Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-04-30
Dubuque as a Business and Railroad
Center.

For the use of the valuable and in
teresting map given above we are
under obligations to several parties
in Dubuque, who obligingly procured
the same for US at our request. The
map is very good one, and we'll
worth the space which it occupies in
the Herald. 1t shows with clearness
and accuracy the comprehensive rail
way system of Dubuque, system
which connects the city with all tho
leading marts of the country, and
makes il the center of one of the rich
est produce regions in the West.
Dubuque is city of great CONNER
cial Importance. being the metropolis
of Iewa, and destined to become at
no distant day tho foremost business
emporium of the Upper Mississippi.
In 1887, Dubuque was incorporated
rs village, and four years afterward,
its population numbering perhaps q
thousand souls, it was Incorporated
and designated as a city. Its limits
were then confined within a single
square mile, the gift of the Govern
ment; now, however, it has eleven
square miles of territory, one hundred
and fifteen streets and avenues, and
more than 5000 inhabitants.
In connection with the above map
we give from the Times the following
trade and railway statistics relating
to Dubuque:
WHOLESALE TRADE.
The wholesale trade has become very
important branch of business in relation 10
dry goods, groceries, clothing, boots and
shoes, hardware and crockery, fruits, liquors,
paints, drugs, &c. The value of goods sold
by the wholesale trade in 1870 was found,
by the annual statistical report, TO be SILL
$50 ,30l, and the sales for 1877 exceeded that
amount by nearly three millions,
THE LUMBER TRADE.
The Upper Mississippi lumber trade be-
gan with the first IN 1888. This article Of
trade has increased 10 such on extent that in
1870 the thirteen Dubuque lumber yards sold
about 90 ,000, 900 feet of the value OF 81 ,S03,-
1853, and the sales of 1871, largely exceeded
S2,000,000, With some of the yards there
are connected extensive saw mills, pla ming
mills, lath and single machines, &c.
PORK PACKING.
There are four extensive pork packing es.
adjustments, the largest being that of VIM.
Ryan. His buildings have capacity for
dressing 800 hogs per day.
THE LEAD INTEREST.
The mines, in the aggregate, continue 10
be as profitable as they were twenty years
ago, the product for many years pas; being
worth about S250,000 II is estimated that the
lead SHIPPED from the "Dubuque Mines" has
reached nearly Sl0,000,000, or more than
half the value of all the real estate on the
surface, within the corporate limits. A sim
gle mine, within half mile from the post
Office, worked four years ago, produced $S2,-
500 worth of lead. The lead interest found
ed and built the city, and, 10 a great extent,
still continues IFS prosperity. Many of the
mines are worked beneath roads and streets
OH the bluffs and westwards, end often be-
meath houses, gardens, and productive farms.
RAILROADS.
On the East the Illinois Central, crossing
| the Mississippi by one of the finest bridges
IN the couatry, stretches away TO Freeport.
| and thence southwark TO Cairo, while from
Freeport the Galena branch of the North
western gives direc; connection with Chicago.
The Milwaukee, Dubuque and Monroe road,
with only forty-fve miles of road to build TO
bring it to Dubuque, will most probably be
hnished the present summer, giving another
and competing line to Chicago, and direct
route TO Milwaukee. Southwark the Chica-
go, Clinton ard Dubuque railro ad is ironed TO
Tete des Morris and graded to Bellevue. II
will be rapidly built TO Clinton where il will
connect with the Clinton branch OF the Chi
cago burlington and Quincy Road, and open
up third competing route to Chicago.
Northward, the Dubuque and Minnesota Rail-
road Is already operated to McGregor, and
graded to Lansing, eighty-three miles. Ii
will be extended rapidly northward TO St Paul
connections In the State of Minnesota. At
mcGregor IT connects with the Milwaukee
and st. Paul road, thereby giving another and
! fourth route to Chicago and another route
TO Milwaukee. Westward from McGregor
stretches the McGregor Western road, Civ
ing direct access TO the whole Of the northern-
most counties of the State westward 10 Kos
suth, and, by the 81. Paul extension of the
Milwaukee road. opening up a through route
from Dubuque to ST. Paul. Westward the
Dubuque and Sioux City and Iowa Falls
and Sioux City Railroad extends 1872 miles TO
the Missouri. where 10 gives direct connection with the
Union Pacific Road. valuable feeder OF this line
the Cedar Falls and Minnesots the whole length
OF the Upper Cedar Valley, while connecting routes
are found At various points Another road the lows
snd Pacific, partly under sontract will extend acros.
the State b, somewhat parallel line TO the Dubuque
and Sioux City to Fort Dodge, from whence IL will be
detected down the Maple Valley to onawa on the Mis-
sour, giving another route Of $50 miles The Du-
buque Southwestern road Is built 20 Cedar Rapids 70
miles from Dubuque, and will be extended the pre-, eut
summer most probably. to Ottumbs. there connecting
with the North Missouri road and giving diree con.
neeton with SLouis. At Monticello by this roa there
Is connection with the Davenport aud st. Paul road
at Anamosa, with the Midland aud at Cedar Rapids
with the Northwsetern aud with the Burlington Cedar
Rapids and Minnesota Road. The Turkey Valley Road
Is under contract for portion Of its line which will
probably extend northwest in'o Minnesota
The railroad system Of Dubuque IL will thus be seen
y most comprehensive one extending by competing
lines into the Lake cities st Louis and Giving
distribution Tor manufacturing products and for com
rercisl supplies over vast section OF Iowa Minnesota
aud Wisconsin.