WC into Milwaukee

Milwaukee seems determined to have the Wisconsin Central. The committee appointed by the Merchants and Manufacturers' Association has reported against a proposition to encourage the
Milwaukee Terminal & Traffic company and also against aiding a new railway company which purposes to build from the Mississippi river to Milwaukee. The committee recommends that an effort
be made to induce the Wisconsin Central to extend its line into the city. The Wisconsin Central directors will have a meeting on the 13th at which Milwaukee's proposition will be considered.
- The Manitowoc Pilot 12/7/1899

Milwaukee Offers Racine Southwestern Division at a Bargain

WOULD SELLTHE LINE

Milwaukee Offers Racine Southwestern Division at a Bargain.
AT 25 PER CENT BELOW COST,
Reason for tha Reported desire of the officers to Dispose of the Branch Is That It is Not a Paying Investment, Although the Impression is Company has always Been Doing good Business.

The officials of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road desires, it if said, to sell the division extending from Rock Island to Racine, Wis., for the reason that it is not a paying line. An offer has been made to Milwaukee county for the sale of this line, but whether it will be accepted is a question.
Although this division may not be doing a large business as far as passenger traffic is concerned. the line does an enormous freight business, and every day a train of from fifteen to thirtycars is brought into Rock Island and the same number taken away from here.

Benjamin M. Weil has been authorized by a leading oflicial of the Milwaukee road to say that, the railroad company is willing to sell to Milwaukee county its Racine & Southwestern branch for 25 per cent less than its original cost and about 50 per cent less than it would cost to build it at the present time. In addition to this, according to a statement made by Mr. Weil, the company would lease to
the county its Milwaukee terminal facilities for 25 per cent less than the real estate could be bought and terminals built by the county.

Cities on Division.
The Racine & Southwestern branch of the Milwaukee road begins at Western Union Junction and from there goes directly southwest. The principal cities it touches are Burlington. Springfield. Elkhorn, Delavan, Clinton Junction. Beloit, Rockton, Freeport, Kittredge, Savanna, Fulton. Moline and Rock Island, on the Mississippi river. The entire length of the line is 196 miles.

- Rock Island Argus 2/22/1900

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It is said to be extremely doubtful that the Milwaukee County Board will order an election called to vote $800,000 aid to the railway project known as the Southwestern. Milwaukee is now pinning its faith to the Wisconsin Central.

- Manitowoc Pilot 12/7/1899

IC into Milwaukee - Milwaukee & Southwestern

NEW railway project.
The Illinois Wants a Good Road Into the Cream City For Coal Trade.
Milwaukee, Jan. 6. —The Journal this evening said: “The Milwaukee &. Southwestern road that was recently incorporated under the laws of the state, is nothing more or less than an off-shoot from the Illinois Central,’’ said a well-informed railway man this morning. “Theroad will be built from Milwaukee to a point near Lake Geneva on the state line, and the Illinois Central will build up from Aurora to meet it. The object on the part of the Illinois Central is to get a through line into Milwaukee so that they can compete in the coal trade.”

- Wood County Reporter  1/12/1888

IC in Watertown, Wisconsin

ILLINOIS CENTRAL MAY COME TO WATERTOWN TALK OF RUNNING OVER MILWAUKEE ROAD TRACK.
Rumor is That Track Will Be Used as Far as Junction-Extend Line to City Proper-Anxious to Ex
tend Road to Northern Wisconsin-Difficulty at Capital City.

The report comes from Madison that the Illinois Central railroad company has made an arrangement with the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul road by which the Illinois Central will run its trains from Madison to Watertown Junction. If the report is true, it is probably the intention of that road to build a new line from Watertown up into the northwestern part of the state. For years the Central has been trying to get through Madison, but owing to the peculiar location of the lakes there no successful move has been made to do so.

- Watertown Weekly Leader  4/13/1906

IC to Duluth? Canada?

