Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-08-12


fine, that the income of the road would
secure 81 per cent. upon the invest
ment. The truth now is that the road
would have more than doubled those
promises, and yet it was not built.
These projects were to supplement
the facilities offered by the lakes and
the Erie canal. In 1845 a continuous
line of railroad from Maine TO the Mis-
sissippi was talked of, and in that con-
nection road from Chicago to Gale
ma was projected, and Potosi was to
have branch thereof, which, it was
prophesied, would soon become a
trunk. In 1s47 interested parties
tried to push this project vigorously,
lest St. Louis should capture the Pa
cific project. This, the "Galena and
Chicago Union" resulted successfully
but its detailed history is not Grant
county railroad matter. The railroad
fever now begun to develop south
ward. Consistent with the temper of
the southern people it was proposed
to have a vast system of railroads con-
verging at Pensacola, from all parts
of the Union, because that was most
important naval post and ga great
drn1y could thus be concentrated there
within "a hours after telegraph intel
ligence of danger" The Illinois Cen
trail was to be part of this plan and it
would extend on north through Poto
81, etc.
Mention of other projects will have
to be brief.
A company was chartered in 1847
to construct railroad from Lake
Michigan "to the Mississippi within
the county of Grant" It's charter
members were distributed along the
line, with J. Ell. Rountree and Samu-
ell Wilson in this county. The act of
incorporation was amended in 1849
by fixing the terminus at Cassville,
and adding to the commission M. X
Young, G.. L. LaGrave and William
Prideaux.
The Milwaukee and Waukesha
company was authorized in 1848 to
extend the road to the Mississippi, in
Grant county. In 1850 it's name was
changed to the Milwaukee and Miss
issippi r. r. Co. At this time rails
road enthusiasm ran very high. A
big r. r. meeting was held at Madi-
son in January. From there J. Il.
| Mills wrote that upwards of 100000
had been subscribed for this road,
and that it was proposed to loan out
of the school fund to the enterprise.
1t may be worth while also to men
ton that this road was said to have
been contracted to Waukesha, includ-
ing T rails and equipment at $11, $50
per mile. Meetings were held at sew
eral places in the county to subscribe
for stock and to secure the terminus.
In 1851 the Potosi and Dodgeville
company with Robt. Templeton, D.
A. Mckenzie, S. Z. Lewis, G. Kali
tenbach, J. Augustine, II. L. Massey,
Sam'l Vance and W. T. Ennor, as
Grant county members, received a
charter TO build road between the
points indicated. Potosi took $4,000
stock in this road and other towns
subscribed literally.
In 1852 Joel c. Squires, w. r. Bid
dlecome and others formed a compa.
ny, called the Southern Wisconsin r..
| Il. Co, to construct road from Mil.
| ton to some point in Grant county on
the Mississippi.
The same yesr the Madison and
Prairie du CHEN company was incor-
porated. Its route was expected to
run along the northern border of this
county.
The same year the Racine, James
vile and Mississippi company was or
ganized to build railroad from Ra-
cine to the Mississippi in Grant coun-
county.
In 1853 the privileges and CAPT
tai stock of the Madison and Prairie
du Chen company were transferred
to the Milwaukee and Mississippi
company.
In that year the Western Wiscon-
sin and Mining Company was incor-
porated, to construct a railroad from
Hazel Green to Prairie du Chen.
It's Grant county commissioners were
N. Dewey, B. G. Eastman, J. Allen
Barber, A. r. Burt, J. H. Rountree,
Jeff. Crawford. JnO. Edwards and
Chas. Mccoy.
1t may be remarked that politicians
often use the names of influential men
in such commissions and charters
without the said influential parties
knowing anything of it.
The Potosi and Dodgeville compa.
ny was authorized in 1854 to locate
it's road through Csssville, and N.
Dewey, J. H. Vance, B. f. Woods,
VIM. Hull, J. T. Chapman and D.
Mckee were made the commission
ers.
The Calamine and Mississippi Co.
was incorporated in 1854. n. Dewey
and II. D. York were among the in
corporators Their road would prob
ably have crossed the northeast part
Of Grant county.
In 1855 the charter of the Mil. 81
Miss. was modified to make it strike
the river at Potosi and then run up to
Cassville.
In 1856 the Arena and Dubuque r.
r. company, ofwhich G. Messersmith,
J. II. Rountree, n. Fl. Virgin and d.
Banfil- were members, proposed to
build railroad from the northeast to
the southwest side of Grant County.
Platteyille was authorized to aid this
road to the amount of 100000. In
1860 Madison was made the starting
point.
The same year the Legislature char
tered the Northern Pacific r. r. Co.
Among the corporators were VIM.
Hull, y. Dewey and J. a. Barber.
TN = bnad of Tako Sunbrior and anv