Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1876-02-04
RAILROAD REVIVAL.
A New Project for our Com
mercial Salvation.
Richland Center, Dodgeville and
Freeport Narrow Gauge
Railroad.

j
som ething occurs. Thus it was that
our sspeaceful and quiet village" awoke
from it's slun,bers onTuesday morning
slumbers undisturbed even by SO much
as dream of possibility Of our get
ting railroad anywhere in the near
future-to find that others had been
interesting themselves in our welfare,
and that very desirable, cheap and
practicable project was even then
awaiting for US but to put forth our
hand and possess It,
Which is to say, that on Tuesday
morning it was noised abroad upon our
streets that Mr.. E. Baldwin, chief en-
gincer of the Richland Center and
Lone Rock narrow-gauge railroad, had
arrived in town the evening previous
having come ON foot from Freeport, LII
and made reconnaissance of the Peca-
tonica valley witha view of ascertainiug
its feasibility as a railroad te,and the
feeling of the people toward such a
project, and that he desired confer
ence with our people on the subject.
Accordingly, meeting was held at
the Commercial House on Tuesday
evening, which was presided over by
S. w. Reese, Esq, and addressed prin-
cipally by Mr.. Baldwin, who stated
that since his previous visit here he
had been strongly impressed with the
idea that as our village was situated in
the breaks of the Pecatonica, rail-
road from Freeport to this place would
present many advantages in the way of
easy grades and cheapuess Of construc-
ton; and finding himself in Freeport, a
few days since, he had determined to
investigate the matter at least to his
own satisfaction. He had talked with
the leading citizens of Freeport about
the project, and while they felt pretty
we'll content with their present facili-
ties, having three competing lines to
Chicago, they had assured him they
would do their part towards this
line, and the lowest figure named for
that purpose was $50, 900. He had
then proceeded up the valley examin-
the line and talking with the people,
and found that road coult. lie built
on this line more easily and cheaper
than any other line he had ever seen in
the west, and he had been engaged in
railroad building, west of Chicago. for
| the last twenty years. The people
along the route had everywhere re-
ceived the project with enthusiasm.
pledoinc their means to aid in its con-
struction, and now he had come to ask
the people of Dodgeville to lend a
helping hand, believing that if they
did the road would be in operation be-
| fore another winter. His estimate, from
thorough examination of the road
was, that the road from here to Free
port, ironed and equipped, would not cost
ovor sS 900 per mile land he was salts.
fed that if So, 100 per mile could
be raised along the line he could
find parties who would fur
nish the remainder of the money and
complete it. This would require, per
haps, $75, 900 to be raised by the
towns of Dodgeville, Waldwick, Ridge
way and Moscow--by tax and individ-
| ual subscription. AS to the advanta-
ges of this line, it would give us per-
petually cheap transportation, as the
road, constructed at cost of So goo a
mile could carry freight and passengers
far che per than broad-guage road
costing three times as much, while at
Freeport we would connect with three
competing lines to Chicago and two to
Milwaukee. The first thing necessary
to be done was to raise little money
and have the route surveyed, SO that
exact estimates Of the cost, &C., could
be obtained, and this survey would
cost about 1925 mile. The people of
Richland Center would contribute S 90
towards the survey from Lone Rock
here, and he would ask the people of
Dodgeville to raise S300-one half of
| the amount to be paid him when the
survey is completed from Lone Rock to
Dodgeville, and the remainder when it
is completed to Freeport.
The remarks Of Mr.. Baldwin were
favorable received by most of those
present, and after some consideration a
committee, consisting of DIR. Burial !,
Samuel Hoskins, Orville Strong, Rob't
G. Ovens and Peter Morris, was ap-
pointed to confer further with him
and report to a meeting of citizens at
the Court House on Wednesday even
ing.
Pursuant to the adjournment Of the
| above meeting, a. large number Of our
| citizens assembled at the Court House
on Wednesday evening, to hear the re-
port of the conference COMMITTEES. s:
w. Reese called the meeting to order;
and announced the first business be the
| selection Of chairman, whereupon Mr..
Hendy was called to the chair, and A..
s. Hearn chosen secretary.
DIR. Burial having been called out
of town, Orville Strong, from the COM
mittee, presented the following report:
| To tho citizens Of Dodgt0ilEe in public meet
| inc assembled to consider the neaoLy pro-
| posed RaiIray from Freeport, H., to
| Dodgeuitle, Wis:
FELLOW UiTlzENs:-The undersigned