The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-02-11
A WISCONSIN MIDLAND ROAD FROM SUPERIOR
TO CHICAGO
lFrom the Chicago Railway Reyiew.l

CFrom the Chicago Railway Review.1
Mr., E. B. Phillips, recently President of the Lake
Shore Michigan Souther Railway, has become den-
titled with projected of the Importance
to Chicago and the Northwest Ii is that of grand
trunk line running midway through the entire length
of Wisconsin, W. and S. f. with branches across
the entire breadth of the State its northern terminus
Superior City perhaps also point on the Northern
Pacific Road-giying a nearer route TO Chicago, IN
etfeci, the southern terminus OF the system.
Let the following points be taken Madison, W IS
(present terminus x Mad Div c. n W. l3S miles
from Chicago Portage, SO miles north of Madison to
which railway has just been Completed: otevers
Point, 40 miles north of Portage, on the Wisconsin
river; Bayfield, 2O5 miles Superior City and n. L
r. r., about 25o miles n n. w OF Stevens Point
Here you have route i'll round numbers OF 45o
miles from Chicago, IA connection with the Northern
Pacific Road parallel in its general direction with the
lines pushing on through ST. Paul TO june ton
with that great highway ya the ST. Paul Pacific H.,
n Branch This is the natural ultimate OF the system
with which Mr. Phillips is understood to have identl
fed himself, Just the ternni of the great Gull and
Mexican lines the obectves of the Joy, and Mis-
souri,, Kansas Texas systems OF the Southwest. 1t
is step from the sublime to the ridiculous to de-
Sceld from project so vast to beginnings Whlch are
small only because they are recent Every thing is
auscious of the realization of the scheme-the direct
and typographical practcabiity of the route the
vAst through interests which attract railway prog
ress toward the Northwest; the franchises placed
within its reach and the wealth OF soil, forest and min
capital that has been attracted TO it, and the men who
have taken hold of it.
From Manitowoc midway on the west coast of Lake
Michigan about loo miles north of Milwa yankee, road
has been long located to the foot of Lake Winnebago,
and "a little north of west to Stevens Point project
ed thence due west to the mouth of the Chippewa
River about 80 miles above Winona. This was know
as the Manitowoc l. Minnesota Road; and it is now
accay identified with tue enterprises OF the Port
age, WInnebago, and Superior Hallway Company Of
IL he II h,,.
Government land grant, located, at the Northwestern
extension of the line pr ected, the divide be-
tween the Wisconsin and Chippewa Rivers, and that
separating the tributaries of these and the Mississippi
from those flowing northward into Lake Superior
This area embraces the choicest and most accessible
timber of Wisconsin growing in soil of great agrcul
tura fertility and the undeveloped new fields of upper
Lake Superior An examination made last sum-
mer of the entire line and the country along it and
with the portion TO Stevens Point Mr.. Phillips has
made himself familiar by observation This examna-
tion had reference to proposed arrangement with
Eastern capitalists represented by Gardner Colby of
Boston.
The negotiations resulted IN a contract between the
R r. CO. and Messrs. Philips and Colby contractors
by which the latter build road from Manito
to Stevens Point, about 10 miles provided sat
tsfac tory local aid is extended the portion
This Company have consolidated with the Portage
Stevens Point 4 Lake Superior r. L, Co., CIV. w.
Corning of Portage, Prestl and will build the exten-
sion of the Mad. x Port L. r. from Stevens Point
10 miles, the survey be made within so days
and the road to be completed by, before the fall of
1872.
The financial basis of the enterprise most adequate
The cash subscriptions the stock amount 81
0O0,ooO, and to these have been promptly added by
municipal the local aid asked-the towns OF Nee
and Menasha, sluo,ooo; Weyauwega and Waupa-
Ca, SlOu,O0U and Stevens Point and Portage Co.,
$loo,00V together with right OF way for the road.
There is one feature of the scheme which gives it
value apart from the assured connections of the sys
TEN with Chicago Opposite Manltowoc on Lake
Michigan is Pere Marquette R. R which it is expect
ed be completed by Dec. l, S7, the date OF the
tracted completion of the road from Manltowoc Ste
Point Ii is expected that line TO the East will
be formed by steamboat connections between these
ports In the extension West Should it be but) the
line will intersect the West Wisconsin r. R., in the
vicinity OF Augusta Eau Claire Co.. and the La Crosse
Trempeleau 4 Prescott r. r. at point opposite Wa
basha, an important town on the Chicago ST. Paul
r. K. The distance between Stevens Point and Wa
basha is about lao miles and the building of 50 miles
beyond Stevens Point would give the entire system
connection with the St Paul system at point less
than 800 miles from Chicago
Leaving wholly out OF the account the land fran
chseS of the Co., and the value of the timber and
era products of its domain north of the line of present
settoaient,- is sufficient remind readers that
the lines which have described under Immediate
construction lie wholly within the best deye .oped
wheat aud manufacturing region of Wisconsin. The
enterprising towns of Neenah and Menas ha at the
mills and their lumber manufactures Tooth rough pro-
duet and skilled work. already OF the very first
Importance We speak of these particular not
account of their of outlet which they al
ready have the &. i \. w. r. r. J but simply as
illustrating the general character of the country
rich in soil, and timber minerals and with pow
er unlimted.-Fron the Chicago Roaiacay Reuier.
The Western r. r. Gazette of Chicago makes the
following reference in regard to the above roads:
These two Wisconsin companies within short time
be consolidated hold charters for lines running from
Mantowoc, on Lake Michigan, little north of west
the State to Prescott the Mississippi river
ST. Paul; also from Portage City north crossing
the Manitowoc line Stevens Point, near the center
of the State, and continuing Ashland and Supe
rior City, with possibly line Bayfield,. This last
mentioned line has grant of 5U0ouo acres of land
authorized by act of Congress in 1860 for road
Portage City, Berlin Dotys Island Fond du Lac to
Bayfield, and Superior Tnis grant was conferred BY
the State Legislature in 1869 upon the Portage LAKE
Superior and the Wnnebago Lake Superior compa-
nies, which have slice been consolidated under the
first named title.