Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-08-20
Railroads and Freights.

We make the following extracts from
an article in the La Crosse Republican
clipped in advance from the Hudson Re
publican (SeymOur's new paper. which
is soon to appear. Speaking of the fos
SLICED and thriftless condition of HUDSON
and the causes thereof, the writer AYERS
it is " simply because a few avaricious
old fogies stand in the way of enterprise
and repress faith and pluck in others by
their cautious bug boos aud mutual
distrusts." From almost universal testi-
monY we judge that another just such
class Of avaricious old fogies" once in
tested Prescott, deadening and smother
ing with their presence, what little public
spirit ard enterprise there might have
been here. That day has passed, however,
A new era has dawned, and the dismal
and ruin-freighted croakiugs Of these
Shylocks have nearly, if not quite, ceased.
Having under consideration the great
need in the st. Croix Valley of railroad
communication and the future prospects
for such roads, the following timely warn
ing and healthy advice is given:
The interior of the Wisconsin counties
on the st. Croix, is sadly in need of rail-
road communication with Lake Michigan,
and the Mississippi and st. Croix Rivers,
aud if the citizens of this favored Hudson
had sufficient vim to penetrate Pierce and
st. Croix counties with railroad, their
enterprise would be richly rewarded by
the acquisition of trade that would
yield benefits vastly greater than the cost
of its construction, while it would double
the value of farms in the interior of these
counties, by diminishing the cost of trans
portation; but after sleeping over railroad
matters a little longer they cities viii per-
haps, wake up some fine morning to the
fact that St. Paul and Saltwater have
stolen the march upon them, and ffanked
them by the construction of the Tomah
81 St. Croix Railroad, on line east and
north Of both Prescott and Hudson, Just
as the wide awake Minnesotians have
secured their road to Lake Superior.
Instead of waiting for the Tomah r
r. to reach the st. Croix at some point
get to be determined, energetic efforts
SHOULD be put forth to commence work at
an early day on the 81. Croix end of that
road; and when it penetrates the two
counties of St. Croix and Pierce it will
be freighted with the products of thou
sands of farms that would be quadrupled
in value by these quicker, cheaper and
larger facilities for transportation. In
stead of sending RATS down the st. Croix
aud Mississippi and bringing back wood
manufactures and machinery from remote
markets, the Valley of the st. Croix
should not only manufacture these arti-
cles for home use, but should be able to
supply many of the prairie and woodless
districts of the west. Unless due atten-
ton is given to these matters by the PEG.
pie of St. Croix comfy, other localities
will appropriate these benefits to their own
use, regardless of the effects upon this
county; and from present indications, the
apathy Of Hudson and the activity Of St.
Paul threatens to make the three conn
ties or Pierce, St. Croix and Polk sub
servient aud tributary to the st. Paul and
Duluth Railway, instead of putting these
three opulent and thriving counties in the
"Dress Circle" to which they are emf.
nently entitled if guided by good counsel
and true friends.