Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/194

 186 ILLINOIS Illinois possesses remarkable commercial fa- cilities in the Mississippi and Ohio rivers on its borders, besides numerous internal streams of importance. Bordering for about 70 m. on Lake Michigan, it is favorably situated for tbo immense lake commerce which centres at Chi- cago. This comprises not only the vast do- mestic trade for which this city is noted, but also a considerable foreign trade carried on with Canada and European ports. Provision was made for direct commercial relations be- tween Chicago and foreign ports by the act of July 14, 1870, which authorizes the transship- ment in bond of exports and imports to and from the ports of first arrival, without ap- praisement and payment of duties at such ports. The value of foreign imports received at Chicago under this system during the year ending June 30, 1873, was $3,160,756. The total value of foreign imports subject to duty during the year was $3,699,852, on which the duties collected amounted to $1,535,631. The value of domestic produce exported from Chi- cago to Canada by lake was $7,107,468; the most important items were wheat, $5,737,022, and Indian corn, $1,069,586. The leading article of import from Canada is lumber, of which 7,516,000 ft. was imported in 1873. The total number of vessels belonging to the customs district of Chicago in 1873 was 743, having an aggregate tonnage of 148,595 ; of these, 101 were sailing, 131 steam, and 511 un- rigged vessels. The aggregate number of ves- sels that arrived was 11,858, having a tonnage of 3,225,911 ; of these, 22 were American ves- sels from foreign ports, 189 foreign vessels from foreign ports, and 11,647 were in the coasting trade. The number of clearances was 11,876, of which 483 were for foreign and 11,- 398 for domestic ports. Illinois has four ports of delivery, which, with the number and tonnage of vessels registered, enrolled, and licensed in 1873, were : Galena, 60 vessels, 7,781 tons; Quincy, 23 vessels, 2,443 tons; Alton, 5 vessels, 893 tons ; Cairo, 36 vessels, 8,221 tons. Ship building is carried on at Chicago, Cairo, and Quincy. In 1873, 21 vessels of 5,499 tons, including 10 sidling and 8 steam vessels, were built at Chicago, 4 at Cairo, and 1 at Quincy. Illinois contains more miles of railroad than any other state in the Union. In 1850 the number of miles was 111. In the following year the construction of the Illinois Central, from the southern terminus of the Illinois and Michigan canal to Cairo, was begun, thus open- ing a channel of communication between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi river. The sub- sequent growth of the railroad system of the state was rapid. In 1855 there were 887 m. ; in 1860, 2,790; in 1865, 3,157; in 1870, 4,823; in 1871, 5,904; and in 1872, 6,361. In 1873 the total mileage of main track completed and in operation, exclusive of double, side, and turnout tracks, was 6,496 ; in addition to which numerous lines were projected and in progress. The aggregate cost of the roads and equip- ments was reported by the railroad commis- sioners at $238,584,54l"in 1872, and $278,386,- 784 in 1873. In 1872 the capital stock paid in was $140,126,064; funded debts, $111,456,- 325; floating debts, 330,173; amount of paid- up stock and debts, $254,912,563. In August, 1873, the length of main track was returned by the state board of equalization at 5,064 m. ; assessed at $36,271,184; side, second, or turn- out track, 863 m,, valued at $4^008,818; value of rolling stock, $15,892,015 ; total value of property denominated railroad track and roll- ing stock, $59,317,409; right of way and im- provement, 64,733 acres, valued at $3,145,173. This statement does not include the Illinois Central railroad, 705 m. The following table exhibits the names of the lines lying wholly or partly within the state, together with the ter- mini, the number of miles completed and in operation within the state limits in 1873, the capital stock as reported by the commission- ers, and the assessed value of the track and rolling stock as returned by the state board of equalization in August, 1873 : NAME OF CORPORATION. TERMINI. Length com- pleted in stale, miles. Total length when different from pre- ceding. Total assessed value of rail- road track and rolling clock. Capital stock paid in, 1872. Cairo and 8t, Louis 48 151 $848949 $68,000 155 1 134 757 Carbondale and Shawneetown 17 185008 855,500 Chester and Tamaroa Chicago and Alton (main line) Branches j Chester and Tamaroa. Joliet and East St. Louis Dwight to Washington and Lacon. . . 40 242 80 285,097 4,060,784 1,000,000 11,000,000 Leased by Chi- j Joliet and Chicago ! Roodhouse to Louisiana, Mo 33 535452 cago and Alton, j S t. Lo u is ,Jacks on vHle,& Chicago 161 1,560,987 207 10 148 147 18,652,910 99 58 18 67 Branches - Mendota to Clinton 64 Budato Kushville 110 56 72 Shabbona to Kock Falls... 47