The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-03-12

Night tu the WOODS
From the II Louis Globe
The completion of a new line OF rail-
road, TO be followed up by the opening
up Of the adjoining country and new
impetus TO trade. commerce, and manu-
features. is an event that the Journalist
cannot afford Ia pass by unnoticed. and Is
worthy al least oi passing mention. On
Saturday last, a. already announced, the
last rail of the Cairo and st. Louis rail-
road was laid down. and on Sunday after
noon party of gentlemen interested In
the road left the depot at East ST. Louis.
on special car. for the purpose of sur
Veyiug the line. \ representative of the
Globe had the privilege OF accompany
ing them. and he proposes TO narrate
what ~ observed. Some account Of the
railroad may properly prcccde the de
scripuon of the journey itself.
DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME.
The charter for the construction of The
Cairo and 81. Louis was obtained IN lS60,
but nothing practical was effected FOR
some time after. surveys were made of
the projected route, but the appearance
of the country was 30 broken, uneven
and unsettled that experienced engineers
deemed the enterprise impractical. Al
ter further consultation, it was agreed To
try the narrow-gaugc plan In 1871 the
building of the road was commenced. and
in the fall of 1873 II was completed as far
rs Murphy sboro, jackson county. a dis
lance OF ninety miles from 1T. Louis. The
extension oithe track ina southeastern di-
rection To Cairo was attempted, but the
monetary panic had disastrous effect on
this rs well as many other projects, and
for while operations were suspended.
They were assumed ia November last by
Messrs. II. r Payson and 4. l.. Cands,
the contractors, OF Chicago, whose indOm-
liable boldness has at last been crowned
with success.
NAERow-GAUGEs,
\ railroad with its tracks but three feet
apart, over which the cars pass lightly
and pleasantly, with comparatively little
noise. j. a novelty even in these days Of
ceaseless invention nddiScOvery. There
are several narrow-gauge railroads in
Colorado, and one between Kansas City
and Independence. There is also the lla-
vannah aud Rantoul Narrow-gaugc Rail-
road, in Northern Illinois. II is probable,
however, that the Cairo and 81. Louis
Railroad Is the most extensive line on the
narrow-gauge system. and will, before
long. be model in the completeness and
excellence of It's equipment.
Ii is found, by experiment. that a mar
row-gaugc railroad can be built at two.
thirds the expense of the broad-gaugc.
The expense of operating the road. par
iicularly in the item of coal, j. cores
pondingly light. In the ascending of
steep grades, and the turning of curves.
the Darrow-gauge has some very perccp-
tiblc advantages; while the slight oscila-
tlon and easy motion OF the cars render
the system flyorite one with those who
have had the good fortune To try it,
ORGANIZATION.
The gentlemen associated together
in this enterprise. and to whom j.
due the credit of it. success, are rs fol-
lows:
). 5. Taylor. Esq, OF Cairo, PRESIDENT;
j. J.. Ilinckley. Superintendent; +.
L. Canda. of Payson 4 Canda, General
Manager; W ;. Scarls, Of Waukcgan. ILL.,,
Attorney.
The Board of Director, comprises
Messrs, :. ;. Taylor, John II. Obcrly and
+. Bross. of Cairo: VI. &. Crawford of
Jonesboro; Thomas NJ. Logan, OF MUIR
physboro; I, b. Bouton, of Jonesboro;
W. Il. Bradley. Murphysboro; w. j. Al
len, Carbondalc;W Il. Morrison Waterloo:
Il. ii. RoseborO, Sparta: Anthony Steel, OF
Randolph county; }. II. Williamson, OF
Nplhlibld, anu 81. lHlOtUI. Oh I,ti Dllu.
There have been few changes on the
board, as the original corporators of the
company were appointed directors, with
power to name their successors. After
the stock has been issued in due form il
is probable hat the board of directors
will be chosen by the stockholders.
FINANCIAL.
BY its charter the Cairo and ST. Louis
Railroad is authorized to have a capital
stock of five million dollars OF this sum
about four millions are held by the con.
tractors, Messrs. Payson and Canda, who
took their pay for constructing the road
in this form. About million more Ia,
been subscribed by the towns aud coun-
ties along the line, but some of them have
failed TO meet their obligations. and thi.
was one OF the causes that iorcibly retar.
ded the completion OF the road.
There has been about two and hall
million of bonds issued by the company
and II has a small floating debt.
The financial results attained by the
company have so far beeu encouraging
The receipts of the company between
september Il. 1873. aud December 81
1874, were as follows: From passenger.
Ss9.566 81; freight. Sl3O, 800 OF: coal
Ss7.63f 20; express, 81 lG3 y: mail, 81.
$50; miscellaneous, Sl.572 60; gross r.
ceipts, S3lG, SOB 80. The cost OF opcrat
ing the road during the same period wa
S209,730 q, leaving an excess ofrccclpt
over expenses of Sl07, 1913 IS.
NATURAL RESOURCES.
II Is matter Of cOngratulation that In
section of country through which TN
Cairo and ST. Louis Railroad l. complet
ed will compare favorably with almoS
any other locality in point Unnatural r.
sources. These need but developing L
convert IL into the abode of prosperou
and happy thousands. From Columbia
10 MurphysbOro there i a bed ofsOlid Goa
over seventy miles long. This /, know
ms the Big Muddy coal. Ills especial,
adapted 10 the manufacture OF iron, thef,
being so little sulphur IN is compOsitior
that II can be used IN its natural ,tatc
and without cOhing. The same coal /
much priced for household use.
Between MurphysbOro and Jone,bor,
there are woods of ash. oak. elm. hickorr
and black walnut, for which there i,
demand tor manufacturing purposes. A
short distance from the railroad Their
are fruit farms 10 bee seen at intervals
The products Of these farms have bcel
hitherto transported some five or tel
miles 10 reach the Illinois Central Rail
road, but will probably find market II
st. Louis hereafter South of .Ionesbor
there Is some of the finest wheat lands II
The United States.
EQUIPMENT.
This railroad Is furnished with twent,
,,IIoohotlNes, four for passenger trains
three for switches, and four Tor freight
IL has six Dasspnoer ooanhae ,hroo ,,e..tl