Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1898 — Chicago & Wabash Valley Railroad. [ARTICLE]

Chicago & Wabash Valley Railroad.

Where It Is And How It Is Progressing. ■ \ B. J. Gifford’s new railroad, which bears the above rather ambitious and high sounding title, is by far the most important enterprise now under sway in this county. It is something wliidh will add directly and immediately from $50,000 to SIOO,OOO to the taxable value of the county, and indirectly and in course of time a great deal more than that. The railroad, as far as positively located, is 12£ miles long. Its northern end begins in the exact center of section 32, Tp. 32, range 6, in Wheatfield Tp. It is 1$ miles due southwest from Stoutsburg. It is about 2 miles from the Three I road. Of course the road will be extended to the Three I, and will hit it about 2 or 2£ miles east of DeMotte. The present southern terminus is in the ne corner of the sw A of section 4, Tp. 29, range 6, in Barkley Tp. As located the road begins, ends and runs its full length in Gifford’s own land except near the line between Walker and Wheatfield, it runs for about 100 rods through two other men’s land. Its general direction is north of northwest and south of southeast. It does not run in quite an air line, for, very naturally and properly, Mr. Gifford prefers to keep the road on his own land. The road is already in operation for a few miles south of the Coal Road. The line crosses that road just 2 miles northeast from Kniman, and a few rods northeast of the center of the line between sections 4-9-31-6, in Walker Tp. A few car loads of freight have already been sent out over the new road.

By Saturday evening of this week seven miles of track will be laid. Three staions have been located, one is named Sruithfield, and is 4£ miles from the Coal road crossing, and it has a side track already constructed. It is in Walker Township, and on the old Dunkard preacher Miller’s land, near the former Dr. Stockwell farm, and about a mile south of Frog Pond school house. The next town is miles further southeast and is named Gifford. It is in Barkley Tp. and is three quarters of a mile east of the Iliff school house. It is on what used to be the old George M. Hershman farm. It is about 1£ miles northeast of the Gifford headquarter’s farm, and about in the oenter of the Gifford district, and no doubt meant to be the big town on the line. Two miles further southeast another station is located, on the banks of the Red Oak dredge ditch. It is not yet named. It is about 1J miles east of the Canada school house, in Baikley.

What the ultimate extent of the road will be no one knows, not even Mr. Gifford himself. But he intends to extend it northward across the Kankakee river, and on until he can get sure and quick transit into Chicago, for the future immense horticultural products of his oountless farms. He may stop at Hebron, on the Panhandle, and he may go on much farther. The ultimate southern end of the road is also still an uncertainty. As now headed, it would strike Monon, and is very likely it will yet go that far and perhaps much farther.

The work on - the road began about two mouths ago. The surveying corps started out one day and the graders began to work the next. Good progress has been made, considering the much bad weather this fall. Some days as many as 250 men have been em-

ployed; and all told the number now is about 200. This includes the graders, the track-layers, and the tie makers, and tie haulers and the sttrveyors.