REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE

     The Rink was filled to overflowing. Hon. George W. Foote, mayor of the city, presided. Hon. W. S. Gale, on behalf of the committee, read an elaborate and interesting report, showing that the road was certain to be built through Illinois, and giving a clear and convincing statement of the importance and necessity of the road to Galesburg, an account of the correspondence with the company and a statement of what was necessary to secure the road, if it could be secured at all, etc. The report stated that "for three years the Santa Fe company had had men surveying lines from Kansas City to Chicago, from which they had had full reports. That our committee, through one of its members (Col. Carr), had been in constant communication with the president and managers of the road; that the chief engineer who would, more than any one else, determine the question of location, was of the opinion that the best line, the shortest line, is 12 miles from Galesburg; that while he regretted not being able to come to Galesburg, we must remember that the primary object of building the line was to make an outlet to Chicago for their immense western trade, etc.; that at the earnest request of the gentlemen, to whom this statement was made, President Strong had promised that before an absolute decision should be made, the chief engineer should, as he had never done before, visit Galesburg. That visit has been made. We have good reason to believe that the effect of the visit has been to give a more favorable impression of the value of this route. That we are led to believe that a proposition coming from the citizens to furnish suitable depot and yard grounds and right-of-way through the city will be considered favorably, etc. We, (the committee) believe that this is Galesburg's great opportunity. If successful, we shall secure what for the last 25 years we have vainly struggled for." The report went on, at considerable length, to show the advantage the line would be to Galesburg.
     Following the above report of the committee made by Mr. Gale, the meeting was addressed by Colonel Carr, Hon. O. T. Johnson, Hon. J. A. McKenzie, George Ekins, G. A. Murdock, and others. The following resolutions, presented by Hon. D. H. Frisbie, were adopted:
"whereas, The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, one of the very best railway corporations in the world, proposes at once to establish and enter upon building a line of railway from Kansas City to Chicago, and whereas, Inducements have been held out to the committee appointed by our citizens that in case we will furnish right-of-way through the city and depot and yard grounds, the proposed line will be built through this city; therefore,

Resolved That we regard the proposal of said railway company to be fair and just and that it is the sense of this meeting that it is of momentous importance to the interests of Galesburg that the proposal of the A. T. & S. F. company be accepted and that means be at once taken to comply with the requirements of said company.
Resolved, That we regard this to be the most practicable and feasible railway proposition that has been presented to our citizens since the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway was built through the city, and we believe it to be not only the interest but the duty of every good citizen to do his full part in subscribing money and in every possible way to assist in raising the amount required to bring the road through the city.

Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that such a new railway as the Santa Fe would give a new impulse to our city, and that the marked prosperity which we have witnessed during the last year would, in our opinion, continue until Galesburg would become an important business center with great commercial and manufacturing interests and diversified industries which, with our educational advantages, would make her one of the leading cities of the state.

Resolved, That the committee already appointed be instructed to proceed with their efforts to secure the proposed line and that the Honorable Mayor and Common Council be requested to co-operate with this committee and by ordinance, or otherwise, to grant right-of-way through and across streets and alleys, etc., and to in every way possible assist in bringing the line through the city."
 
     On motion of J. B. Boggs the following persons were added to the committee: G. D. Crocker, S. P. Wood, D. H. Frisbie, C. A. Webster, R. Chappell, J. O'Connor, G. Ekins, W. W. Washburn, O. Hawkinson, H. M. Sisson, Nels Nelson, J. L. Burkhalter, L. W. Sanborn, M. W. Gay, C. L. Hedele, and Captain F. Fuller.
     Committees were appointed to circulate subscription papers, the city was divided off in sections and canvassers were appointed for each section. Names of citizens were taken from the city directory and an estimate was made of what each person ought to subscribe, which was presented to him and, with rare exceptions, he, without hesitation, put down his name for the amount he was assessed. Never did a community come forward with such cheerfulness and liberality.
     In the meantime the general committee was constantly in correspondence with the railway officials, who insisted upon a positive proposal as to what the citizens would do, backed by a guarantee. On the 14th, Mr. Robinson wrote Col. Carr:

     "Your letter of 10th instant received. I hope that you will be able to place your proposition in my hands very shortly, if the same has not already been mailed, as this question must be decided on now in a short time."