OUTLET FOR ILLINOIS CENTRAL.
Duluth, Glencoe and St. Cloud President Outlines Probabilities.
ST. PAUL, Feb. 14.—"We will build the Duluth, Glencoe and Southwestern from Mankato to St. Cloud this sum­mer. It is more than possible that the line will become the Illinois Central's outlet to the lakes when finished. I have been negotiating with that road, and while nothing definite has been ac­complished, this object is more than a possibility." This is the answer which President A, H. Reed of Glencoe gave to the question which has puzzled many local railroad men, why a new line should be built via St. Cloud to Duluth when the field is already covered. The reply of the president of the new line throws much light on the possibilities. Further than this, President Reed said that at the annual meeting, held in De­cember, the directors amended the ar­ticles of incorporation in such a manner that the line will be permitted to build a north and south branch from St. Cloud through the Red Lake district, to the boundary, to connect there with the new Canadian east and west line, or to go further and connect with the Canadian Pacific. "If this line is built," said Mr. Reed, "the Rock Island would have a system stretching from the Gulf to the northermost boundary of the United States, and in addition, would also have an open market at Duluth.

<note that this line references both Rock Island and Illinois Central>

- Bismarck Daily Tribune 2/14/1900

WC/IC to the Copper Range

Another Hot Air Line.

It was announced in the Copper Country Saturday that the Copper Range Railroad has closed negotiations for the entrance of the Wisconsin Central into the copper country by way of North Crandon. The Wisconsin Central, according to the statement made here by Copper Range officials, will connect with the Copper Range road at Mass City, Mich. The Wisconsin Central, according to this announcement, is the real owner of the line which is being constructed from Menasha, Wis.,
to North Crandon, supposed hitherto to be a property of the Illinois Central.

The plan announced is for the running of through trains to Chicago by way of Mass City, North Crandon, Menasha, and then over the Wisconsin Central's old line into Chicago. There had been considerable mystery over the proposed road from Menasha to North Crandon, however, and it had been reported that this section, now under construction, was to be part of a branch of the Illinois Central from Madison to Huron bay, Lake Superior.

- The Diamond Drill 2/16/1907

More on the Chicago, Freeport, & St. Paul

The Chicago, Freeport & St. Paul railroad company are making things lively down the valley, in the way of working up local aid and right of way. Propositions for aid have been filed as follows:
- town of Cadiz, Green county, §5,009;
- town of Argyle, Lafayette county, §15,000;
- town of Blanchard, $5,000.
Hon.M. J. Briggs, who was in town last week, informs us that he has received no instruction as yet to file propositions with any town north of Blanchard, the route north of Blanchardville not having yet been fully decided upon. A meeting of the board of Directors of the old Lone Rock, Dodgeville and Freeport (narrow gauge) company was held at Dodgeville on Wednesday of last week, at which a resolution was passed transferring all the right of way contracts, graded road-bed, etc., of that company to the Chicago, Freeport & St. Paul company.—
Chronicle.

- Iowa County Democrat, 4/18/1884

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The Chicago, Freeport and St.Paul Railroad.
It begins to look as though business was meant by the directors of the Chicago, Freeport and St. Paul
railroad, which is proposed to be built through this county. In an official circular letter (number two,)
under date of October 2d, whichhas been sent to prominent citizens, they say: This new railroad from
Chicago to St. Paul will certainly be built upon some line, and work upon it will be pushed vigorously during the coming summer. Whether it will be built upon the proposed "interior” line or not depends entirely upon the interest manifested by the people along that line. A corps of engineers is to be sent out immediately to locate the line, and also a representative to submit definite propositions to the several towns and cities interested in the construction of the road. The company says it does not and will not ask a dollar from any town on the route until the road is completed
and the cars running into the town voting the aid. The company’s circular also says that while it is
not at liberty to state what corporation is "backing" the enterprise it will, however, say that neither
the Chicago & Northwestern, the  Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul or the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railway companies have any interest except as rivals in the construction of this road; that it is an independent line, and will be in direct competition with the existing railroad lines every mile of the way from Chicago to St. Paul.

