The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-02-18
ApDLETON AND THE ". r. z.

S.gs Western Railroad Company. as soon as it
ballasts up its road-bed in the early spring. VIII
institute legal proceedings to recover the SoO'-
900 of city bonds which will then be earned un-
der its contract with the city. and to compel the
issue and deposit of the other $4,000 = unless
thesnatter is in some way honorably comprom-
isea. the perpetual injunction being. esteem
ed by all good lawyers who have examined 1T
as the broadcast kind of legal farce-two ques-
lions submit themselves to the public consider
alton, viz:
L. Is it good policy to attempt to make an
honorable compromise with the Company,
based upon the early completion of the Road to
an intersection with the Green Bay & Minnesota
R. R. at Wolf River, and a reduction IN the
amount to be paid for the work earneof-and
2 Would such extension be of interest ana
profit to Appleton?
This paper having favored the contract as
made between the Company and City, and
which was ratified over and again by the popu-
lar vote as legaely expressed through the bal
lotbox, W leave to others tn consideration OF
the first question, and come to the second
What is the interest of Appleton? We think
itsof the highest importance to oursmanufactur-
ers in wood that this road should be extended
to Wolf river at once Why? Because we are
rapidly nearing the time = indeed it is upon US
when the valuable qualities of timber needed
for manufacturing viii be to far away to be
profitabiy drawn by teams.
The bottom or OVERLOOKED lands Of the Wolf
are covered with valuable hard wood timber.
1t is almost valueless where it stands; and the
loss by sinking on theiway renders it an urprof-
table business to raft it down to- Oshkosh and
around the Lake and the Fox. The Wolf and
its numerous and important tributaries above
New London, and the Highlands adjacent
thereto, viii furnish an abundance Of that
kind of timber for three or four generations to
come.
A connection with the Green Bay & Mime
sofa Railway viii furnish to our wood manu-
facturers the most profitable outlet to the pra-
RE regions of Minnesota and Dakota they
possibly secure As it is, they have already
developed a large trade in that direction, al
though iahOring under the Disadvantage of pay
ing for fifty miles Of extra railway freightage
via. Green Bay.
The Touring facilities here now excel the
production of the Fox River Valley hence to
Depere, including this whole county and the
northern half of Calumet and the mills buy
wheat and bring it here by rail from the prairie
and openings south and southwest of Lake
WinnebagO Minnesota wheat generally is of
a far higher grade and better quality than the
best average wheat raised in the region alluded
to; and it and win be brought here, if the
railway extension is made, at a decided saving
in aggregate cost to the millers. (The officers
Of the Green Bay Minnesota Railway are pre-
pared to prove this to the satisfaction of any
doubter)
During September and October we are assur-
ed that average of fourteen cars per day
loaded with wheat passed over this line Of road
and that trade has but lust commenced.
President Ketchum, of the G. B, s. nj. r. r.,
a few years ago personally devoted much time
to the lumber transportation question, ascer-
tanned this fact: That it would be cheaper for
pine log owners to transfer every log cut on
the Wolf and its tributaries to cars at New
London and carry the same via. Appleton to
Oshkosh than to float it down the Wolf and
pay the water transportation. boomage, tug
ging, and general loss incident thereto. Hence
it follows that as pine lumber can be manufac-
tured cheaper here than at Oshkosh, an i'm
mense trade can be built up, and in due time
we shall see almost daily trainsi OF planed lunl-
Der and timber starting hence for Omaha, etc.
We have not dwelt upon the advantage to
this whole section of country of obtaining the
shortest, cheapest and quickest route to the east
by the Pere Marquette and Manitowoc Steam
Ferry; that commends itself without argument.
But it is not inappropriate to remark that our
Water Power business interests generally are
to be most largely benefited by the extension,
because Appleton is so situated that it can well
become large commercial mart as wei as a
manufacturing centre.
If the proposed extension is secured to US, the
Mantowoc r. r, will not long remain at its
Wolf river connection with the Green Bay &
Minnesota r. r. 1t will inevitable move on in
due season to the head waters of the Embarrass
river, and thence doubtless follow that valley so
well adapted to farming stretching away to-
wards WauSau.
Our natural advantages afford pleasant
but sophistical argument in the mouths of do
nothing economists; but they cannot hinder
the construction of railways around us, with
the consequent diversion of important trade
and business to other points.
Can Appleton Business Men afford to repu-
date the plighted faith of this city, and as the
consequence thereof lose the proposed Railway
extension.-"App!eton Crescent
WE have receive the Animal ra,,ort