DIY History | Transcribe | Building the Transcontinental Railroad | Proposals to T.C. Durant about funding the building of a railroad bridge across the Missouri River at Council Bluffs, Iowa, 1866-1868

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Proposals to T.C. Durant about funding the building of a railroad bridge across the Missouri River at Council Bluffs, Iowa, 1866-1868

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you the original aid which we think is feasable and not oppressive to our people. It is this. It is estimated that by the time your Bridge & road is completed that the U.P.R.R. the co building the bridge and the other roads coming here will have real & personal property within the corporate limits in assessed value to the amount at least of One Million of Dollars that the annual city tax on this property will amount to from $20 to 30.000.
Our common Council will pass an ordinance agreeing to abate all City taxes upon the property both real & personal of any Rail Road terminating here and that gives aid in the construction of this bridge until such rebatement amounts to the sum of $200.000. our [donation?] We enclose to you a copy of the late act above referred to and ask you to consider this proposition, especially the proviso in the 3d section thereof and determine whether the aid required can legally be given in this way. If this can not be done and such a company is organized so that we can render aid in the manner the law provides for, we ask that you afford us an opportunity to confer with you on this subject
Respectfully
Thos. Tostavin
Mayor of Council Bluffs
and chairman of
Citizens Committee of Conference.

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3 you the original aid which we think is feasable and not oppressive to our people. It is this. It is estimated that by the time your Bridge & road is completed that the U.P.R.R. the co building the bridge and the other roads coming here will have real & personal property within the corporate limits in assessed value to the amount at least of One Million of Dollars that the annual city tax on this property will amount to from $20 to 30.000. Our common Council will pass an ordinance agreeing to abate all City taxes upon the property both real & personal of any Rail Road terminating here and that gives aid in the construction of this bridge until such rebatement amounts to the sum of $200.000. our [donation?] We enclose to you a copy of the late act above referred to and ask you to consider this proposition, especially the proviso in the 3d section thereof and determine whether the aid required can legally be given in this way. If this can not be done and such a company is organized so that we can render aid in the manner the law provides for, we ask that you afford us an opportunity to confer with you on this subject Respectfully Thos. Tostavin Mayor of Council Bluffs and chairman of Citizens Committee of Conference.