If this new line is built it is more than probable that the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul company
will extend the Richland Center branch north and also build from Lone Rock to Mineral Point, so as
to also have a through line from Chicago to St. Paul. Who knows but what Richland county in the
future will have two great trunk lines running directly through it, one up Pine river, and the other up Mill creek valley or both up Pine river.  In either case they would greatly aid in developing the western and northern portions of the county.
—Richland Republican.

- Iowa County Democrat, 10/17/1884

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The Evening Wisconsin says: The Chicago, Freeport & St. Paul railroad may become more than a
possibility. A preliminary survey has been made and a $10,000,000 mortgage given to secure money advanced as the work proceeds, but the enterprise has until this time been somewhat intangible. Senator Warner yesterday introduced five bills in the legislature authorizing the company to begin the work, including the building of bridges over the Kickapoo, Wisconsin, Chippewa, and Black Rivers, and Lake St.Croix. The line if built will enter Wisconsin near the southeastern part of Lafayette county, and it is expected that a spur will extend to Portage from some point in Lafayette, Green, Richland or Iowa county.

- Iowa County Democrat, 1/30/1885

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—Eau Galla (Eau Galle?), Pepin county, will issue bonds in the sum of $9,200 to secure the Chicago, Freeport & St. Paul railroad.

- Iowa County Democrat, 12/12/1884

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Considerable interest is felt in the movements of the Chicago, Freeport and St. Paul Railroad Company, which has just completed an ‘‘inland” survey on the east side of the Mississippi, abandoning the proposed route along the river banks on account of the numerous advantages offered by the former over the latter. The “interior” line runs from Chicago to Freeport in almost an air line, thence northward up the valley of the Pecatonica river, crossing the Wisconsin river near Lone Rock; then along the north bank of the Wisconsin to Mill Creek, in Richland county; thence northward through Boaz, in Richland county; Sparta, in Monroe county; Melrose, in Jackson county; Whitehall, in Trempealeau county; Durand, in Pepin county, and River Falls, in Pierce county, to a point on
Lake St. Croix, in the town Troy, in St. Croix county; thence in a direct line to St. Paul and Minneapolis. The whole line, it is said, will be forty-five miles shorter than any other route between Chicago and St. Paul.

- Wood County Reporter 10/16/1884

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Mr. W. O. Wright, of Freeport, Ill., was in Madison today to file with the secretary of state, for the Chicago, Freeport & St. Paul Railroad company, of which he is president, a mortgage to the American Loan and Trust company of New York, to secure an issue of $10,000,000, forty year, 6 per cent, gold bonds, to be issued on account of the construction and equipment of the road.
This mortgage covers the entire line, of 500 miles and its equipment. The main line extends by a direct route, from Chicago to Freeport, Ill., thence, by the way of Dodgeville, Sparta, Whitehall, and Durant in Wisconsin, to St. Paul and Minne apolis, a distance of about 400 miles, A branch is also to be built from a point on the main line in Green, Lafayette, Richland or Iowa counties, through Dane and Columbia counties to the city of Portage, a dis tance of about 100 miles. That part of the main line north of the Wisconsin river will be located about midway between the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha's line and the Mississippi river, about twenty five miles from each. It is also stated that a strong syndicate of New England and New York capitalists has been formed who are
to lake the bonds of the railroad company to be issued on the line be tween Freeport and St. Paul and
Minneapolis, and that it is the intention of the railroad Company to complete that portion of the road
within the coming year. The road is, according to the report, to be built as an independent enterprise
and to be the shortest line between Chicago and St. Paul. The company is a union of the former Chicago, Freeport & Northwestern Railroad company, of Illinois, the Chicago, Freeport & St.
Paul Railroad company of Wisconsin, and the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Chicago Railroad company, of Minnesota.

- Mineral Point Tribune 12/25/1884

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Articles of association have been tiled in the office of the secretary of state, at Madison, of the Freeport and St. Paul Railroad Company. The contemplated line leaves the south line of the State near the Pecatonica river, running north to some point near the city of Hudson, with a branch from
some point in the town of Moscow, Iowa county, to Portage. Columbia county. The capital stock is $50.000.000.  The incorporators are W. O. Wright, of Freeport; E. Baldwin, Cresco, Iowa; M. J. Briggs, Aldro Jenks and J. P.Murrish, of Dodgeville. Wis.; each of the above gentlemen taking one share.

