Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-14
THE NORTH WISCONSIN,.
New Men Take Hold to Push 1t to the

New Men Take Hold to Push 1t to the
Lake.
MIR. Isaac Wing, receiver of the United States
land Office at Bayfield,, Wis, who reached this
city last evening, on his return from Madison,
brings the gratifying intelligence that by legis-
lation secured at the recent session OF the legis
lature, and certain changes made in the owner
ship, the North Wisconsin, running north from
Hudson to some point on Lake Superior, has
been put on a basis which ensures its early
completion.
In the changes made in the ownership
Messrs. Jacob Humburd Philetus Sawyer and
II. h. Porter have become sole owners. All
these gentlemen are known AS intelligent and
enterprising railroad men. Mr.. Humburd was
prominently connected with the conception
and construction of the West Wisconsin rail-
load from which he retired to devote his time.
energies and means to the idea of building a
road from the northwestern boundary of Wis
consln, commencing at Hudson, running
north to some port on Lake Superior,
the objective point being either Ashland
or Bayfield,. The project was bold one, and
unfortunately it was entered upon just at the
time when the first clouds of the financial
storm which burst upon the country with the
collapse of Jay Cooke began to darken the
financial sky, and from which the country has
not yet entirely recovered. No enterprises suf-
fered more seriously during the era of hard
Wisconsin was no exception to the genera
rule, and for several years construc-
ton operations were at stand
still. With the first ray of dawning business
activity, however, work. was resumed and in
the last two years forty miles of road have been
built, carrying the line to Granite Falls, Bur-
nett country, sixty-five miles north from
ID. ii. Porter, who has now become interested
in the road, is the present president of the Chi
cago, st. Paul q Minneapolis Railway company,
formerly the West Wisconsin, and is confessed
ly one of the most sagacisus and competent
railroad men of the country, while Philetus
Sawyer. the remaining party, is known all over
the Northwest as one of the largest capitalists,
and most enterprising of business men Of the
Badger State. :.
By the action of the legislature at its recent
session the company has been relieved from
local taxation for period Of ten years, pro-
vided it complies with it's charter requirement
Of building twenty miles of road yearly. in
lieu Of which it is to pay to the counties
through which it runs per cent. upon its gross
earnings, proportionately to the amount Of it's
lands in such counties. It Is also
stipulated in the act, with the
concurrence OF the company, that in consider
alton of the relief from taxation, the company
shall sell it's agricultural lands to actual set
tiers, not exceeding 800 acres to any one pur-
chaser, at not to exceed $3.50 per acre.
MIR. Wing says that these terms were entirely
acceptable to the company and that there is
every reason to believe that with the improve.
meut of the times, the road villa be pushed
through to the lake terminus, probably
Bayfield,, within the next two
or three years, and that the
liberal terms at which the agricultural lands OF
the company are to be placed upon the market,
will result in the rapid settlement and devel.
opment of northwestern Wisconsin.
The North Wisconsin, though having it's ter
minus at Hudson, is virtually st. Paul road
and its early completion through to Lake Su.
perior is not only matter of interest to ou1
citizens but to every shipper west and north o1
us, from the fact that thus will be afforded
another competing line of rail and water com
munication.