The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-07-08
g., O.. & M, r, X.

Though little has been said of late concern,
ing the Seneca, Ottawa II Mendoza X. X, the
project has not been neglected by any means.
The line has been surveyed for some time, and
lately second line was run to Mendoza from
Ottawa, giving better route
At present the line is divided into three
sections, at each of which parties are now Sc
curing right of way. The farmers generally
are liberal in their demands, whole sections OF
right of way being given outright.
The benefit of the road built and IN running
order seems to be appreciated by property
owners. 1t is a competing line, and the best
kind OF competition IN that II completes be-
tween great cities of the west and seaboard
ports The Kankakee Il Seneca, or Cincin-
natl, Indianapolis, st. Louis Il Chicago road,
extended to Mendoza, opens up competitor
between Cincinnati and Chicago for this trade
and of the northwest; and also new port tor
foreign shipments of our grain at Newport
News, Va, cia the Chesapeake & Ohio r. r.
The road built to Seneca has added two cents
a bushel to corn at Seneca. The amount OF
corn raised IN the towns through which this
proposed road runs, in 1880 was 1,163,5s5
bushels two cents increase on which is not
a little sum, to say nothing of the effect on
oats, and hogs and cattle, and the value OF
competing line for our manufactures.
1t is not at at all likely that Chicago or Chi
cago roads will encourage the building OF this
route. 1t lnterfercs with their territory. On
the other hand Cincinnati is, or should be- very
much interested in It. Leaving Ottawa it
passes through a country practically without
q railroad-though a county that by long
hauls shipped 1,763,5S5 bushels of corn, 3d.
5l1 bushels of oats, 9452 hogs and 2525 fat
cattle: through the heart of country raising
ia 1880, 1903 bushels of wheat, 2,443,349
bushels of oats, 81, 1874 tons OF hay, $685. o6
bushels of corn, 30,SG0 bushels OF rye, 11,l30
bushels of barley, 1732OO bushels of potatoes,
and that sold 3Sl ,2S2 his OF fat sheep, SO5,O57
lbs. of butter, $50 900 lbs of cheese, and 15,O22
fat cattle and G., 302 fat hogs; through valua
BILE coal lands, the richest clay lands In ILL
nois, what will one day be the glass making
country of the United States, and through sew
eral important manufacturing towns and trad
ing centres The trade OF this county alone
would warrant Cincinnati In building the road
through this county.
But this road extended to Mendoza would
more than tap q rich country. 1t would put
the terminus of the KBnkakee Il Seneca road
in the world and the road in a position to do
business on Its own account Instead OF de-
pending on the favor of one road 1t would
open the northwest to Cincinnati, making
connection with the Illinois Central for Min.
nesota, Iowa and the northwest, and the c., Is.
& O. for the great west,-a couptry she is now
absolutely shut out OF.
! A road is bound to be built sooner or later
from Ottawa 10 Mendoza. The only question
at present seems to be whether Chicago or
Cincinnati will own 1t. That II will be pay
ing road from the day it is open admits of no
oueston-lOcal traffic alone would support it
and pay dividends.