Sign In

- Or use -
Forgot Password Create Account
Description

St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Broadside

This detailed map of states served by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern Railway and connections illustrates the reach of this important late 19th Century Raril line.  It illustrates the states of Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and parts of adjacent territories, emphasizing the routes covered by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern Railway (SLIMS). Each county is delineated, with boundaries clearly marked and labeled, highlighting the railway's connections to other regional lines.

The railway’s main line, prominently marked, runs southward from St. Louis, Missouri, extending through Arkansas and into Texas and Louisiana. It showcases its connections to major cities and trade hubs, including Little Rock, Texarkana, and New Orleans, cementing its importance in facilitating economic activity and transportation across the central and southern United States.  

The map is supplemented by a comprehensive text panel titled Eastern Missouri and Arkansas, detailing the economic and natural resources of the regions served by the railway. This narrative highlights agricultural, industrial, and timber opportunities, aiming to attract settlers, investors, and businesses.

The St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern Railway originated as the Iron Mountain Railroad, chartered in 1851 to exploit Missouri’s rich iron ore deposits. Construction began in the 1850s, with the initial stretch connecting St. Louis to the iron mining region of Pilot Knob, Missouri. By the late 19th century, the line had expanded southward, becoming a critical artery for transporting raw materials, agricultural products, and passengers between the Midwest and the South.

Following its expansion, the railway became part of Jay Gould’s vast network of railroads in the late 1800s. Under Gould's control, the SLIMS grew into a vital component of the transportation infrastructure in the United States, connecting rural communities and resource-rich areas to major urban centers and ports. Its routes facilitated the movement of cotton, timber, and other commodities from Arkansas and Louisiana to St. Louis, a major industrial hub, and onward to national and international markets.

The map highlights the geographic diversity of the areas traversed by the railway. From the fertile farmlands of eastern Missouri to the dense forests of southern Arkansas and the Gulf Coast's burgeoning trade centers, the SLIMS network underscored the interconnectedness of these regions. The railway opened new frontiers for commerce, settlement, and industry, particularly in Arkansas, where timber and agriculture became dominant economic drivers due to improved transportation links.

Rarity

The broadside is very rare. 

We were unable to confirm another example of the map and text, although other versions of the map were issued in the late 1870s.