Series 8 K45: Kansas City Bridge (aka the Hannibal Bridge), 1867-1870
Scope and Content of the Collection
Most series include a volume of corporate records detailing articles of incorporation, meeting minutes, resolutions, and notice of acquisition or dissolution. Other materials include annual reports, financial statements, correspondence, journals, ledgers, legal papers, contracts, construction statements, equipment reports, and memos. Many series contain materials concerning relations with other roads, and correspondence on the company’s acquisition by CB&Q. Also included are a few non-railroad entities, such as bridge, coal, and construction companies. This record group contains some of the earliest materials in the CB&Q collection, and offers a unique look at the rapid expansion of the railroad, as well as the interconnected relationships between the major players– including James F. Joy, J. M. Forbes, C. E. Perkins, and J. W. Brooks.
Forms part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company Records.
This finding aid supersedes the Guide to the Burlington Archives in the Newberry Library, 1851-1901 (Chicago: Newberry Library, 1949), and incorporates subsequent additions to the company records. Certain materials have been deaccessioned and donated to the Burlington Route Historical Society; see curator for details.
Dates
- Creation: 1867-1870
Creator
- From the Record Group: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company Records are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).
Biographical/Historical note
The Kansas City Bridge, known as the Hannibal Bridge after construction was completed, was the first bridge to cross the Missouri River. It was built with the support of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. The construction was overseen by renowned bridge builder Octave Chanute who dealt with unusually difficult conditions including a particularly strong current, loose sandy soil at the river's bottom, a lack of materials and manpower in what was then a remote area. The bridge opened in 1869. Series includes a photocopy of Chanute’s report on the construction of the bridge, as well as a printed transcript of the voucher entries compiled by David W. Jackson.
Extent
3 folders
Repository Details
Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512
reference@newberry.org