On the same day he telegraphed as follows:

"Clark E. Carr, Esq., Galesburg.
Proposition of your committee not yet received. Please send it or a copy of it to me at the Grand Pacific hotel, Chicago, where I shall be the last of the week."

     During those few days subscription papers were being energetically circulated and every person in the city was seen and urged to subscribe. A central office was opened, to which the committee brought their report.
     An absolute guarantee bond was also prepared and several responsible men had pledged themselves to sign it. This guarantee was for 20 acres of land and full right-of-way only for the line west of Broad street. On the 17th the following letter was mailed to Mr. Robinson:

"Galesburg, Dec. 17, 1886
A. A. Robinson., Esq.,
Vice President A. T. and S. F. R. R.

Dear sir:
     In reply to your esteemed favor we have to say that we feel confident that we are entirely safe in assuring you that as soon as Wednesday next we will be able to give you a written guarantee executed by men in Galesburg, who are entirely responsible and able to carry it out, obligating them on condition that the Chicago, Santa Fe and California Railroad is built through our city, they will furnish you with passenger and freight depot and yard grounds and right-of-way west of Broad street free of cost to said company, and also pay one-third of the cost of fifty feet of right-of-way east of Broad street to the east boundary of our city. And we pledge you to use our best endeavors to obtain for you such guarantee on or before Wednesday next and believe we can succeed.

Very truly yours,
Clark E. Carr
W. S. Gale
J. T. McKnight"

     Mr. Robinson had become interested in Galesburg. His visit had, as the committee hoped would be the case, borne fruit. Upon visiting Galesburg he had come to appreciate its advantages as a point on the line. He doubted the ability of the citizens to raise, by subscription, sufficient money for the line then proposed through the city, and would himself, as was believed by the committee, have made the concession east of  Broad street. President Strong was still wedded to the shorter line, and would not consent to making Galesburg a point if it would entail additional expense, and under Mr. Strong's instructions Mr. Robinson wrote to the committee that no other proposition from the committee, than to furnish the "whole right-of-way through the entire city, would be considered.

A. T. & S. F. DIRECTORS MEET IN BOSTON

     The Directors were to meet in Boston on December 20th when, with all the surveys and profiles and estimates of cost before them, the question of location was to be decided. Mr. Strong and Mr. Robinson were to be with them. On the afternoon of that day the committee received the following telegram:

"Boston, Mass., Dec. 20, 1886 Col. C. E. Carr and W. S. Gale.
     Mr. Robinson is here with his proposition to locate our Chicago line via Galesburg provided your city will furnish station grounds and right-of-way through your city is approved, and if accepted by your people our line will go through Galesburg. A line south of your city has been found three miles shorter than to go via Galesburg and no more costly in construction than to go by Galesburg. We must have the aid asked for. The matter is in your hands for twenty-four hours from three p. m. today. The lines will be settled before Robinson leaves
here. Answer.

W. B. Strong"

     To this the committee immediately replied by telegraph as follows:

"Galesburg, Ill., Dec. 20th, 1886
W. B. Strong,
President A. T. § S. F. R. R. Co.
Boston, Mass.
     We understand that your telegram is based upon proposition in our letter to Mr. Robinson in Chicago Friday which he assured us would be entirely satisfactory. Are we correct? Guarantee in conformity with that letter now being circulated and signed by responsible parties and will be completed tomorrow. How shall we satisfy you by telegraph of this fact?

Clark E. Carr
W. S. Gale
J. T. McKnight"

Mr. Strong replied as follows:

"Boston, Mass., Dec. 20,1886
To C. E. Carr, W. S. Gale and J. T. McKnight., Galesburg., Ill.
     My telegram to you this date covers the proposition made by Robinson to your people. I referred to that and not to your proposition by letter to him at Chicago. With the latter I am not satisfied. Please wire me your conclusion.

