IC north of Madison

THE Illinois Central is said to intend pushing proposed Freeport and Madison road north to a connection with the Milwaukee Lake Shore & railway at Oshkosh Wis thus reaching the lumber and iron regions of northern Wisconsin Michigan and giving them an outlet almost due southward through the heart of Illinois to the Gulf Mexico The distance from Madison to Oshkosh less than 80 miles A company has been to build between these places though the Illinois Central disclaims connection with it.

Railway Age. Vol 11.  Aug 19, 1886

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Madison & Oshkosh Incorporated in Wisconsin to build a railroad from Madison via Columbus and Beaver Dam to Oshkosh a distance of 85 miles passing through the counites of Dane Columbia Dodge Fond du Leo and Winnebago Capital stock $200,000 Incorporators Daniel Campbell AC Parkinson Frank F Proudfit and John H Clark all of Madison and HB Harshaw Osh kosh A dispatch says that it is thought to be an Illinois Central scheme to get connection at Oshkosh with the Milwaukee 8 Northern and Wisconsin Central for Ashland thus avoiding the building of an independent line from Madison to Lake Superior

Railway Age. Vol 11.  Aug 19, 1886

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Illinois Central railroad company noted for its conservatism finds itself compelled by activity of its competitors to also join in the movement of extension It has already commenced for a line from Chicago to Freeport Ill and north with the apparent intention of pushing on St Paul Madison the capital of Wisconsin about miles east of north from Freeport is one of the objective points and the company is stated to have purchased depot grounds there Few railways in country are on a more solid financial basis than Illinois Central and if it considers it expedient parallel the lines of its rivals throughout the northwest it is abundantly able to do so

Railway Age. Vol 11.  Jul 29, 1886

Wisconsin Midland projections

In the matter of projected lines there is less to note than during the former years.  The Wisconsin Midland Railroad Company has made a preliminary survey of its line, and as I understand, has surveyed and located its line from Fond du Lac to Madison, a distance of 69.2 miles, through one of the oldest and best farming sections of the state.  The building of this would greatly benefit the people residing long the contemplated route, and would, with proper running connections, be a freat saving of time in making the journey between oall of that country lying along the valley of the Fox and the Capital City.  It is understood that meetings have been held in the cities and towns along the proposed line, resinlting in encouragement for locail aid to quite an extent.  Surveys have also been made north of Fond du Lac along the valley of the lower Fox to Green Bay, and from thence partial surveys extending up into, and through the great forst belts between Green Bay and Lake Superior.  The building of this line excites favorable comment,. and creates a hope that a portion of it at least, will be constructed within a few years.  The idea gains force, from the fact that withing the past few weeks the report has gained currency that the Illinois Central Company has come into posession of the franchise, which if true, will assure it being built, and a highway of steel will unite the peoples, and bear the products of the antipodes of north and south, between Lake Superior and Lake Ponchartrain.

http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=turn&entity=WI.V034N02.p0010&id=WI.V034N02&isize=M&q1=wisconsin%20midland

Third biennial report of the railroad commissioner of the state of Wisconsin; period ending 6/30/1888

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3 miles built in Fond du Lac; operated by the Milwaukee Road 

Fourth biennial report of the railroad commissioner of the state of WIsconsin, period ending 6/30/1890

Wisconsin Midland

From: Biennial Report of the Railroad Commissioner of the State of Wisconsin, period ending 6/30/1888

From the city of Fond du Lac northerly to a point on the line between the states of Wisconsin and Michigan and between the west line of range ten east and the east line of range eighteen east called the main line with a branch to Sturgeon Bay Door county designated the Peninsular Branch also an ex tension of the main line southerly to the state line between Illinois and Wisconsin designated as the southern extension

<NBT: I have also seen references of a Fond du Lac to Madison line>