McDonough County, Illinois - Chapter 29: Railroad Business, 1878

Elsewhere we give the history of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, therefore it is not necessary to give more than a passing notice in this place. Without disparagement to the others, this can be said to be the chief road passing through the county, its volume of business being larger, and its facilities far greater than its competitors. McDonough county subscribed $75,000 to aid in its construction, and no better investment has she ever made. There has been returned by the road in the shape of taxes, far more than the principal and interest of the subscription. By its aid the resources of the county have been developed to an extent that one can scarcely realize. Towns have sprung up along its line as if by magic, farms have been opened and factories have been set in operation, employing hundreds of hands, and the wealth of the east has been poured into our laps. George W. Smith, the lamented editor of the Independent, prophesied in 1853 that we would almost double our population in ten 3^ears. In less than that length of time the population had not only doubled, but more than trebled. To-day we have six times the population we had then, and are constantly increasing.

Opponents of the railroad told the people we had no use for it, as one train of cars would carry away all the surplus produce raised in the county in one year. Through the kindness of "W. MeCredie, Freight Auditor of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, we present a table showing the shipments and receipts of this road for the period of time mentioned. Had it not been for the great Chicago fire in 1871, which destroyed the records previously made we should have given for the whole period of time in which the road has been operated ; but enough is given to show the extent of the business. Reducing the num-

During the same period there was shipped coal from Bushnell, 441,000 pounds ; from Tennessee, 3, 762, .500 pounds; from Colchester, 374,313,8.50 pounds; which does not include what was carried for use of company, which, with the amount taken by engines, was 120,000 pounds per day.

A total of 44,740, or, an average of 31 cars per day received in and shipped from the county over this road. Mr. McCredie informs the w^riter that there has been a slight falling ofl:", in consequence of the opening of the two competing roads, the T., P. t W., and the K., II. I. & St. L. railroads.

Through the kindness of A. L. Hopkins, General Superintendent of the T., P. & W., we give table of shipments over^that road. We could not obtain either receipts or shipments over St. Louis Division of the C, B. & Q., but estimating as ecjual to the T., P. & AV"., we can see it will require seventy cars per day to import our merchandise and transport our products. A good showing.