Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1879 — An Exhibit of the Indianapolis, Delphi and Chicago Railway; [ARTICLE]

An Exhibit of the Indianapolis, Delphi and Chicago Railway;

Iter Route, Connections and Resources. A Trunk Dine from Indianapolis, via Erankfort. Delphi, Monticello, Bradford, Rensselaer, Lowell and Dyer., Indiana, to Chicago, 111. Under One. Management and Control. The Shortest Rail Connection between the Two Great Railway Centers of the West and Northwest, Central Indiana, and the Great Lakes. officers for 1878-9. President, Allred McCoy, Rensselaer, Indiana. Vice President, Dr. Charles Angell, Pittsburgh, Indiana. Treasurer, John Millikan, Delphi, Indiana. Secretary, Dr. S. B. Bushnell, Monticello, Indiana. General Manager, Col. S. N. Yeoman, Delphi, Indiana. Superintendent, Allen llegler, Washington C. 11., Ohio. Assistant. Superintendent, John Millikan, Washington C. IL, Ohio. General Freight and Ticket Agent, David B. Nowels, Delphi, Indiana.

directors. Allred McCoy, banker, Rensselaer, Alfred Thompson, banker, Rensselaer, Indiana. Joseph-C. Wilson, banker, Monticello, Indiana. Dr. Charles Angell, M. D., Del"phi,"lndian a. Enoch Rinehart, paper manufacturer, Delphi. Indi:pui. Abner 11. Bowen, banker, Delphi, Indiana. Vine Holt, dry goods merchant, Delphi, Indiana. Dr. John T. Richardson, M. D., Delphi, Indiana. * J. J. Ramey, dry goods merchant, Rossville, Indiana. John Barner, trader, Frankfort, Indiana. Moore Conger, S'ock Yards, Chicago,' Illinois. Matthias Lorschieder, trader, Lowell, Indiana. John Lee, contractor, Crawfordsville, Indiana. Dr. S. B. Bushnell, M. D., Secretary, Monticello, Indiana. INCORPORATION OF THE INDIANAPOLIS, DELPHI A CHICAGO RAILWAY COMPANY. The Indianapolis, Delphi and Chicago railway company was organized unde? the general laws of the state of Indiana, May 13th, 1809, with a capital stock of two million, five hundred thousand dollars, consisting! of fifty thousand shares of fifty dollars each. The company was reorganized September 3d, 1872, with the same amount of capital stock, the same number of shares each of the same value. the route. - Starting at Indianapolis, Marion county, the capital of Indiana, the line adopted runs near Big Spring Meeting House in Boone County; Kirkland, Frankfort and, Rossville in Clinton county; Delphi in Carroll county; Monticello in White county; Rensselaer in Jasper county; Lowell in Lake County; crossing the

Suto Line at or near.Dy.erjnJLaka county, and thence .to Chicago, a distance of One hundred and fifty miles. THE ROAD as located passes through the counties of Marion, Hamilton, Boone, Clinton, Carroll, White, Jasper and Lake in Indiana, and Will and Cook counties in Illinois, ten in all. the population of these counties in 1870, as per the United States census report of that year, was: Marion county, Indiana 7.. 71,939 Hamilton “ “ 29.W12 Boone “ •• .. 22,593 Clinton. “ “ 17,1130 Carroll “ “ ~. 7 10,152 White 10,854 Jaxper “ " 8,854 Lake « “ 12,339 Will “ Illinois 42,771 Cook •• •• ,849,0(91 '' Tfotal!7.. .“.T.'.’Y. U7r:.7.57C,877 It may be safely assumed that the population at this date, 1878, is full 800,000. c THE RAIL CONNECTIONS of the Indianapolis, Delphi and Chicago railway are numerous and important, giving it all the advantages of a trunk line. At Indianapolis, its southeastern terminus, it connect.’ with the thirteen roads concentrating at that great railway center, connecting it with the entire railway system of the older or central-western states; at Frankfort with the Logansport, Crawfordsville and Southwestern, the Frankfort and Kokomo, the Lafayette, Muncie and Bloomington, and the Narrow Gauge line from Toledo to a connection with the Rantoul and Eastern; at Delphi with the Toledo, Wabash and Western; at Monticello with the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis; at Bradford with the Louisville, New Albany and Chieago, and at. Dyer with- the Joliet Cut-off, making eight important rail connections between Indianapolis and Chicago, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, or an average of one for each eighteen and tliree-fourlhs miles, and connecting at Chicago with the numerous lines diverging from that city to all points of the west and north- ! west. Forming a through line for- I ty-fotir miles shorter than either of the roads now completed it will command at once a large through traffic of both passengers and freight. Passing as it does through a populous and rich agricultural region, with a large local business, its future success ami prosperTtyFs~ assured beyond all question. It will not need to develop a paying traffic, for it is already established and only awaits the completion of the line to avail itself of the facilities the road will offer. THE AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES of these counties are -very great. The United States census report gives the following as their grain products for 11870:

