Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-03-04
MORE RAILROAD.
A Candid Argument Addressed to
Dubuque.
A Sensible Letter Prom Mr.. James A.,
Jones, of Lancaster.
LANCASTER, Wis, February "a.

DEAR Sir: There is, perhaps, no
city west of Lake Michigan where so
many railroads have already been at
tracted as to the city of Dubuque;
and vet she has but one from the east
side of the great river. believe it is
regarded as true that the more rail-
roads attracted so and centering in
any particular city, the more that city
is entitled to be regarded as Metro
potltan. The position of Dubuque JUS
titles more than one road from the
east; and her ambition and future
prosperity demand more. She has
heretofore anxiously desired others,
aiming as she does at commercial ex-
change with the city of Milwaukee.
10 this end, by committee and other
wise, she sought to inspire the citizens
along the route to embark in the en-
terprise, and capitalists to invest, but
in the end only to reap disappoint
ment;-because her day had not yet
come. 1t was a commendable effort
in the right direction, but was foiled
by combination of circumstances
then beyond her control; among which
might be regarded as very prominent,
the difficulty and expense of crossing
the river to your city. Thanks to the
inventive genius of Xerxes some 2400
years ago, together with that of Mr..
Lawler, Prairie du Chen, and Dr.Quig
lev Of Dubuque, for improvements of
the 10th century, this dlffiulty is now
measurably overcome. When your
proposed pontoon bridge is completed
and fully equipped for the accomoda-
ton of railroad cars and other ve-
hicles of transit over the river, it
seems to me that you offer greater in
ducements to railroad enterprise east
ward than any you have heretofore
been able to offer. You at once in
yite the continuation oil the road at
Monroe, either via Shulsburg, Hazel
Green and Mepominee river, coming
in below the pontoon, or otherwise
via Calamne and Platteville coming
in above the pontoon. You also give
encouragement to the Milwaukee and
Dubuque narrow gauge to push her
way through by one or the other OF
the before mentioned routes; and it is
not at all impossible that in time you
may rejoice in having both these
roads.
Nor is this all. By reason of the
prospect of this pontoon, you stimulate
the interest in, and render more FEAST
BILE and practicable the proposed en-
terprise of a road between Dubuque
and this village; an enterprise equal
to, if not in the end, of vastly greater
Importance to Dubuque than either
of the roads referred to. If Dubuque
still seeks commercial highway to
Milwaukee, as | believe she does, al
low me to ask her, by what route
can she reach that city with more
| benefit to both clties,-upon an easier
grade, by road more easily construct
ed, or by one promising more local
business, than by the Lancaster and
Madison route! | certainly can con
ceive of none The first necessary
stimulus to this end, moreover, is the
completion of the proposed road to
this place. When you reach this
point, you have not only overcome the
scare crow Of crossing the river, but
you have mastered the supposed diff
ficulties TO b. encountered from the
deep cutting and the heavy grading
incidentto the river bluffs. You have
in fact reached the high lands of Wis
consin at an eminence from which
You can reach Madison, along the
Military Ridge via Wingvile, Dodge
vile and Blue Mounds, on nearly level
grade; and literally without the ne
cessity of either tunnel or bridge;
at the same time passing through the
most fertile portion Of the State.
These facts, taken together, | think ii
fair to infer. would entice the invest
ment of sufficient capital in the con-
struction of this connecting link to in
sure its speedy completion. Even
Milwaukee and Madison, with local
points along the route, would be slim
uated by self interest to give aid and
encouragement thereto. In fact were
this d. ID. F. & T. road completed to
Lancaster, | regard it as far less than
visionary to assume that within two
years thereafter the continuation of
this road to Madison would be com
menced, and pushed rapidly to com
petion, and thereby secure to Du
buque what she has heretofore and so
long sought after, in vain, viz: a con.
nection with Milwaukee. 1t this be
sound reasoning, and such connection
with Madison can be stimulated, and
such an advantage can be attained
for Dubuque, by reason of this short
road to Lancaster, we think we offer
to Dubuque self interest sufficient to
prompt her, with all her citizens, to
an active CO. cooperation in ,his enter
prise.
But highly as we suppose this adj
vantage would be appreciated by you
all, we have yet another offer, of not
less Importance to the future growth
and business of your city, and which
may be secured to you by reason of
the road to this village. | refer to
the natural demands of ourselves and
the country n0rtn OF US Tor a road to
Wauzeka and thence north to the pine
forests of Wisconsin, and if you
please, to the iron aud copper mines
of Lake Superior. And | venture the
prediction that nothing but time is
necessary to assure such road, after.
we have secured the contemplated
connection with your city.
If these positions have been well
taken, are we to reason that it is a
matter of Indifference to DUBUQUE
whether this road to Lancaster is |
built or not? Viewing the future Of
your city from the elevation of Wis
consn ridge, as do, | cannot won.
der that so many of your citizens feel |
so deep an interest in the success Of
this enterprise. NY only wonder is,
that anu should be found. in any do