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

7 country uiShten
/ The bill for the extension Of the Rock Island
and Lasaie Railroad to Chicago, by way of OF
tawa and Joliet has become law. The bill foI
the Central Railroad has passed the Senate AM
no doub, will pass the house with no material
alteration.
The Jll gives latitude Of II miles on either
side Of the old line to enable the company to Sc
lect the best points for crossing large streams
and especially the Illinois River.
The bill for the improvement Of the Illinoi,
river to this place the Introduction into the Sen
ate of which we spoke last week, has since pass
ed that body and has been sen, to the house
where Il nil be pl'Sri as soon rs II can be reach
ed IN the order Of business inasmuch as it meets
with no opposition and Ia, 5srp approved by the
internal improvement committee in the house.
Now then is the time for our people TO be up
and doing. It requires no very far seeing eve to
perceive that il we improve the river and bring
steamboats, to O,'awa, we presents powerful N
dncement 10 the Central Railroad to cross the II.
linois River at this place in tact. the bringing Of
steauboa's to hi. poin', must settle that question
and th.si. made apparren! BY the consideration
Of the following facts
The Railroad from Rock Island to Chicago by
way OF Peru Lasals. Ottawa and Joliet will be
built Immediately. iuasuuch as the heaviest Rail.
road men in the Unital States already have a
line Of railroad from Buffalo westward through
Michigan, and are seeking route through 'hjs
state into Iowa: and Il "a known from the best
authority that this ia their chosen route and that
this stock will be taken. We can therefore set =.
down rs y Fixed fact TINS ROAD WILL ne coz.
SrRucTED. Then assume that the Illinois River
il improved to Ottawa. The Central Railroad
Company are then seeking a route from the south
10 the southern terminus Of the canal They
will inl in attempting 10 cross az Lasalle or bot
tom mile and half wide which overf'ows
every wear and at times to tie depth " IS or 90
Z feet. without foundation for piers-anl a high
/ bluff ut its margin. which, according to the sur
veys Of the State engineers requires the enor-
nous elevation Of fifty-ihrSe feet TO the mile.
This will require line Of piers clear across this
bottom and draw bridge for steamboats, In u
wo-d the frs. three miles Of the road crossing at
Lasalle. will cost half million Of dollars In
looking further they find railroad for Use from
Lasalle 10 Ottawa made b. the Rock Island and
Chicago company they find they can cross the
river at Ottawa ut a trifiing cost, where there ia
\ T., IL,
| by about half and that they can here communi-
cate with the steam boat navigation without diff.
Guilty and in running south open to the world
on their road the inexhaustible coal mines on the
| Vermliou, and at the same time make more
direct route for the travelling public from 81
Louis to Chicago; and they cannot hesitate IN
! fixing the crossing at Ottawa
! If We are rue to our duty, and alive to our in
terest, We VIII in two years have these two great
roads in;erseeting here, AMI communicating al
| this point with the steamboat navigation # the
river. What then remains for US to do in thi.
matter' The railroads will be made by heavy
capitalists, whether We contribute orr mite or
not, bot the river Improvement being local. We
mast make ourselves. The better opinion Of
practical men fixes the expense at $4,000 Thi,
money can bc borrowed As soon rs tax sufficient
| to pay the interest shall be voted The bill pro
| vid,s for tax of mills on Ottawa, and South
! Ottawa; of 3 mills on Utica, Deer Park
Rutland, Dayton, Grand Rapids, Farm Ridge,
| Bruce and Brooktield ; and Of l.a mills on Sc
rena, Mission. Manlius, Eagle, Adams, Esrl
| Worthwhile, Freedom and Watham. If all i,,ese
towns agree by vote to pay this tax i. eill raise
annually about $4,000 which vii pay the inter.
est and provide sinking fund for the final pay.
men. of the principal.
The river Board to condac; this work, arc very
! iudiciously selected. Their names will command
the confidence Of the public The following !,
the list: David Green, BEN. F. Lamb Vim. II
". Cushman, Benz. T. Phelps L. Leland, Vim
Hieklipg VIM II. Price, Bronson Murray, and
William Clayton
Let US have a long pull strong pull and a
pull altogether, and the work is done. lie. no
one of these towns BE- found behind. their neigh,
bors in ibcrality and public 'pir,. Let these
works be made and the country furnished with
plank roads meeting at this focus, and Ottawa il
made n city, and the farmers within trading dis
lance will be essentially at home" For tn,
larger a town Ottawa is. the more valuable vii
be the farms in the country around her.