One of the most important events in the history of Galesburg and of Knox County was the building of the Santa Fe Railway from Kansas City to Chicago.
     The system had been in operation from Kansas City west, for years, the lines owned and operated by the company traversing the states and territories of the Southwest, with terminals in California and old Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean. All the vast shipments, over a system nearly six thousand miles in extent, were at Kansas City transferred to the trunk lines reaching there from Chicago. The management decided that instead of giving this business to other lines, it was for the interest of the Santa Fe to build a line for itself to Chicago and deliver its own passengers and freight there, on its own cars, without reshipment. This being the principal object of extending the system, the question of gaining local business along the proposed line was subordinated to that of finding a short line with easy grades to Chicago.

ENGINEERS SENT OUT TO "PIONEER" FOR A SUITABLE LINE

     With this latter object in view, engineers were sent out through Missouri, Iowa and Illinois by Mr. A. A. Robinson, Vice President and Chief Engineer of the Santa Fe system, to find the shortest and least expensive line, with instructions to keep their own counsel. For a considerable time it was not known by the people through the country where they passed, what interest these engineers represented, and there were many theories and surmises in regard to it.
     These engineers "pioneered" several routes during the winter of 1885-6, and early in the summer of 1886 were able to report.

ENTERPRISE, PUBLIC SPIRIT AND GENEROSITY OF THE PEOPLE OF GALESBURG

     The City of Galesburg was more than ten miles away from the nearest point of the line through Illinois, which appeared most favorable under the conditions required. Through extraordinary effort, public spirit and liberality on the part of the citizens of Galesburg, the authorities of the road were induced to locate and build the line through that city.
     To no individual citizen can justly be attributed the distinction of securing the road to Galesburg. Never was there an enterprise in which the labors were more generally distributed and borne. Nearly every resident of Galesburg, high and low, rich and poor, male and female, contributed in some way to the result.
     The leader in the movement was Colonel Clark E. Carr. Business relations with the officials of the road took him frequently to their headquarters at Topeka, and he was not long in finding out that the line was surely to be extended to Chicago and the views of the management in regard to its location. He had frequent interviews at Topeka with Colonel George R. Peck, the general solicitor, with Mr. C. W. Smith, the vice president and general traffic manager, and with Mr. John E. Frost, who held the high position of land commissioner, and he occasionally met Mr. W. B. Strong, the president, whose office was in Boston, and Mr. A. A. Robinson, vice president and chief engineer. Colonel Carr was prominent in presenting the matter to the people of Galesburg and in bringing them into relations with the authorities of the road. Most of the correspondence, while the question of location was pending, was conducted by him.
     Colonel Peck and Mr. Smith both soon became friendly to Galesburg. Colonel Peck earnestly favored making it a point. John E. Frost, a former Galesburg boy, was enthusiastically for Galesburg from the first and lost no opportunity to press her claims. He was in constant correspondence with Colonel Carr.

HON. W. SELDEN GALE

     Hon. W. Selden Gale and Col. Carr had been working together for many years in efforts to bring a new line of railway to Galesburg. Mr. Gale had been one of the prominent actors in the efforts which resulted in giving Galesburg the C. B. & Q., and had devoted his life to the interests of the city. Naturally, as soon as the first faint hope of getting the Santa Fe appeared, these two were in consultation. They at once decided that action should be taken and a few representative citizens were asked to meet at the Galesburg Club rooms to consider the matter. The meeting was presided over by Mayor G. W. Foote and the whole subject was thoroughly discussed, resulting in the appointment of a committee to look after the matter. W. S. Gale, Clark E. Carr, E. P. Williams, J. T. McKnight and A. C. Clay were appointed as that committee and continued to serve until the road was secured.
     The main point was to convince the authorities of the road that it was for their interest to come through Galesburg. They were so wedded to the theory of a short line, with easy grades, to transport their western freight to Chicago, that this was a difficult thing to do. The principal arguments were made in personal interviews at Topeka, and there was much correspondence by letter. Col. Carr wrote to Vice President C. W. Smith on June 2nd, 1886:
     "Since talking with you, in your office at Topeka, I have met and had some conversation with Mr. Robinson (not the chief engineer, but one of the surveyors of the preliminary lines East of the Mississippi, under the direction of Mr. Barker, at Keokuk). Of course I could not ask him for information, or volunteer assistance, without seeming impertinent, as it has been very properly the policy of all these engineers
to be reticent, and therefore, I did not say so much as I would like to have done, and as I hope to do, upon being placed in a position to do so. I did, however, suggest a practicable and very cheap line through this city, which would bring the passenger depot very near to the main business street.
     As I said to you at Topeka, it will be a pleasure to me to assist in every way in my power if I can do so."
     Colonel Carr wrote to Mr. W. B. Strong, president of the Santa Fe, on September 20th:

     "We have read, in this locality, the newspaper reports in regard to your building a line to Chicago. I have had considerable conversation, and some little correspondence upon the subject, with Vice President Smith and other officers of your road. They could give me no definite information, but Mr. Smith has asked me to be ready to assist your people in case you decide to come this way.
     We are ready to give encouragement and do our part toward securing the line.
     My object in addressing you is to ask whether there is anything I, or any, or all of our citizens, can do toward inducing your company to come this way. Will you kindly give me such information as may, at this time, be proper and consistent?"

