Chapter 34 cont. 'ROCK ISLAND AND CHICAGO RAILROAD 'MOLINE IS WIDE AWAKE TO HER INTERESTS AND TAKING THE LEAD. 'Mr. Sanders: I attended a railroad meeting last night at Moline. All present seemed resolved to carry out the grand object for which they had assembled. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed; many of the old stockholders came forward and doubled their subscriptions and new subscriptions were obtained. Thirty-one shares were subscribed in a brief time, and it was unanimously resolved that the town council take a subscription of $2,500. Amongst the subscribers were two youths of not over twelve years of age, who took one share each, and not only subscribed, but paid up their installments. What a noble example; I would walk ten miles any night to see such praiseworthy actions.' "The exertion here made and the funds raised became known to eastern railroad men and Messrs. Farnam, Walcott and Durant visited us. The $300,000 required by charter having been subscribed, a contract for the construction and equipment of a railroad between Chicago and Rock Island was perfected with the above railroad constructors on the 15th day of October, 1851. The first payment on work performed was made on April 20, 1852; then on February 22, 1854, amidst the waving of banners and the thunder of artillery, the iron horse of the Atlantic drank the water of the great Mississippi river. The first link of 181 miles of the Pacific railroad had been completed." Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/