Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-01-16
Indiana and her Railroads.

Indiana and her Railroads.
Situated Indiana is, stretching from the Ohio river
20 Lake Michigan presenting great diversity OF soil
and climate and the north end the south conveying their
trade and business to entirely different markets. thore
seemed few years back but little prospect Of
ranging and carrying out system of Improvements
such would bring the most distant portions Of the
State together, and enable the people mngle in that
free and friendly intercourse which is necessary to
full understanding of each others and interests
and to the suppression of those sectional feelings and
imostes which frequently distract the councils and
impair the strength of a State
But it Is very certain that State will have so
complete a system Of internal communication as Indi.
ana that fully the of ALL acrding
every citizen ready and cheap to every part of
the State, and particularly the seat of Government
This is the peculiar feature in the system. Every rail-
road least nearly every of any Importance, con-
meets with each other the capital and by
the means of the numerous street branches turnpkes
and plank roads made making their benefits are
tended to almost every county in the State.
Few of our readers are, perhaps of the
and extent of these works and what they are destined
to accomplish Tor the State in general and indianapolis
in particular On the north the Peru Railroad
and the Lafayette Railroad the running nearly north
and the other northwest from this place and extending
to points the Wabash, each about 20 miles distant
from Indianapolis, and about y-seven miles from each
other Those lines will undoubtedly be continued the
Peru road through the tier of counties north Of that
place to join the northern Indiana southern Mich.
gan, Railroad and the other, in direction Chicago;
thus making two lines Of Railroad from the centre of
the State its northern boundary generally some 20
miles apart, at least after they the Wabash and
about 25 miles either side of the Michigan road This
the Michigan road will in another season be planked
the whole distance north thus forming three thorough
fares through the northern half of the State and
ing almost every county in that quarter.
The grade the whole line of the Lafayette road is
completed or will be in the That the
Peru road is made 10 Noblesvle 20 miles, and the iron
is now being laid upon it,
On the west we have Railroad to Terre Haute now
nearly made, upon which iron will be placed next sum.
mer and efforts making extend it to Rich
mond which no doubt will be successful thus aording
thoroeghfare east and across the entire State
Somewhat north of east the Belefontaine Road,
from which, It seems more than probable line viii. be
carried perhaps from Pendleon Newcastle and either
to Richmond or Knightstown, on the national road.
The Bellefontane Road is already in use for % miles
and will soon be carried the State line As there
were not enough there is the National Road upon which
plank is being placed and much of ii already open
ed for travel.
To the Ohio river we have, as yet, but one outlet,
the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad but others are
in progress and will reach US, giving great advan-
tages to the whole southern portion of the State
The Laxrenceburg Railroad has some 20 miles nearly
read Cor Tho and tbo far
under communication will thus soon be cre-
ated between the and the south
the State connecting at Shebyvle with two other roads
running and and northeast Rushvle and Knights
town. and southwest to the Madison Road at Edn.
burg So, in the southwest Evansville is connecting her.
self with Princeton and yincennes by Railroad and
one is constructing between Franklin, Johnson county
and Martnsville These lines will undoubtedly be
nected by one via Gosport Spencer and PIT Commerce.
Jacksonville will be connected with Columbus and
New A,ssny with Salem and Bedford, and after a
while, with Charlottesville and Lafayette. Between
the latter points the road will so on be travelled, and
some considerable part OF the line between Salem and
New Albany is already in use Plank and other roads
constructing from various points ON the Ohio into
theinteror connecting with these important works
Indianapolis is thus made the centre of this work
oil roads, and whatever benefits be realized from
these she is to command the greatest share. Not only
is the city, by means Of Them broughr into immediate
connection with all parts Of State, but these
lines the most Of them, great National thorough
ares connecting leading points the several States
around u.s. with their nearest and best markets. and thus
drawing upon Them and through this place large por
ton Of the travel and bushes Of the east and west
Thus by the extension Of the Lafayette Road to Chi
cago, we unite with the making from there TO Ga
lena, carrying US to the Up per Mississippi
BY the Terre Haute Rood we connect with St. Louis,
and probably with Quincy and ether towns on the Mis-
sissippi, in Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa. - Is. -
BY the Bslefontaine Road is found direct commmu-
ncaton with the Lake a. ID the several lines Of road to