Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-11-29

self,without solicitation from any company
the work of promoting the construction
Of railroad between Portage City and
Mineral Point, and having perhaps been
instrumental in creating some expectation
or at least, hope of success, which has
not been gratfed, think proper to make
a public statement of what has been done
and Of the causes which hinder the sue
cess of the project.
spent ten days at Madison in Febur-
airy last-form the, LIST to. the l5th-during.
which time had several interviews with
j. A. Bently, Esq, the attorney and one
Of the directors of the Sheboygan Fon du-
Lac, 3: R., Co., in reference to the extern
sion of that road Ella. Portage City to
Mineral Point. | endeavored to impress
him with the importance and value to his
company of the extension, knowing that
the capitalist interested in that road re-
posed very great confidence in the integ-
rity and sound judgement of Mr.. Bentley
especially in matters affecting local bust
ness, and that hi opinion would have
a potential influence with them.
at this time it was uncel tain whether
the S. & F. du L. r. r. would be extended
from Princeton to Portage city. Tie re-
suit of my interviews with Mr.. Bentley,
aided by his. information from other
sources was, that he felt a strong prepos-
session in favor OF extending the road
from Portage city to Mineral Point, and he
assured me, that if it should be determin--
ed to extend their road from Princeton to
Portage city, he would give the subject q
further extension to Mineral Point a favor
able consideration, and ifupon examination
his impressions in relation to it should
be confirmed, and those Immediately in
terested would contribute a reasonable
amount of local aid, he would do what he
could to aid the enterprise.
1t now appears that memorandum of
contract was agreed upon and signed on
18th of March. 1872, between the S. &
Fon du Lac r. R. Go, and the Wiscon-
sin Central R. R. Co., which contains
among other provisions the following
The Sheboygan and Fon du Lac R.
r. Go, proposes to build first class
railroad from Fon du Lac to Portage
city uia Montello (including that already
constructed) in consideration of which
" the Wisconsin Central R. r. Go. wM
" transfer to 1t 0I the land to aohicb said
Wis., Central soaI be- entitled to under
the land grant for building the part Of
" its line
Gift shall be deemed necessary by either
"party to build road to make q south
srn connection from Portage City the
" offer shall be made to the other to con
"struct it jointly and if the other declines
"to jain, the first named company may
ego on and eostruct it alone"
This memorandum when put into
ca contract to be executed by Geo. Reed
on the part of Wis. Cent. Co., and by
81. A. Bentley, on the part of the s. and
'%Fend du Lac co. subject to tho approval
the respective board of directors"
had no knowledge for some time of
the existence of this memorandum of
contract"
visited Fond du Lao about the 18th day
of April, and had a very satisfactory
meeting with the President and some Of
the Directors Of the company, who engag-
ed to write to Mr.. JOY, at Detroit who
with other parties that he represented,
was furnishing the capital for their road
and would furnish it for the extension, if
the road should be extended.
sasSubsequenty on the I'd of May, went
TO Detroit to see Mr.. Joy, and there had
the good luck to meet Mr.. Bentley, and in
\ r. Joys office. We three talked over the
whole project at length, and there learn
ed for the first time about this "memoran-
dunn of contract," though ]. did not see it.
and.9 learned the general nature Of it.
But ascertained what l was most inter
ested in knowing, that it was regarded as
settling the question, that their road was
tobe extended to Portage city.
In regard to the extension from Portage
city to Mineral Point. Mr.. Joy was not
well enough Informed to express any opn-
on, and was not prepared to make any de-
finifa e;t;o, hrt h..
that the heme directors Of S. & F. Co.
should make any arrangements they
thought proper and he should acquiescs in
them. | then made an appointment with
Mr.. Bentley to meet the directors at Fon
du Lac on the goth of May.
On the goth of May, I went to Fond du
Lac and met Mr.. Bentley and the other
directors. By my request, they directed
the chief engineer, Mr.. Murrell, to make a
reconnaissance Of the route. which hs did
during the next four days, Mr.. Bentley ac-
companylng us as far as Mazomanie. On
our way we held meeting of the friends
of the enterprise at Sank City. Before
parting with Mr.. Bentley at Mazoman,e il
was arranged between US that a meeting o,
delegates or committees from the differen,
localities most interested in the road
should be held at that place on the goth o.
June, for the purpose of consultation upor
:, the ways and means 10 promote the sue
cess of the enterprise.
That meeting was held at the appointed