Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
The Cedar Rapids, Sigourney 4
0ttumvNa Railway,

OttumW6 anu CeOar kaplQe, iowa,
ria Sigourney, has slept long sleep.
Several years ago it was part of the
enterprise which had for its object |
the extension of the st. Louis, Kan
sas City u Northern railroad to Ce-
dar Rapids. This road was complet- |
cd to this place in 1870, and tie road
graded and large part of the bridg-
ing done from here to Sigourney.
At this stage it was caught in finan-
cial distress, and though repeated at
tempts have been made to revive it
since, they have all failed, by reason
of the hard times and such legisla-
ton as has seriously retarded railroad
building in Iowa. The Legislation OF
last winter has materially changed
the status of our laws, and this, to-
gether with the certainty of better
times setting in, and the grand out
look for crops In this region, gives an
impetus to railroad enterprises and
all others, of the most fattering char
acter.
We have heretofore published the
names of gentlemen from Ottumwa
and Cedar Rapids who met at Sig
Quincy, Iowa, by appointment on
Monday the 22d inst, to re-inaugu-
rate this project. Upon arriving
there the citizens of Sigourney were
found awake to the importance of
the enterprise and a meeting was call
ed in the evening at the Court House.
The court room was early filled to
Overlooking the Hon. j. H. Merrill.
of Ottumwa, was called to the chair
and the Hon. J. w. Havens, of the
Sigourney Neacs, and F. J. Upton, of
Cedar Rapids, appointed Secretaries.
On behalf of committee that had
previously been selected by q caucus
of the various delegates, for the puf-
pose of preparing plan of organi-
cation, Judge N. NJ. Hubbard, of Ce-
dar Rapids, presented articles of in
corporation for the Cedar Rapids,
Sigourney & Ottumwa Railway Co.
After reading the report Judge Hub
bard spoke at some length of the en-
terprise, and explained the needs Of
the road, the magnificent country
through which it would pass and the
feasibility of now making it q success
He was followed by State Senator s.
L. Bows, of Cedar Rapids. In the
course of these gentlemen's remarks
it wasplainly disclosed that there were
several wealthy railroad corporations
anxious to obtain possession of thil
enterprise, and herein consists thu
milk in the cocosnut. George D.
Woodin, Esq, of Sigourney, was
called out at the conclusion of Sena
tor Dows' speech. Speeches were al
SO made by the Hon. John Weare, O
: Cedar Rapids. Hon. John Morrison, o
4 Sigourney, and A. H. Hamilton, of OF
: tumwa.
The meeting was a rousing one
gotten up upon the spur of the mo
ment, and il was evident that it mean
9 business. The meeting then adjourn
9 ed to meet at 8. o'clock the next morn
q ing, when the articles were adoptet
b and the following persons chosen di
9 rectors: From Wapello county, Gen
j j. M. Hedrick, James L. Taylor, Hon
i G.. A. Madison, Col. P. G. Ballingall
d Col. S. A. Flagler, Chas. F. Blake an,
w. T. Harper; from Linn county
a Judge N. M. Hubbard, Hon. S. L
Q Dows, Judge George Green, Georg
d Douglass, Chas. O'Harra, F.J. Upto
g and John Weare; from Keoku
e county, Judge S. Harmed, F. A. Ship
i fer, John w. Palmer, John Dillon an,
e Geo. d. Woodiu.
At a meeting of the directory til
: following officers were chosen =
!. President, Gen. J. M. Hedrick, of OF
= tumwa, Vice President, Judge N. M
Hubbard, of Cedar Rapids; Secreta
/. ry, S. L. Fonda, of Sigourney Treas
!. urer, s. L. Dows, of Cedar Rapids.
y The Directory also appointed tn
= following committee to confer wit
and obtain from any railroad compa
ny the best terms that they would OF
fer to assist in building and operating
the road and report to the Directory
Judge Hubbard and Senator Bows
Of Cedar Rapids, g. d. Woodin ant
:, Judge Harmed, of Sigourney, ant
;. DR.. j. L. Taylor and c. F. Blake, o
Ottumwa. On motion Gen. Hedricl
was added to and made chairman O
this committee.
The meeting resulted in harmoni
!. GUS action and everybody was highl.
pleased and greatly elated with th
prospect. If this important link o
railroad, the very best line of roat
that remains to be constructed il
Iowa, is not speedily built we shall
: be greatly mistaken. We would b.
understood in this as saying just wha
we mean.
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