The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1869-06-25
from the Cincinnati Commercially
The ROckpOrt Railroad prOitss

lThc kOckpOrt KaIlfOsld Project.
! Several days ago we gave brief nc.
connt Of the project 10 construct u rail
road from Shoals Station. OH the Ohio
land Mississippi Railroad, to Rockpoit
lIndiann. We have since seen an account
of meeting held at Brazil, Clay County
Indiana, in reference to proposition 10
lextcnd the Chicago and Danvilc Rail
road, now being built to Brazil. and
thence nearly OH Il direct line to thc Ohio
River This line would command the
very country mentioned in our recent
Particle, as desirable To- be controlled in
the interest of Cincinnati. BY some
means the value of that rich country has
become Known TO those who work in the
Interest of Chicago. and, with their
characteristic enterprise, they propose To
lay it tributary TO that point. Anex-
tract from the remarks Of DR.. w. j.
Pierce, Chairman Of the Brazil meeting,
Twill show how highly the country to be
Preached is valued, and what is in con-
temptation III reference to its develop
Imcnt:
"a road is now being constructed from
Chicago to Danvillc, and will soon be
completed. We are informed that the
people of Nclrniliom County. Illinois.
land Of that section have decided to ex-
tend ii 10 Clinton. on the Wabash River.
If the people in Parke and Clay Counties
will aid in its construction to this place.
by reference to IL railroad map. it will be
observed that IL perpendicular line from
Chicago south. would very nearly pass
Through Damvillc. Clinton. Brazil. Wor-
tlington. Dover Hill, Shoals. Jasper. to
EITHER Cannelton or Rockport on the
Ohio River. and thence to Russclvil!c.
Kentucky, from wlicl. there is railroad
communication 10 all the cities of the
South.
For one. ] am in favor Of organizing a
company which shall have for its object
the continuation Of the Chicago and
Danvilc road. not only To Brazil, but
Through the center OF Clay. center of
lGreclic. of Martin. Of Dubois. on the di-
Ividing line between Spencer and Perry
Counties. 10 the Ohio River.
Such IL line would not only bass
through the geographical center of the
lco,lntics named. at or near the county,
seats aud large t. wns of these counties.
but br the shortest route from the lakes
Ito the river. e.l gi, n
Tie distance from Chicago to Danvillc
us lO7s miles. from Danvillc TO Clinton
l35a miles. from Clinton to Brazil about
IL miles. and from Brazil to the Ol,ioI
| River by an AIRLINE il IFS about 100 miles.
This line would pass through the YER,
heart OF the best coal and iron deposits
,of the State. and not only of this State
but tlic best Of the country bounded by
the Lakes on the north. Mississippi Rivcrl
on the west. and the Ohio River on the
lsoulh and east.
The iron ore Of Martin and Grccnel
counties is said. by Professor Owen. toI
yield forty per cent. of pure iron. Ii cx-
Iccls in richness any Of the west or north
Lake Supcaior region. That near Bloom
field. IN Greene County. has long been
worked. but want Of cheap trinSpoifa-l
ton has caused the work to anguish.
and ! believe TO be substantially aban-|
doncd. -MNs4. N,
This variety Of ore is much needed at |
the furnaces in Clay county to minglcl
with the richer ores now brought iiomI
Missouri and Lake Superior.
The block coal here being almost who'll
ly carbon. is uncqualcd for smelling iron
ore. and for other processes employed in |
manufacturing iron. IT is also equal TO I
the best in Use for domestic purposes.
AS soon as this road is finished 10 Chi
cago. il Will. for family iisc a. well as I'M
the different processes for manufactured
iron. supplant that now transported from
PENNSYLVANIA and Eastern Ohio. With,
but a single road crossing the narrowcstl |
width Of this block coal region ut this
point, VIC have already been amazed atI'
the progress made on account of this mn
cquaIcd supply of fuel. a ~
An immense amount of transporta-
ton of heavy material would bc done
over such a road. with such resources tol
supply frcights. and such outlets and
markets as Chicago and other points
would supply on the north. and the Ohio
River ON the south.
But these mineral resources constitute (
buta part Of the support the proposed
road would have. II
1t would command tho transportation I
md business of mi agricultural region l
now unsupplicd with rail fncilitics.-l
i would necessarily be required to carry
The product and goods Of the larger por- /.
ion OF Clay county. Of Owen. Greene,
Martin. Lawrence. Davicss. Pike, War, !,
rick and Orange. with all (by rally of,
Dubois. Spencer, Perry and Crawford. -l'
The rich and fertile country embraced inl
llcsc counties. would be about couallvl,
livided by the line. leaving on the castIa
md west distance Of from twenty tolX