River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-09-18
New Railroad Scheme

WV tNeiA3Ao1A e1AANiA4Is
The following circular has been
sent out by the president Of the Chi
cago, Freeport & st. Paul II. r. Co.:
FREEPoRT, ILL.,, Sept. 18th, "a.
DEAR SIR:-It has been definitely
determined to construct new line of
railroad from Chicago to st. Paul and
Minneapolis, and work thereon will
be vigorously prosecuted during the
coming season.
1t was originally contemplated by
the managers of this enterprise to
construct the same along the east
bank of the Mississippi river, and all
their efforts have been heretofore d.
rected accordingly Late surveys and
"Reminiscences have demonstrated
that a practicable though quite expen-
sive line, running parallel with and
from twenty to twenty-five miles east.
ward of the Mississippi river, and
possessing certain advantages over
the proposed river bank line, can be
constructed at an additional cost of
from $2500 to $4,000 per mile.
1t has been represented to us that
if we adopt this "interior,' instead of
the river bank line, enough aid will
be voted by the various towns through
and near which the road will pass, to
largely make up this difference in the
cost of construction.
The absolute need of the entire sec
ton of any country through which
this line would run, of better railroad
facilities, and the almost inestimable
advantages which this direct line to
Chicago will afford it, leads the man.
agement to believe, that if the people
are alive to their own interests they
will spare no reasonable effort to Sc
cure this road.
1t is morally certain that if this
be constructed along the river bunk,
no railroad along the proposed inte-
rior line will ever be constructed.
1t is almost equally certain to us
that if the people of the several
towns along the proposed interior line
go energetically to work, they can
raise a sufficient amount of aid to
warrant the company in adopting it.
To give you general idea of the
route of the proposed interior" line,
| will state that it runs from Chicago
to Freeport, ILL.,, in almost an air line,
thence northward up the valley of the
Pecatonica river, crossing the Wiscon-
sin river near Lone Rock; thence
along the north bank of the Wisconsin
to the mouth of Mill Creek in Rich
land County; thence northward
through Boaz in Richland County;
Sparta in Monroe County; Melrose in
Jackson County; Whitehall in Trem-
peleau County; Durand in Pepin Co.
and River Falls in Pierce County, to a
point upon Lake st. Croix, in the
town of Troy, in st. Croix County;
thence in direct line to St. Paul and
Minneapolis.
The whole line will be forty-fve
miles shorter than any other line be-
tween Chicago and st. Paul.
If this ''inteior" line be adopted it
will pass through your town and will
afford first-class convedient railroad
facilities to its citizens. VIII you
kindly write me at your earliest con-
venience, stating how the people of
your town feel about getting rail-
road, and whether in your judgment,
your town would be likely TO vote a
reasonable amount of aid to secure
our roadl
Copies of this circular letter have
been sent to several of the leading cit
liens in each of the towns interested
in the construction of our road upon
this "interior" line. If the replies
are sufficiently encouraging we shall
send representative along the line to
submit definite propositions to the
people of the several towns.
Respectfully,
w. o. WRIGHT, Pres.
AS will be seen by the perusal of
the letter the matter is of considera-
BILE Importance to this vicinity, as it
proposes new and independent route
to the metropolis of the west-Chica-
go, and would also, if constructed in
accordance with the terms of the Cir
cular give residents here new and
direct route to st. Paul. The bene-
fit to this county can hardly be over
estimated. There is vast wealth in
our hardwood timber if it could be
made available; and to do this re-
quires cheaper transportation than we
now possess. 1t is safe estimate to
say that with a railroad running
through the heart of Pierce county
every acre of timber land within three
miles on either side would be increas-
ed in value in short time fifty per
cent. Besides this new manufactor-
les would spring up to work up the
timber, thus adding rapidly to our
population and wealth. To say that
this village would reap advantages
from the growth of the county would
be uttering but an almost self-eVident
fact. Already the principal village
and the center of large portion of
the commercial interests, it would
need only its usual vigor and enter
prise to enable it to lead in the adj
vance and maintain front rank in
the future as in the past. While it
may readily be admitted that having
a good route now to st, Paul we do
not need railroad as much as the
rest of the county, new one could do
us no hurt, although it is true it might
have tendency to cripple the one al
ready built unless it too should make
move for an extension and thus give
us yet greater advantages.
New designs Fall Carpets just re-
ceived at Burhyte's.