The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-01-21
The Chicaso-Pskin Railroad.


There was meeting ofthe Stockholders of
the Chicago Il Pekin Railroad at Marseilles
to elect officers for the ensuing year. This 10
the road that runs through this county from
northeast to southwest, crossing the Illinois
river at Marseilles. The road has been gra-
ded excepting 30 miles between Marseilles
and Chicago. The piers are all built in the
larger streams for bridges and culverts are con-
structed over the smaller ones. In short, the
road is nearly ready for the ties and rails, and
both are contracted for. The road was in
this forward condition last fall, and could have
been finished by this time, had money matters
notbeen so extremely slight" Now, however,
that the work on the road is about to be re-
sumed, there arises squabble among the
Stockholders as to lis officers.
AT former meeting, to guard against the
customs OF Wall Street in "watering stock"
tricks that are vain" the Board voted that
hereafter no additional stock should be issued
except in open meeting of the Board. Mr..
Prettyman, who seems to be at the head of
the "Pekin ring" as it is called, caused to be
issued $604, 900 in new stock, contrary to the
above resolution, and let the contract of build
ing IS miles above Pekin to q Pekin firm,
while Pierce, Clark and Sharp had the origi-
nal contract for building the road, and had
done the greater portion Of the work.
When the meeting was to be held last week,
the Stockholders along the road getting wind
Of the manGuvres Of the Pekin ring. came to
Ottawa and got out an injunction, restraining
Mr. Prettyman from voting this GOA, 900 stock.
Sheriff Blake was duly on hand and served
the writ, thus blocking the game of the Pekin
ring The holders of the original stock met
and Board of Directors chose the following
officers for the ensuing year: J. s. Stark,
President; c. Sharp, Sen, Vice President;
VIM B. Ogden, Trsas,J. ". Dougherty, sec.,
A. J. Ware, Pekin, Attorney; c. w. Allen.
dolph, Pekin, Chief Engineer.
The selection of such men as the officers of
the road, with Board Of Directors of the
same and other men Of equal reputation and
financial resources, insures the early completion
of the road. We should add, that the Pekin
ring, the same evening, held separate meet.
ing. and voted, representing the genuine stock
they had, together with the extra 1904, 900, and
elected different directory and set Of officers,
and claim to be the majority, as they would be,
were their stock genuine.
We understand the action of the Pekin ring
will in no way hinder the progress OF the road,
as it is to be pushed forward at once and to be
completed during the coming season.
The present forward condition of the road,
its sure prospect of completion at an early day,
Notwithstanding the efforts of the Pekin fac
ton are in great measure owing to the in
domitable energy and go-aheadativeness Of
Frederick Clark, who ton is entitled to much
of the credit of msking Marselles what it is
Through his exertlons the dam was built at
that place, and most of those manufactures
were induced to locate there 1t would be
grand thing for Ottawa if she had man just
like Mr.. Clark.