Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-02-24
From the Winona Republican.
NEW RAILROAD PROJECT.
Proposed Railroad from Winona to
Grinnell, Iowa.


Grinnell, Iowa.
/ A we'll attended meeting of the
business men of this city was held
i'm the City Council room on Friday
afternoon to confer with DR.. L.
Sears, of Grinnell, Iowa, i'm reference
to proposed line of railroad from
Grinnell to WinOna' Mayor w. :.
Drew was called to the chair; L. q.
Hubbell WIS chosen secretary.
DIR. Sears was introduced, and
briefly stated the plan of the pro-
posed organization, it's Gbjec's
and b lily, together with some
which the road would pass
He stated that charter was held by
parties represented by Mr.. Gilman,
President of the Iowa Central Rail-
road Company, for road extending
from GrinnelI northwarJ by the way
of Cedar Falls. Twenty>six miles of
this road was already graded from
Toledo to Cedar Falls, and they FRO.
posed to go on and complete sixty
miles of this road i'm the course of
few months-perhaps during the en-.
suing Summer. This charter could
be secured by the new organization,
and Mr.. Gilman had given them as
surance that he would iron and stock
the road whenever it was graded. -
Its route lay through a rich country,
and they had every confidence that
it would pay as local road, but their
ultimate object was to open through
route from st. Louis, by way of
GrinnelI, to the Mississippi at Vino
ia. This road would give Winona
access to the best coal fields of Iowa
and afford her a rich market for her
lumber and other products.
The speaker said the company was
to be distinct aud separate organi-
zation, but it would Ge i'm the inter-
est of the Iowa Central Railroad, and
would tie run in close connection
with its main liAe from st. Louis to
st. Paul.
In reply to an interrogatory he re-
marked that they were not yet def
nitely organized, but the plan was to
secure the co. operation of the people
of Winona and at once commence
work. They would wish to have
Winona represented on the Board OF
Directors and they would want, OF
course. one or more, representative
men, who could UOrk-for there
would be O good deal Of work to be
done. . ... d.. sGrt
Other gentlemen being called up.
on, Mr.. Douglass explained briefly
the correspondence which had passed
between Mr.. Gilnan and Mr.. Win
dom OH this subject, showing that
Mr.. Gilman was deeply interested in
having the project carried out.
Mr.. Thomas Simpson expressed
the opinion that the people would
gladly co operate in the matter, but
they wanted Information as to how
to 20 to work. He would like 10
have the Doctor explain how it was
they built railroads in Iowa. Tia,
State was completely gridirored with
them, and there must be some secret
In their success.
The Doctor explained i'm brief that
1t was done by voluntary subscrip
tons. The people of Grin nell raised
| twelve and half per cent. OF theil
assessed valuation to start the road
| which they already have, and they
proposed raising five per cent. more
They put their bonds i'm market anu
by judicious advertising of the AL.
! vantages which the road Offered, sc
cured ready sale. The people along
the line of the proposed road were
anxious for its success and woult
contribute willingly.
Several questions were answered
10y the Doctor, giving interesting
facts relating To the project, Grin,
nell is about one HUNDRED and seven
ty-five miles from Wiuona--tht
whole route passing through u ricl
agricultural country.
| Judge Wilson referred to the adj
vantages which the road would have
in making IA junction Mt this poinI
with the Green Bay road, as well as
with the other roads which center
| here. In order to give the move
ment a practical direction, he would
move that n committee of three-
| MessrS. V. Simpson, ID. Sinclair and
Thomas Simpson-be appointed to
look over the ground and confer with
the members of the proposed organi.
cation at Grinnell, this committee t.
act in conjunction with the Winonu
and Southwestern Railroad Comps
ny. The motion was ad0pted.
AS further expression of the sen.
timent of the citizens of Winona
! Mr.. Il. Kirk submitted the following
resolutions, which were also adopt
ed:
RcS0lUcd, That we, the citizens o.
Winona, have heard with deep in
terest the statement OF DIR. Sears re
speeding the proposition to organize
a company for the construction OF /
railroad from Grinnell, by way o
Cedar Falls, to Winona; and tina
any assistance material or otherwise
which we can extend to aid the pro
ject will be SO extended whenever j
may he deemed necessary for tha
purpose.
HeSOtred, That the Winona ant
Southwestern Railroad Company bt
requested to cooperate with the pro
posed Grinnell organization i'm pro
noting the objects herein referred L
in any and every manner within
their power, SO far as the same may
he deemed conducive to the interest.
of WinoBa. ..-
To further the project still more II
was thought that Winona should put
| herself in n position TO vote aid t.
| this railroad, If she desired to do so
To accomplish this end, Mr.. NJ. @
Norton moved that a committee oi
three be appointed to procure an act
To enable the city of Winona to vote
aid to the Winona and Southwestern
Railroad Company, providing that
the act shall require a two>thirds
vote Of the people of Winona, to
carry. .-.-..
Tie motion was adopted, and the
chair appointed Messrs. ThOs. Sinlp-
sou, Il. ID. Williams and NJ. u. Nor.
ton, rs such committee.
There being no further business
tie meeting adjourned.-- WMono
Ropabtican. ,
CThe remarks of the Winona Re
publican on this meeting, and the
prospects of the road, will lie found
on first page.-ED. GAZETTE.
ssThn IitfIe Church Around tho Tor,