The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-02-02
Bridgeport. Wis.

T. Willard, merchants OF Prairie du Chen, !
purchased portion of the ground near the
Railroad at the end of the Wisconsin Bridge, |
in Crawford County, with the intention of
making it point for the transaction of business
and particularly to reach the trade of Grant
County. At that time there was no station
there and appearances for the future were not
promising. The purchasers Immediately laid
before the officers of the Road an application
for side-trsck and after some delay their ap-
plcaton was granted, depot erected and
Station was established which is called BRYCE
PORT. Messrs. D. & w. built store. house and
commenced business about the frat of October.
Owing to the fact that Grant is one of the best
counties in the State, and to the further fact
that this is the nearest and most natural outlet
for it's heavy productions Of grain and rrovi
sions. Bridgeport at once opened with most
encouraging trade; we are informed that for
the past two months there has been heavy
business done by d. d w., and that Il is in
crcasing in very fattcring manner. 1t is be-
ginning to be discovered that the trade of
Grant County is not all that Bridgeport will
naturally command-!or 25 miles north, on the
Black River road, the greatest share of the
grain and pork Of Crawford County has been
marketed at Bridgeport. Considerable live
stock has already been shipped here. and
during the next season heavy trade in this
line is anticipated
This young town is serious annoyance to
our old neighbor across the river, and we do
not wonder at it. Situated at the very outlet
of Grant County and commanding a large part
| Of the trade north, it must soon become one of
the active business places of this vicinity and
though we have always viewed with regret any
move which would retard the growth of our
beautiful sister city. yet we have no hesitation
in stating that the laws of commerce, as now
being developed, inevitably strike blow at it's
| prosperity. True, the rival is but spot be-
| tween the river and the bluffs, a mere hole in
the hills like our own town, but if the grain Of
Grant and portion of Crawford Counties can
be stopped there, its diversion from Pr. du
Chen must be severely felt by her business
operators. In a good wheat -eason the terri
tory commercially contiguous to Bridgeport
will yield 100000 bushels Of wheat alone to
say nothing Of other grains and provisions
That our neighbors see this danger, is evinced
by the struggles now being made to get ''Free
Ferries from their uniivaled location to the
grain producing regions around them.
This enterprise will not benefit Messrs
Dickinson g. Willard alone-the Railroad ant
city of Milwaukee will get large amount o
produce which has heretofore gone to St. Loui
ria Cassville and Wyalusing on the River
We learn that d. &, w. are m king arrange
ments 10 build in the Spring and it is their in
tention to have extensive accommodations 70
handling and storing Grain before another croI
comes forward. The Bridge across the Wis
consin at this point was built mostly at the ex
| pense Of the City OF Prairie du Chen and cos
nearly $35 ,O0O-it is said to be one of best in
the State. 1t was built to secure precisely what
this little town is now receiving rss ana 4
measures have been taken to secure Post
Office building will 60 forward in the Spring.
the bluffs will be torn down AZ in our place, and
small and narrow as the town site now may be
if it can but retain the trade which is now look
ing tow ards it, nothing can prevent its ltimat,
Importance among the villages of Crawford
County. Messrs. d. g. w. are new corners a
Prairie du Chen, but they have shown a fore
sight in this selection which is not the least @
the modification now felt by older reslden,
and property holders of the parent city.