Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-02-25
RAHL Road HISTORY.

I
history of all tho railroads now in progress
of building, in the state of Illinois. The
statements were compiled with great labor
and care, and may be regarded as fully relia-
bic. We select from this history of the Ill.
inois Rail Roads, the statements in respect to
the Galena and Chicago Railroad, as being
best designed to illustrate the reasonable prob
abilities of success of road from Kenosha to
Fox River, and also to Rock River
| From the Chicago Democratic Press
GALENA AND CHICAGO UNION RAILROAD.
This work was first projected in 1886, but
failed with the general prostration of public
and private credit in 1887 Subsequently,
in l647, a Company was organized-WM.
b. OGDEN as President, JoHN B. Turner as
Superintendent and some of our principle cit
liens and real estate owners as Directors. As
it may be considered the parent of the rail
road system subsequently adopted in this
state, we will be excused for speaking of it
at some length. After the organization of
the company the question as to stock sub
scriptions was the great trouble. A commit
tee of the directors went over the whole
country on the line between this and Galena
for the purpose of ascertaining the amount
of cultivated land that would contribute to
the business of the road. After several
weeks of careful observation and inquiry, it
was estimated that not over two and half
per cent. of the entire country, embracing a
strip of forty miles in width, was under cul-
tiyatlon. 1t was also estimated, after careful
inquiry, that the number of passengers that
would pass over the road, after the compile
ton of the first division, from Chicago to
Fox River, would be 1900 On these two
estimates it was settled that the road would
pay fair interest to the stockholders, if strict
economy were practised. The report of the
Engineer, Richard p. Morgan, printed at
the time for the purpose of giving public in
formation on the subject and encouraging
them to subscribe to the stock of the road,
gives the following as the estimated business
of the line, when completed through to Ga
lena. We copy a few Of the articles on
which estimates were given:
Corn, oats, barley, potatoes, DC,
I 5000 tons, at 81 per ton $4,000
Pork and beat, 1000 tons at 50, 5000
Live stock, wool hides, skins, &C.,
1000 tons. 5000
Cheese, lard, butter, &c, 500 tons, 1000
Boards,plank and joists, 100000 it, 10000
Shingles, lath and other lumber, 5000
/ Passengers, east and west 10000
Many of these estimates were considered
etravagant, not only by monied men in the
east, who, having real estate in the city, and
on the line of the proposed road, We're inter
ested in its success, but by our most intelli-
gent citizens, also; and when Mr.. Ogden
canvassed the city for subscription among
the merchants and mechanics, he WAS only
able to secure 100000, and this from pea
sons who had in view an advantage to their
real estate greater than what they expected
to loose by their subscriptions. Many per
sons subscribed a few hundred dollars, inten-
ding to pay some of their first enstalments
and then forfeit their stock. After drum
ming the city and country for months, sub
scriptionS were obtained to the extent of
about $500, 900, of which it was supposed two
thirds would be paid up in full, and the rest
partly paid and forfeited. Great inducements
were held out to subscribers to advance their
full stock, which was generally done by the
directors. Money was borrowed at exorbient
rates of interest, and in small sums wherever
it could be obtained; and when Messrs j.
B. Turner and w. Raymond proceeded east
to effect loans, they could get nothing on the
credit of the company, but had to pledge
their individual names.
BY such means the road went ahead
| slowly, it is true,-and when it reached Cot
tage hill, fourteen miles from the city, the
public were astounded with the announce
ment that its business exceeded all expec-
tation, and already paid six or eight per
cent. stock, which had gone down to 20 or
so cents on the dollar, was no longer consid-
cred a dead loss, and hopes were entertained
that the predictions of the engineer quoted
above, might be verified.
Steadily the road was pushed forward, I'M
der the personal supervision of Mr.. Turner,
and the then new engineer, Mr.. Van Mort.
wick, and every additional mile, that was
completed improved the character of the
work in the estimation of the stock.
holders and capitalists. Finally, it rea-
ched Fox River; and that was great point
gained, as the period for demonstrating the
character of the road beyond all cavil, had
arrived. The people of the country rcjoiced
and many did not care whether their stock
paid or not; but the merchants and mechan-
les of the city became alarmed lest in ma
king their stock good, they should loose their
country trade In every part of the city,
disaster was predicted from the transfer of
retail trade from the city to the country towns
along the line of the Fox River and the line
of the road. And it was doubtless true that
the trade of the city had to undergo change,
and that it bore heavily upon some kinds Of
bushes; but it gave additional life and ener
gy to others, and as soon as our trade had
accommodated itself to the new condition of
things, complaints in a measure ceased.
Farmers commenced producing and selling
twice as much as they had been previously
doing; and, of course, they bought twice as
much. II called into existence and sustained
wholesale dealers, and every branch Of bust
ness was affected in that way to some extent
Farmers were selling their produce, buy