The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-01-24

traffic last year Of s70s00 and passenger traf.
hc of .5s000 for the same period. Generally on
the Western Railways the freight traffic exceeds
the passenger traffic. from 10 TO Is per cen.
While suppose our passenger traffic Of our road
to Peru will exceed the freight traffic, in conse-
quence Of canal competition. There is no doubt
that our freight traffic for the whole line will
equal in proportion, that Of the Galena Road for
AZ miles. The population Of Iowa, BY the last
census was nearly 100000, and IRON reliable
sources Of information | have no doubt it has in.
creased 10000 IN the last year. Tie business
which we shall CONTROL on the Mississ5pp river.
extending li0 miles below Rock lskNd and 60
miles above is more than twice as great as that
which comes to and is dependen, upon Elgiu.
Let US however, claim only freight traffic cor.
responding per mile with the 9alena road, and
our charges for it will amount to $500 900
Passenger traffic to Peru 25e,bOO
e to Rock Island, 930,s50
Ss37 $50
Deduct running expenses, 45 per cent. 876,sO7
S460543
Dedtc, interest on 100000 Bends, 10000
$3.50, ,bi2
to be deviled among the stockholders, which
would be dividend OF IL per cent, on $4,000
900 OF stock
II we compare our increase with that put forth
by the Central Railroad Co, and estimate the
same ratio per mile ran, our nett income, after
paying all expenses and interest would be si2g,
eco, or dividend Of l9i per cent on s2,Oo0,0O0
Of stock.
None of Us, in estimating the business Of our
road, have yet considered the new elements oi
increase, which will be developed by the Road
itself The Rock Island Railroad passes l20 miles
of so in lenght over the Illinois coal field The
mines near Rock Island City have been worked
for several years, with considerable success; and
in places along the road the quantity of coal
seems incxhaustablc Those who are familiar
with suoh subjects assure US thst coal Of quail
" nearly equal to such as comes to Chicago, from
Ohio and Pennsylvania, can be delivered in Chi
cago at the price of four dollars per ton As the
demand for coal is constantly Increasing with en-
argement Of cities, and settlement Of the country
We may soon rely on the transportation of coal in
great quantities rs a new item Of profit in the
business Of our Road
While the local traffic Of our Road will be rs
good as any other in the State. We may expect to-
have the chief part of the through business to
Western Illinois aud Iowa, and the northern part
Of Missouri.
The importance the Chicago and Rock Island
Railroad 10 this city, and the Eastern Railroads
approaching it, are beginning to be appreciated
large district OF extremely fertile and rapidly
popuating county on both sides Of the Mississip.
p, between the upper and lower rapids, whose
natural course Of trade is to the East now follows
the long, circuitous and uncertain navi CATION of
that stream to the Gulf of Mexico; and two o'thiris
of the incalculablc amount of business to be done
by the Rock Island Rulrold now seeks another
avenue TO the thoroughilres of the world.
The Chicago and Rock Island Railroad is in the
direct line of the New York and Erie Railroad !;
the Southern shore of Lake Erie; the Michigan
Southern and Northern lndiat Railroads westward
across this Continent In addition to our unity
with these lines, at the city Of Chicago our Road
will strike the Illinois at the head of steamboat
navigation and will divide with the Canal the
extensive traffic OF that stream, The Illinois ri
yer has the best navigation for the longest season
of the year, OF any stream Of the same length, in
this valley: and first class steamboats, can reach
Peru from ST. Louis in good stage Of water, in
the short space Of twenty .ionr hours.
Our Road will reach the Mississippi river at
the foot ofthe Upper Rapids-It will receive the
business on both sides Of that stream for nearly
two hundred miles, including all OF Southern aud
Central Iowa.
A large majority Of the present population Of
Iowa is south of a line west from Davenport and
must come to our road in seeking New York
the Commercial Emporium Of the United States.
No rival Road which will ever be built can de.
rr've US of the advantages for western business,
which the facility for bridging the Mississippi at
Rock Island gives to our enterprise. At this
point, the great river is narrowed by the expan.
sion Of the Island, to 500 feet; While at any
other POINT of projected roads it is at least 500
feet. The banks are rock bound on both sides,
and high above the greatest flood ever known.
The whole bed Of the river is solid limestone, and
the average depth Of water in a low stage, not
over feet The approach to the river from the
Illinois side is made with grade Of not over o
feet to the mile and on the Iowa side, grade Of
not over 80 feet. There is no other place where
II can be made ut a grade Of less than go feet to
the mile
bill Is now before Congress, to grant to the
state of Iowa, land to aid in constructing our
Road from Davenport To Council Blnifs. ntersect.
cd toy another from Dubuque to keokuk the foot
OF the Lower Rapids of the Mississippi River
The friends Of these two roads in that state are
acting in concert, their members OF Congress will
press the claims for the grant with SO much jus
tice, that We rely with much confidence on their
becoming laws, during the present session Of the
National Legislature.
a branch Of our Road from its summit be.
tween the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, to Gales.
burg ard Quincy, is advertised for contract, as
Tar as Galesburg, and probably will be ready for
the iron, as soon as ours u finished to the point
Of junction (; and when these roads shall be com.
pleted, there will be nearly ZOO miles Of Rail.
way west of US, extending through as forte aud
productive country rs any in this upion-ahd
The Great Railway To connect the navcablc wa.
ters Of the Atlantic with the Valleys of the Miss.
issippi and Missouri Rivers, thus aifording them
communication ut all seasons Of
the year. which was projected by the iu,clli.
gent forecas, of W. Q. Redteld, more than TWEEN.
ty years ago, will be completed.
1t falls to our lot to forge an important link in
this great Chain across the Continent. and we have
every motive of pecunary advantage and obliga.
;'on Of duty to ourselves and our country, 10
stimulate US to the successful complexion Of
work which we have commenced under such IA.
vorablo circumstances.
JAMES GRANT, President
Chicago, H., Dec. "a, 1851.