Year: 1872

TRIAL x. r.


Under the head Of ga Race for the Pa
cifc," late number of the Oshkosh Times
furnishes an interesting article which pro-
ceeds from generalizing on the Pacific
routes, and the executive ability of railway
kings, to particular consideration of that
(future) branch of the Northern Pacific
which is now known as the Wisconsin Cen
trail We quote from the latter half of the
article:


1t is safe to say that the Wisconsin Central though
perhaps it might be appropriate to designate it
the Wisconsin Pacific, will prove greater boon to
Northwestern Wisconsin than ANYTHING that has, or
could have happened for half century, for without
railroad to pioneer settlement it would require long
time to settle Northern Wisconsin. The Northwest
ern Railroad is doing considerable for the country
along the west shore of Green Bay, and to Mar
quette, in Michigan but the great enterprise of set
tling up Northwestern Wisconsin has been awarded
the Wisconsin Central This road is completed
about % miles northwest of Stevens Point but it is
only operated for traffic and travel to that place. for
the reason that there is nothing but unbroken
dense forest beyond


Then after speaking of the greatness of
such an undertaking as building first class
railway through literal wilderness, the
writer goes on to show the compensations
or local resources of the road, in addition to
the overland traffic it may expect from the
Northern Pacific


One grand resource Of hope however, exists in the
fact that from Stevens Point to Ashland the road
passes through of the best farming and grazing
portions of the State The soil is rich and well
tered and is covered with heavy growth Of val
liable timber consisting of pine, hemlock spruce frs
tamarack, beech hard and soft maple linn, elm BIRCH
white and black ash, &c, &c


The soil between the Wolf and the Wisconsin, and
for strip the west side of the latter river
is very sandy and in places not of good quality
for grains grasses but after you leave the Point
by 10 miles, you to soil that is unsurpassed in
strength and richness, and we are informed by the
civil engineer the of the soil holds good the
Penoka iron mines, until you reach the highlands
of Lake Superior.


Mill privileges plenty and very good timber
abundant along almost the entire route. This timber
is valuable, and will than pay the cost of clear
ing and fencing the farms.


The road is being pushed fast as labor can do
it; GOO hands being work the southern end,
and we know not how many on the northern end. 1t
is intended complete about 20 miles per month, and
have the road completed Ashland by the fall of
1873.


We have been shown some fine specimens of iron
and copper and quartz ore, ever saw, taken
from the Marquette Range" which the line
of the road the Black river, 60 miles above
Stevens Point. The deposits of valuable said
TO exist IN vast richness along the entlre Inc, ana
cannot fail to become of untold wealth
to state.


We notice one curious mistake how ever,
on the part of the writer of this article.
He speaks in one place of the Wis. Central
connecting with the Northern Pacific at a
point $50 miles west of Duluth" Ofcourse
the connection will be made at no such
place, but at the head of Lake Superior in
Wisconsin, that is in Superior, as per sur
vey, and land grant line.