Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-10-21
TIE NApLrs AEp pEcArUR RArLRoAp

I
There IS a railroad from the town Of Naples
on the Illinois river TO Springfield in that Stale
which, b. its charter, is 10 be extended 10 De
catur. II was originally commenced and par
tally built by The State, from Springfield T.
Meredosia, but in the wreck Of the ~ stem 6
/ improvements Of the State, il was sold 10 pri
yaie company, and the terminus on the Illinois
river changed TO Naples. II was but imperfect
" built and laid with the flat rail. II was sole
| for about $500 COO, and mas been in the hands o.
private company for some time past. Lately
as we are informed. that company has sold II io
| the Central Railroad Company, with all It's char
TERED privileges. for the sum Of $500, 600. -
The last named Company are about 90 extend
! il from Springfield TO Decatur. The distance
| from Naples 10 Springfield is 81 IL miles, and
/ from Springfield 10 Decatur 30 miles. Al De-
catur. il will iniersect with the projected rail-
road from Terre lIane 10 Springfield, and prob
ably constitute the conneXion of that road
This road will be Of great value 10 the Central
Railroad Company in the transportation Of their
ties, iren &C., 10 the line Of the main road,
from the Illinois river.
At the city OF Springfield, tie Company has
a large machine-shop and Depot-hoase, and the
travel and business done upon il will greatly
exceed public expectation. Last year, we are
credby informed that the gross receipts of the
road exceeded $4,000, ami that the net profits
were about twenty eight thousand dollars, and
this under many disadvantageous cireumstan-
ces.
The company are removing the flat, and sup
plying lis pace with the T rail, and when this
is competed, a,l IS extended TO Decatur which
by charter, must be done in short time, and
for which provision is already being made, it
will prove one Of the most profitable roads in
Inc State.
1t is in contemplation by the owners Of this
-oad 10 extend it westward, from Naples TO the
at Quincy, or opposite Hannibal,
md thus intersect with the Hannibal and St.
Joseph Railroad, thereby making il one Of the
main trunks Tor concentrating the travel and
of the West in the eastern cities
How far they may succeed in this expectation,
emains TO be SEEM but the present road, in its
imperfect condition, is a strong eXemplifcatiUn
IF the profitdbleness of such investmentS.-
Without terminating at any point Of great COM
nercial Importance, and being very imperfcctly
constructed, ii has still Noted nearly ten per
cent. II road SO situated can yield this profit
what will roads more advantageously located
yield?
At present a train Of cars leaves Naples eve
y morning Sundays exceptet) at ii A. NJ,
md arrives at Springfield at 3, p NJ. A train
caves Springfield every morning at 8, A. NJ, and
rivcs at Naples at 2, p. NJ. This time will be
changed, soon as the new rails are
aid, the iron, for which, we are informed, is at
.asalle.-[ Republican.
We are glad to see from the above, that the
Iapies and Springfield Railroad has fallen into
he hands of the Central Railroad Company. -
That the Central railroad will soon be connected
With the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad
Trough Naples and Hannibal, there can now be
10 shadow Of doubt. The company have evil
lently bought it with that view, and they will
POSSESS strength enough in the Illinois Legsla-
ure TO procure charter. That the Central
Railroad Company has amy calculation of con-
lccting with our road through Quincy, as H.
mated 10y the Republican, is not very probable
That route would be too indirect, and besides,
The brareh road from Quincy 10 the Central
road does not belong TO the Central Railroad
it is under the control of an entirely
separate company. We have, therefore, before
us, the certainty Of direct railroad connection
with the Eastern cities, and that at 10 distant
day.