W. B. Strong"

     The committee saw that an absolute guarantee of all the right-of-way through the city, depot grounds and 20 acres of land must be provided for. There was no other alternative.
     They at once prepared to get together a sufficient number of responsible men to make a satisfactory bond. A list of names was made up of responsible men whom it was thought might be persuaded to join together in making the bond. The amount it would cost had been estimated as nearly as possible, but it was still, to a great degree, a matter of conjecture. It was then supposed that the line would go directly east from where Kellogg street crosses North street, taking in valuable lots already built upon. The cost was variously estimated at from sixty to a hundred thousand dollars. It was certain that no one would be willing to sign the bond unless there were enough names to divide the responsibility.
A note was prepared and sent to sixty of the most responsible and public spirited men of the city, of which the following is a copy:

"Galesburg, Ill., Dec. 20, 1886

Dear sir: You are especially solicited to meet us privately and confidentially at the county court room, on the second floor of the new court house, on tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, the 21st instant, at precisely 10 o'clock, to consider questions of supreme importance relating to the location of the Santa Fe Railroad through this city. We have some statements to make in regard to the matter which, while certain important issues are pending, we do not think it advisable to make public until they have been laid before those who, with yourself, will be invited. Knowing that you are deeply interested in this matter we feel confident that, in this crisis, you will allow no business or engagement to deter you from being present promptly at the time appointed.

Very truly yours,
W. S. Gale, Clark E. Carr, J. T. McKnight, E. P. Williams, A. C. Clay
Committee"

     In the evening the committee met at the law office of Williams, Lawrence and Bancroft, where they spent most of the night considering
plans for the meeting on the next day, while the attorneys were preparing the guarantee for signature which when completed and typewritten read as follows, and was finally signed by the persons whose names appear following it.
     The names of those who thus obligated themselves to carry out this undertaking are given in full. This guarantee and also the names of the subscribers who furnished the money, and the amount each paid, are given in full. These lists of names must be always regarded by the people of Galesburg as rolls of honor.

THE GUARANTEE

     We, the undersigned, promise and agree to and with the Chicago, Santa Fe & California Railroad Company that, in consideration of the Agreement of said Company to locate and construct the main line of its railroad through the city of Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, upon or near the line proposed by Mr. A. A. Robinson, we will without delay procure for the said company suitable depot grounds, yard grounds and switching grounds to the extent of twenty acres at least, west of Broad street in the locality proposed by Mr. A. A. Robinson to the Citizens' Committee; and also will procure the right-of-way along said line through said city. And as to any portion of said premises or of said right-of-way which we may fail to procure, we will pay to said Company the cost of procuring the same by condemnation.
     Witness our hands and seals at Galesburg, Illinois, this Twenty-first day of December, A. D. 1886.

