. The environment of Camp Grant. the end ofthe pioneer railroad in process of construction from Chicago to Rockford, ex-pressed the following opinion of staging: At Cherry Valley private vehiclesand coaches were in readiness to convey travellers to their destination; thosebound to Galena were consigned to the latter, and were soon jolting over roads,respecting which they were assured every few miles that they were just passingover the worst. It will be a joyful era in civilization when those heavy, lumber-ing, leathery horrors are banished from the travellers knowledge. NATURE AND MAN 67 THE R
. The environment of Camp Grant. the end ofthe pioneer railroad in process of construction from Chicago to Rockford, ex-pressed the following opinion of staging: At Cherry Valley private vehiclesand coaches were in readiness to convey travellers to their destination; thosebound to Galena were consigned to the latter, and were soon jolting over roads,respecting which they were assured every few miles that they were just passingover the worst. It will be a joyful era in civilization when those heavy, lumber-ing, leathery horrors are banished from the travellers knowledge. NATURE AND MAN 67 THE RAILROADS Early in 1836 a charter was granted to the Galena and Chicago UnionRailroad Company, to build a railroad from Chicago to Galena. Theproject was thought to be justified by the existing and prospective com-merce of the Great Lakes and the upper Mississippi River, which the roadwould connect. Particularly it would provide a shorter, better outlet forthe lead of the Galena region, then for the most part sent by river to New. Fig. 24.—Sketch map showing the railroads of Rockford and the surrounding region. Orleans for export—a difficult matter when the water was low at therapids of the Mississippi (at Rock Island and Keokuk).14 The road also So unsatisfactory was the river route that some lead had been wagoned to Chicago the firstin 1829 It is interesting to note that the Galena Advertiser, in announcing the initial trip to?Chicago, found it desirable to explain where the latter was: Mr. Soulards wagon and mule teamreturned, a few days since, from Chicago, near the southernmost bend of Lake Michigan; to whichplace it had been taken across the country, with a load of lead. This is the first wagon that hasever passed from the Mississippi river to Chicago. 68 THE ENVIBONMENT OP CAMP GRANT would provide an outlet for the infant settlements of the country traversed(including those of the Rockford region), would stimulate further set-tlement, and would enhance land values. Af
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