The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-05-09
Root River Valley and Southern Min.
nesOta Railroad.

To the Editors Of the Mtanesotidn.
As the public mind is at this time par
ticularly directed toward the different con-
templated railroad lines in the Territory, al
low me through the columns of your paper,
to lay before your readers few facts and
figures relating to the above named road
The road is chartered to run from La Cres-
cent, "a town which promises soon to rival,
in consequence of its natural advantages,
and location upon the west side of the Mis-
sissippi river, the city of La Crosse,) to st.
Peter on the Minnesota River, and thence
westwardly to point on the Missouri Riv-
er south of the 18th parallel of latitude-it
being the only road at present chartered,
the line of which would occupy ground iden-
teal with that contemplated by the act of
Congress, making provision for the building
Of road from st. Peter westwardly, as far
as the Big Sioux river. Having had occasion
to examine somewhat into the affairs of this
Company, not only as to what it has done
but also as to the position Of its road west
in reference to Minnesota its connections
with other roads, and also the topography of
the country through which it is to run, we
have come to the conclusion that there is no
contemplated road in the territory, chartered
at the present time, more worthy Of the at
tention, (unpreudiced,) not only of the Leg
islature, but of the people at large, than is
this one.
With reference to what the Company has
done, it is simply this: Acting upon the
requirements Of their charter, two per cent of
the amount of their capital stock subscrip-
tions, was paid in at the the time of the
companys organization, and 10 per cent
since. Preliminary examinations of the
route between La Crescent and the Mime
sofa River were made by order of the Pres
ideRt during the summer of SO; but the
Engineer department was not fully organized
by vote of the Board until the annual meeting
in November last. In December the Engi-
neers commenced their surveys at the Mis-
sissippi river, and notwithstanding the in
clemencies of the weather, prosecuted them
sufficiently to decide the practicability of
the Root River Valley for a Railroad. For
fifty miles west of the Mississippi at La
Crescent, the maximum grade will not ex-
ceed secen feet to the mile, and more than one
half of this distance the grade will be a lev
ell. So far as the rest of the line is concerned,
every one may in some sort judge the ma
ture of the work, as it will be through an
open prairie country. The company are
continuing their surveys at this time, both
east and west of the Minnesota River
Twenty miles have been surveyed west o.
st. Peter, and the line is now being survey.
ed south-easterly from st. Peter to the
point in. the Root River Valley where the
surveys were terminated in January last
So much as to what this company have
done, and are still doing, and which we con.
slider to be efforts and expenditures made
for proper objects, and in the right direc.
ton.
So far as the position of this road is con.
cerned in relation to the natural interests
agricultural or otherwise, Of Southern Min
nesota we believe it has no competitor
We do not think its merits in this respect
will ever be called in question.
Connecting at La Crescent with one of the
best roads of Wisconsin, viz: the Milwaukee
and La Crosse, as natural extension west
wardly of that road, its position marks it al
road destined to be one of the great trunk
roads Of the country. glance at the MAJ
will show to every one that this assertion i,
true. We propose hereafter to detail more
fully, the many reasons why this road should
receive the favorable attention of the Legis
lature in the disposal of the Land Grant.
CITIZEN.