Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-03-23
HANNIBAL AND NAPLES RAILROAD.

Chicago and the East through that city, Louis
vile, Madison, Cincinnati, Wheeling, Pitts
burgh, Cleveland, Sc; in short, with all the
principal railroads of the Union.
Five miles, at twenty miles an hour, would
take the traveller from Hannibal to Springfield.
From Springfield to Terre Haute railroad is
being constructed, and will soon be finished we
may therefore put down six hours as the time
on the 10 miles between those two points
From Terre Haute to indianapolis, about rs
miles, say four hours. At this city eight Rail-
roads centre. From indianapolis 10 Louisville,
about l20 miles, the time would be six hours.
Thus the time between Hannibal and Louisville
would be about ttCenfy-one hours. On the fast
est boats, and in the best stage Of water, the
trip cannot be made from Hannibal to Louisville
in less than seventy hours, even when, as is not
by my means always the case, passage from St.
Louis can be Immediately procured.
The connection is now complete from Terre
Haute to Louisville, Madison and Cincinnati, and
through Cincinnati with all parts Of the Union,
by railroad.
Railroads are progressing rapidly TO completion
which will connect Naples with all the Eastern
railroads at Chicago. There is already railroad
in operation from Chicago to LaSalie. From
Lasalls to Bloomington is section Of the Cen
trail Railroad selected by the Company to be
made first, and which in short time will be
finished. The Bloomington Extension" Of the
Alton and Sangamcn Railroad, which will con-
meet Springfield with the above mentioned Sec
ton Of the Central Road, is also being built
rapidly, and will soon be completed. Surprising
continuous line Of railroads from Hannibal 10
Chicago-which there will be-the transit
would be made in about tlgelUc hours two hours
to Naples and ten hours on something over two
hundred miles to Chicago. Now the journey is
performed IN from three days TO week, accor-
ding to weather and water.
In winter, the traveller who starts from
Hannibal to St. Louis may calculate on a
disagreeable trip, occupying an indefinite
length OF time-say two days 10 ten, ac-
cording to weather and roads. With a
railroad to Naples, the distance could be
made in ten hours, or eight hours less than
the average time of our fast packets
From Hannibal 10 Springfield would require
five hours, and five more from Springfield,
Via Alton to st. Louis.
Is not the Hannibal and Naples Railroad Of
vast importance Consider the mighty stream
of freight and travel, that, collected from both
sides of the Hannibal and st. Joseph Railroad
will drain all Northern Missouri; added to by
a railrod from St. Joseph to the northern boun-
derry line of the State and by another passing
over the riehs soil, and through the future popu.
lOus and wealthy Territory Of Nebraska run,
hing out west three to FIVE hundred miles by thu
inevitable necessities Of trade; with scarcely
less doubt stretching on to the base of thu
Rocky Mountains, and almost surely still farth
er TO that land of vast plenty bordering on tn,
Pacific Ocean and the recipient of trade will
rich China and the EaSt-conSider the greatnes
Of this stream Of trade and travel, pouring alonI
the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, and the
consider whether it is worth while to be at tn
trouble and expense Of filling up the short ga
that divides this point of crossing the Mississip
pi river from every other part of the Union P
II Pike county, in Illinois, Hannibal, in Nilsson
ri, the Naples and Springfield Railroad Com
pany and the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroa
Company are not enough interested in tbs
short but important railroad to build it withou
a charter, under the General Railroad Law G
Illinois, how in the name Of wonder are we {
know when people are interested in anything
IL The quicker that Road is built the bel
Ter.