Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-01-05


Which is the amount yet required
to complete the whole building.
From janesville, Wisconsin.
EVANSVILLE, Dec. 8, 1871.
EDITOR BuLLEr1N:--The holidays,
as usual, find me once more in this
delightful city, and, as usual, with.
out much to prevent spending an
hour in jotting passing events.
Hcre,as at homcjust now the rail-
road fever is having its run. James
villo has arrived at that period in
her history when she is conscious
that the tidal flow which has thus
far borne her on will ebb, unless in
the future she moro fully avails
herself Of the means Of commercial
prosperity than she has in the past.
1t is no less true Of cities than of
individuals, that "there is tide in
their affairs that if taken at it's
Roac, will lead on to fortune" This
city had, some ten years ago, the
same question to settle that is pre-
scented to Independence now; wheth-
er, at small pecuniary sacrifice,
it should be a rail road centre, or
only with the benefits that one road
brings. GAINESVILLE had direct COM
munication by rail with Chicago, at
the south, and more circuitous con-
nection with Madison, the State
Capital, at tho north, and thence to
the Mississippi, at Prairie DuChicn,
by a connection with the Milwau-
kee & St. Paul road, eight miles
north OF here.
Beloit, a town of 5000 or 1000 in.
habitants, twelve miles southwest
crly, had made connection with
the Chicago & Freeport by branch
road. The North We stcrn Co.,
some ten years ago, projected a
road from Harvard, town twenty
eight miles south, OH the road from
here to Chicago, to run from thence
to Beloit and thence northerly to
Madison, and although GAINESVILLE
lay a little off their direct track,
they offered for a small pecuniary
consideration to make this point.
But their proposition was rejected;
the people here reasoning as many
of ours do, that no company could
afford to pass by them, they being
the largest, and the county town.
The result was that the road was
built to Beloit, and thence to Mad
ison, running five miles west of
here; thus losing any rail road con-
nection with the second largest
town in the county. When it was
too late, GAINESVILLE saw her mistake,
and for the last few months has
been negotiating with the company
to change their line so as to bring
that branch to this place from Be-
lott, and thence in n very direct
route to Madison, which is very
feasible. To accomplish this, which
might have been done when the
road was first built for a mere NOM
inal sum, the city is now ready to
guarantee the entire expense of
change, amounting to $4,000 or
100000.
Many of your readers are aware
that there is 4 railroad running
from here to Monroe. The vacant
link between Monroe and Dubuque
is about forty miles, and will, when
that link is supplied,g give us at indie
pendence an almost airline connec-
ton by rail with Milwaukee, via
GAINESVILLE, opening up nearer and
competitive route for that business
with the Burlington, Cedar Rapids &
Minnesota road now building thro'
our city. The towns along this
route have had a new awakening,
and one township, with popula-
ton of only 2,l00, voted, on the 2sd
inst, $4,000 toward building the
road; making $155,ooo pledged,
with two more towns to vote; SO
that the early completion a this
road may be considered as a fixed
fact.
independence has never had in
her past history time so fraught
with veal or woe to its future pros
perity and commercial Importance
as has been the last few months
Two railroad companies have been
seeking for the opportunity to cx-
tend to us increased facilities of
transportation. Fortunately for our
interests, we have extended to one
the hand of fellowship, and as un-
fortunately, in my view, withheld it
from the other.
Securing the building of the B.
G. r. & M. road does not, in my
estimation, in any degree lessen the
to us Of that from Ana
mosa. 4
With county second to none in
the State for it's agricultural re-
sources, with water power capable
of improvement in an almost indef-
mite degree, our city situated in the
geographical centre, and for beauty
of situation and salubrlty Of climate