The initial stage of the proposed trans-continental electric short line took place September 1, 1906, when a special Pere Marquette of a dozen coaches from Chicago by way of New Buffalo, landed its passengers near the picnic ground on the Hall Farm in Scipio Township. President Alexander C. Miller brought with him a silver spade which was used "to turn the first earth in the construction of the Chicago-New York Electric Air Line Railroad." Eight years later, the Air Line was a 19.6 mile stretch between La Porte and Goodrum, Indiana and at that rate of construction, it would have taken about 112 years to complete the entire 750-mile line to New York.

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