PROPRIETARY COMPANIES EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THE QUINCY AND CHICAGO RAILROAD COMPANY. Northern Cross Railroad Company. OTTAWA, OSWEGO AND FOX RIVER VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY. Camanche, Albany & Mendota Rail Road Company. The Joilet and Terre Haute Railroad Company. AMERICAN CENTRAL RAILWAY. Western Air Line Railroad Company. THE DIXON AND QUINCY RAILROAD COMPANY. THE QUINCY, ALTON AND ST. LOUIS RAILWAY COMPANY. THE CHICAGO AND IOWA RAILROAD COMPANY. The Ogle and Carroll County Railroad Company. The Chicago, Rockford and Northern Railroad Company. FULTON COUNTY NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY COMPANY. ST. LOUIS, ROCK ISLAND AND CHICAGO RAILROAD COMPANY. The Rock Island and Alton Railroad Company. The St. Louis, Alton and Rock Island Railroad Company. The Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis Railroad Company. The Orion and Minersville Railroad Company. DAVENPORT, ROCK ISLAND AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. THE JACKSONVILLE AND SAINT LOUIS RAILWAY COMPANY. The Illinois Farmers' Railroad Company. The Jacksonville, North Western and South Eastern Railway Company. The Jacksonville Southeastern Railway Company. The Jacksonville, Louisville & St. Louis Railway Company. Jacksonville & Concord Railway Company. FENTON AND THOMSON RAILROAD COMPANY. NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS RAILROAD COMPANY. HERRIN & SOUTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY. FRANKLIN & WAVERLY RAILWAY COMPANY. CENTRALIA & SANDOVAL RAILROAD COMPANY. CHICAGO BURLINGTON AND NORTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY. (ILLINOIS) CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & NORTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY. (CONSOLIDATED) PADUCAH & ILLINOIS RAILROAD COMPANY. THE QUINCY AND CHICAGO RAILROAD COMPANY NORTHERN CROSS RAILROAD COMPANY, THE QUINCY AND CHICAGO RAILROAD COMPANY The road between Quincy and Galesburg was originally built in the name of the "Northern Cross Railroad Company." That was in name the first railroad in the State of Illinois, for the State built the first railroad in its name. The first movement for building railroads in this State was by the State itself, and not through private corporations. The movement originated in February, 1837, when the Legislature passed what was called the "Internal Improvement Act," which contemplated the State building several railroads, to be paid for by issues of State Bonds. The first reference to the Northern Cross Railroad appears in Division 9 of Section 18 of the aforesaid act, in which the Board of Commissioners of Public Works was authorized and required to adopt such measures as may be necessary to commence, construct and complete within a reasonable length of time the Northern Cross Railroad from Quincy on the Mississippi River via Clayton, Mt. Sterling, Meredosia, Jacksonville and Springfield. To carry into effect the provisions of this part of the section of the Act, the sum of $1,850,000 was appropriated exclusive of the necessary sum for constructing a bridge over the Illinois River. The name of the first and only road built by the State under this Act was "Northern Cross," projected from Springfield west, via Meredosia on the Illinois River, thence to Quincy, via Mt. Sterling. Eight miles of this road were built in 1838, the first locomotive in Illinois having been shipped by steamer up the Illinois River to Meredosia and put in service on the road, November 8, 1838, with appropriate ceremonies. By January 1, 1840, the road had been finished east to Jacksonville, and by May 30, 1842, it was finished to Springfield, a distance of fifty-eight miles from Meredosia. It was a financial failure, and in an Act approved February 16, 1847, the Legislature authorized the Governor to sell the fifty-eight miles at public auction, which he did the same year, and it was bid in for New York parties by Ridgley and Mather of Springfield for $21,000, and after various changes it finally became, and remains to this day, a part of the Wabash Railroad. West of Meredosia and between there and Quincy, much right of way had been secured and considerable grading been done, and the Legislature passed an Act declaring such of this work as was in Adams County to be a "State Road" or highway. Of date February 10, 1849, the Legislature passed an Act, to incorporate the "Northern Cross Railroad Co." granting to certain citizens of Quincy the right to incorporate with that name, and authorized such Company to build a road from Meredosia to Quincy, and to adopt and use the line of the abandoned Northern Cross between those points, giving them the old State right of way when it should be sold by the Governor, and conferring upon this Company all the rights and powers conferred upon the Alton & Sangamon Railroad Company by an Act approved February 27, 1847. This new Northern Cross Railroad Company was organized at a meeting of the "Proprietors" held in Quincy in November, 1849. Bonds were voted and considerable work was done on the line east of Quincy towards Meredosia prior to 1851. The Act of Illinois Legislature approved February 1, 