The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-01-13
OUR RAILROAD COMMITTEE NAP.
PLETON.
APPLETON, Wis, Jan. g. 1870

the citizens Of Manitowec had arrived
consult with the citizens of this place ur
on the project of conneetingthe two place
by a railroad. In the parlors of the Lie
wake House we found large and enthr
siastic gathering of the leading men q
both cities eagerly discussing the propc
sition. It was, considering the many dit
ferent elements present, the most harmo
NOUS council we ever attended. Their
was no question as to the feasibility O
the project, no ifs or butts in the way, bu
both parties confidently stated what coult
be done, what each would do toward tn,
general result, and both expressed impa
thence to begin the work. 1t was propo
sed to act in CO Injunction with Nesnaii ano
Menasha to build from Mani.owoc on,tht
old Manitowoe and Menasha track to 8
point about ten miles distant from thi;
place, thence to curve to the north so as
to come here, and then continue to Me
nasha and Neenah. Tie additional
amount of track required to accomplish
this is estimated to be less than two miles.
This is by no means a new project but
was contemplated by the originators of
the road, and provision made for it in the
charter. -ai 14e. u.s.
The Appleton people present heartily
endorsed this plan and pledged them
selves to give it substantial aid in as great
proportion as either Manitowoc, Neenah
or Menasha. With general good feeling
at the result of the interview, all present
adjourned to the dining room of the Lee
wake House and partook of splendid
repast prepared by Col. Blood.
Next day in livery sleighs furnished for
the purpose, the Manitowoc delegation
were taken to the various points of inter
est in the city, and spent most of the fore
noon in looking at the water power and
manufactures. In the afternoon they
took leave of Appleton and in company
with delegation from that city went to
Menasha to confer with the leading men
there. No such enthusiastic reception as
that of the evening previous greeted
them, but an ominous, chilling, almost
sulkiness. It was almost i'm
possible to discuss railroad matters at all,
and when the matter was finally brought
to focus, the general disposition was to
throw wet blanket over the whole affair.
Evasion, temporizing, petty jealousy of
Appleton aad disinclination to work with
Appleton to secure the general good,
the whole discussion.
AS citizen of Manitowoc, knowing
personally nearly every member of the
your correspondent feels as
sured that the report respecting the CO.
operation of Menasha in the building of
this road was by no means encouraging to
the friends of the Western road in Man
itowoc, or hattering to the people of Me.
nasha.
Yet the hope of Western road should
never be given up on this account. 1t is
the thing, and the only thing that will in
fuse life and vitality to Manitowoc and
make her what she ought long ago to
have been,-a large and wealthy city.
There is at present for the people of
what seems to be choice be-
tween two roads, One, a road on the
Lake Shore leading to Milwaukee; the
other, West into the interior OF the coun-
try. The latter is unhesitatingly the
choice. A Lake Shore road, while it
would relieve the business of your city
from the cramped position in which it is
placed during the winter season, destroy
the monopoly enjoyed by the Goodrich
line of steamers in freight and passenger
travel, and incidentally benefit the city in
many other respects, would not make it
one whit more depot for lake freight
than IL is at present,
To raise and maintain city on any
large body Of water, one or both of two
things are required. 1t must be the out
let and depot for re-shipment of large
tract Of country producing and consum-
ing great quantities Of material, raw or
manufactured it may be manufactur-
ing city exclusively, or it may partake of
both characters. In the first case it must
have natural advantages, favorable sit
uation, harbors &C., of which men may
avail themselves.
This is precisely the case of Manito-
VOC. 1t is so favored by situation as to
be t he natural outlet of a vast tract of we'll
developed country to the West of it. 1t
has river broad and deep, already so
improved as to make it a safe harbor for
the largest vessels employed in the lake
trade.
What then is lacking to make this To-
cation great commercial city? Only
the means of transporting the products
of the Western country to its doors. Less
than forty-fye miles of railroad would
bring to ..Manitowoc the business of the
three cities, Appleton, Neenah and Me.
nasha worth over three million dollars,
per AMMAN.
In Appleton the value of manufactured
articles for the year 1861 was $4,000, 600
Menasha for the same year $1.000.000
Neenah in the month of November 1866
exported 10, 500 bbis. flour, % car load:
of tubs and pals, car leads barrel stuff
2 car loads beadsteads, 8 car load Wagon
stock, which is said to be lair index o
the years business. Since these date