The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-12-19
MAYOR scHuErrE and Alderman Dicke

the Mil. Lake Shore & Western on the /
railroad question. While Mr. Schuette,
in common with every person in the city
is quite anxious that every opportunity |
for the advancement of Manitowoc should |
be improved, he is not disposed to "go it |
blind and trust to chance for the good |
things to come. Sufficient facts have |
been gathered to show that the contempla- |
ted through line cannot but be advan- |
tageous to the city. The proposed route
from ST. Paul is over the Green Bay
Winona & ST. Peter road to New London,
the Mil. L. s. & W from that point to
this city, line of steamers across the
lake to Ludington, thence on the +. Il T.
NJ. across Michigan, through Canada on
one of the trunk lines to Buffalo and
from thence to the sea board on the Dele
ware & Lackawanna. When the subject
was first preached there probably was
not man in the city, excepting MIR. Villas
those without the least knowledge were
most anxious to push things and trust to
luck
Business methods were adopted not
outstanding the opposition. Mr.. Fell
of the Delaware & Lackawanna was writ
ten to and he gave the information that
the line was designed for summer as well
as for winter transportation. President
Sloan of the G. B. Winona & st. Peter
road was also asked for assurances and
responded favorably. And finally bust
ness consultation was held with General
Manager Whitcomb Of the Lake Shore
& Western. These business-hke proceed
ings may appear like unnecessary delay
to the Historically inclined who jump at
conclusions and think afterwards. But
now the city council has information on
which it should act promptly, and favor
ably to the proposed line. OF course it
would be better if the Lake Shore Il
Western would state definitely whether
| franchise would be accepted. But the
ordinance granting it can be so framed
as TO protect the clty.
Mr.. Whitcomb was quite frank with
the Mayor and Mr.. Dicke. He informed
them that the company could not accept
the southern route and the reasons he
gave must be deemed sufficient when the
| interests Of the road he represents are
considered. Indeed it is not altogether
a matter Of certainty that the new
| through route will not be detriment in
stead of an advantage to the Lake Shore
& Western. From present appearances
the city will profit by it to greater ex-
tent than the road. Mr.. Whitcomb held
out no positive assurances that the line
would be important as a summer route
as he did not wish to raise hopes which
might be disappointed. One thing he
deemed certain: it would not be discon-
| tinued as summer route but this rested
with the Delaware & Lackawanna. There
might be decrease of business however
as Green Bay would then share the bust
ness.
!
an arrangement whereby the boats could
run up the river to the docks now con.
trolled by the railroad company. To
determine the feasibility Of this plan
Mr.. Hurson of the Goodrich Transports
ton Co. was consulted. He informed
them that it would be impossible to reach
the docks in Manitowoc during certain
months of winter. 1t was possible to
run quite distance in the Milwaukee
harbor because the ice was kept brittle
from the discharge of sewers
From the Investigations made it be-
came quite apparent that the only solu-
ton of the problem was franchise to
lay track on Franklin or Water and
Quay streets. The only missing link
in the perfected arrangent is an assur-
ance that such franchise would be &C,
cepted. With this omission made good
the whole proceeding would be "busi-
ness" 1t is all the company could ex-
pect and all the people would grant un-
less what is called the southern route
could be agreed upon.
At special meeting held on Monday
evening to accept the central fire station
the railroad question was informally dis
cussed. An ordinance granting fran
chise on Quay and Franklin or Water
streets had been prepared. 1t provides
for single track and does not give ex-
elusive right. Trans are permitted to
run from 5 P. NJ. to 8 A. NJ. when there is
daily traffic on the continuous line
| Otherwise from P. NJ to 6 A. NJ. Should
the franchise be accepted an additional
ordinance regulating the rate of speed
will be passed.
| The people now have assurances from
| all the roads which are to form this COM
| blnatiOn that business is meant. And
while there is no positive certainty that
| the line will do much business in summer
| still Manitowoc will have the benefit of
| through rates to all points outside the
| state If the interstate commerce law ap-
plies to steamboats, forming part of rail-
| road system. The people also have learned
that no other route will be accepted
through the city. It was highly proper
that every compromise should be attemp-
ted before Quay street was granted.
While no assurance is given for fran
chise-all being for right of way,-the
ordinance drawn binds the railroad COM
pany to do in consideration of franchise
what it offered to do should it be given a
right of way. All this has been done by
business like procedure. Probably it
would be wise now to ascertain whether
the interstate commerce law applies to
transportation by water as part of an
overland route.
This line will by no means build up
the city but it will be a great aid and con-
venience to business men generally and
positive blessing to mill owners.
Through them the farmers will be great
ly benefited. There is not sufficient
wheat raised in this county to keep the
four mills in this city running steadily
for four months. Besides the hard wheat
which makes -four that is marketable in
the east is not grown in this county and
must he purchased in Minnesota Ac