Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-04-02
lCommunicated.l
The Oshkosh & Mississippi r. Ret
ter from Hon. Wv. Field.

Mr.. CovER:-For the benefit OF
many of the numerous readers of the
HERALD who are interested in the
building OF the Oshkosh & Mississip-
pi River Railroad, | submit few ex-
tracts from the report of the engi-
neer, Mr.. A. L. Mortimer, just receiv>
ed, with such brief remarks as seem
to be of interest at this time. The re-
port commences as follows:
"The construction of a railway
in such close proximity to one Of
great capacity and durable structure
which has hitherto been operated
with muab success, and which by se-
cret consolidation has secured large
control of the trave! and traffic of the
country through which it passes
may seem to such as have not given
due attention to the progressive
wants of the public, as in advance Of
its necessities. 1t would be easy to
show however, that such an opinion
is entertained only where there is q
limited knowledge of the facts, both
with reference to the location and
designs OF your road, as well as the
character and extent of the varied
resources OF the country through
which it is 10 pass, and the rapidly
increasing Necessity for greater IA
cilities of transit between the ia 81
and the West.
Penetrating, as this portion Of
your line will, one of the richest por,
tions of Wisconsin, from which q
heavy and rapidly increasing local
traffic has been derived by the Nils
waukee Il Prairie du Chen Railway
Company, and attending as is pro-
posed, direct communication from
Cassville by way of the Turkey Riv,
er Valley with the vast extent OF
productive country west of the Mis-
sissippi river, which at this time, is
unsupplied with convenient railway
transportation; or connecting at Du-
buque with already established lines;
also approaching, as does the North
ern or Eastern division, near to the
immense forests Of timber for which
there will be o greatly increased de-
mand on the as yet but very partial
ly occupied prairies along your line
and beyond the Mississippi; all class
es Of business would receive new
impulse undeyeloped resources
would thus be made available; water
powers brought into operation to a
greater extent for the reduction of
the forests into lumber for domestic
uses; other manufactures erected
along the route and beyond the river
to meet the inevitably increased de-
mands ofthe community; agriculture
immensely stimulated, and all kinds
Of labor and property greatly en-
HANGED IN value, and the peol lie gen.
orally benefited.
1t is unnecessary for me here to
dwell more particularly upon other
points of local or general Importance,
the country on either side of this por.
ton ofyour proposed road being fa>
miliar to the most Of your number,
embracing and draining as it will a
wide belt of productive county. No
doubt can possibly be entertained
that it will engage heavy and remu-
nerative local traffic and derive an
immense carrying trade from beyond
the Mississippi"
The report is accompanied with
map and profile, full description
of the lines run, estimates of cost for
grading, culverts, road crossings, me-
chanical structures, equipments Of
engineers, and cars, stations, fencing
and all other expenses necessary for
the completion Of a first class road.
About 60 per cent. Of the line is
straight, and 28 per cent. level. The
report concludes as follows:
Il have aimed to lay before you in
this report and accompanying map
and profile the information you
sought for when this survey was or
dered to be made, and to demonstrate
to you that a feasible route for
railway lies along tt height of land
known as the "Old M tary Ridge"
and so on down from it . the shore
of the Mississippi river at some point,
and that first class road may be
constructed in a reasonable time, and
at reasonable expense, ard with ev-
cry prospect that i will yield prof
liable return for the outlay required
to complete and equip it."
The directors OF this road met in
Madison Saturday the 23d ult., loca-
ted portion Of their line, and took
the necessary preliminary steps to
start the enterprise forward this seas
son. The directors being in the city
Of Oshkosh feel quite sanguine that
their city will furnish material aid
Immediately for that purpose. Co.
yer, the future of Grant county to
me is bright. Ihope and expect to
see within the next five years, if
crops are abundant and prices high,
three lines railway through Grant
county or in progress or construction,
with many other great and valuable
public improvements. With our pop
ulation largely increased, our assess
ed valuation nearly doubled, the per
cent. of taxes thereby diminished,
and the people everywhere express
ing their thanks that the men who
opposed the progressive wants ofthe
age, had not the influence to arrest
these great internal improvements.
Respectfully,