HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                                    61

of which the directors chosen were: W. H. Schryer, J. N. Conley, G. W.
Wiltse, J. G. Ackelmire, Enos Miles, Thos. I. Cromwell, Elias Cooprider,
D. C. Stunkard, W. S. Pierce.
    Ten years after the practical abandonment of this projected inde-
pendent line from the lakes to the Ohio river, interest having revivcd,
both on the part of home enterprise and industries and capitalists abroad,
the ‘!Brazil and Chicago Air-Line Railroad Company was organized at
Brazil, April 12, 1881, with a capital stock of $500,000, to build a direct
line from Brazil to Rensselaer, from which point Chicago would be
reached over another road. The board of directors chosen were Hiram
Teter, Thomas Watson, William H. Zimmerman, Ensign Bennett, Will-
iam M. Ridpath and D. B. McCrimmon. At a meeting of directors and
stockholders held a few days later, Ensign Bennett was elected presi-
dent, William H. Zimmerman, vice-president, D. W. Bridges secretary
and treasurer, and Hiram Teter, attorney. In the month of September
of the same year, eastern capitalists organized the Chicago, Brazil and
Ohio River Railroad Company, to pass. directly through the block coal
field of this county from Chicago to some point on the Ohio. This was
succeeded the year following by the Chicago & Great Southern, over prac-
tically the same route. Correspondingly, too, there was a revival of inter-
est in the East and West line projected simultaneously with the original
North and South, articles of incorporation having been filed with the
secretary of state in the month of January, 1882, by the Terre Ilaute &
Cincinnati Short Line Railroad, composed of non-resident interests, with
a capital stock of $1,500,000, to construct a line from Cincinnati to the
Wabash, through the coal fields of Owen and Clay counties.
    In the summer of 1872 was projected the Indianapolis Coal Road,
agitated by the papers of the capital city and those along the proposed
route into the coal producing areas of Clay and adjoining counties.
Specifically, the object to be attained by this road was the transportation
of coal directly from the mines to the consumers of Indianapolis.
    The Indianapolis & Sullivan Narrow Gauge Railroad Company was
organized at Indianapolis on the 23d day. of June, 1879, with the same
object in view as that of the preceding organization of 1872. Of this
association Clinton M. Thompson and Hiram Teter, of this county, were
chosen, respectively, president and attorney.
    An exclusively local railroad company was organized in the fall of
1868, to build a line connecting the Indianapolis & Vincennes R. R. at
Martinsville, with the city of Terre Haute, by way of Bowling Green.
Of this company James Black, of Bowling Green, was elected president.
Books were opened for subscription of stock in January, 1869. This pro-
posed road was entitled the “Terre Haute, Bowling Green & Martins-
ville.”
    At a meeting held at Brazil, May 27, 1869, to consider direct rail-
road connection with Danville, Illinois, the “Brazil, Clinton, Georgetown
& Danville Railroad Company” was organized, with D. C. Stunkard, pres-
ident; Hiram Bishop, superintendent; Thomas J. Gray, secretary; A. H.
Woodruff, treasurer, with a full board of directors. A survey was made,
the distance fifty-one miles, and the estimate on cost of construction of
grade $3,500 per mile. The declared purpose of this organization was
that of extending the road southward to the Ohio river, to develop the
mineral resources of Clay, Owen and Green counties. In other words,