Sugar Grove, Kane County, Illinois
Sept. 2nd, 1886
B. F. Booker, Esq.,
Keokuk, Iowa.
Dear Sir:
I left Mr. Hodge at North Aurora yesterday to finish inking up the profile of the located line
from Chicago to Fox River with directions to forward it and all the notes of both the preliminary
and locating surveys of that part of our work to you by express.
Probably that is done by this time and I wish to call your attention to some points connected
with the located line. The line begins at Station 430 of Mr. Ropes' survey from Chicago and I
understand, represents the distance from the proposed depot of the Wisconsin Central Railway on
Harrison Street, Chicago. From this point the numbers are continuous westward, terminating on the
profile sent you at Station 1989 on the Fox River Valley Railroad, 1/4 mile west of Fox River.
The line passes through Cook, DuPage and a part of Kane Counties, Illinois.
For notes as to the character of the survey and the country through which it runs, I beg leave to
refer you to my report of the preliminary survey from Paw Paw to Chicago.
There are a few points, however, to which I wish to call special attention.
I surveyed two crossings of Fox River - one at North Aurora and the other about 2000 ft. lower
down the river - 1000 ft or so above the works of the "Aurora Smelting and Refining Company".
The lower crossing was so much better than the other in every important respect that I did not
think it worth while to send you a profile of the upper one.
I wish especially to mention the works of the "Smelting Company" alluded to above.
They are reported by their employers as receiving about 12 or 14 cars daily of "Bullion" (lead
and silver) upon which freight to the amount of about $100.00 per car is paid. Besides, their coal,
limestone, and other material are received in considerable quantities. They claim that their freight
bills amount to about $700,000.00 per year. They propose enlarging their works, so as to make
their own "Bullion" direct from the ore. This would require about three times their present amount
of freight.
They have no contract with the CB&Q Ry. Co. so they are free to deal with any other company.
The proximity of these works is one reason for locating at the lower crossing.
They could be reached best by starting a switch east of the trestle ½ mile or so east of the river
and running down a steep grade along a nice slope and valley crossing the CB&Q just south of the
works. I have put on the profile notes of track thought necessary for this connection. No survey was
made and the amount given is merely a matter of judgment.
Another matter I wish to mention is in reference to the stone used for masonry in this part of the
state. It all seems to be of the same general character varying somewhat at different localities, but
is a somewhat porous limestone and I did not think it was very durable. I do not think it nearly as
good as some of the harder limestone found in other localities. However, it is used extensively by
all the railroads and by private parties and probably if a road should be built upon our survey, the
best plan would be to use it, being careful to select from the best quarries.
Nearly all the timber required for trestle and bridges would have to be shipped from other
localities. A small amount suitable for short piles might be obtained near the line.
Very truly,
(Signed) H. R. Weeks
Volume 12 Splinters page 100 & 101 transcribed in altered form for the web by Matt Lee.
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