Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-08-23

ofthe companv'S business, arising pru-
cipally from the excellent erapS ST last
year,
4 The whole number 81 tons ot freight
carried iii the entire limo III thc COM
pany was &9ll G6l; the tens carried III
/ the preceding wear were &,+lS. SOS. show
\ Ing III increase Of to-, sos tons, W IL
/ 69-l00 per cent, The average rate r.
ccivea per tom was 500, against S2.6t
III the previous ytar being M increase
" 1 l1-l0o per cent
The increase of II cents per ton III
the average rate received is owing te
/ transportation over longer distances,
and is principally indicative III the fact
/ that the new prairieS Of Minnesota and
the partly-cultivattd areas Of other per.
tlons ~ Nur moro remote and eompaya-
I lively undevelopcd lines are rapidly be-
coming productivc, and are setting
up with an industrious and thrifty
people.
The actual reduction IN rates from
those OF the preceding Ncarwheu applied
g the large movement Of tonnage is
equivalent II the sum IL SSiGaa1,
which amount represents the concession
to cheap transportation made hy this
company during the past Year N the
movement of freight.
The material condition of the COM
pany III respect to MS property has
fully kept pace With lis increase III
traffic, and, II the present time the
railroad III all its departments is in
high state Of efficiency. The track has
been greatly improved, tho engines and
cars are welland thoroughly maintained,
and are second to none III the country
for the demands Of business and 10.
commodation ofpublic service,
RuNns.
The amicahle relations Of interest
and mutual advantage cnlovcd hy tho
West Wisconsin Railway company
have not been disturbed hy foreclosure
Of that company's property. Tho prac-
tical union Of that line with our Madison
extension, i'll forming n direct route be-
tween Chicago and SLPall Minneapolis,
and the Northwest, enables both com
panies To fully participate in the joint
business, and to offer 10 the public the
accommodation ofn continuous thorough
| fare while maintaining sCpcrato owner
ship and separate management on thom
respective roads \ contimatory
agreement, To separate the relations,
was executed 10y this company and The
Chicago, X st. Paul Il Minneapolis Rail
way company, as the successor com
pany 20 the old West Wisconsin Rail-
way company during the last fiscal year.
THE SALES OF LANDS
have materially increased during the
last fiscal wear The chief demand hns
been for the new and productive prair-
les Of MINNESOTA and Dakota, along
the western portion Of the line Of the
Wmonn 4 st. Peter railroad. The sales
made by the company represent but n
portion Of the lands which have been
taken up and occupied during that
period. The alternate sections of gov
eminent land lying within the limits Of
the grant have been open to pre-cmp-
ton and homestead settlement, and are
equal to the entire body Of lands be-
longing to the company IN that locality.
When IL is considered that these gov
eminent lands, especially those contig-
nous to the railroad, have been mostly
taken up since the completion OF the
road, it will be seen that tile scales by
the company represent hut an in
considerable proportion Of the
local improvement. large amount
Of land received under the grant, be-
longing to the parties by whom the
eastern los miles Of the Winona Il 81.
Peter road WAS originally built, Inns also
been sold during the year.
The greater prosperity Of the com.
pany during the past year was manly
derived from its local business, which
will continue To improve with the de
vclopmcnt Of agriculture on the cheap
and fertile prairics Of tho great North
west Whatever temporary drawbacks
may result from unfavorable seasons,
Or from less abundant production 81
crops. there will Still bc found Il rapid
progression in the cultivated area from
year to year, which will bring con
tinued accession Of business to ourlnca.
Thenew year upon which we have en-
tered is marked by considerable inn
provement in this direction; and while
the exceptionally hot aud damp wealth
or is unfayorablc to maturing the wheat
and barley, and the harvest is delayed
by heavy rains on some portions Of the
line, 50 that Il less yield both III quantity
and quality may be expected, rs com
pared with the superior crop Of last
year, there yet remains very consider
able increase in acreage, MS partial COM
pcnsation for the loss On the other
hand there Il promise Of 4 good corn
crop on our western lines III iowa. Tho
large amount Of new land broken up
this year preparatory TO the next crop,
gives assurance Of tIlc continued pro-
duetiyencss of or MlnOna Il st. Peter