The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-01-11
THE OTTAWA FREE TRADER.
Cttama, lcnuarp il, 1851.
The Central lsaiirOnI.


The public prints are full Of spcculatious upon
routes for locating, and plans for constructing rail
roads all over the state; and. could all the rJads
which havo been projected during the past year
be constructed, we would have a railroad to near
/ Iy every mans door in the country
To take up AMI discuss the advantages or disad-
yantages ofall these Numerous projects. and to ex
hbt the merits of one over those OF another, would
DO a task requiring years to accomplish, and IS
too arduous for Us to undertake We shall, how.
ever, attempt TO make a few suggestions upon the
different routes Of those in which We are more I'M
medaely interested, and cnlcayor to give an i'm
partial statement Of what We conceive to be the
real state ofcircumstancc. in connection with these
routes and their relative advantages.
We some time since, in connection with com.
muncaton on the subject Of the improperly Of
bridging the naysable waters Of The Illinois ri.
yer, alluded to tie inpmcticability Of crossing
with the Great Central Railroad at Lasalle-that
he construction of a competent bridge there. or
at any point near there il not utterly impossible,
would be accompanied with such m enormous ex-
prgse rs to render it ut least inadyisahle We
admitte,, dat, according TO the bill, the main
Trunk should animate at the junction Of the Ca.
nal aud river, but hat The place of crossing the
river was not designated, and suggested the fact
that it would he grea, saving in expense to run
the road directly TO this place, whsre n bridge
could be constructed for mer. trii'- compared
with what it would cost ut Lasallc, aud would be-
above the head OF navigation and then run on the
west side OF the river to Lasalle the point Of ter.
mination.
The Peru Democrat takes exceptions to these
suggestions and in very complimentary terms ex
presses itself unable to believe that we were
sincere in our remarks and thinks the work al
ready done on the south side Of the river would
be equal to the extra expense Of bridging the ri
yer at that point. This may DO true Blu, no
competent person. who has ever examined the
work alluded tonnd the site for a bridge Impair
italy, and in possession Of n well balanced mind
in our opinion would ever arrive at such conclu
NNi, NIH'uh wv wv w sNlll' tNNll us Nuc
superior judgment Of our friends of the Democrat
But we must beg leave to say that we really were
sincere in our remarks, and aH believe that this
route is more practicable than any other that can
DO adopted, for the following reasons;
LIST The distance from Cairo TO Chicago via OF.
tawa is less than via Lasalle; and the amount
saved in distance by crossing hero would more
than build tho bridge While it would make no
difference in in tho Galcna branch 1t would
start from Lasalls at any rate, while the main
trunk from here to Lasallo would COS, no more
than branch would from there to this place en-
route for Chicago
I'd. That in crossing at lasalc ono Of two things
il necessary, namely; Either the road will have
to descend to the vally to connect with the river
the canal and the Peru and Rock Island railroad,
OF run from bluff 10 bluff The former Of these
alternatives wo deem Objectionable on tho follow.