Selections From The Splinters - Volume 12

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Comments on the line from Paw Paw to Chicago.

Wheaton, Ill. Aug. 22, 1886

B. F. Booker, Esq.,
Keokuk, Iowa.

Dear Sir:

I have sent you in different installments the profile of the preliminary survey from Paw Paw to Chicago and now beg leave to make some remarks upon the line of survey and the country through which it passes.

This survey was begun on July 21, 1886 about four miles east of Paw Paw near the line dividing Lee and DeKalb Counties, and at Station 1742+50 of the located line from Geneva to Soublette and on the preliminary line from Lomax to Geneva. The Station numbers of the latter named line was taken up and continued eastward so that the numbers in our field books and on our profiles show the correct distance from Lomax to any given point on the survey.

Station 6991+81 of preliminary survey from Lomax to Geneva = 1742+50 of the located line from Geneva to Sublette and is the starting point of this survey. From this point to the junction with the Wisconsin Central Railroad eight miles west of their depot on Harrison Street in Chicago, the survey runs very close to a direct line, a few slight deviations being required by the topography of the country.

The line crosses the Spring Valley and Sycamore branch of the Chicago and North Western Railway about six miles east of Paw Paw, the Chicago and Iowa Railway at Big Rock in Kane County, the Fox River Valley Railway and branches of the C&NW Ry. and the CB&Q Ry. at North Aurora in Kane County. From this point the line runs about midway between the C&NW and CB&Q Railways to Chicago connecting with Mr. Ropes' survey at Station 1378+76, which is equal to Station 10036+52 of this line and is 10-73/100 from the Harrison Street depot of the W.C. Ry. in Chicago. The more important streams crossed are Big Indian, Little Indian, Somonauk and Little Rock Creek in DeKalb County, two forks of Big Rock, Blackberry Creek and Fox River in Kane County, the west and east forks of DuPage River and Salt Creek in DuPage County and the Des Plaines River in Cook County.

The line passes through a fine agricultural country but destitute of any mineral resources. In DeKalb, Kane, and DuPage Counties, great attention is paid to the production of grain and improved stock - cows are kept in large numbers and the products of the dairy form a large part of the income of many farmers. Every neighborhood has its cheese factory or creamery. In the vicinity of the railways a considerable quantity of milk is shipped to Chicago and any new railway constructed would open up the same business in other communities. In Cook County, considerable attention is given to horticulture, the products of the garden finding a ready market in Chicago and her many suburbs.

BUILDING MATERIALS
in the form of gravel and stone are found in some localities. Soon after crossing the branch of the C&NW Ry. in the western part of DeKalb County deposits of clean washed gravel, suitable for the construction of highways or ballast on railways are encountered and continue in great abundance till after crossing Fox River in the eastern part of Kane County. From this point to Des Plaines River in Cook County gravel is found in some localities but is not so easily obtained - generally being covered with several feet of soil.

A fair quality of limestone for rubble work and heavy bridge masonry is found at Fox River, Salt Creek, and a few other localities. It has been worked quite extensively at Batavia, North Aurora, and at other localities on Fox River, and though not of first rate quality, as to durability, yet it is used quite extensively by all the railways in this part of the state, as well as in the construction of highway bridges, public buildings and private residences.

Timber is so scarce that it is probable that none could be obtained along the line for construction purposes, but can be imported from Northern pineries on reasonable terms.

Land is so valuable, ranging from $60.00 to $200.00 per acre, that the right of way will be expensive, especially in Cook County.

I have put on the profile a statement of land needed for station grounds, except the terminal facilities at Chicago, for which I refer you to Mr. H. Ropes, who gave that subject special attention.

I have taken pains to carry out your instructions to make this a good preliminary survey and think it will answer every purpose for a comparison with other routes, or in making an estimate of the actual cost of building. For further details I refer you to the profiles now in your possession.

Very truly yours,
(Signed) H. R. Weeks

Volume 12 Splinters pages 93 & 94 transcribed in altered form for the web by Matt Lee.

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