Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
DUBUQUE WESTERN RAILROAD
DUBUQUE WESTERN RAILROAD. The Dubuque Western Railroad was incorporated on September 10, 1855. The Dubuque Western Railroad and the DUBUQUE, ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL RAILROAD occupied joint depot grounds and were upon the main channel of the Mississippi and centrally located. The Dubuque Western leased the line of the DUBUQUE AND PACIFIC RAILROAD as far as Farley Junction, from which it passed southwestward to Anamosa. Its object was to strike the Iowa coal fields. This road could not go through Cascade owing to the heavy grades. (1)
"The contract cost of the first thirty miles from Dubuque
to Dyersville is $1,100,000, which is $36,666 per mile;
this includes building, rolling stock, etc., except fencing
and ballasting."
(Express and Herald, November 4, 1857.)
In 1858 the citizens of Dubuque voted to loan the railroad $250,000. (2)
This company began with post notes of sixty days, printed date of October 20, 1857, with ten percent interest by November. The next issue had only the year 1857 printed with month and day filled in. The firm of Edward Mendel of Chicago was commissioned to make notes of 50 cents, $1, $3, $5, and $10, all being post notes due with ten percent interest. Solon LANGWORTHY became the president about December 15, 1857 and his name appears as president on notes after #800. This highest number noted is 3816. The notes appear to have been printed on sheets of four. (3)
Financial difficulties, however, led to the company's reorganization as the DUBUQUE, MARION, AND WESTERN RAILROAD COMPANY. (4) Continued financial difficulties led this line to be reorganized as the DUBUQUE SOUTH WESTERN RAILROAD COMPANY. (5)
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Source:
1. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Online: http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-28-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml
2. Ibid.
3. Oakes, Dean G. Iowa: Obsolete Notes and Scrip
4. Donovan
5. Tigges, John and Jacobson, Jon. Milwaukee Road Narrow Gauge: The Chicago, Bellevue, Cascade and Western. Pruett Publishing Company, 1985, p. 2