LINE PROJECTED SOUTH OF GALESBURG

     Colonel Carr met President Strong in Chicago early in November, and was informed by him that the chief engineer, Mr. Robinson, had found a much shorter line than was possible to get via Galesburg, which he favored and would no doubt be settled upon, as all had implicit confidence in their chief engineer, and requested him, Col. Carr, to get what influence he could to help them through the county in securing the right-of-way, etc. Upon returning to Galesburg Colonel Carr, on November 11th, 1886, again, after consulting Mr. Gale and the other members of the committee, wrote Mr. Strong, as follows:
     "I have thought, since you told me in Chicago that Mr. Robinson was inclined to a line ten to twelve miles away from Galesburg, that if you do not come here, there will not be the same feeling toward you (such a friendly feeling as had been expressed by Col. Carr in the Chicago interview as existing in Galesburg), and it has occurred to me that it would not, perhaps, be improper to call your attention to this phase of the matter.
     Galesburg is, by several thousand, the largest town in this region, except Peoria, which is forty miles away from your proposed line, on the Illinois River. We have a population of fifteen thousand and would very shortly have twenty-five thousand if you came here. Our people are intimately connected by trade, political associations, etc., with those living along nearly one hundred miles of your proposed main line, fifty miles each way from here. I am sure that, in many ways, we can help you in building your line, not only in this, but in other counties, besides the benefits you would get for all time from our business, if your line ran through this city. More than one-third of the population and property of the county are in this city. There are very few county towns which have the good will of the people of the county and which have more influence with the people of the county, in a greater degree, than this. We have just built a splendid court house, of which all the people are proud. It is true that the people of the whole county are interested in Galesburg.
     Now, if you decide to build a railway ten miles away from Galesburg, I very much fear that our people in Galesburg would regard it as a menace to their interests, rather than as advantageous. * * * * A prominent member of the board of supervisors (Mr. Gale) said to me today, that if the Santa Fe comes to Galesburg we will do everything in reason they ask, but if it runs through the county on the line some are talking about, it will be a positive injury to Galesburg and of no particular benefit to the county.
     Is it not the case that that splendid engineer, Mr. Robinson, has usually builded through a new unsettled country? I fear that he does not sufficiently appreciate the difference between building a railway through a new country, where the centers of business are made by the railway, and building a railway through a country where the centers are already established."

MOVEMENT TO GET CHIEF ENGINEER ROBINSON TO COME TO GALESBURG

     It seemed to the committee a matter of the utmost importance to get Chief Engineer Robinson to visit Galesburg and to, in person, look the ground over, and every energy was bent in that direction. President Strong was urged to authorize this, and appeals were made to him, through Colonel Peck, Vice President Smith, and Mr. Frost to assist. Mr. Frost, who was taking great interest in the matter, was in constant correspondence from Topeka with the committee. On November 15th, 1886, he wrote Colonel Carr as follows:

LETTER FROM JOHN E. FROST

     "My Dear Clark :
     Your two favors duly at hand and noted with great interest. I have just seen Col. Peck and talked the matter over with him.
     Mr. Robinson is still away but will return to-morrow when I will try to have him name a time when he can be seen by a Galesburg committee.
     I will advise you by letter or wire of the date he names and I think then you and Gale and some leading business man like Max Mack or Burkhalter or George Dieterick had better come out and see Mr. Robinson.
     I believe there is a good fighting chance for Galesburg but it will require good work.
     The intention of the Santa Fe folks undoubtedly is to build by the best possible route, taking distance and grades into consideration as well as cost of right-of-way and construction, and I fear, as you say, that Mr. Robinson, from the surveys now made, favors a line which will leave Galesburg at one side. The Galesburg folks may, perhaps, get him to change his views. I will help you all that I can. I am, as you know, deeply interested in having the line go to Galesburg.
     I enclose pass for Mr. Gale, Kansas City to Topeka, and on hearing from you by wire or letter giving name of the other party who will come, I will send pass for him, care H. E. Mass, P. A., A. T. & S. F., opposite Union depot, Kansas City.
     You had better come via Kansas City, as you will have a dining car for breakfast.
     The other way the breakfast is at St. Jo, pretty early in the morning.
     With kind regards to all, Yours truly,
     Jno. E. frost
     I will, of course, furnish return transportation to Kansas City for the party."

