The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-08-03

en- could, With gygtcni rf locks ana
back.water dams, DO made nnvlga.
hv stream throughout most OF the
year. Upon the failure OF this com.
pany these lands were transferred to
the N ID. nj. q ~, railroad company
ON condition that Lney should assume
certain obligations and claims whic
We're due the settlers from the I'M
provement company. IL was TO tho
interests OF the railroad company to
build tho road along the river ada
cent to their lands and 1t was their
intention 70 follow the stream, keep.
Ing above high water mark 60 Des
Moines. Their plea was that they
were compelled to avoid the prairies
because Of the drifting SHOWS which
had been a great source OF expense
to many western roads In previous
winters AT the SESSIONS OF the legis.
lature I'm 1864 the ,1wners Of the
road desired to secure snch legislation
as would give them complete title
might raise sufficient capital to con.
tinue building the road by mortgag-
Ing these lands. Mahaska county
was represented by Judge Crookham,
and Poweshlek and Iowa counties by
M. II. Cults. While these gentlemen
favored the grant and were anxious to
see the road built, they determined To-
oppose the bill unless the managers
were willing to bring the road through
Oskaloosa. When the bill was intro
duced into the senate, Mr.. Crookham
had On amendment presented by SEN
ator Clarkson providing that the road
should 60 within one-half mile Of the
square In oskaloosa. After some
debate II passed the senate and went
to the, house. The chairman Of the
house committee plgeonholed the bill
and refused to present II to that body,
ne being on the other side OF the
question. The railroad men then dc.
clared that II the Oskaloosa amend
ment was insisted upon, they would
build the road up the river without
Legislation and leave oskaloosa out.
Jno. II. Barnes states tnat there was
d distinct understanding between DR.
Boyer and the Keokuk managers OF the
road that Mt q suitable point on the
Des Moines river along the line OF
the road above Eddyyille o town
site should DO selected and that
Or. Boyer should have charge or
plating, laying out and selling
lots for the same. This latter
legislative lobby at the capitol
The friends Of the oskaloosa meas
ures finally determined to make the
best compromise which they could
with the railroad authorities. They
agreed to support the bill which had
passed the senate providing that the
road should be built up the Muchakl.
mock valley to the nearest point ON
that stream to Oskaloosa, and from
there 1t was understood that the road
would turn back To the Des Molnes
river. Back In 1860 an osRaloosa
company had been organized under
the name OF the Mahaska County
Railroad company, having for It's pur-
pose the building Of a railroad from
Eddyyille to Oslaloosa. They had
the road graded, partly oridged and
furnished with ties. In the spring or
1864 the H., ID. M. & M. road built
upon this grade to Beacon and left
the Oslfaloosa company without com
pensation. An offer OF several thous'
and dollars from Pella relieved the |
management Of the road from fear OF
prairie SHOWS and instead OF going
back TO the Des Moines river as they
had intended to DO, the road was sur
yeyed through Pella and on TO Des
Moines, reaching that city in the fall
OF 1866. In the year 1874 the road
was bought by the first mortgage
bond.holders for s1,175,000 and called
the Keokuk and Des Moines Railroad
Company. Some years later II was
leased to the Chicago, Rock Island
and Pacific, which now operates II In
connection with its other lines
Chicago, Rock island and Pacific.
For a number Of years the terminus
OF this branch Of the Rock Island was
at Slgourney. In 1875 Superintendent
Riddle proposed to the people OF os-
kaloosa that he would build the road
into this city at once II they would
furnish the rightof-way and raise the
sum OF 100000. The proposition was
accepted by Oskaloosa and the money
was raised by local subscription. by
February OF the following year the
trains we're running into the city reg.
ularly The road extends across the
county directly westward to Knox
vile, which is its present terminus.
Iowa Central r.. r.
While David Morgan was teaching
In Spring Creek Institute two and a
half miles east OF Oskaloosa. he called
the flrst meeting 70 consioer the
building Of the Iowa Central railroad.
This was about 1868. Mr.. Morgan
was an organizer Of unusual ability.
He came to this county from Tennes-
Zee in 1860. He was a brother OF
bur DIR. j. w. Morgan. AS carly as
1858, north and south road had been
taIked Of by J. b. Grinnell and others.