On the reorganization of the Western Air Line Railorad, Judge Thompson was elected president and, through his efforts, the agitation to build the road was again renewed. At a later meeting of its officers the name of the corporation was changed to the American Central Railway, of which Judge Thompson was again elected president. The townships bordering on the line were called on for subscriptions and, in nearly every case, they voted for the bonds asked by the company. Efforts to buiia the road again failing, a new arrangement was entered into whereby the Chicago , Burlington & Quincy Railroad, for a consideration, leased the road for ninety-nine years and agreed to complete the same from Galva to New Boston. Under this lease work was renewed and the road completed in the spring of 1869, and the first train reached the Mississippi at New Boston. The completion of the road omened up good opportunities for investors and businessmen; settlers came to the towns to engage in business; lands were purchased and farms improved.

For nearly forty years the people had depended on hacks and stages for transportation, and it was a glorious day for Mercer county when the iron-horse reached the river. Aledo's first wooden business houses have about all disappeared and fine brick structures have taken their place. At times anathemas have been showered on the heads of the management of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, but this has been, in most cases, uncalled for, for its coming has built up the towns and led to the settlement of farmers on the unoccupied lands

 

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