'il. ■ ■-I■■.\ \ . : ; ‘'! BusheU Bushels Bueheis Bushels Bushels Bushels Total COVNTIEB. of 5 of of of of Buck- Bushels Wheat Corn. Oats. Rye. Barley, wheat. Grain. f j I ! Million count’, Ind. C18.W7 1,805,988 78,246} 2,103 -- .2,M2 4M12.002.f150 1 llMirtilton “ ' 548,(fe'.l 972,660 74,104, . LB2l 1,005 587 1.569,1261 Boone “ “■ 388,352 749.482 52,075 14,837 1,402 343 1,206,081’ Cli niton “ “ 1 235,354 - 980,891 140,801 8,176 4,520 985' 1,370,717 Cariioll “ “ I 52EG89 401,035 65,788 1,523 5,433 1,408 997,426: White “ “ I 173.312 215.808 119.424 14,650 404 1,283! 524,881; Jasper “*' : 31,411 111.882 79,606 11,614 120 458 i 235,390: Lake “ “ 63,398 189.947 364,008 6,242 4.754 3.465 631,814 Will “ Ill.; 197.192 1,131,458 1.868.682 8,030 44,568 1,184! 3,251,114 Cook “ “ ; 140,2011 570.427 1,584,225 20,171 59,973 1,098 2,385,094, - J [ Total. ; . J 2,'921,514 6.(530,178 4,427,059 88,566' 125,211’ 11,195 14203,723*

The grain product has rapidly increased since» that date and for 1878 may be estimated at 20,1)00,000 bushels. Even with this very large production but a very small per cejitage of the actual capabilities of this section has yet 1 been reached. Fully developed it has . a capacity pf 40,000,000 bushels per annum. THE GRAZING - is unexceptio-.iably good. Bluegrass grows luxuriantly throughout this region, furnishing during the summer months rich and nutritious pasturage for immense JiticD of cattle and sheep. It is well watered and abounding in rich grasses. Live stock is carried through the winter with less feed and expense than ,iji any other fanning and grain-growing section in the whole west. In evidence of this fact we

■Append the following table taken from the census report of 1870, showing the number and value of live stock for that year:

'' • ' i 'LI I-' I ' *.■ Total Head Head Head ot Head of Hend of Head Head ! . ■; , 1 Total : Value of covxTlES. of of Milch Work Other of I of L Head. Live Horses. Mulce. Cows. Oxen. Cattle, i Sheep. Swine'. 1 . J’■l 1I 3 . ’ Stock, i- ■■■ 1 ’ '■l’ •h ■ ■' ' 'I 4 . [f- _|l..J (I . ■ ■ : Marion ettmty, Ind. 7.485 i 1,064 6,424 108 J3J7)i! 63,H85! 1,488,403: - “ 7,(447' 873 5,630 40 9,624 21,796 33,5n5 78,66'j! 1,347,230' ■Boone “ 7,902 : 637 5,147 40 R. 603 23/195: 27,109 72.583 1,3*9, 597' Hinton “ - 7,763 241 5,890 138 7,239 25,537! 28,542 75,3501 1,115,284| Carroll * “ 5,175 1(U 4.268 60 6,580 19.942 18,338 54,527 816,058 .White *• “ 4,292 829 8,701 80 )0,350 18,620. 7,292 39.664 814,9771 Jasper “ “ 3,119! 137 3,192 105 11,167 7.03X| 5,078 29,88(1 715,390 Lake “ “ 5.560, r 120 7,694 18» »,304| 11.637 8,526 43,027 1,023,341! Will “ 111. 17,428 Z 4311 18,193 29 24,486 16,4091 21.475 98,450 8,091,825: **ok “ *• 12.710! 127| 23,063 53 1t,431' 10,622 15,521 76,599 2,012y151| Total ...J 79,144 : B.GS4 83,202 834 109,378} 162,869 193,425 ' 632, 4»' 14 334,248

