The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-05
Opening OF the La Crosse and Milwaukee
RailrOad-Its Present Position md Future


Railroad-Its Present Position and Future
Prospects.
The formal opening OF the Ia Crosse and Milwaukee Rail
road took place the I4th On that day train
Of eighteen drawn by two powerful locomotives, LETT
Milwaukee for Ia Crosse. The excursion party consisted
Of about five hnndrcd invited guests and there pre-
sent people from all parts Of the country. The
tense enthusiasm prevailed throughout, and every
stopping place along the line the most lively demonstra
tons of JOY were apparent Notwithstanding the length
Of the train and the delays at different points the entire
distance in about hours over road equal 70
any the country for strength and sodty Of construc-
The highest grade the line is forty three feet 70
he mile but most of the distance is nearly level
very straight The contractor Seiah Chamberlain, ESQ.,
has than performed his duty in this respect He
given the company road equal in every respect to tho
New York Central Hudson River-one capable Of the
| highest speed, with the most economical and
tear. The country through which the La Crosse
| and Milwaukee Railroad passes is beyond all
| question the finest this side of the Mississippi
river For the first forty miles ives; of Milwaukee the
road passes through rich wooded country the soil Of
| which is very fertile, and where clearings have bee
made fine farms located This section is cut up into
small settlements and the inhabitants principally
Germans who highly cultivate small farms and produce
in the aggregate large crops From Horizon the junction
with the Horizon Railroad Portage the La Crosse road
| passes through rich prairie country. For miles on
each side OF the road fields Of wheat extend and tho Weld
per immense. The soil is easily cultivated and
the increase in population is the villages rapidly
springing up in every direction All along the line pre
Nparatons aoing for the cultivation Of much
greater breadth OF land than usual for spring crops
few years viii these prares covered with large and
comfortable farm houses and immense barns filled IL
their capacity with grain. There be limit 70 tina
product Of this region and the winter wheat here grown
commands better price than any yet offered in the East
| ern markets
At Portage, a distance Of ninety five miles from
| Milwaukee, found a large and thriving city
| II is quite old settlement for that section
| of country, and numbers several thousand in.
habtants This is the halfway stopping place
between Milwaukee and La Crosse and is destined to be
point Of considerable importance. The land grant road
from Madison will, when completed, with the
main this place, and doubtless before many years
elapsc railroad will be constructed from Portage in
norherly direction for opening up the resources
OF region located north Of the line OF the La Crosse
road From Portage west the country is comparatively
new. There along the line several growing villages
Of which already OF some magnitude, bu, their
growth up this time been entirely independent or
railroad influences Klbourn City Lisbon and Sparta are
situated at favorable points must become large
places The power at kilbourn City equal TO any
manufacturing point east Of Lake Michigan being To-
Gated about half way between the lake and the Mssssip
pi river IT has great advantages for the distribution OF
its products. few years must give Kibourn City large
population. The agricultural throughout the west
section OF the Ia Crosse Railroad already mpor
tant places and become active business points for
the surrounding country At Greenfield the tunnel passes
through high ridge OF rock distance OF thirteen hun
dred feet This stuiendous piece Of work and one
which long delayed the completion OF the line
| The energy OF the contractor, Mr.. Chamberlain
equal to the task imposed, and II finished long
before the appointed time Upon emerging from the west
ern opening OF the tunnel the road enters upon Ia
Crosse valley, and from that point 10 the Mississippi river
passes through the most beautiful country in the world
This valley about ten miles wide bounded on the north
and south by ridge Of hills The soil is exceedingly rich
from the lowest the highest points capable Of the
most extensive cultivation Along this river range there
is series Of valleys all OF abou, the same width and
length, all tributary the In Crosse Railroad The soil
is heavy, rich black loam and grows wheat corn in
great abundance The country throughout Is sufficiently
wooded for farming purposes and take all in all fncr
territory cannot be found desired The local business
Of the la Crosse Railroad from the country Immediately
along the line must IN few be immense Its
graphical location gives the control OF the products
millions OF Of land and such land cannot be found
along the line Of any other railroad cast Of the Mississippi
river. With ne climate, with products comprising the
staple grains for breads,ufs with unlimited area and
with population rapidly extending its entire sur
face the future fs Of hope and The mos, cxtrayagant
calculations canno, fail Of realization
Ia Crosse the western Of this road located
the Mississippi at the junction with the Ia Crosse and
Black rivers. IL ~ n city numbering about seven
thousand inhabitants and IL growing very rapidly Here
tofore has been comparatively shut from the world
The opening Of railroad, therefore, bringing II In direct
communication with the rest OF mankind, Is OF
vast importance TO every citizen, and give an i'm
pulse 10 business such has before realized
within ,s history Ia Crosse the highest point on
the Mississippi river touched by railroad connecting
with the Of Lake Michigan. This fact s of Itself
sufficient 20 turn the attention Of the commercial commu.
nifty 10 its favorable location II gives II ~ control &C
the Upper Mississippi business and makes ts great cen
tire 81 distribution over the great Northwest, All tho
cities Of Wisconsin and Minnesota bordering the Msss.
sp are nov tributaries TO Ia Crosse and by this route
- Paul, - Anthony. Minneapolis and Prescott, are
brought full twenty four hours New York BY the
Ia Crosse Railroad the distance between - Paul and
Now York can be easily made in less than three
days. The trade OF the Upper Mississippi Is in
creasng With wonderful rapdty. aud Will be IN
few years second in importance 20 other section.
An extensive system q railroad improvements has been
inauguracd in Minnesota and as the principal lines
der contract 70 seah Chamberlain ts their satisfactory
completion within the appointed time y guaranteed Mr..
tractors. Throughout the financial ranc and rcvuscn
Of the past year he atercd day in his operations
pushed the work aud completed the line three months
before the stipulated time lie is also the most honorable
and conscientious man ~ hs profession Tor he docs every
of this There not better constructed railroad IN the
United states and speed Of thirty and forty miles per
hour be made d with and perfect safety up
pos,c IN crosse, the Mississippi river. j. IN Crescent,
The eastern terminus Ct the southern Minnesota Railroad
w western direction 81 Mankato on the Minnesota river
and then ~ southwcsiory direction 10 the Sioux river
This rni length Of road y less than
" the Ia Crosse aud throw immense trac
that road TO reach the waters Of lake Michigan.
About hity miles Of the southern Minnesota Railroad
now graded, and the rails will be laid IN time TO give
an outlet ~ the growing crops of that section. Wi
mona, point Minnesota the river about forty miles
above ~ Crosse. Will be the eastern terminus Of tho
Transit railroad, line connecting with the southern Mn
ncsoa Railroad at Rochester, point about ulty miles
back from The Mississippi river. This j. another tributary
Ia The Ia Cfossc Railroad y only that line that
the products Of the country back u Winona reach
lake navigation =
Tho raldd growth of 81. Paul 81 Anthony and Mnrc-
arois n beyond a precedent The excursonisls left Ia
osc on tho steamers Northern Belle and Northern Light
ana ,f,cr fine run reached 81 Paul on the morning or
dav which Cor mdness and beauty would have been
table 20 o much lower latitude The courtesy and urbanty
LII liz NArfhn In A..