Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-09-23
A GOOD TIME COMING /:
Railroad Prospects at Prescott.

maze nDefaI donations OF lands to the State
of Wisconsin, for the purpose of building
railroads from Madison, Wis, to such point
on the st Croix as should be found, upon
survey. to be the most eligible, and from
thence TO Like Superior. At this time The
finances of the country and rapid settlement
of the Northwestern part of he. State caus
ed capitalists TO seek the grant, whose good
intentions and ability could not be question:
ed. The State bestowed the grant upon q
company that was then pushing forward TO
an early completion the longest road building
TO The Mississippi from Lake Michigan. Sew
eral parties of surveyors were early in 1857
set TO work. and careful and full survey of
the various routes leading TO the st. Croix
made. The routes were also examined by
the President of the Co. and several of the
officers, whereupon the route was located and
lands accordingly selected. upon the books of
the Secretary OF The Interior at Washington.
Depot grounds. and in many cases, right of
way was secured. At this place spacious
grounds for Depot, Machine Shops. ETC., were
scared. This, with the large tide of emf
grafton then setting in this direction, made
US feel that Young America would soon ex-
hihit fu u manhood in the st. Croix Valley
All remember the financial crisis hat reach
ell the giants of Wall St. as well as us. All
business was paralized even poor. ragged
currency would make ones eye water; when
one had TO paddle constantly TO keep from
going down stream, it would have been pre-
posterous TO have attempted pushing forward
to completion roads, or any ether public
works, when companies like the Erie had to
Issue bonds 10 keep the road lunning and
protect interests of the company. We hoped
one, two. or three years would set us right.
The fall OF 1860 commenced our national
conflict Secession had raised lis head To
the credit Of all loyal men be it said: that all
projects which would absorb eur resources or
attention were dropped and all eyes turned
where danger menaced eur national life. Our
young men, and many old, rushed to the field
of conflict, and the result has been, many
broad fields have laid idle. or been titled by
hands not devoted TO such labor when their
natural protectors were at kome. During
this time. not only the sources OF wealth in
this country were nearly dried up, but the
great father of waters. the artery of COM
merce which bear the fruits of our toll, also
nearly dried UP.
Eighteen hundred sxty-five has brought
forth more than at any time we had hoped in
any one year. Peace has smiled on our flag
Our brave soldier boys are ri home, and as
stouily manning the wheat fields as they had
the guns in our defence. The great river has
again filled its banks and is bearing away
larger yield than has been raised before in
this Valley in eight years.
Early in the spring our lcvoe commenced
to be crowded with emigrants; lands that
had been abandoned to the tax gatherer re-
ceived its settler; improved farms changed
hands, and thus for the last six months one is
| reminded of the land traders of ten years
| ago. with this exception nov it is purchas-
ed for actual settlement.
To crown our prosperity. railroads are be-
| ing pushed forward with more vigor than at
any time in the history of western railroad
building. Most of the way between this
place and ST. Paul, villages composed of
shanties for laborers. in grading railroad. have
| sprung mp in the last few days. We Ulder-
stand it is designed 10 complete the grade to
Hastings By spring. ready for the ties and
| iron. Our town is awake TO our interest, and
steps are being taken to give us the iron
horse as soon as the road can be completed to
St Paul. This gives us the river and rail-
road so long desired. 1t viii cause a rapid
development of the agricultural interest of
the st. Croix Valley. 1t will also give a
Minnesota connection with our Wisconsin
land grant at the State line as also very
much hasten the day for its completion.
There never was better time to purchase
lands for homes in any settlement of the
| West than at this time in our county. Lands
can be had at from SO to $40, as good as the
sun SHINES upon, with improvements that
makes home. and viii raise living while
it is being made better. We have prairie,
timber and water, better diyersifi ed than any
part of the West We ever visited. Our town
is responding to this state of things by the
numerous improvements that are srringng
up on all sides.
I