The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-05-26
"A Grand Idea.

4 correspondent of the st. Louis News
publishes the folIowinginteresting article,
which indicates that something practical
can be done in the way of constructing
an air line road from the head of Lake
Erie to the mouth of the Kansas. Read
his communication. The author promises
to furnish us some additional factson this
subject in due time
SIR:-In your paper of the 18th, /
observe that you show much good sense
and a liberal view of things, by your re-
marks on what you term the Northern
Cross Railroads-yery rightly Judging
that the business on them viii increase
the boating business on the rivers, and,
thereby, add to the welfare of st. Louis.
l wish to cali your attention to a road
that has been suggested, and which /
hope some day to see commemorative:
one beginning at Toledo, on the head of
Lake Erie, running to Logansport, a.,
thence to-Peoria, thence. to Warsaw, on
the Mississippi, crossing the river at that
point, running to Alexandria, No., thence
to Bloomington, to connect with the
Hannibal and st. Joseph Railroad, and
thence on to the bank of the Missouri riy-
er, opposite Kansas.
This would be an almost air line route.
A large amount of grading has been done
from Logansport to Peoria, and, last
winter, the Legislatureof Illinois granted
a charter for road from Peoria to War
saw. The Legislature of our State, also,
has given charter for one from Alexan
dria to Bloomington.
The Warsaw people have charter for
bridge across the river at that point
The Mississippi there isexactly two thou
sand feet wide, as ascertained by the
measurement last winter on the Ice. On
the Illinois shore there is an almost per-
pendicular bluff, one hundred feet high,
beginning at the waters edge. On the
posite-Missouri-side, there is a low
bottom for fire or six miles, then land as
high, if not higher. than on the Illinois
shore It would cost something to ele-
vate this bottom land one hundred feet,
but it would be mere trife compared to
its great value when done. Permit me
here to tell yon that all bridges on those
greatrivers should be high-entirely out
of reach of Steamboats,. The Rock Island
bridge must be draw bridge, and l
predict that the river men viii destroy it
will never submit to the annoyance
and damage it viii be to them-situated
at the foot of the Rapids and in swift wa
ter, it win be dangerous.
The river at Warsaw and Alexandria
| is much narrower than at any other point,
and the high land is of incalculable value
in permitting passway to be made for
the Iron Horse to take his morning oats
on the shore of Lake Erie, and at even
! ing rest and cool off on the bank of the
great Missouri.
The head of Lake Erie is destined to
be great point. The great Erie Canal
is now being enlarged, and the Canadas
are on the point of charging the WelIand
Canal, which will then admit much larg-
er sea vessels than at present. You are
well aware that large vessels cannotgo to
Chicago on account of shoal water on the
ST. Clair Flats. Why not then send pas
sengers and merchandise promptly to
the Mississippi and Missouri, on the
western boundary of our State, to meet
and connect with the future great roadt to
California.
BY your present swift and pleasant
steamers to Warsaw, and then on an all
| line road to Toledo, will be your best
route to and from all the great Atlantic
cities. LIVE OAK.