Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1877 — The Chicago & South Atlantic R. R. [ARTICLE]

The Chicago & South Atlantic R. R.

This new aud important, enterprise ia now attracting the public attention. The president, Hon. W. 8. Haymond. has o|fcnea an office in this city and is now devoting his energies to the prosecution of the scheme. The prospects for the early completion of the northern division are favorable, and it Is the expectation of the company to be able to put a considerable portion of it in operation during the present season. The enterprise is favorably regarded by capitalists and others who have given it consideration, and it Will be among the first ot the projected roads that will receive attention whenever a revival occurs in railroad building. The road intends to connect Chicago by a direct line through Cumberland Gap with the southeast Atlantic seaboard. From surveys already made and other reliable data it can be demonstrated that the proposed road will be the shortest practicable line from Chicago or Indianapolis to the seaboard. Port Royal aud Charleston are to be the southern termini. A deep intetest prevails among the people along the entire route in favor of the road, and liberal aid has been given at some points and promised at others. The work has been commenced at both ends and a considerable amount of grading and bridging done. For the present the company will devote its ohief energies to the completion of the division between Indianapolis and Chicago. The road will be adirect line between these cities, and will run through some of the very finest country in Indiana. It has become a commercial necessity to the people of a broad belt of the atate, stretching out from this point to the state line. After leaving Marion the road will run through the counties of Hamilton, Boone, Clinton, Carroll, White, Jasper, Newton and Lake, ail of .whioh are unexcelled hi the fertility and productiveness of the soil. It will also pass through the thriving county seats of Fraukfort, Delphi, Monticello and Rensselaer, besides numerous other flourishing towns and village* About fifty miles of the road between Delphi and the state line ha Ye been graded and partly bridged. This embraces the heaviest and most costly portion of the work on this section; that remaining to be done is mostly on smooth and level prairie land, which oau soon be put in readiness for the superstructure.

The most of the right of way has been secured on the Illinois division, from the state line at Dyer to Thirty-first street or Archer avenue, and on a considerable portion oi this but little work will be required to prepare the roadbed fur the iron. Considerable energy has been displayed in the south in the attempt to build the connecting link from Ashville, North Carolina, to Spartanburg, Sooth Carolina. This division, seventy-four and a half miles, will carry the line across the Blue Ridge. The grading is now far advanced, and it is believed by the close of' the present seaeon will be completed. It has been prosecuted mainly by cheap couvlct iabo** from North Carolina. The officers of road are men of energy, and bavo manfully struggled through the perilous times with their enterprise. They are sanguine of ultimate success, which will follow quickly upon the general revival of business and the establishment of confidence in railroad investments.— lndianapolis journal.