The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-10-14

THE ILLINOIS DIVISION.
The air line distance from MI, Yer
mel to st. Louis is about 10 miles, 70
which a judicious location VIII ado d
per centage of increase. At preseht
two compauies have organized under
State charters to build this WoIk
m FIR from Mt. Carmel TO Nj
Vernon (62 T.. 63 miles) IS styled the
New ALBANY. NJ CarnIel q st. Louis
Railroad Con aud is 10 close &C
cord II not u5ay ldeDuted with
ponr plans. further informed
bv the Preslu at tnat arrangements to
work ioiutly uader q executive com
mittee, or to cOnso date, can be ma
tured whenever your company desire.
The President has called upon your
Engineer to act so soon as the con-
of the Indiana division be-
comes a certainty. He has also
arranged to start and close his county
and private subscriptions when initia-
tive steps upon the Indiana division
will justify such action; for his coad-
tutors are now cautious in again
moving in a new work, with three
railroads commenced in Wabash and
the adjoining counties. and not one
completed.
This company, the New Albany,
Mt. Carmel and st. Louis Railroad,
by their charter control by purchase
or condemnation the old Mt. Carmel
and st. Louis Railroad grade; and
thew also have the power, as l am in
formed, to build west from Mt. Yer
non to St. Lous Should it ever be
desirable, a parallel road bed on
either division can be prepared at
very low cost, SO favorable IS the
country for railroad construction.
But from Mt. Vernon, bearing
slightly south Of the air line, the
South Eastern Railroad Company
have located and are building a road
for local advantages, through the
country around Ashley, Nashville,
Muscotah, and Belleville to St. Louis.
This road bed is nearly completed
from Mt. Vernon (16 6-10 miles, to
Ashley Junction, on the Illinois
Central Railroad, and cars are ex'
pected to run through By or before
December LIST.
Ordinations are also in active pro.
gress on the sub division from Ashley
to Nashville, eleven miles. and prep
arations are made to work the mex
sub. division through to Bellevllle
thirty-four miles, during the coming
working season. From Bellevllle tC
st. Louis, fifteen miles, cars have beer
running for some time. This railroad
connection from Mount Vernon tC
Nashville and st. Louis has been ex
pedited by the local pressure for out
let from the rich agricultural districts
of which they are trading centres
and it is built as local road. The
line is from three to four miles longer
than the direct or air line from
Mt. Vernon to St. Louis, but Offer
an extensive and valuable loca
traffic. A Louisville connection
is earnestly desired by the people
on the line, and especially by thu
parties constructing the work. but j
the Mt. Carmel and Indiana Rail
roads are not soon commenced they
proceed with the ShawneetOWn anC
| Evansville branches, already contem
plated, and for which some county
subscriptions are reported to have
been voted. Further particulars o.
this organization, and of the country
and progress of the work from Mt
| Vernon west of st. Louis, will be
given to you by the Secretary, who
went to secure, from personal obser
vations and inquiry, absolutely certain
| information for your Company.
But upon the Eastern Illinois Di
vision. from Mt. Carmel to Mt. Yer
non, / report upon the usual engineer.
ing data, based upon my own personal
examination in the vicinity of Mt
Carmel, and from the notes and MAJ
Of Mr.. MeElfatrick, assistant engineer
whom l sent to examine all portions
of the line which my engagements did
not permit me to see.
The line from Mt. Carmel to Mt
Vernon, with the exception of q few
crossings of low grounds (the most
important now graded), is almost all
surface work, and would be claSsed as
light railroad grading.
Fer this distance (62 to Ga miles,
according to final location and cut of
lines adopted), the alignment is un-
usually good, the grades very easy,
and ia the grading heretofore done y
miles are now available after twenty
years wear, presenting an almost con-
tinuously good road bed, which, with
slight work on culverts and trimming
up, can be quickly made ready foI
track-laying. Five miles more of the
grading is partially, and the residue
80 miles, can be cheaply and quickly
constructed. Mr.. McElfatrick reports
local interest in the work, Local
wealth and movements for county sub.
scriptions, which confirm the pledge
of the President to complete his work
from Mt. Vernon to Mt Carmel be.
fore the Indiana work can. under any
possibility, reach the Wabash at Mt
| Carmel.
Combining the Illinois and Indiana
divisions, you have thus a distance
with good alignment and moderate
| grade of 175 miles from New Albany
Indiana, to Mt. Vernon, in Illinois
Also adopting connection with the
southeastern line from Mt. Vernon
| Nashville, and BellevilIe to st. Louis
now well under way and rapidly
approaching completion, through very
desirable country, you have a through
distance from the Falls of the Ohio
of 251 miles, and this distance can b.
reduced at least FIVE miles. or a tota
of 246 miles, should occasion require
Upon this line the running time from
Louisville and New Albany to st
Louis could easily be made in tel
| hours, without change of gauge, tran
shipment, or any obstruction or dis
elimination in freights.
1 =@zs
THE ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE
| Tho Navv York If0i3 relates tina