The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-05-09
Mississippi Valley Railroad.

We publish the following communication,
not because we endorse single argument or
point in it, but because it comes from re-
sponsible source; and we have no desire to
be charged with unfairness by those who
widely differ with US on railroad matters, as
does the writer of this. His figures are as
'wild as hawks" and hugely misrepresent
the facts in order to prove the feasibility Of
his route.
Let any man take the map, and two min
utes' examination, will prove that the short
est and most feasible route from st. Paul to
Chicago is directly by the Valley of the Mis-
sissippi to La Crescent and La Crosse, thence
by Madison to Chicago. Sixty miles by this
route are saved, over our correspondents
much boastcd road through Wisconsin to
Milwaukee, city where st. Paul has no
trade nor never will have, so long as the
great city of Illinois stands where she does.
The Valley road to La Crescent is not ad-
vocated by us, or any one else, because it
follows the Mississippi, but because the gen.
eral course of the Mississippi happens to be,
as far as the point named, in almost an air
line toscar1s Chicago. When this road is
once completed, it will be the great thor
oughfare between the two points. Our cor
respondent would have our grant of lands so
disposed Of as to give us only eighteen miles
of road in Minnesota out of St. Paul in the
direction of Chicago, while We are for hay
ing the whole distance from here to La
Crosse, some hundred and eighty miles, con-
structed within our own borders. Rest as
sured, Mr.. en-" this selling out to Wiscon-
sin will not suit our people. The interests
of the river towns in Minnesota will prove
too strongin the Legislature for your scheme.
At least we hope so.
OUR LAND GRANT RAILROADS AND THEIR
EASTERN CONNECTIONS.
To the Editors Of the Mnnesotian:
Some dissatisfaction is expressed that the
grant of lands in Minnesota did not contain
provision for a Mississippi Vally Road
A glance at the map and a comparison of
distances over the several routes will satisfy
every disnterested person that the routes
could not have been improved in that res
pect when we consider the interests of the
whole Territory, however much the interest
of the owners of several town sites might
have been advanced by such Road. 1t
should also be born in mind that there are
no unoccupied lands upon the line of such
road to pay the cost of its construction
Consequently it could only been built by di-
recting the proceeds of the lands appropria-
ted for the other Roads-and when built it
would have to compete with the navigation
of the river, and it is doubtful if it would
pay the expenses of operating it when built.
But the most serious objection of all is that
who are expected to furnish the
money to build the Roads, would at once
reason that if they must build this long
Valley Road without any lands upon the
line of it to pay the cost of construction, and
which when built would be no source of
profit, they would at once refuse to advance
the means to build the other Roads that
have the lands and that will be profitable
when built. In sthis way the entire grant
would have proved worthless to the Terri
tory.
A Valley Railroad could only be of i'm
portance in three points of view: 1st, as a
route to the Eastern States and the cities
upon Lake Michigan. I'd, for the cities on
the lower Mississippi. Sd for the local &C
commodation of the towns upon its line.
AS to the first view, glance at the map and
a statement of the distance of the several
routes will show that it is of no account
The nearest route to Chicago, Milwaukee or
any of the Eastern States from any town
upon the Mississippi is to leave the river at
the nearest Railroad as will be seen from
the following statement of distances from
the several towns upon the river which are
named in the grant as starting points: