Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1883 — The Monon Route. [ARTICLE]

The Monon Route.

The following interesting sketch of the “Monon Route” we extract from a letter from Louisville, in the Chicago Inter-Ocean. Having the pleasure of riding over the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railway, popularly known as the “Monon Route. I desire to add testimony to its management, at least between Chicago and Louisville. A test of nearly every railroad in the countiy convinces me that the “Monon” is equal to the very best. The steel rails are as smooth as can be, while the train accoutrements and the treatment received are simply superb. There is not a feature employed by railroads that is not found on this line. Leaving Chicago at 7:45 in the evening the traveler arrives in Louisville in time for an 8 o’clock breakfast, and vice versa. The day trams furnish a chance to see the beautiful country through which the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago runs. This is the only road running solid trains as well as through Pullman sleepers between Chicago and Louisville. The popularity of this route dates back only eighteen months —prior to then doing nothing in the passenger line. Its construction began thirty years ago, and the road was built in sections. The remarkable progress it has made lately testifies to its efficient management. The local traffic is simply terrific, while its through business is not duplicated by any other route. A BIT OF ROMANCE. There is quite a bit of romance connected with the name by which it is known. Alongside of the station Monon, In Indiana, runs a pretty stream of water, the Indian name of which is Melomonony, the significior being “swift running.” Tne abbreviation of “Monon” applied to the road, means the same, and the application is well made. There are many places of interest located along this route. Near Bloomington are located several caves, where eyeless fish are found, and next spring these caves will be improved so as to open up places of resort. The “Monon” route also takes in Greencastle, Asbury University, Lafayette, the famous Tippecanoe battle and eamp-meeting grounds, the celebrated Thayer fishing grounds, Kankakee swamps, Cedar Lade, the great summer resort on this line, 38 miles from Chicago, where some of the fin est fishing in the world abounds, and scores of other famous places. Cedar Lake is 68 feet higher than Lake Michigan, and is a high, dry, beautiful and available spot. From Monon to Michigan City the road is as straight as it is possible for surveyors to make it, while from Chicago to Indianapolis it is fourteen miles shorter than any other route. It crosses twenty-one east and west lines, and forms connections at either end, which give it a splendid opportunity to care lor the taurists going both north and south. With such men at the helm as Colonel B. H. Young, Colonel E. B. Stahlman, Murray Kellar, John McLeod, W. N. Marshall. W. G. Sala, H. B. Smith and Colonel S. B. Jones, it is no wonder that the -‘Monon” is so popular. Then, there is Captain Jack Whalen, formerly of The Inter Ocean, who has bbi n with the road several months, and is soon to take charge of all the resorts iii the Northwest in the interests of this road. The general verdict is that the “Monon” deserves its present popularity and unparalled prosperity.