Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1856-12-25
From the Rockford Republican
Rockford and Rock Island Railroad.


Our neighbours to the southwark, it
viii be seen from the following report,
are becoming thoroughly aise to the inn
portance of the Kenosha and Rockford
route, as prominent link in chain of
Railroad which is to connect them with
Lake Michigan and the Mississippi. We
are glad to see this evidence of determ-
nation to move at once in this enterprise
and we can assure them, ON behalf of
our best citizens, that nothing will be
left undone which may reasonably be
accomplished by them, to aid in carry
ing forward this good work at the earli-
est possible moment We regard the
construction of railroad through the
entire extent of the Rock River Valley
as matter already settled. A glance
at the map indicates that the finger of
nature has pointed out this route as the
proper track for a railroad, and any at
tempt to divert it from this course would
be violation of natural laws.
For the Ogle County Reporter.
Mr. Editor;-The undersigned having
been selected by the citizens of this place
to visit Kenosha to examine into the pol
icy of joining in the enterprise of con-
structing a Railroad from that place to
Rockford, and from thence continuing it
down the vally of Rock River to Rock
Island, we apprehend that our fellow
citizens expect some kind of report of
our doings in the premises, and of our
views of the feasibility of the project
nv "a 70 70
to you the following crude report,
We arrived at Kenosha on Thursday,
November 9th, having had the good
fortune to meet J. Bond, the President
and Judge Hale, Acting Director of the
Road, at Chicago, on their return from
Rockford.
We were most favorably impressed
with the appearance of the town on our
arrival, and were soon, by the politeness
of Mr.. Bond and Judge Hale, introduced
to several of the leading men of the
place, who were active in the enterprise,
and whose apparent energy and bust
ness capacity plainly showed that the
matter was in the right hands. The nat
rlral site of Kenosha is unsurpassed, and
her harbour is capable of being easily
made the best on the lake. The young
city gives evidence of the character OF
its inhabitants, in theaa substantial build
ings already built or in progress, and
the private residences show that the cit
liens fully appreciate their natural adj
vantages, and are determined to sur
round them with the rich dressing of in
dustry and taste:
With the harbor we were particularly
pleased. 1t is In many respects peculiar.
The river formerly entered the lake there
running for about mile previously i'll a
direction nearly parallel with the shore
of the lake. At the turning point, about
mile from the harbor, the encroach-
ments Of the lake have cut through to
the river, and have given it u new
mouth, making what was before PENN
sula, an island, and leaving the old chan
mel as if for the express purpose of a
most excellent harbor, capable of be-
ing enlarged to any extent as the future
business of the city may require.
The Railroad Company have wisely
secured the right, and are now construc-
ting wharf across the entire south side
of the harbor, and are laying the track
so that grain lumber and other cumbrous
and bulky freight can be shipped or I'M
loaded with the greatest facility.
The Company have commenced lay
ing the rails, and had just received
and fitted up two locomotives, on one of
which we had the pleasure Of taking sew
lac Il.
rails were laid.
We also were joined in the afternoon
by Messrs. Andrus and Cumins, from
Grand Detour, who came on the same
business, and who assured us that they
were as tayorably impressed as ourselves
with the place, its prospects and advan-
tages. On our return, between Keno
sha and Chicago, we also met delega-
ton from Byron, who were going on the
same business.
Upon the whole we were most favor
ably impressed with the enterprise, and
when we view it in its effect upon our
section of country, we cannot but feel
great interest i'll its completion. The
route from Rockford to KenoSha seems
to be almost a continuation, and the ma
tural outlet of the Rock River valley, and
it is almost surprising that the enterprise
has not sooner met attention.
While, as a great commercial empo-
rum, Chicago will lead every other place
on the lakes or in the west, yet we feel
assured, that with the competition of the
road to Rockford and its extension down
therichvalley of Rock Rivera thorough
fare of the utmost Importance will be
opened, and Kenosha viii soon become
cityswhose population will be compu-
ted by tens of thousands. The Road,
when built, will in many respects accom-
modate our section of country even more
than direct connection with Chicago
In the first place the distance is little
less from this point, and by far less from
the northern portions of our county by
way of Rockford, to Kenosha than to
Chicago; and again, much Of the heavy
shipments OF grain, lumber and other
bulky and ponderous articles, would be
saved to us in the way of wharfng char
ges, ground rents &C., while the markets
for farmers produce, &C., would be
equally as good at Kenosha as at Chica-
go, while we have every assurance that
our charges for freights will be much
less by our present accommodations.
In any light that we can view this mat
ter, we can but report in the most favor
able manner, and we would recommend
every citizen to give the subject his care
full attention and his willing assistance.
In conclusion, we wish to express our
thanks to the citizens of Kenosha for the
cordiality with which they met us, and
the many Inequalities they urged upon