Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-10

In the early part of the year In 1854
] was present at the inauguration OF the
first railroad to enter upon Iowa sod. 1t.
was at Davenport, the county seat Of
Scott county. 1t was a great day and a
memorable time. 1t was this same rail-
road that enters your village today, and
with like enthusiasm, only think not
20 many people We're present. Yet II was
q great event. The great Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific vas the first railroad
to reach the Mississippi river from the
east. That celebration was one to be
long remembered. It was to commem-
crate the finishing of q great enterprise
the building OF the Rock Island road
to Rock Island, on the Mississippi river,
and the laying OF the Mississippi & Mis-
souri, River railroad across the state of
Iowa, the first road in Iowa. Its first
work waa to build to Iowa City, thence
20 Des Moines and west to or near Coun-
ell Rufus. This road was quite speedily
built Iowa City, and thenceSto Marer-
go. where it stopped for q time, owing
tosthe hard times and panic Of 1S56-7-S.
In the year 1855 the Galena Union Rail-
way Company built line from Turner
Junction to Fulton, ILL., on the Missis-
eippi river, opposite Lyons. Ia. making
the second to reach the river. The fol-
lowing year the Chicago, Iowa & Ne
braska railroad was Incorporated 1t
began laying tracks West thru our state,
but progre ssed slowly. In the mean
time the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River
Railway Company was organized, and
q. NJ. Woodbury.. an old pioneer of Iowa
and a resident Of Marshalltown. was ite
president, and to him, more than any
other man. do We owe the present exist
sence Of that beautiful city OF which /
have the privilege of being one Of her
citizens. This road was built thru to
Narshalltown In 1890. About this
time the Chicago. Burlington g. Quincy,
known 40 the military track. was COM
pleted to Quincy. ILL.,, with branch
running from Galesburg to Burlington.
E So you see up to 1860 there were four
river.
Then came the great question before
congress referring to the bridging OF the
great water ways. It was, L believe, the
agitation Of the bridge between Rock
Island and Davenport. The, steamboat
interests plying between ST. Louis and
Galena We're the principal opponents.
after which DUBUQUE and ST. Paul in
w
were interpossd, and all made a strong
resistance against the bridging of the
Mississippi river. 1t so happened that
the Illinois Central was creeping north
west thru Illinois, making Galena Dun
leath and Dubuque objective points So
4 the many interests of the larger cities
developing on the Mississippi river mad
II necessary that these roads seeking
crossings should do 50 for the benefit Of
the interior growth OF our state and
west and northwest. So congress. passed
an act providing for such crossings, pro-
viddng for the necessary protection OF
steam navigation.
About this time the Cedar Rapids &
Missouri railroad reached Marshall
town. The Mississippi and Missouri
River railroad at Marengo was merged
into the Chicago & Rock Island rail-
road. incorporated as the Chicago.
Rock Island & Pacific Work was then
taken up and pushed rapidly 10 Des
Moines and the Bluffs. The Galena
Union. Dixon Airline!. Chicago, Iowa &.
Nebraska and Cedar Rapids e Missouri
River railroad were then consolidated
and incorporated as the Chicago &.
Northwestern and rapidly built thru 10
!
reach there. In the meantime the Bur-
iington & Missouri River railroad CON-
pany, building west thrp the southern
I part Of the state, consolidated with the
Chicago, Burlington q Quincy and built
TO Council Bluffs, reaching there abou,
the same time as did the Rock Island
Council BLUFFS was a stimulated sobjec-
tive point for the reason that the great
Union Pacific was started west from
that point, so far as the crossing In q
westerly direction in TINS state was con-
cerned. The Union Pacific built a
L branch from Kansas City. Mo-, to the
main line. which led much Of our Iowa
i traffic to run to Kansas City to connec,
therewith, as well with the Atchison
Topeka q Sante Fe. So yoa will notice
- have from my memory, that from
the beginning Of the laying OF the hrsi
track OF this Rock Island railroad al
Davenport Ia the eastern part OF oui
state away back In 1854 up to this time
~ has expanded till Its tracks lay upor
the soil OF many Of our western ant
{ southern states, till Its mileage runs VI
into the thousands, and itg stocks or
the market show that the road ha.
prospered because It has been wei
/. managed.
Nov have given a little history o,
the progress OF the railroads OF lows
during my own business time, anl
within about forty years and II show
greater degree Of progress than Ii
!. any other state In our anton or time II
our history. From the time the Rocl
s Island railroad entered the first count,
4 seat In this 1tste. u Davenport IL. Feb