The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-05-10
MORE INTERURBAN TALK.
Little Prospect That the Line Will Be
started This Year.

Little Prospect That the Line Will Be
started This Year.
The Madison Journal has been irving
to make it appear that there was horse
| race on between Messrs. Clough and
Montgomery for the two million dollars
necessary to build the Madison-J James
vile electric line, but after reading the
subJoined statements from representa-
tives OF both these gentlemen it can
easily be seen there was little in the SEN
sational statement. The article referred
to is prefaced by the following:
Which will win out will depend alto
gether on which raises the 100000
necessary to build the line first. Mr..
Montgomery, it is known, has organized
company called the Southern Wiscon-
sin Light & Traction company, and this
company is using trust deed in at
tempting to negotiate 100000 in bonds.
The bonds are all printed and have been
offered on the market both in New York
and in Madison and vicinity. In order
to make the bonds attractive Mr.. Mont
gomery has been willing to pledge por-
tion of his present Madison line. New
York wants the bonds at ninety cents
and if it comes to pinch it is believed
that Mr.. Montgomery will sell them at
that figure. This will mean a loss of
100000. Capable Madison fnanciers
have interested themselves and will try
to float the bonds locally so as to save
as much OF this 100000 as possible.
Both Mr. Montgomery and Mr.. Clough
plan to build the line this year. The
one who closes up his work of raising
the money first is the one who is likely
to win out. It is known that Mr. Clough
has already purchased $4,000 worth of
grading machinery with which to begin
work. Mr.. Montgomery has had the
great Westinghouse Electric company
draw up plans and specifications and
contracts
On the other hand, here is the pro-
moters' side of the story:
Thomas S. Nolan of GAINESVILLE, the at
torney for Mr.. Clough, the Cleveland
capitalist who proposes to build an cleo
trio line from GAINESVILLE to Madison, was
in this city yesterday. Mr.. Nolan was
asked what progress his client had made
in his preparation for building the inter
urban. He replied that Mr.. Clough has
accomplished the most important work
connected with the enterprise. He had
secured franchise from the city of
GAINESVILLE, had an option on the local
line in GAINESVILLE, and had completed his
survey between GAINESVILLE and Madison.
eve expect now" said Mr.. Nolan, "to
begin work the conn, summer, or at
least in the fall. The line as projected
will approach Madison by way of the
fair grounds, using the old Northwestern
grade, which extends south from the
fair grounds to the Nine Spring creek.
Just what arrangement we will make to
get into Madison we haven't yet deter
mined. If we can, we shall conclude
some deal with Mr.. Montgomery to use
his South Madison line from the fair
grounds. Ii we can't make such an ar
rangement we shall have to ask for a
franchise of our own to enter the city.
! Mr.. Clough has already expended q his
survey between the two cities more than
$4,000 and believes he has selected the
most feasible and useful route for the
people living between the two cities. OF
course, this is not an easy time to raise
money If it had been, the work on the
new line would have been under way be-
L
is any doubt about the work being COM
menced this summer or early in the fall"
President Montgomery has at last
broken his long silence on the question
of building ar interurban from Madison
to GAINESVILLE. He admits be is at pres
ent making comprehensive survey of
route from Madison to Stoughton, with
the idea of sometime building line that
far The prices Of materials and labor.
however, are too high at the present
time to allow the Immediate construction
of the road. He says he will welcome
and assist over his lines any man who
will construct line from GAINESVILLE to
Madison.
"We have surveyed the ground be.
tween Madison and Stoughton with the
idea that we might some time want to
build an interurban line" declared Mr..
Montgomery. cat the present time we
are perfecting those plans and max
| ing more comprehensive survey.
Just now we have no idea of building
the line this year. Prices of material
and labor are too high. OF course if
prices should drop something might be
done. [ have not surveyed between
| Stoughton and Janesville | do not
| want 20 say WnaC L lnIonu TO 90, LOT
things may so develop as to make it
feasible. think there is good oppor-
tunity in building this line, but at the
present time, with the unsatisfactory
conditions of the money market | don't
believe any plan will carry. am not
attempting to float bonds to build road
from Madison to GAINESVILLE. Not bond
has been printed | don't know what
Mr.. Clough is doing. He has not been
in my office for almost year For a
year and half his attorneys have been
talking about this line and nothing has
been done. We stand ready to welcome
| the man who will build line for this
route and will do all we can to assist
him.
I Here you have the situation up to