Iowa Almanac
Iowa Almanac -- Thursday, August 29, 2024
A rail runs to Des Moines. More from the Iowa-Alman Act in a moment. Eat up the summer with an Iowa Soybean Association Farmer membership powered by the Soybean Check-Off. Excess timely industry info engage in on-farm research and join producer programs all designed to support your operations' unique needs. Activate or confirm your membership before August 31st to be entered to win one of many unique prizes, including a solo stove. Visit isoybeans.com today to learn more. The Iowa Soybean Association, driven to deliver for Iowa's nearly 37,000 soybean farmers. Political horse trading is nothing new. In fact, in 1857, those who wanted the state capital permanently located in Des Moines threw their financial support behind a certain railroad line. In exchange for folks from Kea Cook, supporting keeping the capital in Des Moines when the new state constitution was voted on. The Des Moines Valley Railroad was based in Kea Cook. It took a dozen years to build the rail line from there to Des Moines. On August 29th, 1866, the first train on the Valley Road was to come to the state capital. A formal proclamation was issued. It read, "Let the glad news sweep over the prairies and around the universe that the first train on the Valley Road will come into Des Moines. Arrangement should be made to meet the iron horse and give him a grand reception." That proclamation noted that 40 persons from Kea Cook would be making the trip, and suggested that there be marching, bonfires, music, hurrying, whistling, yellings, and circumscribed and uncircumscribed rippings and tearing through all this land of promise. A large crowd greeted the train as many had not seen one since they crossed westward to settle what was originally called Fort Des Moines. The crowd lived up to the call for a perfect roar and rush and thunder of enthusiasm when the first train on the Des Moines Valley Railroad arrived in Des Moines, on this state in 1866. And that's Iowa Almanac for August 29th, follow us on Twitter @IowaAlmanac. Until tomorrow, I'm Jeff Stein.