Selections From The Splinters - Volume 12

This is not a history. | The Splinters - Volume 12 | The Splinters - Volume 14 The Splinters - Volume 23

Topeka, Kansas, Aug. 7, 1886

B F Booker, Esq.,
Keokuk, Iowa.

Dear Sir:

On further examining the subject of our Chicago line and considering the fact that we have found the northwesterly line through Missouri to lose less distance over an air line than our southeasterly route, it occurs to me that it will be a good plan to make a reconnaissance from the crossing of the Missouri River at Sibley via Richmond Ray County, Lineus Lynn County, Kirksville Adair County and Memphis Scotland County, thence to Ft. Madison and if this should prove to be a favorable route, i.e., better than present line to Ft. Madison, please have a preliminary survey made upon this route. I also think that you had better carry out the original program of making a survey from the most desirable point between Henry and Keokuk to the northwest bend of the Illinois River in Bureau County, there connecting with the Rock Island for the purpose of getting distance between that point and Ottawa, where you can make a connection with the survey from Ottawa into Chicago. By this means you will have all the data necessary to give the distance via this route. This, as you will see, will contemplate building a line paralleling the Rock Island road from the northwest bend of the Illinois River in Bureau County to Ottawa. With this in view, take a look at the several towns along the Illinois River and see what difficulties we would encounter in building upon this route. This preliminary survey should be a careful one, and I would suggest that you have this undertaken as soon as you have a party available for the purpose. Of course, this work will not interfere in any manner with the work of preparing estimates upon which you are now at work, but I hope you will have the survey made via the Rock Island to Ottawa in time to report on the distance and in a general way upon the cost of construction at the same time you report the estimates you are now working upon.

Yours truly,

Volume 12 page 43 Splinters transcribed in altered form for the web by Matt Lee.

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