The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-11-03
SHEFriFLp, Oct. goth, 1888,

SHErrirLp, Oct. Goth, 1888,
Shetiie ID is situated upon the chicago am
Rock Island r.. r. one hundred and thirty
SIX miles from Chicago, II is the present
western terminus of that road. and the ar
rival and departure OF trains from and to the
east. and the coming and going oi stages
running westward IN connection with the
road, give 10 the village an air OF business
aud an amount Of hustle that would dc crnd-
il 10 place OF much greater prsteas.on
At the hotel al which am stopping, the
number Of guests averages from two hun
dred 70 four hundred per day. Twelve
months ago there had not been q single
board or stick Of timber brought upon the
site OF Sheiiield-now there are some
fifteen OF twenty buildings here, with others
in process OF erection. There are two notes,
feur stores. blacksmith shops, carpenter
shope. ETC., etc. The village is situated
mon hiuh emnence, in the prairie, shout
enc faurth O, mile from "Coal Creek TIM
her and commands splendid view OF the
surrounding country.
Goa, Creek, as its name indicates. passes
through coal field, the quality Of which is
said T. be fully equal TO any other IN the
State. and superior to most that has yet been
discovered. 4 company has been organized
for working Il on an extensive scale. and II
REQUIRES no prophet 10 toretell that Sheffield
coal will shortly become familiar term IN
Chicago eoalyards. The following very res
ponsble and enterprising gentlemen constr
lutte the company: Henry Farnam, Chicago;
joseph T.. Sheffield, Hartford, Conn; VIM
Jeryis, A. r. Gilmore, and Isaac Cook, Chi
cage: Charles Atkinson. Moline, James
Grant. Geo. B. Sargent, f. Cook, andJ. T.
Cook. Davenport, Iowa; Epes Sargent,
James O. Sargent. and John Q. Sargent.
Roxbury. Mass; Ransom Gardner, Jones'
Vile. Mich. and George Goss, Peru. Charles
Atkinson. i the resident Superintendent
and general agent for the Company. In
company with this gentleman made hur-
ried examination of the present mining epe-
rations of the Company. a drift has been
made about one hundred yards into the bluff,
ON the west side OF Coal Creek. The coal
is oyerlaid WIKI shale. which forms very
good root for The DRIFT. The vein is four
and a half feet N thickness, dipping TO the
north and east sufficient 70 keep the drifts
free from water At present only small
force is employed in mining, but arrange
ments are being made By the Company 70
conduct the business on large scale. The
first coal from these mines for Chicago, will
leave here tomorrow, aud will consist OF
three car loais-abeut thirty tons.
The present mining operations are ncar
half mile from the railroad, and the coal
is drawn that distance BY teams The COM
PAW design. however, to lay down side
track. BIZ which means they will be able 10
run their coal cars to the very entrance Of
the pits. When all the proposed arrange
ments are consummated. il is expected that
the coal laid down in Chicago, will cost the
company about S2.62l. per ton. Ny own
impression is that this figure is higher than
need be-that the railroad will freight Il
cheaper than Is put down in the estimate
showed me The company have purchased
over 1900 acres Of land. the most Of which
is underlaIa with coal, while the surface is
unsurpassed for agricultural purposes. A
portion Of the land contains valuable grove
Of timber, but the most of it is high rolling
prairie. Il has cost them from $40 to Sl5
per acre, and beneath it there is coal enough
TO furnish one hundred tons per day fer one
hundred years. The village of Sheffield IL
situated upon the lands Of the Coal Compa-
ny, and they are az present selling lots II
very low prices to those who will improve
them. | learn they have disposed Of some
forty lots at prices ranging from $50 to
sl25 each.
The country trayersed by the Rock Island
read from the point where it leaves the vat
ley OF Bureau Creek, until it approaches
thetawn Of Geneseo, in Henry County, is off
the line Of public roads, and consequently
is butthinly settled. From the high ground
which sheffield stands, only here and there
can BE seen d farm house ~ break the mo-
notony OF prairie scenery. But few years
viii make great changes in this respect
The rich soii, the undulating character OF
the country, the contiguity OF an exhaustibie
supply Of coal, and the facilities for the
market which the railroad furnishes, viii
cause this entire region to fill up rapidly
with enterprising farmers. Many pur-
chases, have been made in this vicinity
quite recently by those who design opening
farms Lands are held yariously at from
$3.50 to Si5 per acre. There is none loft
for entry at Congress prices.
| have never witnessed more striking
exemplification Of the fact that railroads
create business" than is presented By the
I Chicago and Rock Island railroad. All the
estimates that have been made, most OF
which were considered extrayagant al the
time, are found to be far short OF the truth.
This is true both as respects freight and
passengers, but particularly Of the latter. A
weekly coach between Peru and Rock Is
land has sutiiced to accommodate the travel
heretofore. But now Mr.. Frink is scarcely
able to concentrate stock enough at this
point to meet the demand. Yesterday even.
ing, FIVE large coaches and four hacks were
filled And this is but the repetition oil
what occurs every. day. Al Tiskilwa, yes
terday, several coaches were filled from the
cars with passengers for Henry, Peoria
Galesburgh and other points south. And
50 il goes day after day, each making add,
tons 10 the business Of the preceding one.
Last month the business Of the road wa,
little ever S50,000-this month we ven.
ture the prediction il will fall bat very little
if ANY, short Of 900. There Is scarcely
running stock enough on it to accommodate
the business which is pressing upon thu
Company at every station and depot w,
trust that ample provision il being madt
for large addition to present bushes:
when the cars shall have reached Rock Is
land.
| cannot speak in too high terms Of tn
Sheffield House. kept by +. D. Smith
Notwithstanding the House, is crowded bY
day and by night, he continues to render tht
multitude much more comfortable than coul,
la rabln t1 rc,e4 J..