The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-09
Seventeen Anniversary of
Rock Island To Be Observed.
Memorial Tree To Be Planted
for Late M. A. Low.
WAS GREAT RAILROAD MAN
TOpekan Formulated Articles
of Incorporation of C. X. & N.
Local Club To Give Program at
C. of C. Tuesday Evening.


the operation of the first passenger
train by the Rock Island railroad will
take place Tuesday in Topeka and at
most of the other points on the sys-
tenn, yet the Rock Island railroad, as
transportation project, is seventy
seven years of age.
Il was in 1916 that a group of pio-
neer business men and others, meet
ing at the home of Colonel Davenport.
on Rock Island. in the Mississippi
river. evolved the nucleus of the
scheme which has resulted in the
building of the Rock Island railway.
Judge James Grant, the first presi-
dent of the road, was there, as were
most of the men who later became
Officers and directors of the company.
by special act of the Illinois legis-
lature, February 81, 1S47 the ROCK
Island & La Sale Railroad company
was chartereh-the father company OF
the other Organizations which have
been transition stages for the Rock
Island.
Construction Started in 1851.
Construction of the road started at
Chicago on the morning of october l,
1851. On October 10, 1852, the line
had been completed and train was
operated to Joliet, Ill. Two former
Mississippi river steamboat captains
chosen because of their experience
and ability in dealing with the public
as passengers on a public transporta-
ton utility, were chosen as the first
passenger conductors on the line.
The first train over the new line
from Chicago to Rock Island, on the
Mississippi, was run on June 3, 1898
and the occasion was made one for a
grand excursion on five river steamers
up the river.
81 The Rock Island bridge across the
Mississippi at Rock Island is one OF
the points of greatest interest on the
road About it conferred a national
struggle between the adherents OF
transportation by water and by rail.
Abraham Lincoln defended the rail-
road companys suit in the United
States supreme court when injunctions
were sought to make the company re-
move the bridge. which had been de-
clared by the state of Iowa a pubic
nuisance"
In the course of the Civil war the
organization of the road was not halt
ed, tho delayed, and Oh June 2, 1855,
it was Incorporated as the chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific Railroad COM
pany, the title it now bears, and con-
tinued its western drive with steel.
First Kansas Tracks ut DeavenwOrth.
The first Rock Island tracks in
Kansas were those of one and half
miles of railroad constructed from
Leavenworth to Fort Leavenworth by
a Kansas company. the Fort Leaven-
worth Railroad company, which was
absorbed by the Rock Island by pur-
chase in 1888. over In:s line, in Oc-
tober 1871, a memorable run was
made from Chicago to Leavenworth
by a Rock Island special train carry
ing President and Mrs. u. S. Grant, as
we'll as other high officials Of the
government and of the railroad to
Leavenworth for celebration.
The late Marcus A low 'of Topeka,
to whom memorial tree Is to be
planted Tuesday morning on the
grounds OF the Rock Island station in
Topeka, is called the great man of
the Rock Island in Kansas" In his
ii feE,r 1oe m
n.versary number of the i;ock Island
Magazine, it is said thai ne came
and rubbed the Aladdin ramp of per-
sistency. and caused Kansas and Ok
lahoma to unfold their treasures"
During the winter of 1SS5-1SS6,
Low formulated the articles of incor-
porations of the Chicago, Kansas &
Nebraska Railway company. At that
time he was division solicitor for the
c. r. I. &c p railway. 1t was in 1886
that the rails of this line were laid
from st. Joseph. Mo. thru Horton,
Holton and toward Topeka.
Bridge Built Here In 1887.
The close of this year saw the rails
lad and in operation to Horton, and
beyond this point southWestward to
within few miles of Topeka. In
1887 the iron bridge across the Kaw
river here was constructed, and the
i.ne laid across the river and toward
Council Grove.
NJ. d. Harrington, a rancher, whose
holdings in Dickinson county consti-
tuted him a baron of that early EN-
pire. appealed to Low to have the
line straightened-since it was MAX
ing an .e.bow" about the two counties
Low agreed. Harrington assisted in the
passing of bonds and the prOVidine
of a right of way thru Morris and
Dickinson counties, and Harrington
named after the pioneer baron, is now
a division point for the Rock Island.
Westward the line of steel was
driven MIA n rnnnlod wit "
ages and wild animals Later, thru
the cooperation of the Rock Island
with the settlers which the company
induced to enter the country, trans
formed into levels of teeming fertility
and production.
Turnout the length of the system
will be commemorated Tuesday the
passage of that first passenger train
from Chicago to Joliet.
Tree Planting Tuesday Morning.
IN Topeka at IL o'clock Tuesday
morning there will occur the cere-
monial planting of the tree dedi-
Gated to the memory of Marcus A
Low. the father of the road in Kansas
r. II. Hallock, of the legal department
of The road. will act as master of cere-
monies and H c. Cartridge, division
claim agent, will be sponsor for the
tree.
Al the Chamber of Commerce Tues
Gay evening the local club of Rock
Island employees viii lhOid a din
ner, at which II. S. Conrad, so.
licitor for the road at Kansas City
Mo, will make an address on The
History of the Rock Island
A Radio Program in Evening.
Following the dinner and the tall
by Conrad, the business men of the
city have been invited to attend t
hear. by radio, a program broadcas
from Chicago. at which J. f. German
president of the road, will be the chic
speaker. The radio for the intercep
ton of the program given at Chicago
has already been installed.
At Chicago. the president of thu
road. the directors and other high of
ficlaIs will l.n he n -InIin