History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

28 SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, AND
EARLY HISTORY OF IRAILROAD LEGISLATION IN ILLINOIS.
Illinois appears to have been destined road Company, with a capital of $150,to become a great railroad State, from 000, was chartered Jan. 14, 1836.
the time they were introduced into the The Wabash and Mississippi Railroad
country. Her law-makers did not wait Company, with an authorized capital of
for them to come by connecting links, $3,000,000, and the privilege of increasfrom the Atlantic coast, but moved in ing the amount to $5,000,000, was charthe matter independent of the States be- tered Jan. 15, 1836.
tween her and the eastern seaboard. Separate bills, incorporating eight
As early as 1833 the subject of build- railroad companies, under the following
ing railroads was introduced into the titles, were approved Jan. 16, 1836:
General Assembly, but no laws were 1. Pekin, Bloomington and Wabash
enacted at that time. The first move Railroad Company. Capital, $500,000.
was a bold one, when we consider the 2. Mississippi, Springfield and Carrollimited amount of capital in the country ton Railroad Company. Capital, $800,and that the resources of the State were 000, with authority to increase it indefialmost entirely undeveloped. It was: nitely.
An act to incorporate the Chicago and 3. Alton, Wabash and Erie Railroad
Vincennes Railroad Company, with an Company. Capital, $2,000,000.
authorized capital of $3,000,000. It was 4. Central Wabash Railroad Company.
approved January 17, 1835. Charters Capital, $50,000.
were granted in something like the fol- 5. Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
lowing order: Company. Capital, $100,000.
An act to incorporate the Jacksonville 6. Mount Carmel and Alton Railroad
and Meredosia Railroad Company, capi- Company. Capital, $1,000,000.
tal stock $100,000, with a clause permit- 7. Waverly and Grand Prairie Railting the directors to double the amount, road Company. Capital, $500,000.
also to build a lateral road to Naples, 8. Rushville Railroad Company. Capwas approved by the Governor, Feb. 5, ital, $150,000.
1835. After a respite of two days, bills were
An act to incorporate the Belleville passed and approved, on the 18th of the
and Mississippi Railroad Company, with month, chartering four more companies:
an authorized capital of $200,000, was 1. The Alton and Shawneetown Railapproved Dec. 28, 1835. road Company. Capital, $500,000, with
The Winchester, Lynnville and Jack- authority to increase it to $1,500,000.
sonville Railroad Company was chartered 2. The Shawneetown and Alton Railwith an authorized capital of $300,000, road Company. Capital, $1,000,000, with
Jan. 8, 1836. authority to increase indefinitely.
An act to incorporate the Pekin and 3. Wabash and Mississippi Railroad
Tremont Railroad Company, with an Company. Capital, $400,000.
authorized capital of $150,000, was ap- 4. Illinois Central Railroad Company.
proved Jan. 13, 1836. Capital, $2,500,000.
The Warsaw, Peoria and Wabash Rail- I presume the object in granting char