Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-06-09

A Correspondent of the Milwau-
kee Republican, writes up Shulls-
burg as follows: y
Shullsburg is an old and some.
what noted town of southwestern
Wisconsin. The first settlement
of this place dates back to 1923;
and, thirty or'thirty.tive years ago,
when lead was king in all this sec
ton of the country, this village was
second only to Galena as mining
centre, Here many fortunes were
quickly made, and as quickly squan,
dcred. This village was also, for
some time, the county seat of La
Fayette county, which gave it al.
ditional importance during the
early settlement of the state. For
the past ten or fifteen years, how.
ever, the town has been at stand.
still. The county.seat was moved
to Darlington, the mining business
declined, other towns got their rail
roads. and Shullsburg was "lett
out in the cold" Though the hills
surrounding the village are honey
combed with mineral holes, those
hills and holes are as silent as n
cemetary. The voice of the specu-
lator in mining stocks is no longer
heard in the land, and the harp of
the ancient miner is hung upon the
willows. But Shullsburg istoo tortu.
nately located to remain inactive
much longer. Her mines are not
dead but sleeping, and within one
mile of her limits are extensive
zinc beds which, with the coming
of the "iron horse" and the capital
that is sure to follow him, and will
be changed into sources of industry
and wealth. Already the buzz of
new life is heard on every hand.
The village plat is consulted by
every man who thinks he owns a
lot, the lines of corner lots are dill.
gently sought out, and back taxes
Of twelve and fifteen years are be,
ing "wacked up" with a promptness
that brings great comfort to the
hearts of the county officials. Real
estate is rapidly on the rise, and
everything indicates new life and
prosperity in business circles.
This change in the history of the
old mining town has all been
brought about by the prospect of
having railroad before the close of
the present year. The "Monroe
extension" is rapidly moving west
ward, and that's what's the matter
with Shullsburg now, Like all the
people in this part of the state, the
inhabitants of this village have long
and patiently waited for the build
ing of this line of road from Mon
roe to Dubuque. The iron is now
being put down westward from
Monroe as fast as large force of
men can do the work, and it is con
tidently expected that trains will be
RAINING from Milwaukee to Grotiot
by the 10th of July next The con
tract for grading between Gratiot
and Shullsburg has been let, and
that work on that part of the line
will begin next week. In order TO
secure the aid voted by this town,
the road must be completed to this
place by the first of October next.
This can easily be done within the
time specified, as the distance is
only about eleven miles, and the
grading is light most of the way.
The delay in building this line Of
railroad from Monroe to Dubuque,
has long puzzled every intelligent
person in southwestern Wisconsin.
In all these years, the richest min
eral and agricultural portion OF the
state has been as a blank to Mil
waukee and the Chicago Milwau-
kee & St. Paul railroad company.
The people Of this section were
completely y cut off from their metro
polls, and compelled to buy their
goods in Chicago and ship all their
vast mineral and agricultural pro-
ducts to cities of other states. The
most charitable view that can be