Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-06-16
To the votsra of iowa County.

On Monday, the goth inst, you are called nPon
to vote for or against the Mineral Point Rad
Road proposition"
am led 10 believe from what I have heard,
that many of you are aboring under an erroneous
impression as to the true nature aud character OF
that proposition, in consequence of misinforma-
Iionor are for want of information, to form
any satisfactory opinion in relation to it. there
fore feel called upon as the President OF the Min
eral Point Rail Road company, 10 submit to you
an explanation of the proposition, and Of the cir
cumstances which led to it
After having caused preliminary survey of
the Rail Road 10 be made under the direction OF
Col r B Mason. Chief Engineer of the Illinois
Central r. r., the Directors gave notice that pro-
posals would be received up TO the 14th of Feb
ruary, for the construction of the entire road
Various proposals were received, some for the en-
tire road and some for portions of it. but the pro-
posals of Messers Chamberlains and Cooke, was
so much more advantageous TO the Company in
price and terms of payment than any other that
the Directors unhesitatingly and unanimously &C
cepted it, and closed a contract with them.
It is essential to right understanding OF the
proposition you are about to vote on, that you
should understand the provisions OF this contract
viii in the first place, however, say one word in
relation to the contractors. They are Joseph
Chamberlain and Selah Chamberlain of Cleve
land Ohio. and c. D. Cooke of Milwaukee The
Messrs ChamberIains formerly resided N Penn
svlyania. and Mr. Cooke in Vermont. They have
been employed for many years on public works
both canals and Rail Roads, have taken and per
formed with great satisfaction, very large con-
tracts for the construction of Rail Roads in Yer
mont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and
other states, and last year constructed the Miwau
kee and Mississippi Rail Road from Eagle 10
Rock River, about IS miles, and have recently
taken a new contract on that road from Rock
River 10 Madison, $50 miles), which they are
now working upon. The reputation of these
contractors, is that they are of the highest re-
sponsibilty, (said 70 be worth over Sl,OUo000)
untiring perseverance strict integrity, and prompt
| in the discharge Of all their undertakings.
By the contract with this firm, they undertake
and agree to construct single track Rail Road
rom Mineral Point to the State line on the route
surveyed by the Company, including all labor and
materials Of every kind and to equip it with the
necessary locomotives and cars, and to build the
depot buildings, in short to do and furnish every
hing from the start to the end necessary for a
complete road and to enable it to do the business
which may pass over it, and to have all earth EN-
5ankmeuts completed by the lst day of Decem-
Der next, and the whole road completed and in oP
Grafton by LIST July, 1884, [abOut one year from
| this time)
In consideration of this agreement of the con
J tractors, the company have agreed to pay them
n the following manner, the sum Of S393.t0o
which is the sum estimated by Col. Mason as the
cost of the road, with the single exception Of
iron rails, the price of which had advanced very
much between the date of his estimate and that OF