Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-07-19
For the Wisconsin, Herald.
THE OREGON RAILROAD.


To THE EDITOR: addressed you short
note few days since relative to this gigantic
enterprise, bat no. having time or space TO
speak Of all the plan, will add few things
more. The project contemplaies connection
between this road and the great western rail-
road from New York 10 Dunkirk and thence
along the southern shore of Lake Erie by the
southern bend OF Lake Michigan, to Chicago.
The point Of connection Of these roads is
question yet to be settled. From Chicago the
road might run north on the dividing ridge be-
\ tween the waters of Lake Michigan and the
Mississippi, and in,ersect the Oregon road al
The Winnebsgo Portage, by which the road
would be laid upon one continuous ridge with
out single stream 10 cross il. Bot that route
would be circuitous. passing near the Lake
ill i. reached the southern extreme Of Lake
Winnebago. and thence west TO the Portage,
and would be Objectionable on account OF its
round about course, and its vicinity 10 the
Lake where other means of conveyance are at
hand.
The most feasible route, would be from
Chicago TO Rockford on the Rock River, 10
which distance several streams must be via
Quoted over, bot as they are not large nor The
hills between them high, il would not be very
expensive; and as the general face Of The coun-
try thus far is level. it offers on the whole the
best and cheapest route thus far Of any in the
direction of the Mississippi. and from Rock
ford one continuous ridge of even surface can
be had south and west of the Pecaionica River
to Belmont, and the same ridge continues from
thence to Wingville, and from thence BY the
ridge on which the Military road is located, to
this place, where it would connect with the
Oregon Road, as now contemplated. The de-
seen, Of the road TO The Wisconsin river can be
had al abont thirty feet to the mile, and the
same descent and ascent will let the main road
into and out Of the valley of the Mississippi at
this place. The distance from Chicago TO
this place is about 225 miles, and from the
Rock River to the Wisconsin there is an un-
broken level for the road; nearly two-ihirds of
the distance from Chicago here.
II is contemplated that as soon as the present
Railroad from New York TO Dunkirk. which
is in rapid progress, is completed and proba-
bly, before, measures will be taken by compa-
MES, or by the States through which they pass,
TO continue the road west 10 Chicago. This
was talked of and even projected, before Mr..
Whi.ney's project for the Oregon road saw
the light, and with this additional inducement,
nothing human can prevent its construction. -
And it is well known tina: railroad from
Chicago to the Mississippi has long been in
contemplation, bu. the point at which it would
inersec, The father Of rivers has been moot
ed question, though Galena has hitherto had
the preference. Blu, the projected road to Or
egon changes the whole face of the Affair
The road from Chicago to the Mississippi
mus, in;crsect the Oregon road, If constructed
a, the River, and this road for the reasons as
signed in my former communication will most
likely cross the Mississippi at this place, there
fore, this place must be the point OF connec-
lion.
The practicabili.y Of the two roads is be-
yond doubt. With great portion of the
routes east of The Mississippi, am personally
acquainted, as to the general features Of the
country. And when it is known that from
Dunkirk and from Green Bay to this place, and
even to the Gap in the Rocky Moun,ains, there
is nothing like a mountain 10 be tunnelled or
overcome by an inclined plain, nor yet hill
or a valley TO be overcome of over 300 feet,
land these only r. the Mississippi and Mis-
souri riys-sl nor a river 10 be crossed. except
the two lust named. iha, is over 200 yards
wide, il must DO sdnii.sd tina. these roads are
not only feasible. bnt that nature seems TO
have formed the route expressly for the pur-
pose, and Invites the intelligence and enter
prise Of man a, the present lime TO Improve the
advantage thus temptingly spread before him.
| Some, Of course. thiok the whole scheme 10
| be visionary, and this people once thought OF a
turnpike across the Allegheny MoonIalns--
And when Gideon Granger in 1907 FIRST spoke
of a canal from Albany TO Buffalo. il ives deem
ed to be 80 near The ebuiatiuns o. madness.
that no one dared to advocate ,he scheu, I'LL
Clinton brought his popular name into connec-
lion with it, But who with the gres, works
before him " hich have been constructed since
tina, time, and that too over mountains and a
cross wide rivers, can question for moment
the practicabi,iy of the roads cow projected
and brought TO viewi
One objection to this northern route for the
Oregon road. " ieh is strongly urged, is that
il is so far north that the snow may. in winter,
impede the travel. Bot il is not known, per.
haps, to those who urge this. Ihs. 10 iS deg.
n. l.. this far ives, and from this TO the Pacif-
ic Ocean, the winters are as mild, Cad as we