Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-05-20
Our Prospective Railroad
ecsi0ns.

roau seems assured. our readers want
to know something OF the connect
ions Ii will give US with other roads
in interest with the c. b. Il @. Com
pany, which will control our road.
They will also be interested in know
ing what markets wiR be opened
for their agricultural products, and
for the purchase of imports, by the
building Of our line. A few in our
community are disposed to regard
the G. b. d Q. AS merely dn opening TO
CAfc0go, and hence dedace the con-
c!usion that we have made a very
bad choice as between the c. b. & G.,
via Abba aud Burlington, aud the
C r. l. 4 p, ria Oskaloosa and Dav-
export. They argue, lst, that the
latter road could have been secured
alta much smaller cost to us, and I'd,
that it would have better answered
our needs than the road we have Sc
cured.
In reference to the first point, they
overlook the fact that the A. X. d ID.
Company could not, without break
ing lis plighted faith with the friends
of the road at Marysville and Pleas
antville, turn over the grade between
here and Bellefontaine to an east.
snd-west road. Our taxes which
went into that grade, were voted
with the understanding that the
road was to be built from Abba cid
Knoxville and Pleasantvile to Des
M0ines. Further the A. X. & ID.
Charter would not have permitted
s,:ch a transfer as our skeptical
friends appear to think would have
been desirable.
The second point we think is fully
met and satisfactorily answered by
the following: The Baltimore &
Ohio Company has recently pur-
chased the Springfield 4 Illinois
Road, aud propose TO
extend 1t from Beardstown 10 Bur
lington. This road runs from Shaw
neetown, on the Ohio river, through
10 Beardstown, on
on the Illinois river. The Baltimore
A Ohio Railroad Company has be-
comea giant corporation, and is us
ii,g its power in n way that has el-
ready broken the Saratoga combina-
ton and forced general reduction
of freight rates and passenger fares
on all the through east-and-west
liaes. IL has now no arm reaching
any point west Of the Mississippi,
except the Ohio and Mississippi TO
st. Louis, and the next nearest ap-
proach il makes TO Iowa, the fifth
agricultural producing State in the
Union, il at Chicago.
The Harkeye of the 18th inst, in
all elaborate editorial upon this sub
iect after referring TO the late pur-
chase by the B. d o., says:
1t Is therefore highly important
that Mr.. Garrett, in order TO retain
the foothold already obtained aud
fOrtify his position, should throw
Dut feeders to such leading points as
will enable him 10 make good
through connection with other roads
and perfect the qualifications OF the
gigantic system Of which he i5 the
head. One OF these points which
Mr.. Garrett desires 10 reach is Bur
Iington, aud TO that end he has
bought the Springfield aud Illinois
road, which interaects|
the Ohio and Mississippi at the town
Df Flora, distant one hundred and
sixteen miles southeast of Boards
town. This leaves gap OF only
about fifty miles to fli ia 10 REACH
and our informant Is
Informed that the line IA
surveyed will be built ut
Il very early day. One reason why
the Ohio and Mississippi Company,
WHICH Will be AiIt attiN1 I'"'s '' ~"
Baltimore end Ohio interest In this
move, desires TO extend the road IN
to burlington is that that Company
is reputably on the most cordial
terms with the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy Company, aud would lie
able 10 perfect some very desirable
connections at this point through itS
corporation.
Tie road, If built would thus be-
gin bainess under auspicious cireain-
stances, and, being q valuable point
gained in the Garrett Interest, would
greatly enhance the value Of the re-
cent purchase. The Springfield ana
Illinois Southeastern Road, since IL
passed under the eontro! of the Ohio
and Mississippi Company. has been
greatly improved In its management
and the conveniences offered the
public. The road bed and rolling
stock is being thoroughly overhaul
ed. and the new management nave
already placed through car on the
road, which runs through .tron'
Beardstoun 10 Ne,r York. The citi-
zens of Burlington have in this q
fore-gliinpse of what awaits them
when the road is completed to our
city. The road runs one OF ITS pas