The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-12-16
Southern Illinois Opcned-.t:rcat Pros
ptCts for Eyypt.

in the St Louis Republican in relation to
the Central railroad, aud the splendid coun.
try it trayerscs
Our purpose, however, is more particu-
larry To direct attention to the communica-
ton by railway between St LOnis and Cairo
In pursuance oi notice given, train on
last " ednesday ran directly through from
Sandoyal--a point where the Ohio and Miss
isslppi railroad crosses the Illinois Central
to CAIRO. We were among the few who
made the trip on the first passenger train
that ever touched Cairo.
Taking the cars on the Ohio and Mississip.
ri railroad at lllinostown, at fifteen minutes
past eight o'clock, we rushed through to
Sandoval, where this track crosses the Iii
nois Central railroad, in the space of about
two hours and half Here we found the
train bound for the south ready to receive
Us. The sound Of the locomotives whistle
Lad scarcely deadened upon our ear, before
We were greeted with the. sight Of a new and
prosperous town that has Just been quicken
cdlnto being, the paint scarcely dry upon
It's cottages. 1t is called Central City, and
is situated about four miles south Of where
these two great railway tracks cross each
other, and the contemplated junction Of the
Chicago branch. Although only eighteen
months old, it rs quite village, and even
now boasts Of newspaper called the Central
Gazette. Before pursuing the journey fur
ther, we would state in general terms that
the Illinois Central railroad is one Of which
our sister state may be justly proud. The
engines and cars used are Of the first class
and Of the finest finish.
We understand that they are fair sam
pie Of tho stock TO be used upon the road,
when it il completed. The rails are NOR,
than the usual weight and the grading is as
complete as human industry and enterprise
could accomplish. We noticed particularly,
several handsome pieces Of masonry, amvng
others, the bridge across the Little Muddy
river, where the cars stopped for a few mo.
mcnts. This bridge is a massive and impos.
ins structure, IN which utility and architec.
tural beauty are admirably combined. This
IN connection with the various culyerts, SHOW
very conclusivcly that permancncy has been
by no means lost sight Of in building this
road. Railroad companies, in their haste
and anxiety to build cheap too often lose
sight OF this important feature, for subStan.
tai and lasting improvements are at last,
the NEST economical.
Tho land along the route af tlis road is
exceedingly fertile, and the surpassed in tie
culture Of wheat and corn by any other por-
ton Of the state. Although large portion
OF the road is across the prairie, there is con.
siderable woodland intcrspersed and at such
distances, too as to make it useful and yGu-
able.
Ii Is singular 20 contemplate the immedi.
ate effects Of "a railroad upon the country. .--
the wilderness, under it, influence, diSap.
pears farms are opened to gladden. the cy
with their rich fruits, and embryo cities
start up in the praries like mushrooms, the
growth almost Of single nigh. We were
particularly stru X at the extreme .Jres.nezs
# the various villages along the line of this
route, all Of which had been guickcncd into
life by tins great enterprise. Among the
most prominent ol these villages is Leutralia,
one hundred and thirteen miles from Cairo
At this point, . large brick hotel has al
ready been erected by the company, and
vii! be opened for he accommodation OF the
iFayciing public IN alew weeks. This, We
Understand Is 10 be siiv 'iinin, point bss.vecn
st. Louis and Cairo. a short distance far
thor is Wchvicw, station where the trains
meet each other. Il is near the village Of
Richmond, which lies about mile west Of
it. The country IN the Vicinity Of this point
/, thlckly settled, aud in high state Of cul
tiyation. We PASSED various stations, all Of
which VIII be important shipping depots for
the products # the rich country by
which they are surrounded. Duguoil
Station, situated about eighty miles from
Cairo, is the centre Of a vast field of
coal. 1t Is iouad =. distance OF thirty feet
from the surface, and is pronounced by
judges to be a very superior article. Its To- |
cation ia such, that it must eventually afford /
an immense business to the railroad, at the
same time it affords to the capitalist rare
opportunity for profitable investment.
Great quantities Of coal will hearaiter be
required for the extensive prairie regions
further north, which will soon be teeming
with an industrious population Cairo is
also point where this article will Lc much
demand, to supply not only its population
"a lr0spsctire, but the large steamboat in
terest which centres at this point. AS an
evidence ofthis, boats are partially supplied |
here by coal companies, whose mining opcr- |
atOns are about one hundred aud twenty
miles up the Ohio river, but owing to the |
low water and other causes the supply is so !
irregular that it cannot be depended upon. !
We apprehend that the time is not far dis |
tant when the products Of the immense coal |
field on this line will be brought TO Cairo, |
and from there shipped to New Orleans and
the various cities on the Mississippi river. !
II coal trade from Pittsburgh to New Or.
leans can be made profitable, we see no rca- |
son why these large deposits are not sources |
of wealth to the cnterprising capitalist. We |
regard this interest alone as the greatest ee |
III ut of fpower Cairo possesses.
,,r,-h,ncx ~.
thirty miles from Cairo, is receiving new
vigor from the completion of this road. 1t
is the centre Of a large agricultural district,
noted for the enterprise and wealth of its
farmers. In its vicinity, too, are large guam
titles OF rock
We have thus, in as brief a space as pos
sible given the result of our trip over the
Illinois Central railroad Its character in
dcates that the greatest pains have been
taken to make il the model road of the
country. 1t was giant undertaking. but
eminontly American in the rapidty of its
prosecution and completion. Less than
three years ago the first spade full OF. earth
was thrown up on this road, now the main
line from its extreme limits is nearly com
plotcd, there beng, we understand, two
gaps OF only about twenty miles each to
make the road perfect and entire. When
this is dono-which Will be about the first of
January--lilinois can boast of having the
longest, and badly the best railroad in
the world. Great credit is due to the mana
gers, &C., Of this great wor who have so
promptly executed their contract with the
state. ... ........
CAIRO is certainly improving, and her
greatness, which, for years, has existed only
in the imagination, promises now at least a
partial realization. Within the last eight
months some forty or fifty buildings, We are
Informed, have been erected. a new ard
commodious hotel is almost completed, and
there is every evidence Of future prosperi-
ty
Most of the lots fronting on the lcvec have
been sold to parties who contemplate in
proving them in substantial manner a
lpvce eighty feet wide and four feet above
high water mark, is now being constructed
around the city by the railroad company
\ system of sewerage has been devised, and
the hands are now ut work upon it, which it