Year: 1861

ID The Keokuk and Fl Des Moines road passes up the
valley Of the Des Mones River and eecuay controls its trade
opened and operation Ottumwa distance o seventy
SIX miles thence Oskaoosa miles the work Of
graduation nearly completed The iron the ground


practical purposes therefore, may estimate this road 1oS miles
long The remaining distance the Capital of the Satehfty
M .S lone
surpassed by the West There nothing Iowa be
compared with it. To this large population and fertility Of soil
be added the immense privileges Of the River the many
factories already existence and the extensive coal fields which
begin thirty miles of Keouk and the valley for at
least $50 miles OF these and deing
aarge business Keokuk.


There are therefore, already terminating Keokuk, west of the
river 100 miles of Railroad and = be opened
in the early spring The only practicable outlet the vast trade OF
these roads These be estimated
They prove Keokuk desirable point for the
minus Of an ea road justify great hopes Tor the future Of


Sd The Alexandra and Bloomington Railroad is in the hands
OF citizens of Missouri and will demand attention ut no distant
The surveys made show the line be practicable and the
fertility OF the country and trade offerings render It's con-
sruc,ion desirable and necessary.


4th The State Line Road commencing at Farmlngton on the
K Ft D. NJ road runs the Missouri River In this
present The first 80 miles being construct
ed The work expected along very fast as is
rey in the hands the along the line Who for the
present entirely their But as the ne
cesses of the people forcing into existence its ultimate
success may be reasonably assumed as fixed.


To the cenrazing Railroad strength Keokuk may be ad-
ded the further essential of the city itself In u-
Mississippi above St Louis And pork and grain Market
and its general wholesale trade equaed by in Iowa.
Without eastern road has maintained its Importance WITH
one it must become in fact what claim Tor IT, The
Gate City OF Iowa. and the desirable connection 1or al
roads from the


In estimating the Of road there another fact
which That of all the roads eastward
with which connect Notwithstanding their present large invest
mens has independent terminus the Mississippi River AT
Quincy they dependent the c., B. G. L. r. Company
This materially embalrasses their operations To build an nde-
pendent road from Camp Point Of not less than Sooo
600, will obviate the difficulty For, after they get INTO
Quincy they still dependent The Chicago line occupies all
the practicable ground and approaches and h too with
the appreciation of the citizens generally But were all these en-
removed the trade of Iowa could not be controlled at
this point So road opened keokuk, the moiety
trade heretofore forced of Quincy, forever of
To the central lines this question of very grave Importance
They have bold and Independent position the Nssp
River they expect share the legitimate trade of this val
ley This be had only Keokuk, and by road The
is there the interests OF all those
kfoad well all the roads The immense capital al
ready invested demands this connection Its longer delay for
the aid of those deeply interested will certainly be
anomaly in rairoading.


further consideration the importance of this line
might present many other arguments and facts but deem the
foregoing suc. believing that all who will refer to the maps
and geography of the country and and the
ons be convinced that the necessity and utility of the
route all we claim for it.


We therefore approach the material pont the
requisite prosecute this line early completion,
and render it available.


Having reliable assurances from parties that the iron
shall be furnished upon reasonable terms for first mortgage
bonds she supersuce and oadbed shall be read
mess for have but provide the requisite for the
graduation ties, bridging, &C., for which have made partial
provision by with the contractors and from the local sub
scons the stock made and promised and in the vi
cinty of the line In addition which, order complete the
be procure the and have everything readiness for the
iron at early PERIOD have the Of forty fifty
thousand dollars cash. be used the early and vigorous
prosecution of the work payable monthly payments may be
actually necessary during progress and for this purpose
propose offer limited of first mortgage bonds upon
terms reasonable and mutually advantageous.


which address and thus apply specially and par
tcuary the Toledo and Quincy the Great Western the Toledo
and Wabash the CHICAGO Alton and ST. Louis tie ccs
trial. the Lafayette Indianapolis and Cincinnati the Indiana Gen.
trail the Beeontane the Central Ohio, the Ptshngh Ft
Wayne and Chicago, the Pennsylvania Central the Baltimore
and Ohio the Lake Shore the New York and Ere New
York Central Railroad Companies and those connected
interested said roads, confidently believing that the a asked
for each either viii be uang in comparison with the
advantages and benefits accung them by the construction Of
this work. that appeal will be cheerfuy and promptly respond
IL A.