Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-01-15
West wisconsin r. r.

1
which tho West Wisconsin railroad viii
take when it leaves Black River Falls
Its alleged destination is St. Paul. anc
there are two routes surveyed--one by
way of Eau Claire, Menominee and
Hudson; the other by way of DnraHd
River Falls and Prescott. The road
will take one route or the other next
spring. We desire the latter, and it be-
hooves the people TO be waking up, for
there is a mighty effort bcing made, by
men of means and influence, to bring
about the adoption Of the former.
The advantages the route via Prescott
possesses over that by way Of Hudson.
though generally well known, may with
propricty be mentioned here.
LIST. II is the most direct route. The
great aim of the road is to secure the
most direct route from St. Paul 10 Chi.
cago. Assuming that this has been ad-
hered 10 as far as it is now built. a glance
at the map will satisfy the reader that
Durand aud Prescott are nearly in line
with Black River Falls aud ST. Paul,
while Eau Claire and Hudson can only
be rescued Icy u longer route. The diff
| ference between tie two routes is about
thirty miles.
Cd. II is the most feasible route. Be
sides being the shortest, it is generally
conceded to be the best adapted for the
easy construction of n road. Its grade
is more uniform; the streams can be
bri6ged with less expense, and the sec
ton of country through which it is sur
veyed will compare favcrably with any
in the State in its agricultural products,
timber, &c.
Sd II is the chartered route. The
survey, via Prescott, is the one accepted
and on file in the department at Wash
ington. The land grant is located along
this survey, and to avail themselves of its
aid, the company must build the road
this way. But the charter expires, we
believe, year from next June. SO that
the work must be begun within that time,
if at all, or the land will revert to the
government unless q renewal is granted.
4th. 1t a0W connect Nth the Has
tings and Dakota road. BY coming to
Prescott it will meet the eastern terminus
of the Hastings and Dakota road, and
forward its immense freightage by the
most direct route, to Milwaukee, Chica-
90 and the east. No other line will be
able to compete with it, for it will have
the advantage of distance and location in
its favor. But should it go to Hudson.
and road connecting Hastings and
Hudson be built, it would make differ
ence of nearly fifty miles from Hastings
to Chicago--a distance that would afford
other roads n chance TO compete success
fully for the freight and travel of the
Hastings and Dakota road.
Besides these advantages there are still
others that speak powerfully in our IA
vor, and cannot fail TO exert some infu.
eDce in the final location of the road
To reach St. Paul the St. Croix river
must be crossed. At Prescott the river
can be spanncd by bridge 500 feet
long, while at Hudson it will require one
over a mile long TO Cross the lake. Or,
to avoid the lake the road must run along
the southern shore to It's head, Crossing
Willow river to get there. and pass the
St. Croix at Saltwater, six miles distant,
and even then, be no nearer ST. Paul, in
n direct line, than at Hudson.
Again, from Hudson to St. Paul the
road must be built entire, and through
region not naturally adapted to that pur
pose; from Prescott it will in a few miles
reach a road partly graded, between St.
Paul and Hastings. which. being secur-
ed, will aid very materially in the bu ID
ing of the iuad.
Thus, briefly, have We given the advan-
tages which this route possesses over the
other. With all these in our favor, we
may reasonably expect, by due attention,
10 secure the road. But it is not safe to
stand idly by while our neighbors are
making every efor:--stIaining every
nerve TO courteract these great in6uen
ces, SO favorable 10 Us. Rumor has nj
ready designated the route by way Of
Eau Claire and Hudson as the one cho
sen by the company, but we have heard
nothing decisive from tie officers of the
road. But il will be decided by spring,
and in the meantime we must follow up
the advantage we now have, and secure
the road if possible.
NEWSPAPER CHANeE.-We under