, 1873-07-21
The st. Croix & Superior Land
Grant Question.
Still Another Chapter in Its
History.
Correspondence Between the Hon. John
W. Cary and Gov. WASH
burf1e.
Senator Carpenter and Tho Salary.tfrnb...
Statistics Of State Banks. ..-Iadi-
son as Snlnrner-Res0rt.

Statistics OF state DAnkSss. .NllQl-
son as n Sulnmer.Resort,
From Our 0,en Corrtspondtnt.
MADISON, Wis.,, July TO- 1CT3
"Throo lctters-two Of them from john W.
Gary, President of the Wisconsin Railway Cons
pany, mud Attorney of tho milwaukee, & st. Paul
Railroad, md ono from Gov. Washburr-con,-
pose another chapter In tho history Of tho st.
Croix Il Superior Land-Grant, on which the
people Of Northwestern Wisconsin havo 80 often
baBcd great expectations, only to llavo them dis
appointed It will bo rocollcctcd TINT this lantl-
grant, after protrnoted and sharp contest be-
for tho Legislature, was awarded to tho Mlwau-
kco and st. Paul Railroad Company OIL terms
proposed by itH representatives, aud that sub
eeguently tho acceptance was refused by tho
Directors that tliis action was gonorally aad
bitterly denounced by tho pross, and aroused
much indignation among the people TINT tho
Attorney and some others connected with tho
milwaukee, t. st. Paul Railroad Company, with
citizens Of tho Chippewa and st. Croix Valleys
and Of Southwestern Wisconsin, Interested In
building the roads proposed in tho Land Grant
act, formed now Company, "The WISCONSIN
Railway" proposed to build tho ronds which
last winter tho Milwaukee, & St. Paul Railroad
proposed to build, talked Of having largo re-
SOURCES and doing great things, but only sub
scribod $4,000 capital, and paid 81 for ccrti1-
cute Of filing Of articles of association, and
thought thus to divert tho current Of popular
feeling agninat tho Milwaukee t. st. Paul Rail-
road Company, which, 1t was said, was to sup
port this bantling, and to mako people bolioyo
something was going to be done, as perhaps
Rome Of those In this now Company really
thought that, when mombcrs Of this Company
asked tho Governor what security he required
under the Inv, lo presented @ carefully prepared
bond, forfeitiug 5000 milo to tho State for
for whatever roal was not built according to
contract the substance OF conversations in regard
to which have been given in The TRIBUNE az
stated by tho Governor.
MI. oAynY's OBJECTION AND OVERTURE.
Still later, Mr.. Gary (Attorney Of the blilwau-
kee l. St. Paul and President of tho Wisconsin
Railway Company sont the Governor tho follow
Ing letter objecting to and declining Tho bond
proposed by him, and making another proposi-
ton:
MrIwAuKnE, July s, 1873.
Ills Eretllenep, c. c. Washburn. Gorcrnor, ttc:
DEAR SIN: Incloaea you will tlnd the draft Of m
undertaking bond prepared BY the Attorney Gen
and which you required should be given by tho Corpo
ratorb Of tho Wisconsin Railway Company, conli-
to1 81 thelr Ge1hB allbHed 10 b1l tito railroad from
st. craix Superior and to Bayfield, under the law Of
Last winter.
am instructed by them to inform you that they de-
cline to givo auch m undertaking, Us in their opinion
1tarequremonts aro onoro,ia aud UNJUST
The law Of last winter gave tic land-grant to the
y se secsp ssn
on Their faira to- 9 accept On she erms Of tue law any
thereby acquire the title Of tho State to tho lands Of tho
landgrant, but in order to do 80 such company was
tity for the completion Of sad road from st. Crox
River or Lake to the west end Of LIKE Superior and 10
Bayfield, In accordance With the provisions Of said ncts
Of Congress- and Of this act, as shall bo required by
the Governor"
In tho exercise Of the discretion rcposed IN you by
said law, you now require that the Wisconsin Hallway
Company, which has in all other reapccts complied
with the law shall stipulato to Pay State Treaa-
and every milo Of said road which they shall fail to
construct IN said year as required by that law and
Court docido that thu State has no title to the lands,
II other words you require ample poraona eecnri!y 70
to complete any particular section Of this road by tho
time mentioned in said act they shall pay Into tho
80 unfinished. aud shat tho fact that thoy might subse.
court should entirely ayes, to sato q tls grant h.
fense to the Company and that aai1 amount should DO
paid entirely regardless Of whother or not the State
1oad, designated In tie act Of last winter, is $50
milos In length. Your requirement. therefore, il that
4tss sxs o 5 3a as s as
out any regard to whether tho State now has or may
then have any ttlo to said lanl-grant.
We respectfully submit 10 your Excelloncy thst your
requirement. IS au unreasonable exercise Of tho discre
not demand authorize such construction and tint
lto only effect viii be, 4 adhered TO- to rrevent any
aps se ss o at
gard TO security intended by tho Legislature only
10 secure good fa the part Of tho company apply
ton by tho Legislature to impose MUST conditions or
such M would cr.pplo tic company applying for tho
grant.
In behalf Of Tho Wisconsin Isallway Company, Of
for 70 gyo tho bond Of said Corany, with nastaotory
sssafes ss III ths M nenal G so1enea INT
ton Of asd road under and in accordance with said
sst - therein required, and will Ray all damages
plee tho same ns required by said act but with tho
further condition That In case the title OF the State to
H. tho gan. "a shall wholly ia In consequence Of any nc
sa!d bond shal be Of no effect.
Il such bond would ho approved, our Company
1angem,snts can 10 made, will commence work. Re-
speotioly yours, JOHN ". CAnY.
THE GOVERNORS RESPONSE.
To this tho Governor answors, in effect that
ho must abide by tho law (Which, It is to bo ro-
nembered, was drawn just to suit Mr. Carey
and tho Company whose agent le was last win
tor); that he proposed bond Is Of no account;
and asking what aum per mile he should regard
reasonable forfeiture, NJ follows:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
MADISON, Wis, July D. la73.i
DEAn Sir: Your lettcr Of the 9Th inst,, returning
form Of bond which you received from me some tme
since, was receycd this morning. You say that the
Wisconsin Railway Company have instructed you to
taxing in their opinion its requirements are oner-
9us aud unjust.n
You further 60 on to express tho opinion that my re-
tlon reposed In mo under tho law. Without question:
Ing your right 50 to think must bcg eavo 10 differ
consln Hallway OonpaayI ofor to glyo tho bond Of
said company with satisfactory sccrities In tho pen
atty OF $3uo0 900, conditioned that said Company will
forthwith commence tho construction Of Haid road u-
der and in accordance with said act, aud complete tho