Omaha daily bee., 1883-03-17
THE DIAGONAL.
A New railroad Line for Council
Bluffs.

Early this morning 1t was noised
about town that q Mr. Woolstan, rep.
resenting the "Dlagonal" railroad, had
arrived and was anxious to see the
leading cltizsns of Council Bluffs.
At 3 p. m. the spacious offices OF
Odell & Day were filed with the
most prominent men of this city.
On motion Mr.. f. L. Shugart took
the chair and Mr.. Samuel Haas acted
as secretary.
Mr.. Woolston gave an outline Of the
work already accomplished by the com
pany he represented, sho wing that
| material, men and money were on
hand and that dirt was flying energet.
ically, the route from Marshalltown to
DIS Moines being partly graded.
The road had secured liberal bond,
land and cash bonuses at different
points along the line, but he had no
propositions to make at this time TO
the citizens of Council Bluff. He
wanted to make their acquaintance,
and announced that his company ex.
pected to build into Council Bluff,
this season. He also stated that on
other railroad, known as the "Merrill'
railroad, was anxious to come to this
city, but thought that the road he
represented could beat it's rival large.
ly. He was Of the opinion that when
one of these roads built to this city the
o :her would not come.
Mr.. Woolnton then retired, and an
extended discussion followed, which
wal participated In by Hon. John
Chapman, Hon. w. +. Sspp, 4. L
Shugart, w. g. James, j. j. Brown
and others.
It was evidently the sense of the
meeting that the Diagonal would be
q very valuable acquisition, and If
some arrangements could be made
that would prevent pooling, 1t would
indeed be a Godsend, but pool or no
pool, the Diagonal" was wanted for
a long list Of very important reasons.
Some discussion was had relative to
"Merrill's" road, and while no I'M
friendly feeling was manifested to-
wards It, yet it was conceded that this
was essentially a Diagonal" meeting,
and 1t would be time enough to con
slider other railways when others were
ready for consideration.
On motion, . committee of five was
appointed by the chair ~ a cltizens'
railroad committee for Council Bluffs.
The following gentlemen we're placed
OF the committee: Judge James, j.
j. Brown, Rev. B. L. McMenomy,
Colonel Sapp and John w. Chapman.
Mr.. Horace Everett's name was
urged, but that gentleman declined
on the ground that the committee was
large enough and that 1t could not be
improved.
Mr.. Shugsrt called attention to a
matter foreign to the purpose of the
meeting, bnt Its paramount impor-
tance was, he thought, ample reason
for its presentation. The photographic
facilities afforded Council Buff, were
proving wholly inadequate to the re-
quirements of our rapidly growing
city.
Col. Sapp spoke of a number of in.
tolersble outrages that had been per.
petrated by that. seemingly irreprersi.
BILE monopoly, and urged a movement
looking to complete legislative redrsss
for these grievances.
Many Others complained of inefi.
cheney, irregularlty, and damaging and
vexatious delays. The general opinion
almost universally expressed by the
business men wac that beyond the
news furnished to the papers the tele.
graph was Of no value In the city, and
many had ceased to use 1t altogether.
A repeating ofico for Council Bluffs
was on all hands conceded to DO the
only remedy for this state of ~sffairs.
Some were In favor of making O
fight at once, others were disposed to
petition first, and fight afterwards.
The latter proposition prevailed.
The secretary of the board of trade,
MI. e. II. Odell, was authorized to
correspond with Superintendent Dick
ey and urge a consideration of the
rights and interests of our citizens.
On motion the meeting adjourned
subject to the call of the committee.