A brief history of Peoria - University Library

34 ..PEORIA
here. The location of these branches bring^s many millions of dol-
lars through the city banks that would otherwise go in other direc-
tions. The provision trade has grown enormously in the last ten
years and the territory within one hundred miles of Peoria is now
almost entirely supplied from Peoria with all goods in this line.
Ten years ago this trade was very largeh' supplied from Chicago.
The packing houses and the branch houses located here all have
men on the road working all of central and southern Illinois, western
Indiana, Kentucky, northern Missouri and eastern Iowa, and
this trade alone will easily amount to about five miTion dollars
annually.
RAILROADS
BV H. J. GRAHAM.
Peoria is one of the g^reatest railroad centers in the United
States, having thirteen roads centering here, thus establishing the
greatest gateway between the East and the West, north of St. Louis
and south of Chicago.
The magnificent facilities ofi^ered by these lines assure to industries
located in and about Peoria all the facilities that come from
sharp competition and first-class service, and the accommodations
to the traveling public are not excelled at any point.
CHICAGO & AIvTON.
The Chicago & Alton, which has recently acquired an entrance
into Pecria, is one of the strongest and best equipped railroads in
the United States. It connects the three great cities of Chicago, St.
Louis and Kansas City, and its advent to Peoria has marked a dis-
tinct advancement for superior service.
CHICAGO, BURUNGTON & QUINCY RAILROAD.
Peoria is the central eastern gateway of this very extensive and
important railway system.
With its main lines and branches it reaches all the important
commercial centers of the southwest, west and northwest. It penetrates
in every direction the most fertile territory of Iowa, northern
Missouri, Nebr.'.ska, Colorado and northwestern Kansas, thus reaching
the choicest agricultural region of the Mississippi Valley. At
its important western terminals its through trains connect direct
with the through trains to Manitoba, Utah, California and the
Pacific Coast.
THE CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO ii ST. LOUIS RAILWAY.
The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway ranks
as one of the largest railway systems west of the trunk lines, and
Peoria is one of its most important terminals. This division passes
through the most populous and fertile counties of Illinois and from
Indianapolis offers three great divisions for direct connection with
the Central States and the seaboard. The relationship of this
system is intimate with the New York Central, one of the greatest
trunk lines of America.
CHICAGO, PEORIA & .ST. LOUIS RAILWAY.
This line extends from Peoria to St. Louis with a branch to