Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-10-06
the mineral and agricultural resources of


tween Chicago and Galena-the Galena
and Chicago Union. This was chartered
in 1886 but, like many other projects of
that period. 'though it had beginning.
saw no end 1t was resumed Ia about
ten years and part of it put in operation
with the fat rail. Since then it has been
gradually extending, reaching Rockford,
its present terminus. las. year, and the old
road has been relaid with heavy Z rail
II is one of the smoothest and best roads
in the country 1t will be opened to Free
port on the first of September; thence 70
Galcna. it will run over the Illinois Cent
raj track, having disposed of It's charter
to that company. 1t has branch to Au-
rora, and another to Beloit. to connect
with Wisconsin road, besides the Dixon
and Fulton branch already referred to-
1t will thus, by its various branches
and tributaries, touch the Mississippi
at five points Dubuque. Galena. (by
the Fever river.l Fulton, Burlington and
Quincy; aud will draw its full share of
the spoils of the Pacific. In its present
incomplete state it does an immense bust.
ness. no; only in conveying produce east,
but in carrying merchandise west; and
this, when freight, from Rockford to Ga
lena is from 81 to 81 10 a hundred In
going by stage over this route the other
day, we passed dozens of wagons. loaded
with dry goods and oil, and other articles
of merchandise, bound for Galena and Du-
5uque-all which, without the railroad,
would have come up the river. The west
ernbound freight more than balances that
for the East, though the inequality is
lessening every year with increasing pro-
duction. This road has just paid semi
annual dividend of 1 per cent fattcr-
ing augury of its success when completed
By that time, indeed, it may suffer from
competition, and be compelled to reduce
its tariff at present pretty high, but it
will have opened the lead region and new
prairie districts of immense fertility
which, with the country already passed
through, must be peculiarly its own, and
will every year have larger and larger
stream of business over its line.
Omitting the isolated Sangamon and
Morgan road, from Springfield towards the
Illinois river, this was the first prairie read
constructed, and its success has done much
IN stimulating the southern routes It's
not merely in the productiveness of the
soil that these roads have the advantage
over eastern liues-they are easier to con-
struct, and easier to operate. In these
two items alone they have an important
element of success. At the outset, less
capital is required to construct, the road
and when constructed, its easy grades and
straight line require less power to ope-
rate it, making saving in fuel and in
wear and-tear of the track and of the engi-
nnS hi
convey freig ight and passengers with great
er profit 1t is thus, as | have mentioned
before, tina: the northern lines. between
the East and West, via Hudson River, n
York Central, Canada and Michigan Cent
raj roads, will have the advantage over
the southern. which run through the Ale
ghany mountains, doing a more profitable
business in either case, whether they con
vey at the same rates as their rivals, or
at reduced rates When they will carry
more.
Look at the first cost of few eastern
roads. The Western, between Worcester
and Albany, cost 1867 900 mile the
Boston and Providence S63 900: the Bos.
ton and Maine S67 900 the Eastern
$4,000; the Old Colony S47 900; the
Albany and Schenectady, S95 600 On
the other hand, tie Michigan Central cost
s29 600 a mile the Galena aud Chicago
was estimated at Sl4.500 | do not know
its exact cost, but let US suppose it was
half more. and we have this admirable
road at S22, 900. The estimates for west
ern roads nearly 20 as high as $50 900,
and frequently as low as Sl4 600 $780,
900 would be a fair average, probably.
As to the cost of operating The fs-
cal year ending iu 1882, on the Western
road, the cost was 40 per cent of the
gross receipts on the Boston and Maine
407 per cent; on the Eastern, 42 per
cent on the Boston and Providence, AZ
per cent on the Old Colony, % Q; on the
Boston and Worcester, 54 9; on the Fitch
burg, Is Z; on the Boston and Lowell,
594-an average of sos per cent On
the Michigan Central, for the same time,
it was 81 6 per cent, the road being open
ed through to Chicago only part of the
year On the Galena and Chicago, it was
Al 5. open only "a miles this year it was
reduced to 395 per cent. l use these
roads both eastern and western, as exam
pies, because happen to have the figures
by me other western roads would show
a similar difference. j. q. t.
2. S.-The Galena and Chicago cost,
fiud Sl9 600 very nearly the Milwaukee
and Mississippi, SO far as completed-70
miles-I9.4 400 the Southern Michigan,
$4,000 $4,000 is, probably, too high
for the average first cost of western roads,
but this will not generally include gravel
ling, which is very costly and very neces-
sary. y d. l.
ArrEcTIoxATE PIETY.-Mrs. b. was
pious old lady, but somewhat quaint in her
manner of speech She was afflicted with
an aged and ailing husband, who, as he
contributed nothing to bis own support,
was a heavy burden on the good old dame.
Lamenting this to neighbor she said she
:. didn't have none of the privileges of a
widow. If Mr.. was only dead. she might
get the widows wood. He had been sew
en- years dying, and sometimes she Ainder
thought that God had forgotten hana."
Nhe Philosophers stone has at last