The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1870-10-27
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE STATE LINE
RAILROAD AND IT'S BOND BILLS.

In the winter of 1859 NJ S. Bright and other
residents of Superior, procured from the Wisconsin
Legislature charter for railroad from the Bay of
SUPERIOR running West to the Minnesota State Line,
to be called the Superior State Line Railroad y
This charter has been renewed from time to time by
the Legislature, and kept alive by its Directors at
considerable expenditure of time, money, and labor
Whilst in the hands of these directors, one or more
bond bills varying in amount, were voted by the peo-
pie of Douglas County, aid the building of this road
or the first one coming to Superior; all of which fail
ed to accomplish the end desired namely: the con-
structon of the Road In 1868 several of the large
nonresident property holders met in Superior and
got up another bond bill large enough as they thought
to insure the immediate construction of this road
of other connecting Superior with the L. S. &
NJ. road. The amount agreed upon to be given as a
bonus 100000 About that time, Mr. Stinson,
at the earnest solicitation of parties interested here
purchased the entire stock together with all the
franchises of the road. With view to making all
parties interested in SUPERIOR equally interested in
this enterprise subscriptions to the capital stock of
the road in lots, lands money were obtained The
bonds voted by the citizens, and liberal amount
of property and money was subscribed mostly by nom
residents. The Road would have been commenced at
once, had not some slight misunderstanding arisen
among those subscribing. Before this satisfacto
rily arranged, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin
dered decision against the giving of bonds bonus
to railroads This made the action of our people, N
voting the 100000 in bonds null and void, conse-
quently for the time being no further progress was
made towards getting the road under way. Last win
l.: ottI,o,
qurements held to be necessary by this decision of
the Supreme Court, passed by the Legislature
The main feature of this last bill was that the County
should sell $500 900 of its bonds at not less than
80 the dollar and invest the proceeds OF such
sale stock of the State Line road said stock to be
held and controlled by the County as other County
property. Before an election was called On
this bill meetings of the citizens of Superior
held, at which several of largest resident
property holders were present-some in person, and
others by proxy 1t was then understood and agreed
that the citizens would vote for issuing the bonds and
these nonresident property holders to cash them
and take 100000 of stock in the road and in order
meet the wish of the subscribers to the road, and
those proposing to subscribe, new directory COM
posed of James Stnson Jesse D. Bright Geo. w. Cass
1uOS a. OCoIt, l. l. Moott, T. w huueTsoil, JT., anu
Joseph Curran, nominated by the parties propos
ing to subscribe and duly elected
As far as the people here learn, there has been
no of action among the non-residens towards
fulfilling this agreement and consequently the bill
defeated We must say of Mr.. Stinson, who is the
largest stock holder of the State Line Road that
know he has been ready and willing carry his
part of the understanding, and has endeavored to in
duce others to do the same Had the County taken
its $780, of STOCK and other parties their proper
tionate agreed upon, Mr. Stinsons share in
the control of the road would have been comparatively
small, about one seventh of the whole. So here the
State Line Railroad for the present As for the
rumors aoat of other parties being anxious build
the road without bonds, only say that
we have no time or inclination to deal with
such mprobabilities. We by means abandon all
hopes of a railroad but propose to look awhile
quietly and hopefully, to what the future may dis
close.