1851, called a "Supplement" to the Act of February 10, 1849, was the first legislation in which the C. B. & Q. is directly interested. This Act authorized the Northern Cross Railroad Company "to locate and construct a lateral branch of said Northern Cross Railroad, commencing at any convenient point on said road in Adams County and running thence through the Military Bounty Tract." The point of departure selected was what is now known as Camp Point. Of date June 21, 1852, the Legislature passed a Special Act which authorized the Northern Cross Railroad Company "to terminate the lateral branch of said road at any point where the said railroad may connect with any other railroad extending northward to the City of Chicago." By January 1855, twenty miles of the road had been built northeasterly from Quincy, and the line was completed and put in operation to Galesburg (99.91 miles) by January 31, 1856. Prior to 1855, the company had become embarrassed and applied for financial assistance to John M. Forbes and others who were interested in the Chicago and Aurora, and Central Military Tract companies, with whose roads the Northern Cross would connect at Galesburg. Of dates January 1, 1855, July 22, 1856, June 15, 1858, and September 8, 1859 various contracts were entered into and an Award made regarding advances and interchange of business through which the CB&Q eventually acquired substantial control and final ownership of the Northern Cross. Of date July 1, 1853, the company executed a mortgage to J. M. Forbes et al., Trustees. Because of default in payment of the interest upon the bonds issued under this mortgage, foreclosure proceedings were instituted, and the road was turned over to the Trustees May 27, 1857. The Quincy and Chicago Railroad Company was created under provisions of a Special Act of the Illinois Legislature in force February 10, 1857, by change of name from the Northern Cross Railroad Company. It was organized at Quincy, May 15, 1857. It did not build any railroad. It operated the road between Quincy and Galesburg built by the Northern Cross Railroad Company from February 10, 1857, until April 1, 1857, on which date this company made with the C. B. & Q. Company an operative agreement for a through line between Quincy and Chicago. This operative agreement was continued in force by the Trustees after they took possession May 27, 1858, and until April 28, 1864, when the property was purchased at foreclosure sale by the Burlington Company. A decree of foreclosure was entered September 28, 1863, in the Circuit Court of Knox County, Illinois, under which the road was sold at auction April 28, 1864. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company was the only bidder at the sale and purchased the road, subject to the right of redemption within a year. Of date July 30, 1865, at the expiration of the period of redemption, Edward P. Williams, Master in Chancery, executed a deed for the property to the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. At a meeting of the proprietors of the Northern Cross Rail Road held at the office of Maj. John H. Holton in the city of Quincy on this the day of November, 1849, for the purpose of a temporary organization, Isaac N. Morris Esq. was elected President, James M. Pittman Treasurer, and Saml. Holmes, Secretary. The President was authorized and directed to contract with competent engineers, and make all suitable arrangements for the survey and estimate of the present value of said road. The proprietors met this evening at the office of Messrs. Warren & Skinner, the President I. N. Morris, Esq. in the chair. The President reported that he had contracted with William Whittle Esq. as acting engineer, at the rate of $5 per day while employed, also with Col. I. I. Shipman for the sum of $500 to examine the Northern Cross Rail Road from Quincy to Meredosia, to superintend the survey, examine and endorse the report of Mr. Whittle-also that he had contracted for suitable chain man, ax men, rod men, &c., and otherwise made complete arrangements for the survey of said Rail Road, all of which was approved by the unanimous vote of the proprietors of said Road. On motion of Gen. Singleton it was unanimously resolved, that each proprietor be required forthwith to pay to the Treasurer in money, an amount equal to 50 per cent of the first cost of the several shares or interests by them held. On motion adjourned. "Northern Cross Railroad Company's Record Book." SAML. HOLMES, Secretary. Page 1. ACT OF LEGISLATURE, February 28, 1845, Northern Cross Railroad Company. AN ACT concerning certain State roads therein named. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That the lateral branch of the Northern Cross railroad from the depot in the town of Naples, Scott county, to where it intersects the Northern Cross railroad is hereby declared a State road, and the county commissioners' court of Scott county, are required to keep the same in repair, as other State roads in this State are. 2. Be it further enacted, That so much of the Mount Carmel and Alton railroad as lies between the Wabash river at the town of Mount Carmel, in Wabash county, and the town of Albion, in the county of Edwards, be, and |