Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-08-26
The first trip to MilwanLee over

the Monroe extension OF the Chicago,
Milwaukee L st. Paul R'y. was made
on Monday last. The passenger
train arrived in this city the previ-
Gus evening and was in charge Of
conductor Wadsworth Of Monroe.
who, being the Oldest conductor with
the company, was selected to make
the first trip over the new line. The
train left this city on Monday morn
ing promptly at 4:4o, reaching the
several stations on schedule time,
and arriving in Milwaukee at ex-
aetly 1855 a. N. Conductor Wads-
worth expressed himself as being
agreeably surprised at finding the
track between this city and Gratiot
in such excellent condition. The
twenty-five miles Of new road be-
tween Gratiot and Monroe is COM
pleted in good shape and is very
smooth. About twenty persons took
the train At Mineral Point, among
whom was 4 representative Of the
Democrat. They were joined by
good delegations from Platteville,
Darlington. Gratiot and other towns.
The train when it left Mineral Point
consisted Of two elegant passenger
coaches which are to remain perma-
nently upon the line. At Evansville
an extra coach was put on and by
the time the train left Waukesha,
the passengers on beard numbered
over three hundred. When III Mil
waulee conductor Wadsworth called
our attention to the passenger train
Of the &. NJ. i ST. Paul R'y. leaving
for Chicago, which was nearly half 4
mile in length.
The distance saved by the new
route to Milwaukee, when compared
with the old route by the way Of
Freeport, is about twenty-five miles,
while there is a saving of nearly
seven hours in time over the old
morning train via Frecport. The
train now reaches Milwaukee at 1866
a. m. instead Of $40 j. III. from
Freeport.
We found that the officers Of the
g. N. 4 St. 2. R'y. Company as well
as the business men Of Milwaukee
are alive to the fact that the connee-
ton which has Just been established
between the metropolis Of the state
and one Of the richest and most pro-
ductive sections Of country to be
found anywhere, is Of very great
Importance, and it is an unexpected
boom for Mineral Point that this
place, until the road is further ex-
tended, is to be the terminus of this
fast line.
The st. Paul company viii il We
mistake not, make a lively fight for
the carrying Of the produce Of this
portion of the state. It has shown
its determination to do this by the
recent large reduction for stock cars
from this place to Milwaukee and /
Chicago. The merchants Of Mil |
waukee will stir UP a lively compe-
tition with Chicago merchants for
the trade Of southwest Wisconsin,
which cannot be but beneficial to the
people of this part Of the state.
The passenger fare over the new
line from Mineral Point to Milwaukee
has been fixed at s6.10 for single trip
and 1920 for round trip.
The passenger trains will be in
charge of conductors Wadsworth and /
Dean. Mr. Wadsworth is the Oldest
conductor with the G. NJ. 4 st. p. /
Company, having been a conductor
on the company's lines for the past
twenty-eight years. Ills courteous
treatment Of the passengers from
this city on the formal opening Of
the line on Monday is especially de-
serving Of mention. Conductor
Dean is also an Old conductor and
fayorite with the company.
A passenger train to connect with
this line has been put on the Platte
vile branch of the road, with ?.
Leahy as conductor.