- Iowa County Democrat, 10/07/1881

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John Gorgen, who was at Freeport the first part of the week, has banded us a copy of The Journal
and Republican published at that place, which contains a full report of a meeting held at Winslow, Ill., on Friday, the 21st inst., to consider the project of constructing the Chicago, Freeport and St. Paul railroad.  Hon. M. J. Briggs, of Georgetown, Colorado, and Gen. S. D. Atkins, of Freeport, Ill., addressed the meeting and considerable interest was manifested. Among other things, Mr. Briggs said that Mr. Wright had been to New York and made a contract with capitalists, that, provided the right of way was secured for seventy miles, from Freeport to Dodge Ville, and stock subscriptions were again secured amounting to 170,000, or $1,000 per mile, they would furnish the ready money and
complete the road.

- Iowa County Democrat, 3/28/1884





 

Chicago, Freeport, & St. Paul RR. - IC affiliate(?)

NEW RAILROAD LAW.CHAPTER 25.
Published March 4, 1885.
AN ACT to authorize the Chicago, Freeport & St. Paul railroad company, Its successors and assigns, to build, construct and maintaina bridge for railway purposes over and across the Wisconsin river in the counties of lowa and Sauk, in the state of Wisconsin.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact asfollows :

Section I. The Chicago, Freeport & St. Paul Railroad company. Its successors and assigns, is
hereby authorized to build, construct and maintain a bridge for railway purposes over and across the Wisconsin river from any point in township eight, north of range three east, inthe county of lowa, state of Wisconsin, to any other point in said township in the county of Sauk, in said state; and for such purpose may erect piers, drive piles and build embankments and approaches in said river and on the banks thereof necessary for the proper or convenient construction and maintenance of such bridge, provided, that a suitable draw shall be built and maintained in the channel span of said
bridge for the passage of boats with a guide boom at each end of said channel span, constructed and maintained In such manner and of sufficient length to secure the safe passage of all rafts, lumber and water craft through  channel span, which said guide booms shall each be securely attached to some pier or other firm structure at Ihe upper end thereof; and that said bridge shall be so constructed as
not to materially interfere with the free navigation of said river, or the running of rafts, logs, timber or lumber; and provided further,that said bridge shall be constructed or modified. and such reasonable alterations therein made from time to time as may be required, and according to plans approved by the secretary of war of the United Stated, or such engineer as he shall designate, by the railroad company owning or using said bridge.

Section 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and publication.
Approved March 3, 1885

- Mineral Point Tribune 3/19/1885

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The town of Buena Vista, has voted $5,000 in aid of the Chicago, Freeport & St. Paul Railroad. The town of Lone Rock, Sauk County, also voted $5,000 for the road.

- Watertown Republican 11/26/1884

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Madison, Feb. 27.—Senate bills were concurred in authorizing the Chicago, Freeport & St. Paul Railroad Company to construct bridges over the Wisconsin, Kickapoo, Chippewa, Black and Eau Galle Rivers and Lake St. Croix; appropriating $4,000 for the governor’s contingent fund for the en
suing two years;

- Watertown Republican 3/4/1885

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Senator Sabin introduced a bill granting to the Chicago, Freeport & St. Paul railroad company the right to build a bridge over the St. Croix river or lake between Freeport, Wis., and Taylor's Falls, Minn.

- New Ulm Weekly Review 12/23/1885


 