     This letter was followed up by a telegram from Mr. Frost saying: "Party will meet you in Galesburg within two weeks," "party" meaning Chief Engineer Robinson. On the 28th Mr. Robinson himself wrote to Colonel Carr as follows:

     "Your very kind letter of Nov. 19th reached me in good time. I expected to be in your city the week just passed. I expect now to visit your city the last of this week. I will wire you definitely two or possibly three days in advance. One of my principal objects will be to meet you and I hope you will be at home. If you cannot, please to write me a note at the Grand Pacific, Chicago. I appreciate very highly your cordial invitation to come under your roof and hospitality while in your city, but beg you to excuse me for this trip, as it is strictly a business one and I will have two or three with me with whom I desire to be in conference."

CHIEF ENGINEER ROBINSON VISITS GALESBURG

     On December 2nd, a telegram was received by Colonel Carr from Mr. A. A. Robinson stating that he would be in Galesburg on the morning of Saturday, the 4th, on which morning he arrived. He had with him his stenographer and Mr. P. F. Barr, who had charge, under his direction, of the surveys of the line through Illinois. There was snow on the ground and Mr. Robinson and Mr. Barr were driven in a sleigh about the city, the party consisting of Mr. Robinson, Mr. Barr, Mr. Gale and Col. Carr. They drove first west, down the Monmouth road, then north on Henderson street, across Cedar Fork to Main street, then west on Main street, the two engineers making a careful examination of Cedar Fork Valley. They then drove east, crossing and re-crossing Cedar Fork upon several streets. Mr. Robinson was very much pleased with the Cedar Fork Valley as a means of getting through the town, but he thought that if they should come to Galesburg and the valley route should be taken, it would be necessary to leave Cedar Fork, going east at Kellogg street, where there is a turn in the creek, and go straight east in order to cross on the same grade as the C. B. & Q. (It was finally arranged between the two companies to raise the grade of the C. B. & Q. ten feet for the Santa Fe to pass under, and so the Santa Fe continued up Cedar Fork to the Burlington crossing, making to the citizens of Galesburg a great saving of expense for right-of-way.) The party heretofore designated then drove east on Main street to Court Creek valley and down the valley to the road running from Knoxville to Henderson, on the east side of which are now the Purington Brick Works, and on the west side, up the hill, the East Galesburg station. From that point there was not then a house nor factory in sight. Nearly all the industries along Court Creek valley and all of East Galesburg have been built up since, and because of the building of the Santa Fe. On the way back to town the party called upon Hon. George W. Brown at his farm house, who was very much interested in the proposed line. They afterward drove to Knox College, the new court house and about the city generally.
     Mr. Robinson was struck with the remarkable opportunities presented for a line of railway through the city. He was surprised that a line could be obtained in Cedar Fork valley through the heart of the city, as far from the west as Kellogg street, at comparatively small expense, while the right-of-way was precisely in the direction he wished to take, and that it would, at the same time, give opportunity to establish passenger and freight stations near Main street. He was also pleased with the opportunity to go on east of the city, through Court Creek valley. Mr. Gale had been demonstrating the advantages presented by this valley for a railroad for many years, and was delighted to find that this great railroad engineer so promptly recognized them. Upon coming back to the city Mr. Robinson and Mr. Barr received the other members of the committee and quite a number of prominent citizens, when the whole subject was talked over at length, and to whom Mr. Robinson gave great encouragement by his frank expressions of appreciation of the route through the city and down Court Creek.
     In these interviews, and in all the interviews, he said that he, with the advantages of the line which he had then in contemplation, could not advise the president, Mr. Strong, to come to Galesburg without the city would furnish right-of-way and depot grounds, and that the citizens must bind themselves to do this.
     In consideration of the greater cost of the line as proposed, east of Kellogg street, the suggestion was made by the committee that the company ought to bear most of that expense, and it was proposed that the citizens of Galesburg furnish all the right-of-way west of Broad street and depot grounds and twenty acres of land, and pay one-third of the cost of right-of-way east of Broad street, the company paying for two-thirds. Mr. Robinson said he would present this proposition to President Strong, but that he could give no encouragement that it would be accepted, and that he could only say to us that the only condition upon which the road would come to Galesburg was, that we give the whole right-of-way and depot grounds and land required. He left Galesburg on that evening.
     His visit encouraged the committee and the public to hope that if the citizens would do their part they might yet secure the road.

MASS MEETING AT PRINCESS RINK

     A mass meeting was called for Thursday evening, December 9th, to be held at the Princess Rink, where the Auditorium now stands. One of the large posters, with great display letters announcing the meeting, is still preserved, and reads as follows:
     "A. T. & S. F. Railroad. Every business man, every property holder, every citizen who is interested in the growth and prosperity of the city is requested to be present at the Princess Rink Thursday evening, December 9th, to hear the report of the Committee on Railroad, as to what is necessary to secure the Santa Fe road. This is addressed to you and not to your neighbor! We can secure the new line and have the question settled at once, if we will. Good speakers will address the meeting. Turn out everybody- W. S. Gale, Clark E. Carr, J. T. McKnight, A. C. Clay, E. P. Williams Committee".