Illinois Central Rail Road Company
Illinois Central Rail Road Company
- Only 1 available!
- Inventory on the way
Product Details
CompanyIllinois Central Rail Road Company
Certificate Type
Common/Capital Stock
Date Issued
November 24, 1920 (brown)
August 27, 1940 (orange)
Canceled
Yes
Printer
American Bank Note Company
Signatures
Hand signed
Approximate Size
11 1/4" (w) by 6 3/4" (h)
Images
Show the exact certificate you will receive
Guaranteed Authentic
Yes
Additional Details
NA
Reference
Historical Context

The Illinois Central's charter was granted in February 1851 by the state of Illinois which also conferred on it the right of way and land grants received the previous year from Congress 'for building a railroad from Chicago to Mobile.' The charter provided that the company should pay the state, in lieu of taxes, seven per cent of the gross earnings of the original line, which was completed in 1856.
What differentiated the Illinois Central from the other Chicago lines, was that it ran north-south covering the entire length of the state (much like the shape of a wishbone). In the following decades, the Illinois Central extended its network into neighboring states, aiming to carry out the ambitious plan of linking the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Several companies were acquired or leased for the construction and operation of new lines.
In 1883, Edward H. Harriman, then a young stock broker and banker, was brought in as the director of the company. Throughout the latter part of the 19th century, together with President Stuyvesant Fish, he followed a policy of further expansion, extending the mileage of the railway via new acquisitions and leases in order to increase business.
During the first decade of the twentieth-century, the Illinois Central carried out a concerted policy of improvement in plant and equipment while acquiring new lines to bring the Illinois Central south, particularly as the south-eastern regions of the United States were experiencing a substantial industrial and agricultural growth. The line eventually became to be known as the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad.
Related Collections
Additional Information
Certificates carry no value on any of today's financial indexes and no transfer of ownership is implied. All items offered are collectible in nature only. So, you can frame them, but you can't cash them in!
All of our pieces are original - we do not sell reproductions. If you ever find out that one of our pieces is not authentic, you may return it for a full refund of the purchase price and any associated shipping charges.
FAQ
Are the certificates offered on your site genuine or reproductions?
All of the certificates you see on our site are genuine pieces, we do not sell any reproductions.
Are the certificates you sell negotiable on any of today's stock markets or indexes?
Are the images presented in your product listings of the exact piece I will receive?
How will you ship my order and how much do you charge?
Can I return my purchase?
We guarantee all of our pieces to be authentic. If you ever determine that a piece is not authentic, it may be returned for a full refund of the purchase price as well as any associated shipping charges.