The New Railroad Scheme.
The following dispatch was sent out from Freeport under date of May 21: The Freeport, Dodgeville & Northern Railroad, the articles of incorporation for which were filed yesterday at Madison, Wis., and Springfield, Ill., is another Illinois Central project. The road is to extend northwest from Freeport, up the Pecatonica River Valley through a rich country to Dodgeville, Wis., a distance of about fifty-eight miles. The incorporators of this road are Isham Randolph, of Normal Park, Chief Engineer of the Chicago, Madison & Northern Railroad, which is a part of the Illinois Central system: Bernt Moe, of Chicago, Paymaster of the Chicago, Madison & Northern; Lewis T. Moore, of Chicago, Chief Engineer of the Illinois Central; James 1. Neff, of Freeport, more than a dozen years attorney for the Illinois Central in Freeport; and Judge James Waddington, of Argyle, Wis. A preliminary survey of the line will be made very soon, but it is not certain yet that the road will be built before another
season. The supposition is that it will some time not very far in the future be extended to St. Paul. The Freeport. Dodgeville & Northern is on the line of the present paper road, surveyed more than two years ago, and known as the Chicago, Freeport A St. Paul. There is no doubt that the Illinois
Central people mean business, and will put this new line through this season or next.

- Iowa County Democrat 5/27/1887

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It is understood, at Madison, that the Freeport, Dodgeville & Northern will next year, be built to St. Paul, while the impression also obtains that the Chicago, Madison A Northern will be continued to Oshkosh, and possibly to the mining country of Northern Wisconsin and Michigan. Both roads
belong to Illinois Central people.

- Iowa County Democrat 8/19/1887

IC line from Freeport to Madison and Portage

MADISON, Wl.
Special dispatch to the Tribune,
Madison, Wl Aug. 10.—At a meeting ot the Board of Directors of the Madison & Portage Railway Company, held in this city this morning, Messrs. James Campbell, O. D. Peck, Winslow Ballon, George O. Clinton, and David Atwood resigned their positions as Directors of the Company, and Messrs. John W. Cary, Alex Mitchell, S. S. Merrill, Hans Crocker, and John C. Gault were elected Directors to fill their vacancies. The new Board elected S.S. Merrill as President of the Company. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company has run the Portage Road for several years, and, by this arrangement, the management will continue under the permanent control of that company. There ore rumors on the street today that the Central have determined to construct tho Madison & Portage Road from here to Freeport, IL, thus connecting the lumber forests of Wisconsin with the prairies of
Illinois in nearly a direct line. It is also rumored here todav that the Illinois Central are seeking a connection with the Wisconsin Central at Portage, by constructing a road from Freeport, by the way of Mazomanie and Merrimac, to Portage. To corroborate this rumor it is stated that the Illinois Central folks had an engineer at Portage looking over the route.

- Chicago Daily Tribune, 8/17/1878

IC Dodgeville Line

Another contract has been let for extending the Illinois Central road beyond Dodgeville. A contract
was let some time ago for extending the track 3,300 feet beyond the Dodgeville depot, which would
carry it into the entrance of the big cut on Military ridge where the cut would be 23 feet deep. That contract has almost been completed, and the new contract extends from that to the Northwestern track, a distance of 4,050 feet further. This new contract will involve an all winter’s work, and will probably be operated by a steam shovel and the dirt removed by pony engines and cars to the big bridge, a distance of nearly two miles. A portion of the cut will exceed 40 feet in depth, and
when completed the major portion of the grading across the Military ridge will be finished.

- Mineral Point Tribune.  7/19/1888

IC's Onawa Line

The Illinois Central coal sheds at Onawa were burned up yesterday, with all the coal stored there by that company.

- Missouri Valley Times, 7/25/1901

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Illinois Central to Extend its Line.
Onawa, la, Feb. 20.
People who claim to be posted from high authority say the Illinois Central will extend its line from Onawa to a Junction with the Fort Dodge & Omaha railway at, or near Loveland, la. The distance is forty miles and all the way the road will run parallel to the Sioux City & Pacific.

- Missouri Valley Times, 2/21/1901

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Onawa, Sentinel.—An Illinois Central railroad surveying party is reported to be at work along the Sioux river in Kennebec township, and it is said there are grade stakes twelve miles this side of Loveland. That the Central intends to connect this branch with the new line built last summer there is no doubt, but it seems hardly possible that they will make the connection at Kennebec Siding. The Sentinel still believes the line will be run from Onawa to Loveland and if so it means a great deal for the town as this would be the proper place for the division of the road.  It is thought that in a month or so it will be known just what the plans are.

- Denison Review 3/27/1900