Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

1A Memorial and joint Resolution of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, soliciting aid to improve the great norther chain of communication from the Maume-Bay in Ohio,2 to the Rapids of the Illinois river.3
To the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled.
Whereas, in accordance with the prayer of a respectable number of the citizens of the State of Indiana, to grant them some legislative enactment to assist in the construction of a Rail road from the Maume-Bay on Lake Erie to the rapids of Illinois river, and influenced by proper considerations in relation to the general welfare, the social and commercial facilities required by our constituents in connection with our brethren of States contiguous; and the wants, wishes, and prosperity of a growing population; and whereas, this road, if improved, will be calculated to accommodate, not only the inhabitants for conveying their produce to market, but also, the multitudes of emigrants from the Eastern States, who are directing their course to that immense region of fertile, and yet, uninhabited country on the river Des Moines west of the Mississippi. This contemplated rout, when improved must be the most important northern Mail rout from

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East to west in the United States. A great portion of the land through which this road must eventually pass, is the property of the United States, all of which would be valuable to the agriculturalist, and would sell for an advanced price if Government would afford any facilities of transportation; which would make the appropriation rather a gain than a loss to the Government. Therefore.

The General Assembly of the State of Indiana solicit a donation of land of the United States of five sections for every mile of said road from Maume-Bay in Ohio to the rapids of Illinois river in the State of Illinois to aid in the construction of said road.

Resolved. That our Senators in Congress be instructed & our Representatives requested to use their exertions to obtain the passage of a law in accordance with the foregoing Memorial; and that they apply to the proper department for an officer of the United States corpse of Engineers to survey, locate, and make estimates of the cost of constructing a Rail road on the aforesaid rout.

Resolved. That his Excellency the Governor be requested to forward copies of the foregoing Memorial and Resolution to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress: Also, copies of the same to each of the Governors of the States of Ohio and Illinois, with a request that they lay them

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before their respective Legislatures, and solicit their cooperation with Indiana on this subject.4
James Gregory
Speaker of the House of Rep^sDavid Wallace
President of the Senate

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01/16/1835
Noble, Noah

Approved
Jan. 16. 1835
N Noble

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By order of the Governor, transmitted.
John. L. Ketcham

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A Memorial and Joint Resolution of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana soliciting aid to improve the great Northern chain of communication from the Maumee-Bay in Ohio, to the Rapids of the Illinois river.

1On January 24, 1835, Governor Joseph Duncan presented the memorial and resolution to the House of Representatives, and the House referred it to the Committee on Internal Improvements. On January 29, the committee reported back with a resolution.
Illinois House Journal. 1835. 9th G. A., 1st sess., 369, 423-24.

2Maumee Bay is on Lake Erie near the city of Toledo.

3The Grand Rapids of the Illinois River are located at Marseilles. Prior to the opening of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1848, Marseilles was the northernmost point on the Illinois River that was navigable for steamboats.

4Memorials on this subject from the Indiana legislature were presented by Indiana’s Congressmen to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on January 28 and February 2, 1835. On February 19, the Senate approved a resolution directing the Secretary of War to order a survey of a route from Maumee Bay through the northern counties of Indiana to the rapids of the Illinois River, and then to a point on the Mississippi River between Rock Island and Quincy. On February 6, 1835, the Indiana General Assembly incorporated the Buffalo and Mississippi Railroad Company, to construct and operate a railroad on this route. In 1837, the Indiana legislature amended the act to change the name of the company to the Northern Indiana Railroad Company. In 1846, they again amended the charter to allow the railroad to diverge north toward Chicago instead of towards the Illinois River at Marseilles. In 1853, 1854, and 1855, the company consolidated with other railroad companies to form a continuous line from Chicago to Toledo, and by 1855 was known as the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad Company.
U.S. Senate Journal. 1835. 23rd Cong., 2nd sess., 128, 174; U.S. House Journal. 1835. 23rd Cong., 2nd sess., 289; Wilber L. Stonex, “An Old Indiana Railroad Charter: The Buffalo and Mississippi Railroad Company,” Indiana Magazine of History, vol. 8, no. 2, 51-65.