El Paso lies at the crossing of the Illinois Central main line and the T. P. & W., thirty-three miles east from Peoria and eighteen miles north from Bloomington. Twelve passenger trains daily connect us with the outside world, and with the principal cities of the state and nation. Four trains a day with a choice of three or four routes accommodates passenger traffic between our city and Chicago. Our nearness to markets of all kind and the efficacy of our transportation facilities are great factors in sustaining our reputation as a trading and shipping point. On account of our railroad facilities, fuel is as cheap as in any city in Central Illinois and we are directly connected by rail with more good coal mines than most other cities of this state.

The accompanying cut is a representation of the first business house erected in El Paso. The building was erected by Wm. Jenkins in 1856 and still stands on the original site and at present is used only as residence rooms. The property is now owned by Mr. Lawrence Doyle. Mr. Jenkins occupied it with a stock of general merchandise for many years. For a number of years all the grain bought and all the goods sold in the embryo city was bargained for over the counters in that building, Mr. Jenkins and his brother Isaac conducting the business. Geo. W. Fridley, one of El Paso's early business men also occupied it for a time.
 
 

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