, 1872-11-13
RAILROAD MATTERS.
The Canada Southern, Illinois River,
and State Line Railroads.
Where They Run to, and the Country
They Develop.
The Viaduct Question and the
Clark Street Tracks.

The Common Council, in passing the ordinance
admitting the Canada Southern and the Chicago
l. illinois River Railway Companies, into the
city, brought public attention back again to the
intramural route Of those roads. They come in
together Mt the southwest corner Of the city linz
its, at Egan avenue, east on Egan avenue to and
across the south fork Of the South Branch of
the Chicago River, to the Stock Yards Canal,
then parallel with the canal to the intersection of
Egan avenue md Stewart avenue, on Stewart
avenue to Grove street, northeasterly on Grove
street to Sixteenth, and thence north
easterly on any lands that the companies
may acquire by purchase, condemnation, or 9TH
erwise, lying west OF Clark street to the south
line of Polk street. Tho south fork Of the
South Branch is to be crossed with 8 stationary
bridge, which the city reserves the right Of re-
moving by order, and requiring the companies
to replace with a swing bridge whenever the
change is necessary; the canal is to DO crossed
with swing bridge. The city also requires the
railroad companies to erect and maintain via
ducts over any OF their tracks, or on any street
crossed By them IS the Board Of Public Works
may require from time to time, and to construct
the approaches to the viaducts.
TIE CHICAGO AND CANADA SOUTHERN ROAD
where the Detroit River flows into Lake Erie,
distance of $50 miles: and thence to Buffalo, a
distance Of 228 miles, making total length Of
478 miles. From Anherstberg, branch will
run to St. Clair. The main limo lies south Of
the Great Western, Of Canada, nearly all the
way. The curves are few and Of long radii, and
the grades very Low, making, it is claimed, the
expense OF running trains 50 per cent lower
voIb hat CI,iearn and +1a
East, and reducing freiglts to rates that will
compete with the lake route. It will be princi-
pally freight road. The Company las issued
atock amounting to s8,ooo,ooo, and: as
Tracy, Drew, Scott and other prominent rail-
road men and capitalists are on the Board Of
Directors, its success is merely matter of time.
The through route will be opened in about .
year
THE CHICAGO AND nL1So1s RIVER ROAD
will run in southwesteEly direction from the
city towards Keokuk, Iowa. It will pass through
Joliet, running midway between the Rock Island
and the St. Louis & Alton Railroads. Thence it
will run through Lacon and GalesburS on It's
way to the Mississippi. 1t will develop the val
liable Ye1mil]ion coal fields in this State, aud
bring to this city the products Of fertile coun-
try through which it will pass.
TEE STATE LINE ROAD.
What is known as the State Line Railroad will
run to the city limits On the Rock Island track,
thence On 1L6 DWH H1U w 1AGu1EI, IL AU0F tOAlI-
II. and to Decatur, 135 miles distant. and on the
Toledo, Wabash d Western track from Decatur
to St. Louis. making the distance between that
city and this 266 miles. some IS miles shorter
than by way Of Alton, and q miles shorter than
by the illinois central It will run between the
st. Louis t. Alton and the Illinois Central, de-
ve1oping rich agricultural and mining region.
Over four million dollars in stock have been is
sued. and the bonds secured BY mortgage amount
to nearly two and three-quarter millions. Work
= is going on rapidly.
TIE v1ADucr QUESTION.
The Railroad Committee OF the Common
Council have unanimously agreed upon 3 re-
port with reference to the railroad crossing be-
tween Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. It
recommends the removal Of all switches and
side-tracks between Michigan avenue and Clark
street; that freight trains be not allowed to
stop on streets, only between them, and that the
entrance to the Michigan Central round-house
be changed, 80 that engines can enter 1t without
going as far west as Michigan avenue. It also
: states that the Chicago, Burlington j. Quincy
! Railroad has offered to sink its track or 8
feet. to build the walls and viaducts, the latter
T to be feet above the present grade, and to
E construct the approaches free Of expense to the
! city, which would only have to til N the
= approaches. The yiaducts would extend over
= 1oadvays and sidewalks, the full width Of the
, streets, and be made as ornamental and attrac,
!, tive as possible. The approaches, extending 200
Z feet on each side Of the Tiaducts, would be
pavea with Eicolson pavement. and have grade
j ct four feet in hundred. The Committee is
unanimously Of the opinion that the riaducts
should be constructed, but as many property
owners in the vicinity OF the crossings are op,,
posed to them. the shove facts will be submitted
10 the Council without Recommendation.
THE SOUTH CLARK STREET TRACKS.
The same committee had referred to 1t, some
time since, q petition Of residents on CLARK
street. between Twelfth and Twenty.second
streets. praying the COUNCIL to compel the Ch1-
caco. Rock Island d Pacific Railroad to remove
its tracks from Clark street. further west, near
the track Of the Lake Shore l. Michigan South.
tern Road, where the company is entitled to the
right of way. The committee IS Of the opln!o9n 19
that the Council has not the powerto compel the
removal Of the tracks, but recommends that the
7Corporation Counsel be instructed to prepare an
tordinance compelling the company to use u horse:
t be verv inconvenient, it is expected that the
4conpany will comply with the prayer OF the Pc
itition.
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