New-York tribune., 1870-09-29
THE EAST And THE VEST.

CHICAGO AyOIDED-EXCURSION OF RAILWAY
MAGNETS FROM NEw-YORK TO PEORIA-THE
ENTHUSIASM OF THE PEOPLE ALONG THE
NEW LINE.
INDIANAPOLIS. Sept. 14-The opening of
railroad line from Indianapolis to Bloomington and
Peora is simply giving an outlet TO the products ana
travel OF one Of the fertile and popuous ranges In
the heart OF the West but by avoiding tho great deon
to Chicago IL affords much shorter route from the At
antic seaboard 10 the Pacific As continuation OF the
direct Pennsylvania line, through Central OHIO, and
thence direct Omaha, It furnishes advantages Tor
transconnental trade and travel snch as are hardly
eaualed by any other route now In operation or hkey
soon to be opened The new road s 25 miles IN length
and il is directly in the limo OF which the prominent
points are York Pittsburgh Columbus indianapolis,
Peoria Omaha San Francisco. It. therefore, inersects
numerous roads running north and south, by which
travel and trade will naturally seek the great ranscont
mental thoroughfare. 1t has three advantages, VIZ:
SHORTER CoNMUSICATIoS BETWEEN EAST AND WEsI;
READY CONNECTION or THE 1srERsEoIIsG LINES WITH
TBE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC ROUTE, AND ACCOMMODATION
OF IMMENSE LOCAL TRAVEL Asp IRAffIc. -, ,,o
Arrangements have been made ny the directors OF tno
road by which will run, without change from C
cnnat to Omaha The distance between n tnese % Pn
by this line than by any other route The line Is
from indianapolis to Crawfordsvile where connection
is made with the Chicago and New Albany Railroad;
across the State line 10 Danve, connecting WIN the
Toledo Wabash and Western Railroad; TO- Urbana con
Meeting with the Chicago branch OF the Illinois Central;
TO Bloomington connecting with the main Dranch Oh tne
Louis Railroad; 10 Pekn, connecting with the Peoria,
Pekin and Jacksonville Railroad, to st. Louis; and 10
PEORIA connecting with the Peoria branch or the Chl-
cago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad ey when con
tinuOns line Is furnished 10 Omaha and san Francisco
The Toledo Peoria and Warsaw Railroad as4 gives gr
direct route 10 Keokuk and Westward and the Peoria
and Rock Island Railroad will be open next spring iead
ing to the great ana p9pons % meSs % he pa
line the connections are with the following lines VIZ
The Chicago, Columbus aud Indiana Centrl the rem,
sylyania Central and Pan Handle the Cleveland and
Columbus, and Cincinnati and Indianapolis; ana the
Baltimore and Ohio. There are other roads that might
also named feeders to this ne but those gwen are
the principal connections.
The regular trains will commence running on the ISL OF
October and the time from NewYOrS TO Peoria Will be,
at the ordinary rate Of speed much shorter than by me
old and less direct routes This Is an advantage Whch
through travellers will not be slow in improving and II IS
no awback that the line s through one or the most fe
tile and beautiful regions OF the earth. one great ad-
vantage which this road possesses over most others IN
the West is the abundance OF gravel along us ne Dy
ing been carefully laid, with the improved methods OF
Joining, smooth as that OF the best old roads Inc
rolling stock locomotives and cars OF every description
including hotel cOdehes for through trains OF the pest
description and many Tes Of depSs a each Of the
ffty-two stations along the line were promptly com
peted at the opening of the road IN tbe most tb T
equipment; while an old one for economical rea
sons apt cling to stock that is out oil date ana yet
Il was upon the occasion Of the opening of this great
new road that the recent excursion party consisting OF
distinguished railroad men and capitalists, was formed
and made delightful trip frOw New York TO Peoria, and
returning Among the guests Of the Company were
large number OF prominent gentlemen from the East,
who made the round trip Others joined at different
Pothsg Pos Ser than gliding AZ the rate Of 500 miles day
in luxurious drawing room or railroadpresdents cars,
with hotel cars providing all the decaces Of the season.
