Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-10-12
RAILROAD EXTENSION.
To the citizens of Mineral Point:

danger with which we are threatened
by the extension of the Mineral Point
K K. to romah ria MifHin, and to give
some Of the reasons for its extension.
| stated in conclusion, that would this
week offer some suggestions as to the
means by which the danger might be
/ avoided and the extension secured cia
/ Dodgevile, Otter Greek and Pine River
4 to Iumah which would as surely pro-
mote our interests as the other YoGld
injgfe them
/ In dealing with this subject, we ought
I to keep prominently in view tire consld-
( Grafton, that the parties proposing to
make the extension Except perhaps Mr.
/ obj have no local lntere to promote,
+ and no motive in desiring to benefit or
/ iujure any locality on Their route, I'M
/ les Il may be that Mr. Hdvemeyer; who
/ holds n large amount of Mineral Point
+ Town Bonds, and who expresses great
4 Indignation that no disposition is mani
/ Tested to pay them; might be disposed
to punish u. But think not, and con-
cluir that these part IS viii finally de-
/ tarmlne TO adopt that one OF the two
, rout 5, wui:h will involve them in the
/ payment of the least amnunt IN the first
/ instance for construction, and afterwards
/ the least amount annually tor the oper>
uung expenses, taking into consideration
/ also the comparative amount OF local
/ business upon the respective routes.
J in arriving ut the amount they will
! have to pay in the first instance, upon
! either line, an estimate ct the cost of
| construction will be made, based upon
sur, eys, and from this estimate Will be
/ deducted the amount Of local aid which
/ can be obtained oB that line, and the bal
lance will represent the net amount
witch they will be required to e2pend Ia
/ the first instance IN construction
Sufficient surveys have already been
made South OF the Wisconsin River to
warrant II very correct estimate OF the
! comparative cost OF the two lines, to the
right bank of that river From thence
north to fomah but little is known of the
/ probable cost Of construction, except
| what can be learned from an exploration
! OF the country, without the aid OF IN
-truments Having made reconnoi-
sauces OF both routes, | have very de-
! cliGl opium us " 'lcii CpuP"iatifo
cost
Nv summary Of the whole matter is :
/ that the west, or Mtiliu route, crossing
| the Wisconsin River near NUscoda, and
thence by the valley of Mill Creek (called
on some maps Eagle Creek,) is about
! tive miles shorter, between the points
| common to both lines, than the east, or
! DodgevIlle route, crossing the river near
Lone Rock, and thence by the valley OF
Pine River.
South Of the Wisconsin River, the
grades will be lighter and more tayora~
able on the Milln, than on the bod re-
| yille route, and the quantity OF excava-
ton, both earth and rock, will be less ;
while the Dodgesille route wiz possess a
slight Advantage over the Mltflin in the
facility and cheapness with which ties
IN be obtained Neither line will pos
sess any material advantage OveH the
other in respect of curvture.
! NORTH Of the Wisconsin River no ac-
curate comparison can be made of the
two lines, IN respect to grades, curves or
excavations, until definite information is
I furnished by instrumental surveys, al
| though 1t Is very apparent without sur
yeys, that the route by Mill Creek is
shorter than that hy Pine River There
would probably be but little difference
/ between the two routes IN the cost of
/ ties. estimate the cost of right OF way
! the same on each route. In view of all
the considerations affecting the question,
it is my opinion that the first cost OF the
Eastern, or Dodgcgille line will be from
! 100000 to Sl25,UJO moro than that OF
the Western or Mtlin route
In relation to the annual amount of
! operating expenses; the chief elements
are distance aud grades In regard to
! distance the Western line has an IN
Questionable advantage as il h0s also in
regard to grades, SO TAR as surveys have
! been made, and unless heavier grade
are encountered in leaving Mill Creek
than in leaving Fine River, which is not
probable, the Western route will con-
tiuue 10 maintain It's advantage over the
4 Eastern IN both the particulars refer ed
70 As nu offset to tals advantage, how~
ever, | think the Amount Of local bush
urss would be larger on the Eastern than
on the Western hne This would be es
pnciaiv the case in Echlaud County
where the country on the Eastern route
is better settled and more desirable than
on the Western. while through Iowa
! County tho business would he as great
on thu Enstera as on the Western, aud
far less liable 70 be diverted, as com9e-
titon Tor business on the Western inc
is already threatened by a narrow guage
road from Gaena TO Muscoda, ami n
similar road from podgeyile 10 Arena j.
in contemplation ID tho extension should
be made on. the Western route. - that
think the increased operating expenses