, 1872-12-23

AA4oAo u 46Ept hl1 u AasL AEf6l1pAIk 1utu
city of no mean proportions. This wonderful
development has been solely due to the discov-
cry and working Of vast coal-fe1ds underlying
the town and its vicinity, for radius Of 20 miles
the coal of which is shipped in every direction
throughout the West and South.
For Is years previous to 1866, it WAC known
to few old settlers Of that section, that coal Of
good quality existed on the Vermilion River,
Is miles south Of Ottawa; but it was regarded as
mere surface vein, which would be exhausted
By months mining. Old Deacon Nat
finger, Of Ottawa, was. however. Of
different opinion. and, persuaded
that the field was one OF great value, held his
eye steadily on the spot, and began quietly to
acquire little property there, aud even made
effort to attract the attention Of capitalists
to the spot. He prophecied thnt, at no distant
day, large manufacturing city would be built
there, and confident in this belief, erected 8
few houses, and ran streets between them, giving
to the collection, the euphonious title of Hard
scrabble.
But H.rdscrabbls did not go on money WAS
wanting, or, rather, the people were wanting
money; and in 3 few months Hardacrabble was
bankrupt corporation.
After much exertion. Deacon Nottinger finally
attracted the attention Of 9 company Of Cleve-
1and capitalists to his town in the tang1ewood,
and, in 1865, it Was visited by Colonel Ralph
atives OF the Company. After . thorough ex-
animation, they were convinced that underlying
Hardscrabble we're ine1haustible.coal fields Of
great richness, and at once determined to invest
opins the valuable resources OF the place.
Accordingly, Colonel Plumb removed to the
Hardscrabble tanglewood g few weeks after this
visit, and thus became the pioneer settler of
strestor Mos admi5ngthe title Ct Hardscrs5bls
with himself, md gave it the name Of 6treator,
in honor OF the gentleman who visited the place
with him.
Soon after his arrival in the town, he origi-
mated the idea Of q ine Of railway from streator
to 1Tenona, on the Illinois Central Railroad,
and, suiting the action to the thought, it was
built and completed early in 1866. In 1867, the
first coal ahaft was completed, and the work be-
gan in real earnest. In 1869 another railroad
was built to Dwight, on the Chicago l. Alton
Hallway, thus giving the town East and West
connections, and easy communication with the
outer world. In 1870 the Fox River Branch Of
the Chicago, Burlington l. Quincy Road, running
from Streator to Geneva, was completed, and, in
1871, the Fairbury Branch Was built, originally
known as the Fairbury, Pontiac l. Northwestern
Road, and now portion Of the new Chicago d
Padueah Railway: The Chicago, pekin 4 South
Of the most important lines run
ming from Streator, and gives
thetown . railway system made up Of five lines.
To these will be added, in few months, the
1iyiAoutn, haaAoAee q. AcAAG !.a.1oatIs nneu
VIII connect streator with the Flttsburgh q Fort
wayne hoad At Plymouth, Indiana, and the
Rock Island d Pacific Road at bureau Junction
These railroads make streator accessible from
al directions BY rail, and, IN themselves, would
build and sustain city OF prominence and I'M
Portance; The raPld1ty With which they have
been built ia largely due to the industry and Ii
bors OF Colonel Ralph Plumb, u whose head
1ney we're nlsS mapped oot, and whose Vofce per
gnaoed capitA 70 invest III them. n faot, al OF
streator,-lts railways, manufacturers, coal
shafts, anu every other interest the town
Possesses t began Tltn Colonel flqmb y; Tho hss
peen the heao ana mastef7splf1t o1. the place.
me coa4 shatts at strgator are prlncipauy
owned 6y the lineage, wilmington and Yer.
million Goai @ company. Ih1s company bought
up over 5,oo0 ACRES OF coal land IN Streator and
the vicinity soon after colonel Plumb vent
there. Inc ihVestment has proved good one,
productive OF reasonable profits, and promising
rich returns IN the future. Aey have one shaft
on the Chicago, Burlington Quincy Road,
which has capacity OF 8oo tons per day. An-
other On the Dwight Branch yields 800 tons per
day. A third, on the Chicago, Pekin d South
western Road, yields 200 tons per day. Besides
these, there are IN the vicinity Of streator seV-
eral private shafts, with united capacity OF 300
toms per day; making total capacity OF 800
tons per day.
The average amount OF coal shipped to the