and sleeping comfortable as the sybartes couch,
and with chosen companions through poPn9n gr9% S
strangely beautiful praires OF the West
The guests OF the Indianapolis, Bloomington and
western Railroad Company left NewYork on the even
ing OF September IL The party received numerous adj
dtOns ut Philadelphia, including number OF ladies',
whose sprighness added greatly to the subsequent
loyment Of the trip The splendld Punan palace sleep
sioniss The ride up the Aeghanes in the early
ing, and the pure bracing mountain air. attracted the
Witnessed the magnificent scenery and wonderful en-
gineerng works In which this line abounds Pittsb9rgh
lay they went the Pan Handle Route, via Steuben-
Vile and DennsOn named after exGoy. william Den
nison ofsOhio), to Columbus where halt of several
hours made Here the party was Joined by Benja-
railroad President by the Mayor and Council OF the
city and other invited guests including Gov Dennison
Indianapolis reached the next morning, and here
the first regular train made up for the road to
PEORIA the guests mean time enjoying themselves In
great inland metropolis The train was drawn by the
engine " Urlana," built by the locomotive works OF
Providence T. H. which were represented by the cour
teous Superintendent Benjamin w. Heaey The four
beautiful coaches Of the train were built by
the Jackson a sharp Company OF Wilmington Del. To
these were added two Pullman palace sleeping gears and
the Presidents Of the Columbus Cincinnati, and Lou
isvie Railroad, making one OF the handsomest,
most complete, and comfortable trains ever placed
any road in this country. From indianapolis
the train ran upon straight and smooth though new
track through pretty and thriving towns and cultivated
fields to Crawfordsyie where the students Of the Uni
versty found drawn up in line TO welcome the eX
cursOpists. They were addressed with few words OF
cOnTatulatOn by Gov. DcnuisOn and the Hon. Samuel
Galloway of Columbus Ohio. Beyond tins point sundry
stops made to examine coal beds mines adjacent
To the road At the celebrated mines near Danyile,
which the entire party examined the coal vein crops out
above the ground. IL thick and
OF 10 alongside Of the road 1t is worked by
the center Of the best Coal region Of Illinois, and with
this new line Of communication, Cincinnati Will never
again suffer from coal famine"
The next point OF interest reached was Urbana, the
none Of President Grggs and county seat of Champaign
Here the party were conducted TO the "Grggs House."
and elegant hotel just built by the Company, and
intended also for use as depot telegraph and railroad
BY this time the guests numbered several hundred.
They had been greeted with enthusiasm all along tho
line by the people who ocked to the stations by hund
reds and thousands Urbana the center Of one OF
the finest sections Of the prairie country, they began to
enjoy the flavor of true Illinois hospitality Their hosts
were not dauned by the great number the party but
were unwearied and unremittng in their courteses.
Proceeding to this city the engines were changed the
"Clark H. Griggs" named after the President,
being attached. The ride from Urbana to Bloom
ington, and thence to Pekin and to Peoria,
occupied about four hours, passing through
a rich farming region with boundless fields Of waving
corn and meadows and orchards and the external signs
along the line from each terminus of the road have
for its construction, and whose industry and increasing
prosperity give ample assurance OF the OF the
road from loc., lrahe alone As the excursonists ad-
dense they found the enthusiasm Of the people highten-
ing so that at times Ike progress the train through
a continuous ovation. To guard completely against
accidents hagmen stationed within view OF each
other along this entire portion of the line.
Al Peoria the visitors were made the guests OF the
city and were Handsomely entertained by the municipal
authorities In banquet at Panneey's Hail. The new
Ioau s ocefs, anu various prominent interests
toasted anu speeches appropriate To- the occasion were
hade Dy the Following gentlemen Gen Charles Black
Oh UIDaha IL Grlggs the President OF the new road
to' BOD ihgersoll Of PEORIA Gov DennisOn OF Ohio,
the non j. Is: Thomas OF Philadelphia the Hon William
rattersoh a. OF New-Jersey Judge David Davis OF
the United states Supreme Court the Hon
sam galloway OF Ohio, Gen. T. b. Van Buren
MsT, ualn
Boh speakers and audience rejoiced in the opening of
le road under so favorable auspices and great praise
WAS awarded To President Grggs and Mia associaes for
eiI energy ana ability In carrying work TO It's com
Peoh. me ceI credit Of the enterprise. however is