macadamized road around the rapids of the Fox and Rock rivers." This law, so general in its provisions, was not to take effect until it was approved by Congress. The "La Fontaine Railroad Company" was incorporated at the first session of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Wisconsin, to construct a railroad from La Fontaine, on Fox river, at the Grand Kakalin, to Winnebago city, or some other convenient point on Lake Winnebago. The "Belmont and Dubuque Railroad Company" was incorporated in 1836, to construct a railroad from Belmont to the nearest and most eligible point on the Mississippi, with power to extend it to Mineral Point, and to Dodgeville. The "Milwaukee and Rock River Canal Company" was incorporated in January, 1838, to construct a canal, or slack water navigation from the town of Milwaukee to Rock river, and also a branch to connect with the Fox or Pishtaka river at or near Prairieville. The "Root River Railroad Company" was incorporated in 1838, to construct a railroad from at or near Ball's mill, on Root river, to the head of the lower rapids on said river, with the privilege of extending the same to Racine. The "Marquette and Kentucky City Canal Company" was incorporated in January, 1838, to construct a canal from Marquette, on Fox river or Lake Puckawa, to Kentucky city, (Dekorre) on Rock river. The "Racine and Rock River Railroad Company" was incorporated in 1839, to construct a railroad from Racine to Janesville, on Rock river. The "Pekatonica and Mississippi Railroad Company" was incorporated in 1839, to construct a railroad from Mineral Point to the Mississippi, by the nearest and most practicable route. The "Pekatonica Navigation Company" was incorporated in 1839, to improve the navigation of the Pekatonica from Mineral Point to the Illinois State line, by canal or slack water navigation. The "Michigan and Rock River Railroad Company" was incorporated in 1839, to construct a railroad from Rock river at or near the State line, to Lake Michigan, in the township of Southport. This Company was incorporated over again, in January, 1840. The "Fox River Improvement Company" was incorporated in 1842, to improve the "navigation of the Neenah or Fox river, and the construction of rail or macadamized roads on the carrying places or portages on said river, from and to such points thereon as may be deemed practicable.” This list will indicate the improvements that have been deemed important, and which may hereafter be made, as the population and wealth of the country are such as to require them, and afford the means for their construction. These companies have done but little towards completing the works for which they were incorporated. The Portage Canal Company have constructed a tow-path, and dug a channel through which small boats may pass, in times of high water, between the Neenah and Wisconsin rivers. The Milwaukee and Rock River Canal Company have made all the necessary surveys and location of a canal, to connect the waters of Lake Michigan with those of Rock river; but owing to the difficulties relating to the sale of the lands granted by Congress to aid in its construction, this Company have only been able to finish about one mile of canal, near its eastern termination. Fortunately, however, this portion of the work creates a very valuable water power, from which much benefit will accrue to the country, even should no further progress ever be made in the construction of the canal. The great object which it is most desirable to attain by works of internal improvement in Wisconsin, is the transportation of the fifty-five millions of pounds of lead, copper, and shot, produced in the mines in the western part of the Territory and adjacent portions of Iowa and Illinois to the shore of Lake Michigan, and the supply of that "Mineral District" with merchandize by way of the "Great Lakes." This, and the transportation of the surplus agricultural products of the intermediate country to market, and the supply of goods to the interior population, it is believed can be best accomplished by means of a railroad from Milwaukee to the Mississippi river, a work entirely practicable. The two great obstacles at present in the way of the construction of this work are the difficulty of deciding upon the points at which it shall terminate, and through which it shall passand the want of adequate funds. For the want of this improvement the products of the mineral country have been transported to the Mississippi river, and from thence by way of New Orleans and New York back to Milwaukee, within one hundred and fifty miles from where it was originally produced. It is calculated by intelligent persons, that in this way the citizens of the mineral country have actually lost in useless transportation of their products, a sum which would be sufficient to construct this railroad; for all expenses incurred in bringing articles to market are but so much reduction of their value to the producers. The reduction of the tolls on the Erie canal of New York, so promptly made by that State at the request of Wisconsin, is only of very limited benefit to us, so long as lead has to be brought in waggons from the mining country to the lake shore. It is known from the surveys made for the Milwaukee and Rock River Canal, that there is no difficulty in the way of the construction of this work as far as Rock river, with gentle grades and curves; and it is believed that by following the "dividing ridge" between the Wisconsin river and the streams running south into the Mississippi, there will be found but little difficulty on the entire route. The cost of transportation of lead by waggons, from Mineral Point to Milwaukee, in the summer, when the drivers can sleep in their waggons, and their cattle can find an abundance of feed on the open prairie, is about fifty cents per hundred pounds. At other seasons it varies from fifty cents to one dollar per hundred pounds. At this lowest rate the fifty-five millions of pounds, if transported on a railroad, would yield an income of two hundred and seventyfive thousand dollars per annum, which would be sufficient to pay the whole cost of the road in a few years. But if we take into the account the increase of business consequent upon this improvement, the merchandize that would be carried from Milwaukee to the mineral country, the agricultural and other products that would be transported on the road, and the toll derived from passengers, we cannot resist the belief that this project is one that must soon attract the attention of capitalists, even if the people of Wisconsin should not exert themselves much to accomplish so desirable an improvement. To bring the lead, copper, and shot, by way of the lakes, is an object of importance not only to Wisconsin, but to all the States bordering on the lakes-and even the New England States will derive a share of the benefits, in the diminished prices which they will have to pay for these necessary articles. Will they not, then, assist us in accomplishing this object? Other portions of the Territory are endeavoring to secure this lead trade, and wherever it is brought to the shore of the lake, the magnitude of the trade will be such as to afford business for a great number of inhabitants, and thus be the means of building up a town. Besides the railroad it is proposed to improve the naviga tion of the Wisconsin and Neenah rivers, so as to secure the trade to Green Bay, and efforts are now making to obtain an appropriation by Congress to accomplish this important work. The estimated expense of this improvement, as made by Capt. Cram, is as follows: This is but a very small sum, compared to the magnitude and importance of the work. The following table of the altitude of places in Wisconsin, above the surface of Lake Michigan, may be useful in making future surveys for canals, railroads, or other public works, and also in making a geological survey. They were ascertained by actual levelling by the author, except where otherwise stated. To find the elevation of any of these places above the ocean, we have only to add the elevation of that lake which is 578 feet, to the altitudes here given. Fractional parts of a foot are omitted: Milwaukee river, at head of rapids Menomonee, at Ross' mill Big Meadow, in Town 7, Range 20 66 at Elgin, Ill. (Mr. Gooding's report Pewaukee summit (Milwaukee and R. R. canal) Nagowicka Lake Nemahbin Lake Crooked Lake North Twin (Nashotah) Feet. 37 33 61 115 144 252 240 329 263 211 115 316 304 289 288 290 269 |