Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-12-19
Another Railroad Project.

Shall we have a railroad through
Grant County? Turn to a map of
the county and draw a line from
Cassville to Mentfort. 1t runs about
20 miles from and parallel to the
Wisconsin river, through Beetown,
Lancaster, Fennimore and Wingville
"a distance OF forty miles-through
some Of tho richest agricultural and
mineral lands in the State. The
question of a railroad through Grant
County on such limo is now being
agitated by large number of our
citizens who reside 10 to 20 miles
distant from the iron rails Those of
this immediate section are really
thoughtfully and hopefully inclined
for railroad connection with the great
market cities.
1t is thought that a railroad from
Madison to the Mississippi river, on
the old surveyed route of the Osh,
kosh & Mississippi r. r. Co., by the
way of Lancaster to Cassville, can be
built at less than the usual cost of
such enterprises. This route runs
along the Military Ridge in an almost
direct line to tho Mississippi River,
passing Blue Mounds in Dane, and
Dodgevillo in Iowa counties, and
entering this county in the town of
Wingvile, thence through Fennimore,
Liberty, Lancaster and Beetown to
CassviIe. The creator part Of the
route is pronounced an almost natu.
raj line for o railroad. The fact can
not be disputed rs to the vast agri-
cultural and mineral wealth of the
region traversed.
Grant County alone produces an,
nually over three million bushels of
grain, near two millions Of corn, fifty
thousand tons Of hay and one and
one-balf million pounds of butter
These are some Of the important
items Of our produce, and little
reflection will show anyone how far
the greater part of it is carted to the
shipping stations. Add to this large
yield that in most part finds market
eastward, forty thousand head of
cattle and sixty thousand hogs that
are yearly shipped from this county
70 the stock yards OF Milwaukee and
Chicago. The mineral yield of Grant
County is vast, and the resources
would be almost unlimited with prop.
or carrying advantages to encourage
the further developement OF the
mines.
We think it may be safely estima-
ted that two-thirds Of the county
would be tributary to road running
through the center Of its territory
IN tho direction proposed. Taking
theland valuation along tho proposed
route as basis for taxation, we
estimate that sufficient amount to
grade and tie road could be raised
in 5 years on per cent. levy, or in
10 years at half that rate. This
would be light TAX, to 80 far COM
plete a railroad through our very
midst that any r. II. company would
be glad to take the road and complete
it. The tax would hurt no one,
whilst it would insure each property
holder on increased value of his lands
and near by market.
The natural marketplsce for Grant
County is Milwaukee, although all
the railroads now in project and that
have been completed in southwestern
Wisconsin since the building Of the
Milwaukee and Mississippi II. r. have
drawn tho vast carrying trade Of this
region to Chicago. We contend that
a railroad in the direction proposed
to the Mississippi River, will throw
us in direct communication with Mil.
waukoe, and also give that city the
advantages by through line Of the
rich agricultural resources Of the
Turkey River Valley in Iowa. Here
arc considerations that call the at
tention OF the business interests O
Milwaukee as well as Of our owr
county.
Cassvlle is tho best river terminus
for railroad running through Grant
County. The rich region of the
Turkey River Valley, heading across
the river, needs an outlet here, and
must have it at no distant day The
people of Grant and Iowa Counties
should press this matter forward, lest
an opportunity to build the road may
at some time pass away. What say
our neighbors in Iowa County
THE DELLs INVESTIGATING COMMIT.
TEe.-The committee for invcstigat.
ing the alleged frauds in the passage
OF the celebrated Dell Improvement
bill, which has been in session for
several days in Madison, adjourned
on 10Th inst. 70 meet again January
2nd, when some further testimony
will be taken On tho assembling OF
the Legislature tho report will be ~
once made. There have bcen be.
tween six and seven hundred page.
Of testimony taken so far Nothing
can be learned as yet as to the sum
moning up.-Stafe Register.
%The dispatch published in ou'
last issue, stating that the Demo