The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-03-31
CHICAGO ANpRocK lsLANpRAILRoAp.

ICHICAGO ANDROCK ISLANDRAILRoAI
4 We have scanned in vain those easter
papers that publish tho MIST statistics
Railroads for some notice Of tho koad 10
title Of which stands above. From som
reason they appear TO be unaware OF u
existence Of such Road, or so little ~
|quain,ed with its statistics as TO be unwll
ing to hazard M article upon the subject
The Journal Of Commerce gave an enu
meraton Of the Railroads projected in ID
State Of Illinois in July last and en,lrel
failed even 10 mention the above, which
now the longest Railroad operated in tn
State. We direct attention 10 the folio"
ing statistical article from the Chlcag
Democratic Press. Il is worthy OF gener
al distribution and Of preservation Tor tn
ture relerence:-
The annals Of railroad building can fur
nish no parallel to the energy, the un'lr'ns
perseverance and dispatch which has beer
manifested thus far in the construction o
the Chicago and Rock Island railroad
Twenty five months ago il existed onl,
in The minds Of few public spirited and
far seeing men. Now, The c,rs are run
ming dai!y over one hundred miles OF Its
track, forming a connecting link between
the Lakes Of the Northwest and ito navl.
gable streams that fall into the Gut o.
Mexico. Two wears ago, The iron winch
nov forms the track Of tho road was lying
in i,s nslive bed, in the mountains 81
Wales. Ia October, 1851, the first shovel
Of dir, was lifted towards grading the track
10 March, 1853. il is the longest railroad
operated within the State. And let II be
borne in mind that the larger portion OF
this time has consisted of winter weather
But little work had been done upon the
road prior 10 December, 1851; 50 that III
has been prosecuted during
The months II two winters and but II single
summer. Viewed in connection With 'h's
facts it is not iop much Ia say Ihai lis h'>
tory is thall, unprecedented, aud tn
Messrs. SHEFFIELD < FARNAM. T. VII II
the public are indebted for such gralit> Ing
results. have set an example that ans fn.
,ure builders Of railroads may be proud te
follow.
In October, 1851, Messrs Goss g. GAR
DINER who had contract for the grading
from Chicago to Blue Island, and our pres.
ent Governor, Hon. JOEL A. MArrEsoN,
whose contract extended from Blue Island
to Oneko, twelve miles west Of Joliet. com.
menced work upon the road. But little.
however, was done until the following De.
cember, when their forces we're fully or
ganized and successfully engaged in push.
Jog forward the work. AT later date
we're given out tor grading the
reminder Of the distance 10 Peru. as fol-
lows: From Oneko 10 MarsciIles, JEREMI.
All CRoTTY; Marseilles 10 Ottawa, WAR
NER g. SnERwIN; Ottawa to Peru, WuIT
MAN L. BOYLE, GEORGE ARMOUR, CLARK &
MANN. These several gentlemen prosecu-
ted their respective contracts with most
energy, as the progress Of
Inc TOau 10 shIlous Po'utS iuis sho"s
Besides tho grading and masonry, there
we're some fourteen bridges to construct.
the contract for which WAS given to Messrs.
Stone g. BOOMER, Of this city. These
bridges were as follows, taken in their or.
der from Chicago: Calumc. Feeder, Stony
Creek, Hickory Creek, O'Pain, Illinois &
Michigan Canal, Dupags Ri g, AJAX Sable.
Netile Creek--two branches, kickapoo,
Fox River, Fox River Feeder, Peccumsag
say, and Vermi.ion River. The contract
Tor laying the track was awarded to Cess &
GARDINER, for the whole distance, and The
from Ottawa to Peru, to WARNER
& SHERwIN. Nor must We omit 10 men
ton The lunneing Of "Spllt Rock" shor
distance east Of LsS,lle, which was part
# the contract OF Messrs CLARK & Mann
This was one of the most Formidable Oh
siaces ia the way. but the skill and eff
cheney Of Mr.. Louis CARMICHAEL, who
superintendent the job, was full match for
H. The following will show the prog ress
Of the work between Chicago aud Peru.
Road opened to Joliet, October 18th, 1889.
- +" Morris, January 5th, 1853
Ottawa, Feb 18th, 1859.
LaSale, March 10TH 1853
4" Peru, March 2ist, 1864.