Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-08-26

Extract From the Speech of General John
| Lawler, at st. Mary's Institutute, Prairie du
| Chen.
The year 1853 witnessed the com
pletion of the railroad to Prairie du
Chen. This road was the first to
extend from the waters of Lake
| Michigan, across the state of Wiscon-
sin, to the banks of the Mississippi
river. No other road had at the
time penetrated Northern Iowa, or
any part of the state of Minnesota.
The home of the settler was seldom
to be found in that part of the West
beyond the distance of days wagon
drive from the western shore Of the
Mississippi river. 1t was not till the
harvest of SO had been gathered that
Northern Iowa or Minnesota yielded
their surplus product for transporta-
ton. In the Autumn of that year
Northern Iowa opened correspond
ence with
The CITY OF MILWAUKEE,,
by her first shipment of wheat.
This event, which was significant
evidence of the remarkable progress
of the West, made the sub
ject special telegram to the city of
Milwaukee.
To that city, whose leading citizens
had projected and carried through,
despite the most formidable obstacles,
the pioneer railway of Wisconsin, it
was an event OF the greatest interest.
The important question was to be
settled, whether the East, with her
iron arms extending, should be able
to turn away from the South and her
great natural highway, the Missis-
sippi, the growing commerce of the
West The solution of
THAT GREAT COMMERCIAL PROBLEM
has begun. The result was watched
with eager interest; for upon it de-
pended the future of the West. 1t
remained to be settled whether the
West was to be developed by the
quickening power of magnificent
railway system, absorbing the capt.
tai of the East and the world, or
await the Glow and languid process
of civilization and settlement, which
could only take place If left to de
pend upon her natural resources.
The issue has been settled in favor
of the great iron lines which connect
the East and the West, and over
them Gibbs and flows it's magnificent
commerce. Their existence and
success is the highest and most en-
during tribute that could be paid 20
the resolute men who constructed
them. SO rapidly has the West de-
veloped under their stimulating power
that in 1864, only five years after
their first shipment referred to, the
ahinnine- parts of Northarn Iowa and
Minnesota delivered at Prairie du
CHEN
WITHIN A SINGLE TWENTY-FoUR HoUBs
Iading destined to the city of Milwau-
kee, for eight locomotives and a mile
and a quarters length of freight cars.
What an amazing transition! What
could Illustrate more wildly the
marvellous progress of the
West? These remarks relative to
the early railway system will not, L
trust, appear Irrelevant to the pres
ent occasion, when we reflect that
withoutit, the site of Fort Crawford
would not have been crowned by the
cross of St. Mary's, nor would the
parade grounds of the federal soldiers
who stood watch and guard over adj
vanolng civilization become the play
ground of the convent school.
These states, Iowa, Minnesota,
and Wisconsin, are now rapidly ad-
vancing to the front rank of the
great states of this Union. As a
sisterhood of states they are unri-
vailed. They combine the natural
resources of an empire, and are des-
tined 10 be the seat of a power
almost inconceivable. Providence
has cast our lot where we are to aid
the building of this stupendous
power, and He has made it our high.
est duty and interest to build it upon
indestructible foundations. IL must
not be such power as was revealed
to the prophet Daniel power
whose rise and splendor were SYM
bolized by pure gold, but whose de-
cay and death we're typified by the
image of miry clay. To endure, it
must stand upon the imperishable
foundations of int ligence and virtue.
| The promoters of these are education
| and religion.