The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-01-08
Wisconsin Central Railroad.
What our Reporter will Certify to
Brief, History OF the Land grant
Same Runners aud Volunteer Cpin-
lens tat.t Don't Cost Anything.

1t is the fashion now to write up that I
road, and as TIE officers particularly desire
it, we are constrained to contribute our
portion. We DO net wish to enter into a
quarrel with cur late Governor, or as a
Granger u intimate that we do, or do not
agree with him ; but feeling oirself called
upon TO rise and explain, we will certify to
what We know. The depot at Mcnasha is
a Eeft, commodious structure, finely located
on n broad, elevated plain close to the !
northern side Of the city. A. Wey auve.a,
Waupaca, Amherst aad Stephens Point,
large, comfortable, well furrished station
houses tina. you'd be a credit TO any road,
have also been erected Each Of these sta
lions are well supplied with side tracks, wa
teT-tanks, wood sheds and other necessary
appurtcnances The country traversed by
the road Was particularly favorable, there
being II de,r cuts or heavy fills, neccssita-
ting ne large bridges, except thst across the
Wolf River. The Comp any now run their
trains over the Northwestern railroad bridge
and strike Doty's Island, only 10 turn and
c'oAs tne Improvement 10 the Menasha
sue h'uch u 'he discontinue Oh the Nee
nah people. At the junction with the
Northwestern road in West Menasha, an
eating mouse mas D~eh erected. FROM tins
fiace 10 Stcpp7hs FONT the ride we found
- "' ih'S' i''e"'""' "''i "sreei'ie- Inc
oineefe' p'''icuiarls CONDUCTOR Lrhlns"eii'
we i'uhd 70 De courteous and gentlem2nly
men.
J he road IS substantially and well con
siructed. ln' s-'des, which are never
greater than ! to - feet, are fixed and
competed. he VICE ROAD bed IS well
raised and the ties are closer, We think,
'i'f', 'hfS VIII average on any other iIne IN
'he Nale.
The small bridges and culverts sclid
and durable, and as far as We went the
track was well Jallasted. Over the Wolf
substantial swing bridge has been built.
Three trains are now run each ~ay from,
McnGsha to Stephens Point, and one to
: Richncnd 81 ,r;'os J.,o,,; a.. ..I
The tr,ck :. i,i1 ,oq-
ell to lO2 when the comnanv bavs givcn
notice Of cessation for = time Fi,. m,las
oftr.ck haloD,,;,, - 49,. carr,,.
meets their limo ,yitI, o,,r .s,or,
Mena.la We iudco that tho Corona,x
now control 4 fair srnnlv IF rnII;na .t,,L
Il !. vol, known f,c, ,L.. ,ho rooa all,
nc, LA ,Io,o,,I -,
,;o,e .so.GoI tr no .h... H.. ~.
about s. mile, will remain
None of the land unon the STRENGTH If
which II has Tins far fcc, b,;l, b,.,. osso.l
into their nossss,ior vi,b .,o .;a.,ro
ception f the first 20 mile certificate and t,,.
nrospect Of = rvalv TINA his ,.i,,o, :, tho
legislature to obtain an ext.,s;op Of t;no
with the whole land .rrs,t oromr,s to,,;yc
brief history Of r. * GRANT For the fact,
in relation to il we are ind.hte1 tat, Kind.
mes, Of the rontl.munlv and efficient Mirror
of Stcphens Point, Hon. Matthew Va
leigh.
TnE LAND GRANT
OF Congress in 1904 in tie State of Wis
consin, for the purpose of building rail
roads TO the Northern line and opening up
this then unknown country, embraced mil
hons OF acres. OF this the Chicago and
Northwestern has taken some, but the rest
With the exception OF some that may have
feen sold previous to 1869, still remains 0
be devoted to that purpose.
In March, 1870, the Legislature granted
charters to two Companies, the Portage
and Superior, and the Wnnebagc ana
Lake Superior, Cos. The former
starting from Portage VIA Ril on, Der
I'm and Stephens Point, 10 Bayfield,. The
other from Doty's Island to Stephens
FONT, and to Superior City or sCme point on
the n \ line We find the Legislature in
1869 permitting bogus consolation of
THESE TWO companies With Geo. Reed as
fresideht, and with the usual iaxiiy that
characterized the railroad mania Of that
time, granting them charter on their cwn
terms, with i land-grtnt of all unoccupieG
iinds on the odd sections within - miles
OF each slie OF the road. This was an en-
ormous giant OF 6i,OuO acres for every
mile constructed through those
timbered lands. The former charters
granted to the tHo companies n 1855, were
ratified by Congress IN June Of the same
year. But this later agglomeration ef,
their road without any such rattle.
ton, ard was effected much to the iissatis-
! faction Of many of its former members.
/ These lands, since 1869 have been accessl-
bic only TO bounty land settlers, and hone
stea ers, and as would be supposed, with
the disappearance OF timber IN other p0r-
u1ns OF the country, have become very val
uaIie. The company viii endcayur this
'er to secure their right and title to
,bou, 600 Gnn .,o.. oc,,
HUNS NNo oliNl"N>'