Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-04-11


ship, Mahaska county, in the direct
route towards Kirkville and Ottuin-
wa. 1t is estimated that fifteen miles
Of new road will bring the Central to
the unused track of the old Ottumwa
and Cedar Rapids Railroad at a point
in the neighborhood of Carpenters
and Gcbhart's, some three or four
miles north of this city, from which
place to this, the said old grade,
bridges, right Of way, ETC., it is un.
derstood, might be readily and cheap
ly obtained for this project.
The route passes over the water
shed between the tributaries of the
Des Moines and Skunk, avoiding all
streams and heavy work, and it could
be constructed as cheaply as to grad.
ing, filling and bridging, perhaps, as
any other fifteen miles of railroad in
Iowa.
At Kirkyille it would tap the very
thickest and best coal strata in the
state, and the first one successfully
opened and used, we believe, in the
Des Moines Valley. These extensive
and invaluable coal beds are, il
most places, six feet thick in the clear
and of very superior quality. Kirk
vile is already prosperous and sub
stantial business point, with severa
good stores, churches, school houses,
an A No. mill, and thriving
cheese factory, besides being in the
midst of one of the ichestagricultur
al districts in the state, and supported
by an exceptionally intelligent and
thrifty class of farmers. 1t would
speedily become one Of the most i'm
portant coal stations in Iowa. If i
done no better than Muchacinock i
would ship fifty car loads per day
adding 500 to its population, and i'll
volving a daily disbursement anon!
its people for this coal and attendan
labor of at least 81, 500. Another goo,
station of great convenience to tn
people in that immediate scctlol
would become inevitable at the poin
where the proposed route would in
tersect our Sigourney road. This, O
course, would not involve any hostil
lily to the Sigourney project; in fac
it would be making it more certai
in the immediate future, by securin
an absolute completion Of some tire
or four miles of that road, and event
ually both roads could use the sam
track for this distance in coming int
the city.
1t is estimated that five per cent
tax in Harrison township, Mahask
county the same amount in Richlan,
township, in this county, (embracin
Kirkville), and one per cent in thi
: (Center) township, would raise tn
means necessary to complete the road
Be this as it may, it is a propositio
of so much importance to all cor
ccrned, and the indications are 8
, favorable from the owners and mar
ayers of the railroads principal
concerned, Gas We happen to know
that the people of Ottumwa and tn
points along the route will be crimir
ally and stupidity negligent of thei
financial interests, if they don't strik
while the iron is hot.
1t would give Ottumwa anothe
! railroad, make us the terminus ]
perpetuity of the Central, which
now of more importance than eve
since that road is to be Immediate
extended from Northwood to Mime
: apolis. 1t would also secure to u
among other things, decent depot a
c0mmodations, at least for the tw
connecting lines, to. wit: the st. L.
c. & N. II. r. and the Central Raj
road.
We shall refer TO this project aga
from time to time, and until 1t is con,
pleted, and invite all public spirite
citizens of Ottumwa to meet with
delegation of citizens from along ii
route, who will meet in the City Hal
at p. M, Monday, the 9th inst.