SMALL FARM PRODUCTS.

The small products of the farm furnish a daily traffic, making one of the most, reliable and profitable sources of revenue known to railway management. This line has peculiar advantages in this respect. Connecting two centers of population and commerce by the most direct route, it will furnish to the intervening country unsurpassed advantages for marketing its small farm prod »ets~ e compteiion of the Indianapolis, Delphi and Chicago railway will greatly stimulate the production of these, the most valuable of all crops to the farmer; most valuable because most cheaply raised and easily marketed. The annexed table taken from the United States census report of 18i0 will enable us to form an approximate estimate of the value of the trade.

'I . f | Y 'U ■ .■ i I- ■ ' l • • l \ ‘ j Value of Value of* Vaiue of Pounds Bushels Pounds Pounds Tons! i I Anim’ls / j counties. Orchard Forest of Irish of/ ■ of of » siaugh- - « t Produce Produce Wool. Potato’s Butter, i Cheese. Hay. * tered. I. Id I _IJ_L _u Marion county, Ind. 59.177: i01.255l 618.608 37,439 ■ 220,8851 378,9631 1,420 17.404 Hamilton “ ' “ 52,878 ' 38,09 a; 470.930 62.206! 65,694! 330,213 2,250. 9,701 Boone “ “| 80,729| 80,40a' <02,324 69.607 48,278 j 2(1,816! 300: 9,041 Clinton “ “ 48,667! .08,817 87,861! 53,270! 5(12,253’ 558; 10.767 Carroll -• 25,1(i0! 34,9271 230,767 (19.452 80.874 ' 236.988 41a: 7,475 .White “ •' J 5,282 7,037 IOUIB6 56,758; 55,687! .227,1'.04l 4,870 20.994! Jasper •• *• 22,928 20,673 126.132 12,150 23.129, Lake “ •• I 25,653 ; 35.173 171,538 49.989* 73.116 507,820 40,650 40,91)41 Will ' “ 111 ' ,35,01:;: 20.941! 935,704 62,442 224,84 a ],:®7,80a! 73,451 KHi.HHi: Cook- “ “L.l J9,32’| 20,565’ '387, SOI 57,372' 444,554 1,(fe8.963j 79,283 129,210! i Total 1 318,879' 388,415'3,827,734' 675,054 1,287,876 5,/74, 257 * 215,883 237,9111

annexed table compiled from the United States census report of 1870 shows that only 761,541 acres of land in these ten counties were then improved, proving very conclusively that our estimate of the future productions of this section are not overestimated. It also shows a very large aggregate of agricultural wealth, the most reliable of all sources for a remunerative railway traffic. acres farm lands and cash value-

Acres Unim- Other Total Cash Value counties l . of proved I'nlm- No. of of . i ■ : - * iljnjir’vd WfxxH’d proved. Farrps. Li— 1 x Marion eoiinly, Ind. 188JI50 W. 276 1,710 226.881 19..3AW2 Hamilton >• •• 125,984 96.369 3,343 222.698 H.MO.USH Boone “ 126,942 103.430 7fli 331.183 8.974.025 Clinton »• " 140,402 119,420. 1,173 260.995 ' 1«,f1r«,M2 Carroll t* “ 97.350 8.3,296 1,363 132.009 7.420,307 White »* “ 100.741 33,641 2,884 168,226 4,Ui«,108 Jasper f* “ 53.060 85,343 39,'J!K> 130 JDS Lake p “ i 114.102 28.279 3:1,642 176.023 5,132,015 Will “ 111. 419,442 24.201 6,385 Cook p “ 348,824 17,387 38.7.7«ir Total J 1,667,706 627,000 1M.541 2,429, 34T nL8!»1,»45

