"Clarke County Historical and Biographical Record" by Lewis Publishing, 1886. p.262-263.
Rapid development of a new country is only possible through a system of railroads, affording speedy, regular, safe and economical transportation. Now, by the aid of railroads, the vast Territory of Dakota has within five years received a half a million of inhabitants, and is ready to be converted into two new States--Dakota and Pembina-- stars Nos. 39 and 40 in our Federal constellation.
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
The iron horse was slow in reaching Southern Iowa. For nearly twenty years after its first settlement, Clarke County communicated with the outside world only by stage lines. These ran daily each way, east and west, for about ten years before 1868. The first stage lines, established in 1855, ran tri-weekly. In 1868 the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, in which the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company had already acquired a controllling interest, was built west through this county. Of course, the building of this road was highly beneficial to the county, giving every one an opportunity to sell for better prices and buy for cheaper; in other words, taking them nearer to the East. This greatly enhanced the value of land and other property, and increased the population. Clarke County was thenceforth connected with the remainder of the world by rapid transit and communication.
This railroad curves in two places in the county, but its general course is westward, across Jackson, Osceola, Ward and Murray townships. There are but the three stations Woodburn, in Jackson township; Osceola, in Osceola Township, and Murray, in Troy township. The total length of the road within the limits of the county is 26,498 miles. (Editor's note- this length does not make sense. Later in the paragraph its total length of track is mentioned as over 5,000 miles.)
Des Moines, Osceola & Southern
This is a local enterprise, having been projected by Osceola parties, and pushed by them to completion. The people of Osceola and Clarke County feel a justifiable pride in the road, therefore, although ithas latterly been under a cloud financially. The first to suggest a narrow-gauge railroad from Osceola to Des Moines was B.L. Harding, then of the former place, but now a resident of the capital. The company was organized at Osceola in 1880, with Mr. Harding as President, and Henry Stivers as Vice-President and Superintendent. The project was not allowed to drag, as if often the case after the first enthusiasm has oozed out, but the preliminary work was entered upon with vigor. Of course, Eastern assistance was invoked, and successfully. Osceola Township voted a subsidy of five percent., payable in two equal annual installments, after the completion of the road, and Fremont voted a two-and-one-half-percent. tax on the same terms.
The actual work of construction was begun in the spring of 1881, and completed to Des Moines in the summer of 1882. President Hardng removed to Des Moines about this time, continuing his relation to the company. During the same year, 1882, the road was built south from Osceola, and in 1884 it was completed through Decatur County to Cainesville, Missouri, the present terminus, making a total length of 116 miles. The cost was over a $1,000,000, besides the subsidies voted by townships along the line.
Although the road proved a convenience to the communities it passes through, still there was not enough business to support it, and in April 1885, it passed into the hands of a receiver, E.R. Mason, who yet holds the position. Mr. Harding was president up to this time, and Mr. Stivers continued as vice-president and superintendent until the appointment of the receiver. A suit is now pending to foreclose the mortgage on the road. A committee of the bond-holders has been organized to purchase the whole property, and if this is done, it is proposed to wide the gauge to standard, and extend the line to the Missouri River.
The repair shops have been from the start located at Osceola, and give employment to about forty men. There are seven locomotives on the lines, and a freight and passenger train are run each way daily. The road crosses Fremont, Osceola, Knox and Green Bay townships, and has four stations in Clarke County--Jamison, in the center of Fremont Township, seven miles north ofOsceola; Osceola; Phillipsburg, four and one-half miles south of Osceola, in Knox Township, and Leslie, seven and one-half miles south of Osceola, in Knox Township. The road has 22.1 miles in Clarke County, which is assessed at $1,200 a mile.
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