The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-27
Great Illinois Railroad.

AT the request of an esteemed member of Congress,
publish our paper of this evening article from the
Boston Courier of the 18th instant relative to proposed
horoughfare through the State OF Illinois There is no
question but that railroad extending from the north
lakes to point the Mississippi river, always ac-
cessibe at all of the year for the largest class
steamboats, cannot fail to be of Importance to the travel
ling and business public 1t is understood that the State
of Illinois has already expended upon its construction
more than million of dollars and has overcome some
of the greatest obstacles to its completion 1t was the
principal work-the backbone of her great internal
Improvement system, which she commenced some years
since, but scale too great for her then means and
wants We understand from the same intelligent informer
that it is the intention of that State, if grant OF land
can be obtained from Congress, to complete the work
as speedily possible, and as the road IS to run
through lands which have been in Market some
of them thirty years, he enterains doubt that its
structon will have direct influence upon their speedy
sale and settlement 1t has, he contends, been the
policy of the to make grants of land to the
States for such purposes, upon the principle that
the United States are the great landowners Congress
can offer inducements their sale and settlement; such
least has been the practice of the from its
origin If the power does exist, constitutonay, there
can be objection to its exercise in such And
really the only and the great question is, does the
stutonal power exist We make the question, because
we are strict consructioniss of the instrument itself
From the Boston Courier
Grand Western Railway OF Illinois, from Cairo to
Chicago.
We have received pamphlet containing history Of
efforts which have been made for several years. to build
railroad from Cairo the southern extremity of Illinois,
Galena, in the NORTH by the way of Chicago After seve
raj mshaps attempts about to be made to get up
company to carry this project into effect and to obtain
aid from the general government in the shape of grant
of what unproductve, and of unprofta-
ble lands The charter under which the new company
to be organized is extremely liberal one, all the
new charters in Illinois. The pamphlet before gives
the following facts respecting the project:
On looking for Cairo, the southern terminus of the
great western or central railway OF Illinois, the ounda-
tons OF large city, upon which millions of dollars
have been expended under the direction of able engineers
city capable OF indefinite expansion, and secured against
the encroachment of the Mississippi and Ohio, and from
all other dangers that reasonable would think of pro-
vding againstae found just at the junction of these
two mighty rivers, and just at the head OF large steam
boat navigation. within three days of New Orleans by
steam about thousand miles; and open al all
sons of the gear:
above Cairo and the Ohio up to Pttsburg, the navigation
upon these rivers above Cairo is often stopped for weeks
together by the ice and in summer both the Mississippi
and the Ohio are often so low and for so long time,
to put check to the business OF their waters and battle
the calculations of shippers and travellers for the whole
season.
A communication by railway between Cairo and st.
Louis and another between Cairo and Cincinnati two
Of the most beautiful and thriving OF North Amer-
two seasons of the year-md- winter and midsummer.
and of great consequence and large profits, while both
rivers were open and the waters high.
Much of the lower Mississippi travel, that OF the
southwestern States its way north, will naturally flow
through Cairo along the proposed route to Chicago and
thence to Philadelphia, New York, Montreal and Que
.,I ronIn,
and most beautiful parts of New England, teemng with
mountains, and seas, and lakes and waterfalls, and
swarming with the villages and factories. and work
shops and farm houses of apecuar people, bearing lit
tie or resemblance to any other people the face OF
the earth.
So well is this understood by our neghbors of Upper
Canada that another great western railway tacO hundred
and twenyseuen mile, in length has Just been surveyed
from Niagara to Windsor, opposite to Detroit the cost Of
with the Michigan railroad, which runs to Chicago, and
to become can important Ink an the great chain Of COM
munication bettceen the eastern and oeser States The
travel upon this route is computed by the engineer him
1t is estimated that more than four hundred thousand
emigrants and travellers pass and repass between the
by what has always followed the opening of good rail-
way along the great lines OF travel in this country. this
number would be doubled rebled within few years
after the completion of the road If doubled only the
travelling would be equal eight hundred thousand pas
sages each way, or sixteen hundred thousand both
ways, every year Can it be doubted for moment that
|
lers, whether for business pleasure, would betake
themselves to the proposed route in preference to all 9th
o that such being the advantages and prospects OF
the road there will be great efforts made in building it p
or that the first four hundred miles from Cairo to Chca
co. upon which the State of Illinois had expended mil
lion Of dollars before the present company was ncopo-
rated, will De put IN operation forthwith .
But in addition to the profits derived from the travelling
community 1t is absolutely certain that very large returns
for the investment may be safely calculated from the
passage of surplus produce from Illinois and the neigh
boring territories, to the New Orleans and southern
| kets.
| And these profits go forever increasing, in
direct ratio with the increase OF population, which, IN
the western and southwestern States has hitherto baed
and must continue for long period TO BATTLE all human
calculation.
Lands hitherto unproductve, and therefore valueless
on account of the distance from markets. will be taken
up at once by active and hrongng population, so as
double at least and perhaps guadupe the average
crease of the State along the whole line of the road
at Cairo and northern at Chicago would give at once
about as much business would be desirable to single
track railway. and to the Illinois and Michigan canal.
The cost of such road being less than onehalf the
average cost of railways in New England about
fourth the average cost of European railways and the
come being unlimited By the charter the receipts will be
Just what the directors satisfied to charge for travel
and transportation beop the present and future rates by
| land or water.
The western trade has been for thirty years--and must
always continue TO bethe highest prize within reach of
all our cities on the seaboard New Orleans and Bait.
more, and Philadelphia and New York, have all been
built up successfully by their participation in ito adyan-
tages; and now we have Boston, with her strength and