The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-09-13

4 From ne ". ~. s1dCe5useI.l
RAILROAD TO ROCK ISLAND NO. Ill.
GALESA AND CHICAGO ROAD AND
BRANCHES.
70 those whc have ever travelled in wet sea.
son over thsSbrosd prairies extending westward
from Chicsgs, j. certainly great re'le! 70 see
. The cars lyia9 ever the same Praires o. me rae
Of Is miles a hour. YET this 10 now the tact.-
] There is actually Rail Road,-none OF your
.INorlhern Grosy' or sCeniral," Anticipated evi-
asnces ot indebtedness, but real .s've one, 10
iinois, and that, too, over prairies where the
yfoateleps AZ TIE retiring Indian are hardy yet
,sl,1efsfsa The cars are running some % or 80
miles fsoa, Chicago, and the Road Is rapidly pro-
aress ng. II Is expected that the cars will be
running TO Elgin, on Fox river, distance OF ~
miles his fall. We propose to present the hlsto-
r. Of the origin and progress Of the Road, some-
what in detail, as it has an important bearing up
On the subject under consideration.
The Charter for this Road, had its origin IN the
increasing growth and prosperity Of the Nofti,
West. which daily demanded more facilities OF
communication between the Great Lakes and the
Mississippi. II is to be regretted, however, that
instead Of this charter, one had not been obtained
for Road from Chicago to Rock Island, making
il part Of the great western Railroad TO the
Pacific, which, evidently must pass Rock Island,
as being on the direct route from Boston, Albany,
and Buffalo, to the valley Of the Plat River.
After preliminary survey BY Mr.. Morgan.
engineer, the company proceeded on me lotn Of
August, l847, to open books for the subscription
Of The capital stock Of The company. About
x25O. 900 Of stock were subscribed at once
STbe first expectation Of the Board" says the
President OF the company, in his report OF last
wear, sswss to obtain general subscription from
ihe eiiizeAs Of Northern Illinois and Southern
Wisconsin, residing along the line Of the contem-
plated road and its vicinity, as indicative OF their
faith in the profitable character Of the road when
constructed, and Of the general interest OF the
people in its construction; and, with the aid OF
this subscription, to open negotiations with, and
solicit other subscriptions or loans from eastern
capitalists, sufficient in amount to justify the
commencement of the work. The amount sub
scribed however, on the opening Of the books,
was so liberal, and the feeling manifested along
the line SO ardent, and SO universal, that It was
quite apparent the country and the people inn
Inediately interested in the construction OF the
road, were able TO, and would increase their sub
scrp!ions, 10 an amount sufficient, in connection
with the credits on iron and engines there offered
us, TO build the road from Chicago 10 Elgin at
once and ownit themselves
In pursuance OF these views, the Board pro-
ceeded al once to operations In September OF
The same year, corps OF engineers was employ
ed to survey and locate the line from Chicago to
Fox river, and prepare il for letting
On the lst of March, following, 848, part OF
the road was prepared for letting, and The gra-
ding and bridging OF the first 81 miles was put
under contract Tor The small sum OF SEA 900 be-
ing an average Of but 81 O06 per mile for that por-
ito 4 the work.
Its less than eighteen months since the first
part Of the work was put under contract, and it is
now finished TO Fox river, except dressing the
work on few sections, and laying the rail Tor
about third ofthe route. This being the first
road in operation in this section of country II be-
comes an interesting inquiry 10 ascertain the cost
OF the work, ana the profits which are aid may
be reasonably expected from II.
The report ofihe chief Engineer for the PIES
ent year, exhibits The whole cost Of the road TO
Elgin, "with temporary buildings, and OUTFIT o.
engines and cars sufficient to commence opera
tions upon the road, right OF way and depot
grounds, engineering, incidental expenses inclu-
ding salaries OF officers and agents, and interest
on the stock paid in, ard oonds of the company
for the present year, 10 be 5000, as follows
Grading and Bridging 5000
Timber and lumber for Supersruciure, 10000
Iron and Spike for ditto, $4,000
Temporary buildings and wharf, $500
Outfit Of Cars and ; engines 10000
Distributing materials and laying track,
j including gravelng road bed $4,000
Denot Grounds 5000 1900
! Engineering, including cost Of old pre-
liminary survey, l6,0OO
Salaries If officers and agents, incidental
expenses and interest on stock paid in,
and on bonds OF the Company $4,000
Total S35O,OO0
The track is laid, il must be remembered, for
the present with the fiat rail as cheaper. This
Ice ;s0 a 1n1o
Thus, il seems this road has been built for less
than $500 per mile, it being without doubt
the cheapest road, of equal length, IN the acorld -
The cost of the Michigan Central Railroad was
about $4,000 per mile, and yet this in COMPARE
son with eastern works was considered chear
road The following was the cost OF some OF the
principal Eastern Roads: Boston and Maine
$4,000 per mile, Boston and Providence 63,O0(
do, Western Railroad $1,000, PittsbWg $4,000
Eastern 1900, Old COLONY AZ 900, Boston ant
Worcester 81 900, Utica and Schenectady 95, 900
Syracuse and Utica 81 900.
Yet the whole cost Of the Chicago and ElgiT
Road, when relaid with the best + rail, and in.
! GLIDING large supply of cars, and commodious
/ buildings, and good proportion Of side tracks
cannot exceed Sl2, 900 per mile IN our next W.
shall consider the profits to be deprived from this
Ioad-also, the present financial condition OF thu
Company and its future prospects.
Rock Island, Sept !, lS49.
NOTICE.
The fifth meeting and exhibition Of the Dav'
export and Rock Island Horticultural Societ,
will be held at the Court House in this place OF