The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-12-07
REPORT OF THE VISITING DiREC-
TOPS rYR TJE,IyQ f,cN n n RI

REPORT OF THE VISITING DiREC-
TORS OF THE ILLS. CEN R. n. CO.
We find an interesting report from the Visit
ng Directors Of this company, published in the
Chicago Press of the Goth. The report is too
engthy 10 admit Of its publication entire in our
PAPER, but we extract such portions az will more
interest our readers and leave then,
to exercise their fruitful imaginations and sound
judgment in determining the remainder.
Tho road is completed and the track laid upon
I as follows:
From the north bank 1T the Illinois |
River opposite LasaiIc, to Bloom
ington, oo 'nues. !
From Lasslle north to the Junction
sof the Aurora Road, 10 s"
From Chicago south on The Chicago
branch, II
From Freeport west toward Galena, 10
Parties are now laying tack at five
different points, viz:
!. From Freeport west.
2 On the Chicago Branch, II miles south Of
Chicago.
3. From Bloomington south, where
hey have Isid about, 3
4. Prom Cache River (ncar Cairo)
nnr,h, where there is laid about, 6
5. FROM Big Muddy Rive, north,
where the track laying is just conf
menced.
Making in tie whole of track actu-
ally laid IT'S +"
The several parties now laying track will each
lay from half to three fourths Of mile per
day.
From the report we learn, that the heaviest
single peace Of work upon the line is the cross
ing of the illinois liver and the adjacent bottom
at Lasalle.
The Bird &c is 1900 feet in length, truss form,
| l6 stone piers and abutments. Both abutmsn;s
and IL Of the piers ars completed and the re-
mainder 10 in so forward a state, that but a few
weeks will be required to complete this stupen.
dous work. The cmbankment Meeting the
bridge with the main land on the south, contains
some 100000 cubic yards of earth.
| In relation to that portion Of the Northern
branch Of the road, from Chicago to Dubuque,
which is unfinished, the Directors say:
From Frccport we have about ten miles Of
track laid, and the grading is complete and
in readiness for further distance of fifteen OF
twenty miles. II is proposed to continue the
track during this Autumn to Warren, IS miles
from Freeport, (beng the point at which the
Mineral Point Railroad will intersect our line
and to put it in operation for that distance 70,
the ensuing winter
The grading is nearly complete, with the
exception Of a angle cut from Warren to Scale,
Mound; th-ty-fve miles from Freeport, al
which point is deep and very difficult cutting
Of some 200 feet in length, and so feet in depth
at the deepest point, diminishing in each direc-
ton from the centre. The excavation at tbi.
point will not probably be completed in readi.
ness to receive the track before June next
From Scales Mound to Ga'ena,a distance O
Is miles, the grading is in very forward state
and will be in readiness for the track at an ear
ly period of next spring as we may wish t.
commence track laying.
In the city Of Galena is some heavy cutting
) which has not yet been commenced, in conse
: quence of delays, arising from difficulties ir
arranging the location through the city, in
manner satisfactory to Us authorities, ant
subsequent delays in procuring the right o
} way. These difficul les will now, we suppose
be cbviated within few days, and the heavy
work commenced, which will require some 81,
months to prepare it 10 receive the track.
From Galena 10 the terminus Of the road OF
the east bank Of the Mississippi, opposite Dubu
que, the grading is tar advanced, and the little
remaining tn be done will, without difficulty, bt
complete and in readiness for the track early
in the ensuing spring. The road will terminate
Immediately GA the bank of.ie Mississippi, abou
half a mile south of the Wisconsin line, upor
deep water, wht the facilities for transferring
freight and passengers TO and from the boat,
navigating the NJ ssissipp:, and ferry boats To-
Dubuque will be OF the most convenient and de
sirable character.
In concluding their report the Directors as
sure the public, that the right Of way, except in
a very few coses, is secured and paid for more
than three faurths Of the grading in quantity
and cost completed; one hundred and sevent,
the entire work, except about 80 miles, deliver
{ d and paid for; over 5000 tons of rails, re-
ceivcd, paid for and forwarded TO Illinois tn.
remainder Of the iron contracted for and will mr.
rive in New York and New Dreams by the com
! ing spring and that from careful estimate o
cxpend ures made and 10 be made to finish tht
line, the actual Cost Of this magnificent work d
over seven hundred miles Of railroad, will fall
considerably short Of the original estimate q
Sl7, 100000.
1t appears from The report, that the fortunate
parties engaged in this enterprise have had &c
pay into the CAPITAL stock only the moderate sun
Of $so2,55 and this is probably all that will be
required of them.
Their bonds, based upon tho lands granted
by Congress as security, have been sold in the
English market and furnished almost the entire
capital upon which this magnificent enterprise
has been reared and they have prospect, should
no colamity befall them, of being able to NEE,
the interest and perhaps the principal, from the
income of the road when completed, leaving
them sole possessors OF the most extensive rail-
road in the world and the proprietors of an i'm
mense tract of fertile land, which is every dav
| rapidly increasing in value.
This is certainly the most extraordinary spec.
ulation OF the age