BELMONT AND DUBUQUE RAILROAD COMPANY

BELMONT AND DUBUQUE RAILROAD COMPANY. By Act 25 of December 7, 1836, the Belmont & Dubuque Railroad Company was incorporated in Belmont, Wisconsin. Two of the commissioners were John Foley and Francis K. O'Ferrall, of Dubuque county. (1)

The act incorporating the Belmont and Dubuque Railroad Company authorized it to construct a single or double track from Belmont to the most eligible point on the MISSISSIPPI RIVER,

            “The road to be operated by the power and force of 
            steam or animals, or any mechanical or other power.” 

The company was prohibited from holding or speculating in any lands in the Territory other than those upon which the road should run—or that might be necessary to operate the same. It was further provided that the company should not charge to exceed six cents per mile for carrying passengers, nor more than fifteen cents per ton per mile for transporting any species of property. (2)

In February, 1837, books for subscriptions to the stock of this road were opened in Dubuque. During the latter part of 1838 the route between Milwaukee and Dubuque was surveyed. (3)

This was the first act authorizing the construction of a railroad in Iowa. Its provisions may be of interest as a matter of history, although the road was not built. (4)

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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-27-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml

2. Gue, Benjamin F. History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Online: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/History_of_Iowa_From_the_Earliest_Times_to_the_Beginning_of_the_Twentieth_Century/1/15

3. Ibid.

4. Gue, Benjamin F.