Selections From The Splinters - Volume 12

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Supplementary to his of 6-30-86 on survey from Plainfield to Lacon, Ill.

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Henry, Ill. July 2, 1886

B.F. Booker, Esq.,
Chief Engineer.

Dear Sir:

I have just received your letters of 24th and 27th ult. I have indicated the classification on profiles already, also in my preliminary report, which I presume you have received; I have spoken in a general way of the feeling of inhabitants of the section through which I have run. I supplement it now with other details which at that time I did not feel I had the time to insert and which I was reserving for my final report.

Plainfield - Population 1000 is a shipping and trading point for a large scope of rich country, has 2 grist mills, tile works and a number of fair stores.

Plattville - 2 stores, population 200, trading point- surrounding country rich farming - produce, grain and stock mostly goes to Morris but our road would catch the bulk of it on account of bad roads to latter place. One Creamery.

Lisbon - Population 250. 3 or 4 stores - other conditions same as at Plattville.

Marseilles - An incorporated village, population 2000, has 1 bank, excellent water power affording 3000 horsepower at the lowest stage of the river, paper mills, manufacturer of agricultural implements and a flour mill now running while 2 or 3 large mills are vacant for some reason or another. There are fine artesian wells and a vein of coal exists in the vicinity.

South Marseilles - exists only as a town plot but the location is excellent and 1/4 of the water power is controlled by parties on that side of the river.

Grand Ridge - a station on the Streator Branch of the C B & Q lies 2 or 3 miles north of our line, has a population of 200 and several good stores, is a shipping point for grain and stock.

Farm Ridge - population 50 or less, has one store and post office, has excellent agricultural country tributary to it and clay deposits for tile and brick - small tile works are in operation to provide for local demand - coal underlies this whole section and is mined in small quantities from the outcrops along the Vermillion River.

Galloway - is much the same as Farm Ridge.

L'Ostant - A station on the Illinois Central Ry. population 500 has 2 tile works. Shipments grain, live stock and tile.

Magnolia - Population 500 a rich little place, much fine stock raised throughout the country, ships from Varna. All this business and much throughout Putnam County to the north would be commanded by our line.

Lacon - City of 2000 or 2500 at terminus of branch of C & A Ry., has a bank, woolen and yarn mills, marble works and brewery. A place of considerable importance in the days of river transportation, but has since subsided somewhat. A steamboat line between Henry and Peoria touches at this point. Much of the business of this place is done over the CRI&P Ry. f rom Sparland.



Sparland - Incorporated village on the Peoria Br. of the CRI&P Ry. population 300 or 400 draws a large trade from the rich farming country to the west and shipments of grain are large from this point. Our line will cut off much of their trade.

Henry - Incorporated City, population 2500 is on the Peoria Br. of the CRI&P which by the way is located so far from town as to be quite inconvenient to the business interests of the place and consequently the river trade is considerable at this point. A Steamer runs daily to Peoria. There is a quite important wagon works, windmill manufacturer, 3 grain elevators, flour mill, cooling rooms for storing eggs, butter etc. 1 bank, 2 weekly papers. The citizens as a whole are enterprising and a number of their stores would be a credit to any place. This point commands a large trade from far out into the surrounding country.

In the matter of aid, Henry and Marseilles as well as the smaller points would undoubtedly give right of way and station grounds. Magnolia and Putnam County might do more than this.

I have succeeded in retracing Mr. Week's line to Henry - The deep crossing shown is not Crow Creek but a branch creek coming in from the bluffs. The Crow Creek meadows are crossed at about grade. I do not think I can improve the profile much on location but taken all together, it is undoubtedly the best line yet found.

Yours very respectfully
(signed) Horace Ropes
Locating Engineer.

Volume 12 Splinters page 68 & 69 transcribed in altered form for the web by Matt Lee.

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