Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-12-26
The West Wisconsin Railroad.

FRED. A. Moore, the talented cor
respondent of the Milwaukee W,scon.
san, gives the following interesting
history of the building of the West
Wisconsin Railroad, but just CON-
pleted to Hudson, in recent letter
to that paper:
HUDSON, Nov. 30-On the twenty
sixth day of March, 1867, two men met
for the first time in the Westminster
Hotel, New York city. They had
met by agreement. One was ready,
tree-spoken man of middle years,
lie had been q builder and stock
broker in Yew York city,-a man of
genial presence, with tongue we'll
oiled, an enthusiastic sparkle in his
eyc,and liberal show OF brains with
al. The other was Of smaller stature,
fewer words, few years older, and
still wearing the bronzed hue he had
gained among the Sierras and gorges
OF South America. He was Just now
from his family home in Maryland.
He had been railroad builder near
ly all his life. He had clear eye and
finely balanced brain, indicating
genius of the most practical, and al.
most unerring sort. The name of
the former was ID. A. Baldwin, and
that of the latter Jacob Humbird.
Mr.. Baldwin and Mr.. Humbird had
come together to talk over a railroad
scheme, projected from Tomah, on
the line of the Mil. & st. Paul road, to
the city of Hudson, on Lake st.
Croix. This road was part Of the old
La Crosse land grant, chartered in
1896 and reorganized in 1864. The
road had been hanging and dragging
IN the market for years. No one but
Mr.. Baldwin had had faith and cour-
age to take hold Of it. He saw mag
nifcent benefit to his estate and wa
ter power at Hudson he saw mag
niticent value in the railroad and
grant connected. He made expen
sive surveys and drew up maps on
his own account. He was anxious to
enlist some man Of capital with him.
self He had heard Of Mr.. Humbird
through Maj Ellison, who had been
his chief engineer. Mr.. Humbird had
just completed an eight million dol>
lar contract, lasting several years, on
the Don Pedro railroad running from
Rio Janeiro into tho interior Of Bra
I'll. He had cleared q half million
dollars or so. He was in no haste to
commence another road be wanted
rest for year at least He consents
ed, however, to the meeting in New
York. Mr.. Baldwin talked eloquent.
ly and persuasively, portraying the
country Of the road and its future.
Mr.. Humbird listened attentiveIy.
He was not man to be caught by
words. He had previously looked
well at the maps he had examined
the profile of the surveys; he had
studied the country; he had esti-
mated the grant he had taken in
the great wealth Of pine forests and
hard wood he had considered st.
Paul; be had pictured the future
glories Of the Northwest. He was
satisfied with Mr.. Baldwin's state,
ments; he was satisfied with his
offer. In less than two hours from
their first meeting Mr.. Humbird had
concluded to contract with Mr.. Bald
win to construct the first 80 miles of
road from Tomah to Black River
Falls. He was to receive $3.50, 0OOi in
preferred stock and 1875, 900 in cash.
BEGINNING OF WORK.
Mr., Humbird came out to Tomah
in May following, bringing with him
Mr.. }. b. G. Roberts, most skilful
and intelligent engineer, who had
been with him in South America.
They commenced resurveys. The
people about there and abroad had
no faith in their building the road.
They considered the Black river
country of little account, but for
growing cranberries and jack-pines.
They considered Mr.. Baldwin Wis.
iouary and Mr.. Humbird a victim.
They would hardly give them credit
over night, or trust them for pair
of boot,packs. But somehow the
surveys went on, the grade was COM
pleted, the iron laid and the cars set
to running to Black River Falls in
December, 1868.
That gave them basis. They had
now 30 miles of road built, and 1884,
600 acres Of land to bond and mort
gage. The Milwaukee q st. Paul road
was ready, also, to furnish them with
rolling stock and run their road on
shares.
ON TO EAU CLAIRE.
The Spring following they were
ready to take hold of work again.
They built bridge over Black river;
opened out by Wedge creek passed
the head waters of the Yrempeleau +;
swung into the rich valley of Bridge
creek, thence struck westward along
the bank of the river, till they bro't
up at the famous city of the Dells at