The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-02-08
internal improvements.

~ " hlcclHls O! the ClllLens oi Morris and Vi
cmlly held at the court house, on the lst dav of
February 1891, pursuant to previous public no
tice for the purpose of taking into consideration
the interests Of the state of Illinois and espc-
cally Of the town Of Morris, in connection with
the construction Of railroads as projected in va.
rlous sections Of the state Lewis T. Lott was
called to the chair and c. l.. Starbuck was ap.
pointed Secretary.
On motion Of James II O'Bricn. n committc
Of three was appointed by the chair to report
series OF resolutions expressive Of the sense If
the meeting
The chair appointed James H. OBryan Geo.
ii. kler-tcd aud T.. i Scclcv as such committee.
On motion Of Geo. II. X ierscd; c. l.. Star-
buck was added to the committee, whercupon,
after retiring to consult with reference to the OBJ
loct OF their appointment, said committee re.
turned and reported the following resolutions
which were read by the secretary. and after
some explanation, and remarks by various zen.
tlcmen were unanimously adopted.
lst Rrsolred That we are deeply sensible Of
the important services rendered the state Of Hi
nus by cur delegation in Congress in their un.
tlrng efforts which finally proved successful, in
procuring grant Of land to the state in aid Of
the Central Railroad with branches from the
nam trunk to the cities of Galena and Chicago.
2d R@o'red That the land placed at the dis
posal OF the state by the grant above mentioned,
ough', IN our opinion, to be SO disposed Of as to
sccurc the completion ef the contemplated road
and branches at the earliest possible period. And
If 1t should be thought advisable 10 transfer said
lands to 4 chmteacd company, in trust for the
construction Of said road and branches the law
creating such company, and providing for such
transfer, ought to be framed as tn confine said
company to the line Of operations pointed ont by
the legislature leaving as small a margin for the
exercise OF corporate discressInn a possible con
s!sient with the obcc, to be accomplished by it.
3d. HcsoiU'd That in our opinion the route Of
the main trunk ought not to be changed from the
original survey, Oh or near the third principal me.
rldldn To disturb the original location would
we apprehend result in the most violent efforts
on the part Of particular localities to bring il in.
to sublcctlon to the private local interests of
towns and villages in the vicinity Of the line and
situated on both sides Of the road AMI might
have the effect to defeat i! altogether We are
therefore fully satisfied that the Third Prncipal
meridian ought 10 be adhered to, especially as
that seems to be conceded to be rs good, if not
better route, than could be selected elsewhere
4th. EesolJcd, That in our opinion the Chicago
branch ought to diyerge little from the man
trunk at or near Shelbyville, and ruG through
the eastern tier Of counties by the best route 10
Chicago The large amount of public land in
that region OF country and on that route, would
90 Ear towards the construction of the road
And the road when completed would render that
section of country SO SasIly accessible as to IN
sure speedy settlement and consequent rapid
advance in the price Of land.
9TH. Resoired, That at this season Of the wear
while all inland water communication is suspend
o. pal La.
way, communicating with the principal towns
and cities, east, west and south of Us and we
highly appreciate the services our Senator and
Representatives in the Legislature in procuring
the passage of bill for the cxtention Of the
Rock Island Railroad, which will secure to the
citizens of Morris aud other towns situated on
the line OF the canal, II speedy communication
with distant towns and cities ut all seasons of the
year.
9th. ReSolrcR That in our opinion the Interests
OF the state and the canal demand that the Rock
Island Railroad, If extended to the east line OF
the state or to Chicago should pass in the imme.
dIatc ueghborhood of the canal All experience
has proved that the greater IT,. facilities. the
greater will be the amount of business to be
done, and consequently it would be far better for
the interests Of the canal that both should be
united on the same line, than that business should
be drawn away from the canal by railroad eiyM
or ten miles from it, We are therefore decidedly
of the opinion that it would he the interest both
Of the state and canal as well as the stockholders
in the road that both should run as near a. pos.
siblc, thereby increasing business hv the addition.
al facilities afforded on this great thoroughfare
On motion of Mr. OBricn,
Hcs"'red, That the proceedings Of this meeting
be signed 10y the chairman and secretary and for.
wnrd'd to or senator and representative. in the
legislature, and that copies be furnished the Jo-
iiet and Ottawa papers for publication
L. T. LOTT, Chairman,
c. L, SrArBUcK, Secretary