News: Colby (May 4, 1886)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wisconsin) Wednesday, May 4, 2011, page 2

Proposed Railroad (Published in the Colby Phonograph, Thursday, May 4, 1886)

The railroad committee, appointed by the Marathon County Board, authorized to negotiation with some company to build as railroad from the W. C. line to the city of Wausau, has completed arrangements with the Abbotsford and Merrill company, whereby that company is to receive the county land, voted by the county board, on condition that the road is built into Wausau and trains running before December 15, 1886. 

A special meeting of the county board has been called to ratify the act of the committee. The resolution of the board in the first place was to give the lands to some company that would build a line from the Central line terminating at Wausau, which act "The Phonograph’ denounced, claiming it was an injustice to the people of the county outside Wausau as they did not care where the road terminated if it only went to Wausau. 

For this we were called "non-resident" and other names, but it seems the committee was of the same opinion and has taken the best course under the circumstances.

"The Phonograph" is opposed to giving land grants to railroad companies, either by the county, state or general government, believing that if the road would be a paying one it would be without the land, and if it would not be a paying road, the land alone would not be much of an inducement.

The people of the town of Holeton (sic) and the surrounding towns are enthusiastic over the scheme and we cannot blame them, in the least.