Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-02-14
For the Tribune & Telegraph.
Kenosha & Beloit Rail Road
4 WaIicorth Co. Farmers opinion.

. Z
citizen of our town, to subscribe to the CAPITAL
stock of q Rail Road known as the kenosha &
Beloit Railroad, which road 1t is desired should
make Genoa or some other part of this township
point in its course west.
flthough have known something of this road.
since its start, the points to be made, its present
condition, the circumstances that surround it
apd the plan of its subscription were all new to
me, SO hat notwithstanding the earnest effort
made by the gentleman who visited me, did
not subscribe to the project.
l urged objections to my subscribing
Firstly, that had stock in the Fox River r. r.
and that my interest called me to sustain this
enterprise rather than aid competition which
this kenosha & Beloit Railroad would be-Sec-
endly, that we had Railroads enough to supply
the demands of this section of the country; that
/ lived within four miles of a depot upon the
Wisconsin Central Railroad which would con-
vey the products of my farm to Chicago; " with
in thirteen miles from the Racine Railroad now
constructed TO the point in view, which would
afford me channel to good Wisconsin port
Thirdly, that had little or no faith in the pay
able elements claimed for this project. All these
objections were ably answered by the gentle
man before named; and though still persisted
i'll Withholding my name from the subscription
list, l was so impressed with the faets addueed,
and the claims of this enterprise as to give it
candid examination.
ing and producing district the surplus of which
is as heavy perhaps, as any ether section of the
country, and that must tind an outlet to the lakes
at some point or other A few years ago the
business of this whole country as well as that
of large district west and south west of this
place was transacted at Kenosha as being the
nearest, most natural and all things considered,
our best market. Then Racine and Milwaukee
on the north, Waukegan and Chicago on the
South existed as they now do commanding their
natural business and competing with kenosha
for hers. The trade however never went out of
its natural channel except upon some occasional
fluctuation and excitement, until Chicago reach
ed her Railroads up into that part of the territory
west of US, and Milwaukee constructed her roads
so near as to attract portion of this trade, and
Racine reached out her arm to grasp a mite OF
trade, before entirely foreign TO her. This l am
convinced is essentially true in relation to the
country west of Lynn Township. The trade
and business of this part of the country, always
the legitimate business of kenosha, has never
been attached TO any other point, notwithstand-
ing the repeated efforts made for that purpose.
Nor can we presume it ever will be, unless we
presume these other points can offer better pri-
ces, will possess superior facilities for the
transaction, of such business. | am aware of
no good reason for this presumption; as kenosha
now possesses a good harbor; mOneyed lnstltu-
Itions-competition-ac intelligent business
ulel anu al OtliCt eo IiO OASi-
ed elsewhere, and to sustain or improve them,
equal to her neighbors is the only way she can
sustain herself and her prosperity.
During the last few months we have had q
Railroad running from Richmond to Chicago.
with many others, l had supposed we should
convey most of our produce over this road to
Chicago, and at this point would lind a better
market than at any other point on the lake
Arguing both to myself and others, that Chicago
being large City and possessing all these con-
venicnces tor the transaction OF business, her
trade would demand, AID at such places so large
amount of business center, to attract the
monied business and speculative operators of the
country, that prices would range higher, and a
demand be sustained, that could not be presum
cd in smaller places In p1eof of my belief IA
these arguments, L shipped portion OF my
products upon this route to Chicago, but in the
sequel, to learn by dear bought eX pcrience, that
my position was wrong as 1t ost me within one
cent per bushel rs muah for transportation as 1t
would have done by wagon to kenosha, and
received thirteen cents per bushel less than did
a ncighbor OF mine who sold his wheat in Keno
sha the same day sold mine in Chicago. This
great difference IN prize L found attributable not
to the error of any ofthe arguments that induced
me to go there, but TO the imrlense quantities
of grain received there from the interior OF the
state, which is inferior very; to that generally
produced in Wisconsin. Although my grain
ties, it was cast into large pile ofthe most mis-
cradle kind-oi grain to share the general inferi-
GRITTY, render the poor little better, and
was paid no more than him who brought the
vlest trash in the pile. Making some little al
lowance for increased expenses, occasioned by
the rush and hurry and abundance OF business
there to be transacted, the main difference l am
convinced is thus occasioncd. OF this we can
hardly expect a remedy, the interiorty of this
grain being the result of soil and climate, rather
than Of cultivation. For these reasons, am OF
the opinion that Chicago will mover be market
for this section of country, and that whilst oar
connections with her are great advantages TO US,
yet in this particular view, they arc as though
they did not exist.
am not alone IN this experience and opinions
many Of my ncighbors, some of whom have tried
it more cffcctualv than l have, and who arc
much heavier farmers, agree with me, and as
evidence of their faith have hauled the reinain-
der of then grain to kenosha.
/ am of those too, who anxious TO do the best
possible with my produce, and attracted away
from my natural mart BY high sounding reports,
have tried Racine and Milwaukee markets; in
two instances l received a tri1e over the kcnosha
market, but nothing like a remuneration tor the
extra time expense and labor. In one instance
received a tritle less than l could have obtained
at kenosha in every other case my extra labor
and expense was my lost. Such is the exper--
ence OF almost every farmer OF tIls Iocaltv- Inc
construction of the Racine Railroad 10 Elkhorn
will doubtlessly make some difference in this
state of things, and IL the event, the kenosha
Railroad is not ultimately built to Genoa, or
some other point in this township much of our
produce will find the nearest depot upon that
road, and reach the lake at Racine. This it will
not do if the kenosha road is so constructed, as
the same difference would then exist, as when
neither point had Railroad
/ All we can dc-all that ever has been done to
change the current of our business from kenosha
has signally failed and been TO our damage rath-
or than otherwise Kenosha is our natural mar
keith spite of all the improvements about to
entice us elsewhere it is still our market, and
we 90 there lust as we did twelve years ago,
vita ea- lumber wagons hauling from 50 to As
bushels of grain each load and spending AZ least
two DAYS time All the Railroads around and
about us have not vet saved us single loads
hauling they have not yet made market for
us at home, as a Railroad running to proper
point would; consequently, $50 far as marketing
purposes are concerned we are Just as though
the re was not Railroad in the country, and are
struggling under all the inconyenlences~ofb being
behind the times.
! 1t IS at once apparent sort OF necessity is
created for a Railroad, from some part of .his
township TO our ma tural market kenosha. Such
a road we would use TO convey our products tc
market to bring us in return, lumber, shingles
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