Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-05-31

accurate figures ~ to the cost Of the narrow
gusss. or the amount Of contributions which
other localities exclusive Of Dodxevills would
make. In speaking Of the ways and means
Of constrresing the NJ. P. / p. c. n. r.. the
Estimated cost Of the entire road will be given
- well ~ the proportion OF stock which
DodEeville will b expected to take, and com
psrison can then be instituted.
Sd-Valus ~ an idvcstment Nobody pre.
tends that tho narrow guage railroad from
Lone Rock will make any returns in divi.
bends upon its stock. II il earns enough
after saying opees ting expenses and main
tenance Of road TO psy interest upon tho debt
| created in its construction, il will do - much
| a. Its most sapguine friends anticipate; while
| there are satisfactory reasons for supposiug
that the II. P. 4 p. c. X. R,will pay ~ much
as ton per cent per annum to stock holders in
dividends upon stock, over and above inter.
est upon ito debt. This also will DO illustra.
ted In speaking Of the ways and means Of
constructing the road. II We are correct In
the view expressed on this point, il follows
| that the money put into the narrow guage
VIII to thrown away excel in the indirec.
advantages to result from the road, while that
put into tho broad guage win be AS good as if
loaned at ten per cent on good security, and
bring to the people greatly superior indirect
advantages.
4th-lhrough line. The Importance Of tho
| A. r. 7. K r rs n link in long limo
from the Cult ~ tae Lakes has been already
| dwelt upon at great length. These advauta-
| yes will be shared by tho people Of Dodge
/, Vile in common with MI others interested in
1t; while the prop osed narrow guage will
| have no advantages of this kind. II win he
| limited in its sphere Of operations to the local
business between its two termini, and no pas
4. 4
t1rm,nrs ,q any Que beyond the other, will
. ever seek - aYad himself OF its coy accomO-
9ati,ns, nui Will any freight pass over the
road, Who'll. docs uvt start From or stop ut
some place between the terinipi.
5h-Lrm6er. The advantages OF u direct
connection by means Of tho N. p. & Z. q. L.
X. with the pincries have been already en-.
larged upon and cannot DO over estimated. A
narrow guage railroad to Lone Rock would
TAIL to secure the people Of Dodgeyillo the
benefit ct these advantages. Aside from the
transfer Of tho lumber 1t Lone Rock from
wide to narrow cars. it would require to be
hauled from Portage City via. Madison TO
| l. ne Rock, which would increase the distance
! about atty two miles, and tho hau, by rail
from Dodgcville via Lone Rock and Madison
would be double what it would be from Min
erAl Point to Portage City by the NJ. 2. 4 = /.
| {. h. r., and IL the Wis. Cent. and the M. h
81. p. should refuse to exchange cars At Port
| age City, as the Ills. Cent. aud the 9. l. N.
". do 1t Freeport, there would be practical
embargo 1t Portage city OF all lumber traffic
by rail.
| There ia another consideration in favor of
the Portage route, which is common to Dodge,
vile and Mineral Point as well rs other places
engaged in making wagons, carriages. plows
| or machinery Of auy kind, and that Is the
fuCi litiNa which 1n rand yvnnl1 furnish of
obtaining an abundant supply Of hard wood
lumber Ut low rates. The Wisconsin Central
Il. h, besides tho fine forests which It pcne
trates, runs through Immense hodios OF the
best Of the various kinds OF hard wood, such
rs oak, esh, beach, birch, maple, cherry
black walnut, buAtsrnut, and linn or bass
wood, and some other kinds; and with the
facilities Of furnishing cheap lumber OF these
various kinds, tho manufacture Of agricuitu
raj implements Of oil kinds, and OF wagons,
carriages, sieighs, or railroad cars, could be
carried On at Mineral Point OF Dolgevilis to
great profit and advantage, and ths business
aud prosperity Of the place be greatly in
| creased.
! The towns OF Ridgeway and Arena have a
doeep interest In the construction OF this
Portage road, but the number Of persons | n
thoso towns whose interests will b. immedi =
atciy promoted will depend vcsy much upon
the route which shall b. ultimately adopted
From Dodgevile to the Wisconsin River
two routes are In contemplation. Both
leave Dodgcville ne lr the Far Grounds and
soon divergc, one running nor,herly through
| sections Is and II to tho head waters OF
Mill Creek, thence follows the valley Of that
stream TO a..point ~ or near Helena. The other
runs east from the Fair Grounds and folio W.
the general route Of tho old Military road 10
| y point about two miles west Of the West
| Blue NJ ounds. whore II would turn n0rtheriy
into the head Of Walnut Hollow and follow
that and tho Dlre Mound branch TO th,
vicinity Of Kowe's mill. II il proposed tina,
both these routes shall be surveyed and tn.
one adopted which shalt be- found most feas-
ible, and cheapest, including cost Of right 0
way, and in favor Of which the Creates
amount Of stock subscriptions can be OBJ
| tsine6.
The towns Of Prairie du Sack, Honey Creek
Troy. Sumpter and Merrimack. in Sank Co.
ere also largely intesestcd in the construction
of this road and weuld he greatly benefited
by it, and sone Of them, particularly Prsiri.
| du Sac, have repeatedly At different time;
exhibited tho interest watch they feel In OBJ
tanning some railroad connection, by tn.
| spadmodic efforts which the have made :,
| obtain railroad, sometimes to Msz0nAnic
! and sometimes to Merrimack or Lodi, sno
especially by the disposition exhibited fou
years ago to aid tho Sbeboygan and Fono
du Lac company in extending their roa
| over the line now In contemplation. Tn
| fear to be spprehcnded In re alton to thesA
towns is the same rs Of those Of Dodgeville
VII icb is. that through impatisnce in wait
Ing for the cooperation Of others. and mp
prehension that the grcst through line, whic
they would all prefer to any other, Is
larger project than they can hope to accom-
plish they will fJtter away their means !
efforts TO build some other branch or spu
road, which il i. could be obtained might b
better than now, but which would be .
| Srsstly inferior importance TO tho u. r.
| p. @. road.
Portage City hes now two branches OF th
ct. p. X. Il. from Milwaukee, one via Wat
| tcrtowu and Columbus, the other vim Hor