The cash val tie of farms, $ 111,891,945, Jividpd between the ten counties, gives an average of §11,189,194 per county. It »• unnecessary to

enter into an argument to demonstrate the fact that a railway at the small cost of the one under consideration penetrating these counties centrally will prove to be a reinun* erative investment. Its local business alone will pay operating expenses, taxes and interest account, leaving its through traffic for dividends on the capital stock. The following table compiled from the census report of 1870 fillip cstablishes the proposition that a railway located in the midst of so large a production of'oew values, both agricultural and mechanical, cannot fail to return good dividends upon the investment. In fact, the future capabilities of this section are so great and their near development so sure that the line will be heavily taxed to accommodate the traffic that must naturally flow over it. TOTAL VALVE FARM PKOBUCTS AND MANUFACTURES.

| Annual Total Total : Value of Value of Value of Farm Pro- • COVXTIES. Fann Manufac- ducts and Products. turps. Manufac- [ i i j tures 1870. Marion county, Ind. 2.811,844* 16,642,105 19.4. 1 >3,1149 Hainiltoii •• “ i 1,747,6851 1,274,168 8,0200158 Boone “ “ 8,814,4521 836,888' 4.701,4:13 Clinton “ “ 2.332,8681 995,847 8.328.715 'Carroll “ *• '] 1,317,588 704,421 2,022.909 White “ " 859,417. 176,942 1.036.359 ‘Jasper “ -‘ i 555,409 43.4211 JIiOJWS Lake - “ 968.925} 337.37;:’ L 396.298 'Will “ JH.' 3,965,271 2,.M15,907 6,501,178 Cook “ -“I 4,033,256 92.518,742 96.551,998 ! Total ' 22.405,815' • 110,147.814 138.553.629

This shows a total production of new values in 1870 of $138,553,029, an average of $173 per head for the present esttmatefl of 800,000. But in order to arrive at the actual value of the section under discussion we present a table showing the total wealth in 1870, and as it is compiled from the United States census report it may be regarded as correct. TRUE VALUE OF REAL AND PERSONAL ESTATE. Marion county, Indianas7s,ooo,o66 Hamilton “ “ 18,000,000 Boone “ *• '18,000,000 Clinton “ “ 15,000.000 Ciirroll “ “ 14,000j)00 White “ “ 5,311,.545 Jasper “ “ 5,000,000 Lake *• “ 8,930,115 Will “ 111in0i528,516,120 Cook “ ... 573,000,000 T0ta15762,760,780 Estimating the present population at 800,000 we find that the “true value of real and personal estate” averages $953 per head for each man, woman and child, ami that, too, on a valuation made eight years since. The simple statement of this fact with the additional one that the line will furnish rail facilities to the rich section between its terminal points averaging fifteen miles in width, making numerous valuable connections with lines already in operation and others in course of conjunction, establishes its securities as first-class in every respect.

is limited by contract to $6,000 per mile, first mortgage bonds, seven per cent., twenty years. On the 3rd of October, 1877, the board of directors entered iutaiJß-i*ajM.qwL with Messrs. Yeoman, Hegler <& Co., for the construction and equipment of the road, three foot gauge, upon the following terms: Five hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($550,000) in cash and subsidies, six thousand/dollars ($6,000) per mile first mortgage bonds, and five thousand dollars (85,000) per mile paid up capital stock,the contractoftrto operate the roadin perpetuity. Road to be constructed in divisions. Payments in cash subsides, bonds and stpek upon the completion of each division, and to be opened for traffic immediately thereafter. When we. take Into-consideration the small bonded'debt of the Indianapolis, Delphi and Chicago railway in comparison with that of the railways-of Indiana (which average a little over 830,000 per mile) and the largo traffic awaiting it, there can De no doubt ot its ability to meet its obligations promptly. The average interest of this line being only 8420 per mile per annum as against $2,100 per mile per annum of other Indiana roads needs no further argument to prove that its securities are strictly first-class. When we take into consideration the tact that a standard gauge road of the.same length and with the average debt of 830,000 per mile is required to pay an annual interest account of $225,0u0 as against,

