Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-01-20
from the Milwaukee sentinelI
WEST WISCONSIN RAILWAY.
Reuort @ the Cham Der of CONNIE rec on
tile Openin- of the Road to Augusta


Last week the Second Division Of the
West Wisconsin Railway was opened
from Black River Falls to Augusta, ad-
ding another important link to thessys-
TEN of railways radiating from this city.
The West Wisconsin road runs from To-
nah on the La Crosse Division OF the
St. Paul Railway. to St. Paul, the cen
ter Of great chain of railways TO the
Westward This new connection Is OF
the utmost importance to the city, open
ing 10 it rich section of country IN the
Northwestern portion Of the State, hith-
erto without the facilities of railway trans
portation. The Third Division, between
Au usta and Eau Claire. q distance of
twenty five miles, is already under con-
tract, and will be completed by mid sum-
mer. The latter town is one OF consld
cradle importance, because of its lumber
ing interests and business resources.
On the occasion of the opening of the
Second Division a delegation from the
Chamber of Commerce took a trip over
the road, and at Yesterdays session of
the Chamber, submitted the following
report:
To the President of the Milwaukee Chamber of
Commerce.
Your committee, having visited the
West Wisconsin Railroad and passed
over Tomah to Augusta, and thence by
stage to Eau Claire. take ! leasure in
saving that they fond everything pro-
crossing satisfactorily. The project was
Exaggerated few months since by ID.
A. Baldwin and his associates, and be-
fore any appeal was made TO the public,
they invested in it largely of their pri
waite means, not only make the entire
surveys, but building the first division of
the road from Tomah to Black River
Falls, ironing and equipping it. They
were thus enabled to show that they had
the fullest confidence 10 the enterprise
that j; would be one of profit, as well as
of importance to the country and to our
city. After reaching Black River Falls
it was found that the business Of the road
bas been built to Augusta almost entire
" by private enterprise, and without so
letting city or town aid to any extent,
AMI also without throwing upon the mar
ket any notable amounts Of the com
pany's bonds. We are glad to note that
the road is substantially built.
OF Jacob Humbird, who has had the
building of the road in charge, it is SUI
ficient 10 say that he is evidently an ex
perienced railroad man. Extensively ell
gagged In the construction Of roads in
South America, he brought to this a
practical experience of great benefit, and
he seems to Eave taken pride in making
this work thorough in every detail. The
road bed is level, and while economically
constructed is strong aud smooth, and
the iron the well known Fish joint rail.
Althol Oh new road, we have never
seen q smOOta er one, and the care taken
in building is such that no ordinary cir
cumstauces will cause breaks. In the
culyerts and bridges the engineering
shows the practical good sense as well
rs the established skill of the builder
We examined somewhat at len 9TH the
cost of building the road, and were Ger
tainlv pleased at the economical manner
in wi :h it Las been done, when com
pared with the work accomplished. Ia
addition to the road, the company have
built substantial telegraph line along
its way, which they own aud run, and
which will add materially to their re-
ceipts, from private business.
The statistics of the counties Of Mon.
roe. Jackson, Eau Claire, Dunn, Pierce,
Buffalo and st. Croix, through which
the road runs, with their business, have
been before presented to this body. and
the figures are not unfamiliar to you In
this report we shall only call your atten-
ton TO the immense iron resources of
Black River Falls, and to the numbering
interests of the Northwest, which this
road is opening to us. 1t is section
which has long needed an outlet to Mil
waukee. And through the efforts Of
President Baldwin and associates we are
glad that we are so soon to have it,
There are few sections of our state that
show n more healthy growth and pros
peTill luau INC nOItuWcSti duu pdftlCu-
larly is this the case on the line Of and
in the vicinity of this road. New towns
are springing up, and agricultural lands,
of which there are an abundance, are
being rapidly settled. Our immigration
statistics show that adopted citizens who
are seeking home in tie new world,
find lands in this section of our State
that are admirably suited to their tastes !;
and which, undor their energy and skill,
! will els long make Northwestern Wis
cousin as noted for her agricultural as
she has been for her numbering resour
ces.
The West Wisconsin road is not de /.
pendent solely upon the country through
which it passes for its business Great
rs this business must be, we have only to
look forward to the few months when
the road shall reach St. Paul, its north
ern terminus. to fad that important con-
ncctions await il. Among the roads
waiting for such connections are the St.
Paul and Pacific, now being rapidly built
to the Pacific coast, and in the hands of
capitalists who will not let 1t linger. AS
! soon as The connection is made, much of
the Business of the Pacific road will nat
SraIIy seek this air line route to Milwau-
kee and the east. The Lake Superior
and Mississippi road, now being built