The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-11-22
Rock island and Chicago Railroad.

Every day seems 90 evidence with great GER
tsnty, the future Importance of this road II is
fast growing more in favor with Eastern Railroad
men, who have formerly considered other routes
leading to the west fully as good, aud likely as
soon to be constructed. but they are now looking
to this rs the first railroad which will tap the
Mississippi and from part Of the first connected
line uf railroad from the Atlantic scabuard to the
shores ofthi, great river and is now viewed as the
shortest aud best route for n railroad to the far
west and Ultimately to the Pacific We cannot
refrain from giving our readers the following ar
tlcie ia relation 10 this road. from the American
Railroad journal published in New York City,
the oldest aud most influential paper, devoted to
Railroads IN the United States. Il speaks vol
tines;
We omitted to mention at the time, that a con.
tract was completed ON the l1th o! August by
tie directors ofthis road with company Of New
Haven capitalists, represented by Joseph L. Shef.
field and Henry Famham for tie entire construc.
ton Of this road from Rock Island to Chicago, a
distance Of about 200 miles The road is to be
completed ia about two years from the date OF
the contract aud the names of the contractors fur
n-h good guaranty that they will not be behind
the time.
After all the efforts Of other companies, this
road will probably lie the first to reach the Mis-
,I,>ipp to form part OF the first connected lire
nf railroad from the Atlantic to that great river
In many respects, 1t occupies one of the most ia
yoratlc routes To- be found in this country, being
upon the same line Of latitude with the south
shores Of lakes Erie and Michigan II forms the
natural and appropriate eXtcution west log all the
roads touching the shores Of these lakes on the
south and strikes the Mississippi at the best point
for crossing that river. TO he found between New
Orlrnus and the Falls Of st. Anthony. Rock IS
land j. on the same line with Council Bluff, on
the Missouri river which is stated 10 be the first
practicable crossing place for q railroad above its
mouth. lf-uch is ,he fact, the Chicago and Rock
Island Railroad occupies a portion OF the shortest
and best route for y railroad to the extreme west
and ultimately to tile Pacific, if the northern route
should be selected
IL is somewhat remarkable that the frs. contin.
uon. line Of railroad to come into use, connecting
fhc Ni-sis-ippi and the Atlantic. should follow
the Identical route marked oaI 10y W G. Redied
E-q. of dis city, IN pamphlet published by him
in 1889, entitled a sketch Of Geographical
Routes Of Great Railroad, by which it i, propo.
snl To connect the canals and ma, gable waters o
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, llliuOi, Michigan
and Missouri and tie adjacent States and terrific
rIv-.
The pamphle, is il'ustntol by map in which
the line Of tlU- railroad is laid down from New
York city to Council Bluff, following the route o.
the Erie railroad the road through northern Ohit
and Indiana, aud the Rock Island road The pro
position for this line Of railroad was of course IA,
in advance of the times, butif Nj Ecifeld should
be living two years from this time, he will Sc,
h., great project realized as far as Rock Island
his crossing place OF the Mississippi
We congratulate the above company upon tho