Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-12-29

plank ROAD designed TO be constructed between Ra-
cine and GAINESVILLE on the Rock river passing
through Rochester which is four miles above Bur
ilngton on the Fox river 1t is already contempla-
ted by the inhabitants of Burlington and the region
adjacent, to ronnec. that place with Rochester by
a plank road which if effected will permanently
secure its trade with that OF vast country around
Burlington and west to the Rock river TO Racine
market instead OF Southport
II Is further known that grant has been obtain
ed for a Plank Road from Little Fort 10 M'Herry
on the Fox river, which is eighteen miles below
Inc point where the design is present TO cross the
liver
1t is fact we'll known TO the observing men Of
TINS village, that Southport las realized nearly one
hall her trade from the state OF Ilnois-and should
the present design for single road be effected the
great majority of this trade will unayoiLably 90
10 Little Fort
Inc controlling purpose liz the present arrange
ment seems to be 10 reach Geneva in the way TO
BeIott. We are ready TO allow that Geneva is
village OF considerable enterprise and should be re
Sarded IN giving direction to the road IN proportion
ITS worth But ask should we subject Southport
TO permanent and lasting injury, and there by
cause her to tal OF that prominence at which she
aims, merely that we may confer a favor to Gene
va. lhe most important strength of Geneva con-
sists IN her mill privileges; consequently her COM
obtained by contrasting this influence with what
must be sacrificed in seeking her exclusive benefit.
Ii can be shown that the Nepasnk. and its
branches, is capable Of yielding power increased
many times beyond that of Geneva Hatch's mill
privilege, yet unlmproyed affords power equal TO
that OF Geneva and the water power at Spring
Grove is little If any interior to it. Scion water
power is also about the same The south branch
Of the Nepasink affords likewise many very ex-
cellect powers The power occupied by Boon
mills operates two OF stone Toles mills
wh th are non nearly completed, are also of equal
strength. There also several pnwe.s of equal
value on the southern branch yet unimnrovcd-
The northern branch OF the Nep sink gives the
power at Richmond mills, with which the public
are familiar, and likewise the mills owned by Sui,
son, Dickinson q Co are on the same stream which
are about equal IN power with those o! Richmond
Now the products OF these mill privileges at
least, with the exception OF those OF the northern
branch OF the Nepaslnk, VIZ Richmond end the
Stetson and Dickinson mills in case the present
design for plank road by the way of Geneva shall
BE- effected, will be lost 10 outhport Their avais
will inevitably pass TO Little Fort, with the pro-
ducts OF the fertile country around them. With
this view Of the subiert il is e, dent that Geneva
however promising, can ueish little when tired in
the balances opposed to all those ueightv consiJ
erati"us contemplated.
With the insight thus afforded the citizens of
Southport and OF the country at large we think,
WIFI lie able TO see clearly as we progress the adj
vHntIges Whlch two roads will secure to the COM
mon ntIe>t o.er that of one center road
We Wond lay out a northern route, commerci
The road Al southport in the most direct aud feast
bic course to Burlington, and from thence eo,tInu-
my 10 Jalesyile on lie Rock river
We would co,.s,Het a southern blink roal COM
l.a,, ~
tenpatsd state roaI laid out dating the las, year
designed TO pass rom southport on 10 the state np,
crossing the Fox river at Btnham mills, thence ia
straight line to Beloit s
The ad' anttges Of our northern route BY lie
the way OF Burlington TO GAINESVILLE from this
place, III some respects, may be at once seen He
plank road designed 10 connect Buri.ng with
kothes er, VIII be prosecuted. Southport viii Sc
the trade destined to centie at Burlington and
Will be prepared to compete with r cine for tie
trade oil JaHe,ve, which il process OF time is DIES.
tined 10 he doubtless 10 small amount and likcVlse
Tor the trade thIoyg all lie broad extent OF pro
duct.Ne country THIS soc OF Rock rler as " ell as
beyond reaching toward, the Mississippi And it
wil reqaue bur single look to see thai should The
pcsen' design for The plank road prevail and it be
once ldd Out and wrought through the centIe there
can be no change aiterNard II must he fixed Tor
all iutufe time And as a consequence, the vast
amount OF trade here contemplated, and which
must be ever increasing Will be fore, or beyond
the reach OF oar below ell town. And by so doing
we should virtually hand this commercial trade
over 10 Racine, which neighbor we would by no
means wantony Injure nor thus favor to our own
lasting and deep depression.
The southern route which we have marked out
for plank road We would regard as one answering
more electuay the conditions OF the charter grant
ed US last winter by our legislature than the center
route now contemplated. 1t is the most direct route
from Southport to Eeloit, when we regard distance
And when we consider the comparative feasibility
OF the two routes, that which suggest has great.
II the supremacy. No one can doubt this who
has survey ed the different routes The heavy hills
which must in laying the track, require great ex-
pense on the one route, Will be wholly avoided on
the other. And in addition the road when wrought
on the route We propose cannot fail of being deci-
dedy superior from the ldtness and e,e nness of the
ground on which it will be Iaic
Besides the route We contemplate will enable
Southport to retain all the trade she has realize
from the State of Illinois Bcnham's mills the
point at which we propose TO cross the Fox river.
are situated between SIX and seven miles below the
point at which the centre road is designed TO cross
Aud this will place the road within twelve miles of
VI Henry, the place Oh the Fox to which the plank
road from Little Fort is to be extended. Oar eros
secure the advantages OF the mill privileges OF which
we have spoken. and the products of the supera-
lively fertile lands by which they are surrounded.
And when constructed onward TO Beoit in the
route we propose, the road will pass in conve-
ment proximity to the Aoarishing village OF Rich
mond, SCION, and others, which are destined AT no
distant period to afford a trade of themselves of no
small magnitude And though Geneva be left al
a remove OF five or SIX miles from the road. this
small Inconvenience vii, IN great
measure, be very soon overcome by her enterprise
N constructing plank road join herself with ell
Their the southern or northern route to Southport
ell, should our arguments be deemed valid BY J
community, as we beheye they must on mature !
enquiry would then naturally arise
n view OF the two roads contemplated, how may
we most eitec,aaily and prodtably direct our inst
efforts
We say, in reply, let the first effort be directed
or the construction of both roads at the earliest pos
'b'e time to the Fox river. Let the stock OF The 1
nore southern route, for which grant Is already |
obtained, be presented to the public Tor their sub
nm qg aurtFr