Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1922-11-16
Uncle Billy Cash Keeps In The
Railroad Game With an Engine,
Coach and Box Car
MAY START BIS ROUTE
IN THE NEAR FUTURE
Newspaper Correspondent Tells of
His Experiences In Riding Over
the Line
BY Will c. Conrad
lin milwaukee, JournaD

mas come back" at go
That is what they will tell you IN
and down the Baraboo valley, and oy-
er at Sparta. Viroqua and New Lisbon,
where William H. II. Cash is known
as the Jane ). Hill of western Wis.
cOnsin. 49,.
Two years ago, at 78, Mr.. Cash lost
control Of the HilIsbOro railroad. a
short line that he had built from
Union Center to HillsborO and put on
a paying basis. THAT closes Cash's
career" said many. But the remark
only showed that they did not know
abe man.
Today MIR. Cash Is owner of another
railroad, having recently taken over
the Cazenoyia Southern short line
between CazenOvia and La Vale -
and, according to reports, as planning
on extensions that will develop into a
system. He is also dreaming of the
creation Of big notorious route, be-
cause he believes the notorious TO be
the coming means of transportation.
Engine, Coach, Box Car
This man who was a pioneer in the
seventies, hewing his way through
while others hesitated, and who per-
haps did more than any other one
man for the development of western
Wisconsin, is a pioner still. So long
as he lives the pioneer spirit in Wis
.consin will not he dead.
The CazenOvia railroad which Mr.
Cash is developing. was built in 1906
by the village of Cazenovia ana the
township of WestfOrd to get railroad
connection with the main line of the
North Western at La Vale. 1t has
six and One-third miles of main track,
winding up through one of the valleys
of the BaraboO. past the old town of
lronton, where a mining boom was on
a few years ago and where there is
still much ore, o the terminal at
CaZenOvia
The road has one engine. a passen-
ger COACH and box car. 1t also has
a speed wagon, composed of an auto
truck on flange wheels and trailer.
This meets trains at La Vale when
take down the engine and coach.
The road cost the citizens Of Gaze
novia and WestfOrd 100000. At first
1T was fairly successful but the road
bed finally reached point where the
train could be operated only in dry
weather. CazenOyia was sick of its
railroad venture and it was decided
To sell to the first buyer who came
along with $4,000.
May Extend Line
Uncle Billy Cash heard of the Of
fer up at New Lisbon.
Guess | am old enough to buy a
'TailrOad without building one" he
said. So he stuffed $4,000 in bills in
IN old satchel, drove across country
and appeared at the office of the Gaze
novia line
I've got the price of this railroad
m my grip said Mr.. Cash. land am
willing to give bond to maintain SER
vice for the good of this community.
III you fellows are ready, I'll move in
and you move out"
Thus in his enthusiastically i'm
netuous way Uncle Billy Cash bought
che Cazenovia line. He is regarding
and will rebuild the six miles of
track CazenOvia is to have extensive
Stockyards and terminal.
From sources other than Mr.. Cash.
Il is stated that he plans to extend
the railroad from Cazenovia to Rich
difficulties in the way of building the
track but it would give a railroad con-
nection of % miles where it is neces.
sary now to travel 1875 miles to get
by rail from Cazenovia to Richland
Centef
l trailed Uncle Billy Cash from New
Lisbon down to CazenOyia. He is as
hard TO find as youngster ia his
teens. caught up with him shortly
after he had arrived at his office.
Plenty Of Fresh Air
IN reaching Cazenovia | passed over
Mr. Cash's line. The speed wagon
was waiting for us at La Vale, back
cd onto siding near the depot. The
freight, express and mail were put
on first. Half a dozen sacks of mail.
one basket of laundry, box of meat
and a shipment of groceries were pill
I'd on the speeder.
Seven passengers piled baggage on
Cop Of these articles. Four of the
passengers found seats-one girl in
the "cab" Of the speeder and two
women and man on a small bench
behind the "cab." The rest of us
mounted to the top of the pile of
freight, mall express and baggage.
The price Of ticket to Cazenovia