The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-02-26
7 II E MIN NESOTIAN,
Saint Paul, satuthag. 5shrrarg Is, 1883.
An Quite, to the Eas, through Wisconsin.

nm Ouacs " INC E8SS through WlScou1lu.
1t is undoubtedly, as we have before stated
the policy Of Minnesota to encourage all the
feasible plans entertained by communities and
capitalists abroad to reach us by railroad. But
at the same time, it is a matter of Legitimate
enquiry among ourselves as to which is the
shortest and most practical route to the great
commercial marts Of the country, and which
road will probably be built within the shortest
time! We have, on former occasions, presented
the practical advantages to Minnesota and the
States and great cities south OF us, that would
result from the construction, at an early day, OF
the Louisiana and Minnesota Railroad. We
have not, however, so fully spoken of the
shorter, and at this time apparently more
popular road, which gives us an Eastern outlet
through Wisconsin by way Of Madison and Chi
cago.
The present Legislature Of Wisconsin has
been busily engaged with different schemes for
constructing railroads throughout the extent Of
the State. Different lines running east and
west, as well as others traversng north and
south, have scvcraily had their respective add
vocates. What the final result has been, or will
be, We are, of course, not advised at this mo-
ment. We have noticed, however, that deep
interest has pervaded the minds of members in
regard to those lines looking to connection
of the southern and southeastern portions Of
the State with the northwestern, and thence
across the st. Croix into Minnesota. five un-
derstand the matter rightly, there are two favor
lite lines bearing in this direction--one with its
Meeting at Madison with the Milwaukee and
Mississippi Railroad, which is now completed
from Milwaukee to GAINESVILLE, and will next
year be opened to Madison. AS a part of this
latter scheme, it is also proposed to construct
road from GAINESVILLE directly to Chicago
And as a northwestern continuation of the
same great line, it is further proposed. after the
road reaches some eligible point on the ST.
Croix, to cross into Minnesota from thence to
St. Paul and St. Anthony; here cross the Mis-
sissippi; thence up the valley of the Minnesota
to the Missouri, with branch to the Red river
of the North, and also one to the st. Louis river
Of Lake Superior.
A bill to incorporate a company for the con-
structon of so much of this road and its branch
es as traverses Minnesota, is before our Legis-
lature at this time. Its title is, "a bill to in
corporate the Minnesota Western Railroad
Company 1t has already passed one branch,
and will doubtless 60 through the other with
out opposition. Its provisions arc liberal and
practical. Among the names of the corpora
tors we recognise those of some of the leading
RAILROAD men" and most shrewd and energetic
capitalists Of the country. We are assured
they have not been placed there for "Bun-
combe." 1t has been done with their full know
ledge and consent, and with the understanding
that they will take leading interest in con-
summating the great enterprise.
Without looking, at this time. to the immense
advantages which would result from the con-
struction of this road west of st. Paul, let us
briefly allude to the portion east of us as our
great thoroughfare in that direction In this
single respect, we regard it as measure of the
most vital Importance to St. Paul and the
whole Of Eastern Minnesota. If any one will
take the trouble to consult his map. he will dis
cover this to be the shortest and apparently
most natural route by which we can reach the
great lines constructed and constructing. d-
Terging east and south. Looking to the con-
structlon of roads over the shortest and most
advantageous routes, Madison is no greater dis
lance from st. Paul than Dubuque Then
when you reach Madison, you are at least
seventy-fve or a hundred miles nearer Chicago
the great railroad centre of the Northwest
than when at Dubuque.
Still further: The route cast by way of Mad
ison runs through the very heart Of Wisconsin.
Some have regarded the country between the
st. Croix and Wisconsin river as being very
nearly barren waste-a region unfit for cult
Tation-one which will never settle. This is
lar from the fact. The soil, taken as a whole.
may not be universally of so good character
as is found upon the other side of the Wscon-
SIN, but the country has other resources which
will more than compensate for this. The nro-
posed road would traverse the great timber re-
gions OF the Black and Chippewa rivers. The
extent OF the immense pineres situated upon
'nese streams, and their tributaries, is known
among white men only to the surveyor, the
hunter and few of the more enterprising in
the lumber trade. There is, at this time, no data
by which to calculate their apparently bound.
less resources. Then We have, in the same re.
glon Of country, inexhaustible beds of the best
quality OF iron. Perhaps, in some parts of it
there is also bituminous coal. In fact. we re-
gard this as highly probable. And with all
these advantages there are large bodies of ex.
ceilent farming and grazing lands, intcrspersed
along the valleys and upon the high prairics
which will speedily find occupants when once a
way Is opened to carry off the surplus
Again This road is sufficiently distant, in
lis passage through Wisconsin, from Lake Mich.
'gan and the Mississippi river, not to interfere
WITH or be dependent upon, the way trade and
travel naturally finding an outlet through eli.
Their. AS we before remarked, it runs nearly
through the centre of the State, southeast and
northwest distant from tho Niss;Ss;,,; g. -.