NAMES OF THE SIGNERS OF THE GUARANTEE BOND

H. M. and W. P. Sisson
B. F. Arnold
W. W. Washburn
G. V. Deitrich
Chas. A. Webster
E. L. Conger
Albert J. Perry
I. R. Greene
J. F. Anderson
Olaf Hawkinson
Nels M. Burgland
J. H. Barton
S. H. Olson
Robert Chappell
J. F. Stetson
Timothy Mosier
Frans. Colton
T. Judson Hale
Gas & Electric Co., by J. K. Mitchell, Secy.
A. R. Green
F. O. Crocker
Thos. Harrison
Joseph Thirlwell
J. T. McKnight
Clark E. Carr
F. Fuller
J. L. Burkhalter
Josiah Babcock
G. D. Crocker
G. W. Foote
James O'Connor
J. R. Gordon
Miron Rhodes
A. C. Higgins
A. C. Clay
C. E. Lanstrum
M. O'Connor
H. L. May
Hiram Johnson
J. W. Dietreich
Hiram Mars
Chas. Johnson
J. G. Vivion
D. C. Raymond
A. S. Hoover
John Kemper
Josiah Tilden
A. Jacobi
C. C. Merrill
Geo. W. Brown
J. B. Boggs
Geo. C. Lescher
Geo. Ekins
M. L. Overstreet
Max J. Mack
Lambert Stansbury
Chas. Waste
J. W. Hammond
Loren Stevens
P. M. Johnson
E. P. Williams
A. W. Berggren
A. A. Matteson
John W. George
E. A. Bancroft
N. C, Woods
W. Selden Gale
S. H. McOmber
M. J. Daugherty
S. C. Wood
Jonas A. Johnson
C. H. Trask
L. T. Stone
G. A. Murdoch
M. N. Hurd
Sol Frolich
J. H. Losey
J. A. McKenzie
Andrew Harrington
G. L. Arnold
Hy. Biderman
T. W. Peterson
Fletcher Carney
M. T. Perrin
L. A. Greenwood
Fred R. Jelliff
John Hurley
F. R. Swanson
N. O. G. Johnson
T. R. Willard
S. W. May
D. W. Flynn
Edward Taylor
Robert Mackay
P. F. Brown
D. W. Bunker
C. L. Hedell
N. J. Oleen
Nick Brechwald
W. C. Calkins
Chas. O. Lewis
J. C. Stevens
J. Kraft
Z. Beatty
J. G. Dietreich
John C. Fahnestock
A. J. Shaw
D. Greenleaf
R. W. Hunt
Thos. Barer
Timothy Nash
A. G. Dow
J. A. Walberg
D. B. Simmons
C. A. Webster
John Clarkson
Hubert Juan
J. E. Cowan
Willis E. Terry
M. Norton
H. W. Snyder
G. Hawkinson
George W. Prince
Nels Nelson
Harry Dunbar
Daniel Fletcher
S. Spear
Joseph Hoover
F. H. Rearick
F. Brechwald

     Such was the interest that on Tuesday morning those who had been invited were present in the county court room at the appointed time and at precisely 10 o'clock the meeting was organized by the appointment of Mr. J. T. McKnight as chairman.
     It can scarcely be said that any speeches were made. There was too deep an interest for speeches. The men were assembled to act and to do, rather than to make or listen to speeches.
     Colonel Carr read the telegrams from President Strong, received on the afternoon before, which showed that by signing the guarantee already prepared and spread out upon the table, the road could be secured. He said that the directors of the Santa Fe were at that moment assembled in Boston and that the president of the board, Mr. Strong, was awaiting our decision, that it was impossible to determine how much the grounds and right-of-way might cost. It had been estimated at from sixty to one hundred thousand dollars; that such men had been called together as was believed were willing to assume the responsibility, if so divided that it would not rest too heavily upon any one; that the future of Galesburg was in their hands and would be decided at that meeting.
     Mr. Gale followed with a clear and terse statement of the situation. He said that we had been working for a new railroad for twenty-five years and this was the first time that one had come within our reach. He said that the Santa Fe would be worth more to the city than any line of road that there had ever been any possibility of our getting and explained why the committee had called these gentlemen together. He showed that if we all signed the guarantee there would be no possibility of its seriously embarrassing any of the guarantors.
Colonel T. J. Hale put several questions to the members of the committee to find out the exact situation.
     Mr. B. F. Arnold spoke in favor of signing the bond. Hon. Francis Colton stated that he had come there prepared to sign the bond. Hon. George W. Brown and Timothy Mosier, E. P. Williams and others declared that they were ready to sign. Finally Col. T. J. Hale arose and declared that this was not a time for talk, but for action, and moved that the meeting approve by a rising vote the granting of depot grounds and the right-of-way. The chairman put the motion. All save one arose. The one who did not rise, while he would not sign the
bond, made a liberal subscription to raise the money. Col. Carr shouted, "Gentlemen, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe will come to Galesburg," amid cheers. It took but a few minutes for the gentlemen to come forward and sign the bond. The Republican-Register of that evening, in describing the meeting, spoke of it as "a historic meeting," said "that it was evident during its deliberations that a great load of anxiety was resting on the committee. The members of the committee knew that success depended upon securing signers to the guarantee, and there was a fear that there might be hesitation and backwardness in signing so responsible a paper." "There was dread lest some one should express a sentiment against the signing," that the expression of so many that they would sign the bond by rising was "an inspiring sight," that then "despondency took wings." "The crisis was passed. There was handshaking and congratulations. The victory was won and the historic meeting will go down as marking an epoch in Galesburg's history." At 12 o'clock (noon) the committee wired Mr. Strong as follows:

