Coles County IL Archives History - Books .....Other Railroads 1879
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Book Title: History Of Coles County

OTHER RAILROADS.

   In addition to the two extensive lines of railway crossing the county, three
others have been added since the war; none, however, so great or having such
history as their predecessors.

   The close of the late rebellion threw upon the country a large force of
unemployed men, and a vast amount of capital. This latter was used in opening
new enterprises, and, as the States had learned to let such affairs alone, men
with tact and energy stood ready to enter upon them. A railroad from Mattoon to
Danville; from Mattoon to Grayville, thence to Evansville; from Charleston to
several other towns in the State, was proposed, while roads in various
directions across the county were projected. Of these enterprises we will
mention none save the successful ones: the Grayville & Mattoon, the Decatur,
Mattoon & Southern, and the Illinois Midland.

   The Grayville & Mattoon Railroad began to be talked about as early as 1866.
One effort brought on another, and in the columns of the Mattoon papers, from
that time down to 1872 and 1873, large-headed articles appear every week or so,
all prophesying great results. Townships along the line of the proposed road
gave liberally in bonds and private subscriptions, as those along the line of
the Indianapolis & St. Louis had done, and a speedy completion was expected.
Only twenty-eight or thirty miles of grading were completed, however, and that
in Richland County, and for four or five years the road lay dormant. In 1874, a
new company was formed, and by two years had the grading completed to the south
line of Coles County. Work was continued on up through the county, at first
running the line to intersect the Illinois Central about a mile south of
Mattoon. The grade was made here; but afterward changed, and brought directly
into the town. It was all completed and the track laid by July 4, 1878, and on
that day a grand excursion, under the care of J. H. Herkimer, the Receiver, was
inaugurated, and a hilarious day made along the route. The road has been
operating since then, and has had a good local trade, the freight business
especially being quite heavy. A short time ago, Mr. Herkimer and his associate
officers resigned, from various causes, and were succeeded by E. B. Phillips,
Receiver; M. H. Riddell, General Traveling Agent; S. C. Anthony, General Clerk,
and S. M. Henderson, Roadmaster. This road received $75,000 in bonds from
Mattoon Township and the city; from the former, two-thirds, and from the latter,
one-third. The vote on this question was held in Mattoon, Tuesday, February 9,
1869; 444 votes were cast in favor of the tax, and 7 against it. Whether the
town and township are justified in such a heavy debt, in addition to several
others of a similar character, i. e., the $60,000 for the shops, is a serious
question, and one which conservative citizens are inclined to doubt.

   The Decatur, Mattoon & Southern Railroad was begun in 1871, and completed to
Hervey City, seven miles from Decatur, by 1873. Here, this Company was allowed a
joint use of the Illinois Midland Company's track to Decatur, which the courts
afterward decided they were entitled to, and which they yet use.

   January 16, 1874, the road passed into a Receiver's hands, and the name
changed to the present one, it being formerly known as the Decatur, Sullivan &
Mattoon Railroad. Since that date, the Receiver has been managing it. It is run
in connection with the Indianapolis & St. Louis Road, and is under the care of
Mr. E. B. McClure as Manager. Mr. W. H. Lewis is the General Agent. Both these
gentlemen reside at Mattoon, and are connected with the Indianapolis & St. Louis
Road.

   The remaining road, the Illinois Midland Railway, runs through but a small
part of Coles County. It crosses the township of Oakland from east to west,
passing through the village. The road runs from Terre Haute to Peoria, and is in
three divisions, which originally were separate roads; when consolidated, the
present name was adopted. The part running through Coles County was built from
Decatur to Paris, under the name of the Paris & Decatur Railroad. It was
completed in 1871, and, for a time, used the track of the Indianapolis & St.
Louis Road from Paris to Terre Haute. When the Paris & Terre Haute Road was
completed, in 1875, it formed a junction with that road, and, soon after,
consolidated with it. Only about six miles of this railroad passes through Coles
County, and that in the extreme northeast part, in Oakland Township, in whose
history it is more fully noticed.

   While on the history of railroads, it might not be amiss to say something
about telegraphs. They were, in their infancy, regarded as somewhat
supernatural, as all things are apt to be when we cannot understand them; and,
when a line was brought through Coles County in advance of the railway, it is
related that it was not uncommon for some of the worthy citizens to hourly gaze
upon it to see the news flash along. Their desires were, however, not gratified.
They couldn't see the news; but they thought they could hear it, especially when
they stood near a post and heard the ring caused by the vibration of the wires.
with the air passing over them. The supposition lasted very satisfactorily until
they found out better, and was as harmless as deceptive.

   The first operator in town was Fred Tubbs, and was succeeded by W. W.
Craddock. They were here in 1850, at the time the railways of the State began
their second era of construction, and have since been prominently known in the
county. Other lines were added to the one running east and west across the
county, as the railways were built and the utility of such inventions became
apparent. Now, they run in all directions, and one can talk with another, even
though a continent be between them. Should the telephone supersede the
telegraph, as it bids fair to do, those of the future will see a result almost
beyond our conception.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

THE HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. ILLINOIS,

CONTAINING

A History of the County—its Cities, Towns, &c; a Directory of its Tax-Payers;
Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; General and Local Statistics; Map
of Coles County; History of Illinois, Illustrated; History of the Northwest,
Illustrated; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c, &c.

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO:
WM. LE BARON, JR., & CO., 186 DEARBORN STREET.
1879.

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