899,000 per annum Indiawstpolls, frelpbl ami Chtcag® rtiXtl, this fact alone places the quaatibe beyond ill! controvert?. THE ouoes ifSKNfivmr of Indiana roads is about 19,000 per mile per annum. At this .ay®fage the gross earning* of the Indi* anapolis, Delphi and Chicago toad would reach 9000,000 >per annum* But, ns it rttny be claimed that this estimate is too Large, we will reduce and itemize, ns follows: ESTIMATE ANNUAL EARXtNCff. ■ From imuvenemr. ... ;i. *US*,SM Front freight • ■ > 850.0*4 From mail and exprero.. ._ v .. < 460104 From ntlsK-dlancoiu 10.900 Total ktom earnings..., . *6400881 Less tuiiinteiium-o way-ißsebinwy,rol-ling Stock, tranxpßrtiitfon anu faxes, CO per cent, of grots earning* Net earning* . ... *216,000 bonded debt .. . 4MMS Leaving? as net profits tTXI.OOO or a fraction over six percent. on the capital stock of We have estimated the expetdltures or operating expenses and taxes at 60 per cent, of the gross earnings, which is full 10 per cent, above the average of narrow gauge roads. If we estimate the operating expenses and taxes at &0 per cent, of gross receipts the net-earn-ings will pay the interest on the bonded debt and a dividend of a fraction over 8 per cent, per annum ou the capital slock.

TiieKa nkakek River.—-iQoneral Gleason, of LaPorte, was in town a couple of days last week. He was employed by the' general government last summer to make, a survey of that portion of the Kankakee river that flows in the state of Indiana to ascertain the practicability and cost of making it navigable for shallow draught steambeats. The work was done under thi Superintendence of Major Smith, government inspector of harbors and water improvements iW the Upper Wabash district. The river was traverred from Momence, Illinois, to Lemon’s bridge in LaPorte county., Indiana. From Momence to Baum’s bridge connecting Jasper and Porter counties, in Indiatia, the trip was made in a small stern-wheel steamboat floating in eighteen or twenty inches of water, and look two days, the distance by the riter sinuosities being 120 miles, but as bees fly only about 40 miles; above Baum's bridge the party paddled their way in little skiffs. The reports of Major Smith and General Gleason have been forwarded to the proper office at Washington, and will be published at an early day and numerous copies distributed. General Gleason is enthusiastic in the belief that itis entirely practical to make a navigable stream of the Kankakee river from LaPorte county to its mouth; and says that the cost for engineering, removing snags and other sunken obstructions, and cutting eleven miles of excavation to shorten the more an-

gul ar and dev i ous bends, in Tndiana, of all imaginable incidentals such as low-water dams to husband the water in seasons ot protracted drought and (he like, w'dt&otexceed_s27s,ObObrß39OjOOO. This would serve two highly important purposes: First, It would ooen another artery of the internal commercial system of the country that would prove of great benefit to an industrious population of say a quarter of a million to half a million souls; and, second, it would drain a large scope of territory now almost worthless, making it at once highly productive and capable of supporting thousands of people. Senator A. C. Harris, of Marion county, is one of the ablest yonng republicans of Indiana. It be lives and con tin ues in politics he will one day, and that not far in the future, wield great Influence with his party friends. He would reflect oredit upon his district and the state as a representative in congress. Hon. Daniel D. Dale, of Montiticelio, has succeeded Thomas B. Buchanan, of Indianapolis, as the de facto senator for the coqntie.s °C White, Bendon, Newton and Jasper. Believing somewhat in the doctriue •of local self government we consider the change an improvement. ..., i. —i H> , ,»>i-W-r»—. - ■ ■ .-< Senator Major’s aspirations appear to have culminated in the nomination of a democratic clerk of the senate. Two years agv hiM‘" k joyed the ssura