The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-23
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT
Railroad Communication Between
tho Mississippi and Lake Superior.

tho Mississippi and Lake Superior.
To the Editor Of the Pioneer:
A Railroad from the Mississippi to Lake
Superior has been prominent and favor
tie subject of legislation in Minnesota ever
since the organization of our territorial
government; and while there has been
but one sentiment as to the feasibility of
such route, and never doubt as to the
vast consequences which would follow the
completion of such road, it is curious to
observe that local jealousies, and personal
or political rivalries, have always interfered
to influence Minnesota legislatures to such
an extent that their action has constantly
and always made any prosecution of the
work totally impracticable. There is not
as yet single sensible act upon our stat
ute book relative to this great enterprise;
and, so far as Minnesota is concerned, we
seem to-day to be as far from realizing
our hopes in this direction, as when this
vast region was wilderness, peopled only
by the savage and the game he hunted
for subsistence.
l have not however referred to this
subject for the purpose Of reviewing our
own errors or lamenting past follies; but
simply to call the attention of your readers
to the fact that this grand scheme is about
to be consummated by other hands, and
to stimulate our citizens to efforts which
will secure due share of the benefits
which will result from the earl, aud GER
tain completion of the road
BY an act of Congress approved June
9th, 1856, there was granted to the State
Of Wisconsin. for the purpose of aiding in
the construction OF railroad from the St.
Croix River or Lake, between townships
| 25 and 81, to the west end Of Lake Supe-
rior and to bayfield,, every alternate sec
ton of land designated by odd numbers,
for six sections in width on each side OF
said road.
A company was duly Incorporated by
the State of Wisconsin to carry out the
purposes of the grant; the road was sur
veyed and located in 1858, and the grant
thus secured. Some twenty miles of the
line from Hudson have been graded, and q
large number of ties have been secured
and deposited along the route. Owing
however, to the general arrangement O.
financial affairs, the work had stopped an6
nothing had been attempted since 1859
l am informed, however, that the
company has passed into the hands o
Eastern stockholders; that meeting wa:
held at Hudson on Monday last, and new
Board of Directors elected, composed O
the following gentlemen:
Ezra Clark, Jr, New York City.
w. w. Marsh, Schooley Mountain, New
Jersey.
D. A. Baldwin, New York City.
Edwin Mcneil, Kingston, PENNSYLVANIA.
Levi Hubbell, Milwaukee.
John Comstock, Hudson.
Scion H. Clough, s.
H. S. Clapp. g
Judge Wetherby 6
A. P. Berthued, Washington, New Jersey.
Henry NJ. Rice, st. Paul
Subscriptions to the capital stock hav
been made in Eastern cities sufficient t
ensure an early competitor OF the road
and the Directors, at their first meeting
authorized and instructed their Executiv
Committee to make such a contract for tn
first forty miles as would secure its com
pletion in 1864. understand, also tina
it is in contemplation to commence ope
rations on the other end of the line, o.
Lake Superior, at an early day.
shall revert to this subject again
giving some details of the route and it
advantages, and of the great revolution
it will be likely to effect in our trade an
commerce.