The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-08-31

part in the proceedings on that OCCASION.
and to refresh their memory, we publish
it in full:
Twenty seven years the LIST OF Septem-
Der O memorable event took place In Dav-
enport-the commencement of the first
railroad in the State. The old Mississippi
i Missouri Railroad Co. had been organ
lied on the first day of that year-1S52-
with $4,000. 900, and Joseph e. Sheffield,
Henry Farnam. John Nj. Wilson, Norman
B, Judd, Ebenezer Cook. Jno, p. Cook.
James Grantiand Hiram Price were chosen
directors. In May following the Hon.
John A. Dix was chosen President. The
Chicago Il Rock Island road was then
nearly ompleted-reaching the Mississ.
ippi river on the ed of February follow
ing. ~
Breaking ground for this new enterprise
took place ON the first day of Septem Der.
and was the occasion of large gathering,
public speaking. eating and enthusiasm.
An old settler tells US that it was the livli-
est day that Davenportshad seen up to
that time. Everybody turned out, and
the PROCESSION that formed 10 the morning
in front of LeCiaire Row, contained near
~ every male inhabitant of the place. The
Odd Fellows came forth 10 reeala. the
German singing societies took hand, two
brass bands furnished the music, and in
close order, under lead of A. G: Fulton,
m arshal of the day. the procession moved
to the corner of Rock Island and Fifth
streets, where the FIRST shovel full of Iowa
railroad dirt was to be lifted. At that
spot stands had been provided for speak
ersiand distinguished citizens The cere-
monies were opened by prayer by Rev.
Alfred Louderback. who eloquently called
the attention of the Heavenly powers to
the good enterprise upon the success OF
which he bespoke the fullest blessings.
The Hon. John p. Cook then addressed
the people at some length, wildly portray
ing the prIvations of the pioneers, who for.
nearly half the year were shut out from
the rest OF the world; and dwelt upon the
glowing prospects of the future--the
speedy completion of the road to Rock
Island. the spanning of the Mississippi
with noble bridge (the corner stone, of
which was laid in exactly one year,. the
pushing OF the iron track across the
prairie to the river on the Missouri side.
After more speaking and music. Marshal
A. T.. Fulton announced the arrival OF the
time for breaking ground; whereupon Mr.
Lie Claire pulled off his coat. decended
from the stand. siezed spade and wheel
barrow and proceeded to the spot, where,
amid loud and frequent cheers he address,
ed himself tosthe work with asssmuch ex-
petition as might have been expected Of
one who tipped the scale at 800 pounds.
The work was begun; the first shoveltul
thrown; and from that day to this the rail-
road shovel has found no rest in Iowa.
The labors of the morning over-the
great work of starting the first railroad. of
which there are now many thousand miles
in Iowa. being done. the people were dis
missed; but soon convened again to the
number of above two hundred. ct the well
filled dinner ia bles of thess LeClaire House.
There. under the management of Robert
Lowry. the popular landlord. they remain
ed quite as long as at the railroad work on
Fifth street.
The road was pushed with vigor; John
Il. Henry became master OF construction;
Peter A. Dey, B. B. Brayton and s. B.
Reed, civil engineers: Carmichael and
Peter a, Boyle contractors. Later in
September. 1858. Scott county subscribed
$4,000 stock. Davenport $4,000, and
about 800. 900 private subscription. AT
a meeting of directors in New York the
following Nav, Hon, John A. DIX was
chosen president of the company, VIM.
D. Ogden. of Chicago, vice presid ent, and
John Il. Henry, secretary.
The iron commenced coming into Rock
Island IN the summer of 1854. and in that
fall the first locomotive, the Antoine LIE
Claire" was brought oyer on a fat boat,
and was run by Engineer Bradley. The
Iowa" was brought over in the same way
q little later. and in the winter Of "a IS
was brought er'the John A. Dix" on
the ice. which, as @. s. Watkins AYERS,
was forty four inches thick and SO very
clear that he could sit and read whole
chapter OF his pocket testament right
throughout three feet block of il. The
Iowa" 'Oskaloosa" and several other
locomotives were brought over By barge
before the bridge was completed. Con
struction and box cars were brought
across 10 the spring of 1854 and two
passenger cars, borrowed from the Chica
go and Rock Island road, were brought
over in August of that year.
The work progressed slowly, 1t was
almost two years from the time the ground
was broken till the road could be used
twelve miles west of the starting point.
The first train made up of an engine, box
and passenger cars, was ran out 10 Walcott
on land sale excursion on the 18th day
of August, l85j-twenty five years ago.
And il this excursion may be found, per-
haps. a KEY to the reason for running and
building the line up through the bluff
"hC1C II bVW WbAOu Sl IDS UUEGC-
essarily cost the company more than
million of dollars. The heavy land inter
ests of several directors and other inf1uen-
tial citizens caused that line to be made. |
when it was evident to all disinterested
parties that it should have started west
on the line that is being built now. Land
speculation and q fear that Muscatine
might outstrip Davenport should the line
leave the river at that point has cost the
railroad vast amount, and will continue
to for all time to come; or until il is aban
doned by the heavy work as it ought to
have been from the start.
The original plan was to cross the state
by three lines, all Of which we're surveyed. |
One main line from Davenport to Council
Bluffs; south Branch via Muscatiue and |
Oskaleosa to the Missouri river at or near |
Nebraska City; north branch via Cedar |
Rapids westward to Sioux City. The road |
reached Iowa City Jan. /. 1856. at which |
time Mr.. Farnam, its moving spirit, an
nounced that it would be mpleted TO
Council Bluffs in three years-an error in |
calculation over dozen years, as time |
proved. The south branch was crowded |
on for some time, and was thee more or |
less abandoned. but now stretches away |
through Iowa, Missouri, into Kansas
took more southern line than was at FIRST |
contemplated.
The railroad bridge alluded to by Mr.
Cook IN his speech at the breaking ground, |
han IN A.