ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD. The history of the Illinois Central Railroad embraces many interesting episodes, some of which bore directly in their effect on the build ing up of the nation, of the State of Illinois and of the city of Chicago. Prior to the incor poration of this line, the State of Illinois had vainly endeavored to establish an effective and profitable central railroad. In doing this, a large State debt accumulated and the outlook for wiping out that debt was not at all prom ising when the act to incorporate the Illinois Central Railroad Company was approved by Governor French on 10 Feb. 1851. As events have proved, this act produced results more momentous in the history of the State and of the United States than any act approved by an Illinois executive before or since.
The inception of this important enterprise dates back to 1835, when two of the State's most famous men, Hon. Sidney Breese and Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, first discussed pub licly the advisability of penetrating the centre of the State by means of a railroad and thus opening up a vast territory which at that time was an uninhabited and partially unexplored wilderness. On 16 Ian. 1836, the State legis lature passed an act incorporating Illinois Central Railroad Company' Two years later an attempt was made to start this road, which was intended to run 457 miles. The sum of $3,500,000 was appropriated for the route, but within a few months the difficulties surround ing the situation in the matter of actual track laying became so great that, after an expendi of $506,000, principally on surveys and preliminary work, the plan was abandoned.
In 1843 a private corporation entitled "The Great Western Railroad" secured a charter and began work, but soon became discouraged and surrendered their charter. In 1849 this charter was renewed, only to be again surrendered to make room for the road now operating and known as The Illinois Central Railroad. At the time the road was commenced by the present corporation it was estimated that the aggregate cost would be about $15,000,000. The actual cost for construction, including all ex tension up to the present time, has been nearly $50,000,000.
Original Charter The 12 di rectors selected in 1851, under the charter and known as the Directors," included nine prominent New York men and three well known citizens of Boston. The directors from New York were Robert Schuyler, George Gris wold, Gouverneur Morris, Jonathan Sturges, Thomas W. Ludlow, John F. A. Sanford, Henry Grinnell, Joseph W. Alsop and Leroy M. Wiley. Those from Boston were Franklin Haven, Rob ert Rantoul, Jr., and David A. Neal.
In 1850, shortly before the chartering of the railroad, Illinois stood Ilth in population and 17th in wealth among the States. The marked difference during the fol lowing 10 years is worthy of note as showing the direct effect of improved and extended rail road accommodation. In 1860 Illinois stood fourth in population among the States, also fourth in wealth.
Railroad Conditions in 1851, when the charter of the present road was uanted, the population of Chicago was 30,000. That city had no railroad connection with the East nor in other direction. In the same year the Hudson River Railroad, 140 miles, from New York to East Albany, was opened. Other events of importance during 1851 were the extension of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail road to Cumberland and the opening of an Erie Railroad line from Pierpont on the Hud son of Dunkirk on Lake Erie. Wisconsin had 20 miles of railroad at that time. The rail road mileage of Indiana was 228 miles, and of Kentucky 78 miles. Just prior to the charter ing of the Illinois Central there were 111 miles of railroad track in the State. When the 50th anniversary of the road was held at Chicago in 1901 it was announced that the company was then operating railroads in 13 States.
The first section of the road, covering 705.50 miles, and running from Chicago to Cairo and from Centralia to Du buque, was opened on 27 Sept. 1856, being about five and one-half years after the issuing of the charter. Since the opening of this main line other lines have been purchased, including part of the Saint Louis, Peoria and Northern rail roads from Springfield to East Saint Louis, Illinois, in 1900. This purchase was followed by a number of purchases and absorp tions.