The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-01-20
From the st. Croix Union
St. CrOix and Like SuDerior Railroad

CrO1X anu Lake superior Railroad.
The citizens of the city of Saltwater and sur
rounding country assembled at the Lake House
Hall, pursuant to notice. on Wednesday, the
Sd inst, at two and half o'clock, P. NJ, for the
porpose of examining the maps and profiles OF
q proposed railroad, uniting the waters of the
st. Lawrence with the navigable waters of the
Mississippi river, and also hearing an explana-
ton by R. Patten Esq, chief engineer of the
railroad that would effect the union of said
rivers.
At the appointed hour the house was called
to order by J. E. McKusick, Esq, and on mo-
ton, H. K. McKinstry, Esq, was chosen Chair
man, and Theodore E. Parker, Secretary.
The meeting was then addressed by o. Hoyt
Esq, of Hudson, Wis, who fully and clearly
showed and explained the necessity of a rail
road, leading from Superior City, at the head
OF Lake Superior in the State of Wisconsin. to
the head of Lake st. Croix, being the head oil
navigation for frst-class boats, running from
Galena north up the Mississippi river. In his re-
marks he clearly showed by unmistakeable sta.
tistics that if a road had been opened and in
operation during the last year between the
above mentioned points, and the canal finished
uniting Lake Superior with Lake Huron, as il
now is, the Territory of Minnesota, and all that
part of Wisconsin lying above Prairie du Chen
would be one-fourth of a million of dollars
expense only, and that the freights on importa-
ton OF such articles as are brought into our
towns and cities by merchants and grocery
men.
r. Patten, Esq, then addressed the meeting
explaining the maps and profiles of the propos.
ed railroad, uniting the waters of the East with
those of the West, which road had been previ-
ously surveyed, every inch, by himself-show-
lug that that great object can be attained by a
railroad, 1872 miles in length, of which 116 will
be on air lines, the remaining 16 miles only
would have to be on curves.
He showed conclusively that goods can and
will be brought from Buffalo, New York city
via the ship canal, via Superior City to any and
all points npon the head of navigation of the
Mississippi river, one hundred per cent cheap
er than they now are received by the ordinary
route through from Galena to Chicago, and
further, that the total expense of building and
equipping said railroad would not exceed two
and one-fourth millions of dollars. That said
road would be completed in 1857. That by this
route the distance from this oity to Detroit
Michigan, will be shortened 400 miles,
Messrs. Patten, j. E. McKusick, C.. CARL
and others, addressed the meeting. After
which, on motion, committee was appointed
for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions to the
capital stock of said road-which committee
consisted of C. Carli, A. Harris, and Theo. E.
Parker.
On motion. the thanks Of this meeting was
rendered o. Hoyt, w. Torbet. and r Patten, for
their kindness and services in visiting our city
for the purpose of explaining and exhibiting
the maps and profiles of said Railroad.
On motion, the meeting adjourned to meet
on Monday evening, the Sth inst, at P. M lat
the School House.
On motion, the minutes Of this meeting was
ordered to be published in the papers of the
st Croix Valley.
H. X. MCKINSTRY,
Cha irman.
THEo. E. PARKER, Sec'y.