember, | issued certificate of the com
pletion Of the road. gI haH
The Burlington and Missouri River
Railroad Company, the only one of the
original grantees now in existence, has
exhibited similar activity On the 9th Law
of February, 1868, issued u certificate
announcing the completion of ninety-five
miles of this road ms follows: A section
Of thirteen miles from Batavia, in Jeffer.
son county to Ottumwa, in Wapello coun-
ty, completed on the fifteenth of August,
1889; one of twenty>six miles to Abba,
in Monroe county, on the frst of Nov.
1866; one Of twenty-oue miles to point
in Lucas county, about nine miles east OF
Charlton, on the 18th of April, 1867 one
Of nine miles to Charlton, gon the first OF
July, 1867 one Of sixteen miles to
Weodburn Station, in Clarke county, on
the twenty'third Of Deeeifiber, 1867: and
one of ten miles to Osceola, on the Goth of
January, 1868. Since that time work has
continued until short time since, when
the road was completed through to the
Missouri river.
The last General Assembly resumed the
grant held by the Dubuque and Sioux
City Railroad Company, and subsequent
ly regranted it to the Iowa Falls aud
Sioux City Railroad Company, Except
forty thousand acres reserved for the
building of read from Dubuque to Bel
levse and Sabula, on certnin conditions
as to line of road, progress and compile
ton of the work, and suLjection to such
rules, regulations, and rates Of tariff as
might be enacted by the General Assem-
bly,. The grant was not accepted within
the period prescribed by the act, Thirty
days. and nothing was done to yard the
prosecution Of the work during the re-
of that year. Early in the year
1869, the company made application to
the Census Board for renewal of the
grant. The Board. after full examination
Of the papers accompanying such appli-
cation, and finding that the company gave
assurances of a determination
to comply with the requirements of the
act, resolved to confer the grant on such
in accordance with the provis,
ions of section I, chapter l24, Acts of
Twelfth General Assembly. Asa result
Of this action, the road was finished to
Fort Dodge in July last, and is now in
running order, both westward from that
town and eastward from Sioux CITY, lack
ing only about fifty miles of full compile
ton and we have assurances that before
next July this gap will be filled, and
another railroad completed between the
and Missouri rivers.
At the last session Of the General
Assembly, the State resumed the grant
made to the McGregor and Western Rail-
way Company, to aid in building a rail
road on or near the fortv-third parallel,
from McGregor to the west line of O. Brien |
county. and regranted it to the McGregor
md Sioux City Railway Company. on
conditions similar in character to those
imposed on the Iowa Falls and Sioux
City Railroad Company with the addition.
II stipulation that such company should |
,btain from the McGregor Western Rail,
way Company a complete release Of all |
is claims to any of the lands originally |
granted to the latter. Sixty days time
was allowed for the acceptance of this
Before the expiration of that
period, an instrument, purporting to be an |
acceptance Of the grant and its terms, was
lied in the office of the Secretary Of State.
vigorous work was at once commenced on |
the construction Of the road, and within
The time limited it was finished 10 Chicka,
saw and now the cars are running to |
Clear Lake, Cerro Gorao county, antici. |
patins by almost two years the require,
nents OF the law. Furthermore. l am
advised that the road is under contract as
Far as Algona, in kossuth county, and
will be built to that point by July /, 1870;
and have assurances that the road will |
be finished during the present year. 1t is
hoped that when this company shall have
completed its road, it will find it to its
interest to extend its line across the Big
Sioux to the Missouri river.
In accordance with the requirements of |
chapter 81, acts of last session, resuming
The lands granted by act Of Congress to
the State for the construction Of railroad |
up and along the valley of tho Des Moines
river, the Dcs Moines Valley Railroad
Company deposited with the Treasurer of
State the sum necessary to settle certain |
claims arising out of the Des Moines river
Consequently, in compli.
.uce with law, have patented to the |,
company 363, 997.GS acres of the lands |
granted for this improvement.
The extension of the line of this road /
has been urged forward with vigor, and
It is now in running order to a point
some twenty-five miles north Of the
Cedar Rapids and Missouri road, and
about seventy-6ve from the terminus of
the road at the time Of the session Of
the lat General Assembly. The act of
that session required only the grading
Of sixty-6ve miles; tho company, how
ever, hiss failed to file an acceptance of
the act above mentioned, us required by
section three thereof.
The Council Bluffs and St. Joseph, and
the Sioux City and Pacific railroads have