River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-02-26

firm, united effort OF the citizens of
this place, and at other points in the
valley, will secure one. A narrow
gauge
RAILROAD
from Prescott, via River Falls to Hud.
son or Saltwater, is not an impractica.
bic thing.
From report of a committee of
Minneapolis citizens, appointed to take
into consideration the project of building
Narro,c Gauge Railroad fiom that
city to Buffalo in Wright county, we
CLEAN some interesting facts which we
shall use as the financial basis Of the
proposition we are about to submit.
1t has been truly said that this is a
NEW ERA OF RAILROADS.
Hence it is with considerable degree
Of confidence that we now venture up.
on the discussion of this subject.
At time when others des.
pair, it has often been our fortune to
see light and hope 10 the near future.
We started out with the assertion
that the
BUILDING OF A RAILROAD
from Prescott northward, is not only
practicable but desirable. That it
would be Of great value to that city
to the country along the line, and to
this place particularly. we think no can
did man will dispute.
That We can in any way secure the
building Of a
BROAD GAUGE ROAD
we do not believe, while the building
Of a road on the NarroW Gauge plan,
seems to us to be not only feasible but
desirable.
The great depression of railroad in
tefcsts in the west at the present time,
has had tendency to cheaper the cost
oc building them nearly or quite one.
half. Within the three years just pass
cd the entire business of railroading has
been revolutionized, and il is not prob.
able that foreign capital will again
seek investment in western railroads at
very early day. Nor do we expect
aid in inflated bonds, or currency
which passes at a heavy discount from
the face. The time has come when we
must get right down
To HARD PAN,
and start on firm foundation. Begin
now upon a sound basis, and you will
be surprised at the triaing cost of build
ing a railroad, when compared with the
cost fifteen years ago. Withid the last
two years, iron has fallen forty per
cent, and labor is very much cheaper.
But, to come 10 facts and figures,
we think We can show to math ematic-
al certainty, that
MARROW GAUGE ROAD
can be built and equipped from Pres
colt via this place TO the West Wiscon-
sin, at Martins Junction, for a sum
within our reach.
The estimated cost, as reported by
practical men, of building eleven miles
of narrow gauge road running from
Minneapolis towards Crow Wing, is only
Sl09 900. Of this sum 500 900 is al
lowed to equip the road. This state
ment may surprise some Of our readers,
but it is we'll authenticated, aud We be-
lieve it can be done. Of course this Is
cash estimate, with no bonds, no vat
cred stock, including no surplus for a
corruption fund-no Credit Mobilier
Now why not make this matter sort
of
GENERAL MOVEMENT,
and then enlis every body in ID. To
u greater or less extent every citizen in
the valley from Prescott to Saltwater,
is interested in it; and, to a greater Of
less extent, nearly every citizen can, IN.
der proper management, be induced to
aid the enterprise. Why not?
1t is doubtless true that
PRACTICAL CAPITALISTS
will invest very little money in broad
gauge railroads, since il finds safer
aud far more profitable investment in
the narrow gauge roads which are
now spriuging into existence all over
the country. We could give our rea-
s. ns for this, but since il is our purpose
to arouse