Like everything else in this county, our railroads have a history. One hundred years ago in Washington county no time was spent waiting for freight trains to pass by: and no one dreamed that in 1936, we would be able to go to bed in Washington at midnight and wake up in Kansas City or Chicago in the morning. It just wasn't being done. And so, if you occasionally become impatient when you're waiting on a freight train, here are a few facts which may help you to pass away the time.
The first railroad rumor in this county had to do with the "Ramshorn" railroad which was to connect all the county seats in Iowa. The next "dream railroad" was to go from Muscatine through the northern part of the country. This project was pushed in 1857, but it, too, fell through. Then the Philadelphia, Fort Wayne and Platte Valley Air Line proved to be mostly just name. The county issued five thousand dollars in bonds to aid the road and some grading was done east of Crawfordsville. A big convention was held in Oskaloosa, a board of directors was appointed, the convention drew up fourteen articles (they added one to escape the unlucky thirteen), officers were elected and everything seemed rosy for a time. But it didn't last.
Train Finally Arrives
Then came a series of railroad bond elections and finally on September 1, 1858, with much ado, the first railroad train, operated by the Mississippi and Missouri company, steamed into Washington, Iowa.
One thousand invitations were issued to neighboring towns by the committee, consisting of N. Chipman, James Dawson, Dr. Chilcote, Jonathan Wilson, J.J. Higgins, Charles Foster, J.R. Lewis, A.T. Burris, E.H. Ludington, Thomas Blanchard, John Bryson, W.B. Caruthers, and J.S. Beaty (Editor's note, this is John S. Beaty, not our James Beaty, and not related that we know of). A public dinner was held in the square in charge of thirty of the more enterprising ladies of the town, and a toast program was prepared by Mr. Wickersham, E.H. Ludington, and Charles Foster. It was a wonderful day and nearly five thousand people were here when, at 12:13, a train of thirteen cars came in. Captain Sam A. Russell welcomed the delegation at the depot, from which everyone was led to the big banquet.
Washington Was Terminus
For a number of years Washington was the terminus of the Mississippi and Missouri road, forming the mercantile center for merchants west, south, and north of us and a shipping point for livestock and grain for cities as far away as Oskaloosa. In 1873 with the C.R.I.&P. in control, the road was extended to Knoxville and it is still known as the Knoxville branch.
Washington could have been on the Burlington route stretching from St. Louis to St. Paul, but its citizens were so interested in getting a road from Cedar Rapids and Iowa City to Keokuk that they wouldn't listen to any other offers. In 1879-80 the narrow gauge of the Burlington was built, and the Milwaukee road came through Washington in 1900, adding stations at Wellston, Haskins, Titus and Rubio.
Early Shipping Statistics
Some early statistics in connection with the railroads of the county are interesting. From September 6 to December 31, 1858, the M. and M. road shipped out 12,420 hogs, 748 cattle; and 329,022 pounds of merchandise; while the shipments into town included 1,810 pounds of salt, 1,086,000 feet of lumber; 354 tons of coal; and 1,607,786 pounds of merchandise.
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