Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-11-19
chilly sreas aaa 9akptaian
OMAHA s NORTHERN.
An Argument in Favor ofn Line fron,
omaha to Yankton.

An Argument in Favor ofn Line fron,
Omaha to Yankton.
An Omaha correspondent writes to the
Omaha Bee. under dnte OF the 18th inst,
as follows:
Oar sister city up the river and in
another state, has shrewdly taken ad.
vantage of our apathy. We ind her in
almost absolute possession of several OF
the counties of northeastern Nebraska,
which are bound TO be heavily populat-
ed efe long splendid counties, whose
trade fairly belongs to Omaha, aud
which trade we must resolutely insti.
tnte measures to secure. This can only
be done by an Omaha northern railroad
under the control exclusively, of enter
prislng citizens devoted to he expan-
sim and stability of our growth and
trade. At present, Cedar, Dixon and
Dakota counties, to say nothing of
others, belong to Sioux City, as mnch
as though in Iowa. A cnrsory examine
ton of q railroad map shows this. By a
southwestern road she gets to Norfolk.
in Madison county, and by q northwest
ern branch from Wakefield ap the north
Logan valley, she gets to Harrington, IN
the center OF Cedar county. The latter
place is fifty miles west of Sioux City.
bat is reached by an OK bow railroad OF
about seyenty-ive miles. III Yankton,
in Dakota, is to be the objective point,
OF the new road, there is, beyond cues
tioE, a way to reach it, and at the same
time eoure the trade of the territory to
which Omaha is entitled.
This brings mp the consideration of
the exact proper route. 1t is admitted
at once that MIR. McShane's idea is cor.
rect; that the road must be at least $50
miles long in order to be successful. 1t
is taken for granted, also, that the line
out of Omaha will be, most probably,
to Kennard, in Washington county,
about twenty. five miles northwest.
From thence in the same direction, it ls
about l25 miles to Yankton. Omaha
and Yankton, therefore, are about 100
mile apart, in astralght line, with an in
~tervening country OF almost unexampled
fertility, having hardly an acre bnt
what VIII yield profusely all the staple
products incident to Nebraska, in.
Guiding cOrn-products which, SO far
as the eastern counties are concerned.
will seek a market at Omaha, or Sioux
City agreeably to the Transportation
facilities afforded. Suppose a bridge is
to be built at Yankton, and Dakota peo-
pie q wnat they raise are seeking me-
tropolltan Omaha, and the question
comes up, looking south for the Nebras-
ka pier, as to which way, east or west,
the line o. the new road will direct, to
produce the greatest benefit and to fill
the bill regarding the expectations of
those concerned in its ccnstruc-
ton. Look at the map and study this
point q few minutes. Trace, with an in
clination Aoutheastward through the
northeast townships of Cedar county,
along East Bow creek, then south
thron9h the western Townships of Dix
on county, thus keeping we'll inside and
east OF the Harrington branch road, and
then make either for Wakefield in Dixon !
county, or Wayne in Wayne county. If
TIE latter place ID preferred, the crossing !
OF the Harrington branch. very Likely |
Will be at the first station, Concord, nine !
miles out of Wakefield. as tho depres.
sion IN the proper direction of what is 4
Logan Slough can be ~profitably
utilized If Wakefield is preferred. |
more OF Sioux City's territory can bsin. |
vaded by working toward the center
townships OF Dixon county from the /
bead Of East Bow creek. But, whether
the route shall be by way OF WAYNE or
Wakefield, the course is then clear for
the beautiful valley of Plum creek in the
erection Of West Point or vicinity. in
Cunning county, and from thence to
kennardin Washington county.
Ii the future is to be looked after as
The country develops, and Omaba,s
desire shall be, as time progresses, to
lean towards Niobrara and the |
Back Hills with her own road, either
Wayne or Wakef Id or Concord can be-
'egarded as an excellent point Of depart-
nre as adeeper cut northwest, it may
be remarked that no shorter route can
% adopted than the one indicated, and
The opinion is yentnred that twill be
much the cheapest es the trend Of the |
streams show-particulariy East Bow
and Plum creek. 1t is doubtful if
my sinuosities will make the road long
than loo miles between Omaha and
fankton. The route proposed deviates
little between the two places from
straight hne7-the line being consider.
ably to the westward of north-ands the
EASTERN reflection from said line. as
compared with o western one, it is
obvious, will be OF inestimable yalna
o Omaha.
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