TELEGRAM TO PRES. STRONG ANNOUNCING THE EXECUTION OF THE GUARANTEE BOND

"Galesburg, Ill., Dec. 21st, 1886
To W. E. Strong, President A.T. & S.F. Ry. Co., Milk St., Boston, Mass.

     Absolute and unconditional guarantee according to the terms of your last telegram, pledging depot and yard grounds of at least twenty (20) acres and full right-of-way entirely through this city upon localities indicated by Mr. Robinson has been signed by over fifty prominent citizens responsible for two million dollars and is in our hands. We accept your proposition. Please wire answer.

Clark E. Carr
W. S. Gale
J. T. McKnight"

REPLY OF PRESIDENT STRONG

     At half past three, p. m. the following telegram was received from President Strong:

"Boston, Mass., Dec. 21, 1886
To C. E. Carr, W. S. Gale, J. T. McKnight, Committee.

     Your telegram received and as I understand it will be satisfactory. Have directed Mr. Robinson to have the matter put in proper shape and then proceed with location accordingly. W. B.Sstrong"

     This telegram from President Strong was published in the Republican-Register that evening.
     The question was settled. The location of the Santa Fe through Galesburg was secured. December 21st, 1886, will ever be remembered as a red letter day in the history of the city.

SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE FUND

     The subscriptions continued to be circulated through the city and $64,243.55 was raised. To these subscriptions, there were 495 names. The subscriptions ranged from $5.00 to $2,000.00. There was scarcely a person in the city who was able to give who did not give, and several persons who had moved away made contributions. The guarantee and subscriptions were made to the "Chicago, Santa Fe and California Railway Company," the then corporate name of the Illinois Division.
     It was now necessary to proceed and collect the money and to buy the land to be donated to the railway company and right-of-way. In order to secure right-of-way it was necessary, in several cases, to buy lots, move houses and afterwards dispose of the portions of lots not used. This involved a great deal of labor, which continued for nearly three years and was not finally completed until in May, 1889.
     For this work the committee was fortunate in being able to place it in the hands of Mr. J. T. McKnight and Mr. Asa A. Matteson, who devoted themselves to it with earnestness and energy. Mr. Matteson kept the accounts which are preserved in his handwriting. There is an entry for each subscriber, with the amount subscribed and paid and a faithful account of all the expenses and business transactions. When the books were closed it was found that, after paying all expenses, there was still on hand $2,451.41 which was divided pro rata among the subscribers according to the amount contributed, each receiving in return four and one-half per cent, upon the amount he had donated. Mr. McKnight and Mr. Matteson have both gone to their reward, but the people of Galesburg should ever hold them in grateful remembrance for their faithful and conscientious services in this work. The president of the Chicago, Santa Fe and California, the name of the Illinois division, who had now become solicitor of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, wrote to the committee as follows:

OFFICIAL LETTER HIGHLY COMMENDING THE ACTION OF THE CITIZENS OF GALESBURG

"Chicago, Jan. 30th, 1889
To the Citizens' Committee of the City of Galesburg, Ill.

Gentlemen :
     By direction of Vice President Robinson I have to say that the agreement of the citizens of Galesburg to furnish this company right-of-way and station grounds in the city have been strictly and fully performed. I take pleasure in expressing the recognition by the officers of the company of the fair and honorable spirit which has been displayed throughout this entire transaction; a spirit which I feel sure will continue to characterize all the relations between this company and the citizens of Galesburg.

Yours very respectfully,
Norman Williams
Solicitor"