Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-10-28
Rlchland Center & Lone Rock Rail-
road,

road.
The fol owing private letter to
Judge Mills we are permitted to print.
It was written by Mr.. o. f. Black,
of Richland Center, under date of
October 10
Hon J. T. Mills, Lancaster, Wisconsin;
S1R:-As per your request ! will
give the facts, rs near as | can, rel
alive to the building of railroad from
this place to Lone Rock.
Something over three years ago the
"Pine River Valley & Stevens Point
Railroad Company" was organized,
under chapter ll9 of the laws of
1872, and made some surveys with
the view of inducing the Mineral
Point Company" or some other rail-
road company, to come in and build a
road, but, failing to accomplish this,
in the month of August last our citi-
zens determined to build a road, and
when completed TO own the same.
Surveys were made and subscriptions
for stock taken. About $40, 900 in
stock was taken by our citizens, and
the town of Richland voted about
$4,000, issuing its bonds therefore
and taking stock in lieu thereof, i'll &C
cordance with chapter ll9 laws Of
1872. Estimates and contracts for
grading were made. The following
are the estimates, which are really
above what the actual cost viii be:
Total length Of road. .................16 miles
Grading bridging, cattle guards, fenc-
ing, tc............................. "a, 900
Ties at 20 cents (high estimate)...... 5000
Iron, spikes and splicing. 81 ,0OO
LAYING track, etc........................ 4,2oO
Rolling 25,OUO
Total OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 2,25O
Cost per mile abouf~..................... 900
Now by laying down maple rails
the cost for the entire 16 miles will
only be $500, thus saving in first
cost S45, 300, being the difference be-
tween wooden and iron rails. This
wooden rail (maple) is claimed by
those who have tried it will last from
FIVE to eight years The interest on
S45, 900, the difference between iron
and wood, will lay new track every
two years.
The grading was commenced on
the 10th of October and by the 22d
Of October there will be graded and
ready for laying the track seven miles
and should the weather be favorable
the entire track will be graded this
fall, to pay for which an assessment of
fifty per cent. upon the stock taken
will be made. This we can raise, as
many of the small subscribers are
working out their STOCK,
Judge, you would be surprised to
see the life and spirit infused into this
place since August! More strangers
in town than for years, and many men
Of capital talking Of investing here,
some in manufacturing, others in
different lines Of business The prop
erty holders of this place and irnme-
date vicinity will make money in the
rise of property and material increase
Of business, even if they should call
their subscription a donation. The
distinct and definite understanding
with all our business men, after much
reflection and mature calculation, is
that the road will pay good interest
on the money, and that the company
will own and control it when com
pleted You will see by the above
figures, that the cost of wooden rail,
road is about one half that of iron,
and we have enough raised to build
the wooden rail Much Of the spirit
Of our enterprise is due to E. Bald
win, chief engineer, who came here
last August and worked up success
fully the railroad fever, and to whom
| am indebted for the above estl-
mates. Yours truly,
o. +. BLACK.