| Special thanks to J. Harrington who made these articles available. |
| History of the Madison and Portage Road Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad from the Wisconsin State Register - Portage, Wisconsin |
 |
| (c)2002, 2003, MDPSI. All Rights Reserved. |
| Reported in the Wisconsin State Register (Portage) Saturday October 8th 1870 The Madison and Portage Road On Tuesday morning last, the first rail on the Madison road was laid, and the first spoke driven by our worthy Mayor C. R. Gallett. The first shipments of iron were received here on Monday evening, through the energy and perseverance of that wide awake superintendent, George O. Clinton, (Clinton was superintending construction of the road, Mr. Peck was superintendent) half a mile of the road was strewn with rail and a large force of track layers busily engaged in putting it in readiness for the iron house. On Wednesday another lot of iron was received and Mr. Flanders had the first locomotive run up on the track of the new road, a short distance below Wentworth�s Elevator, where the iron was unloaded and is now being distributed as fast as possible down the track in the direction of Madison. Mr. Clinton informs us that he experts to be able to lay nearly a mile of track a day until the work is completed. A new engine which is being built in Philadelphia is expected shortly, and before our Madison neighbors are aware of it, we expect nothing but the iron horse will go snorting up through the capital park in all his glory. Get off the track Geo. B. and the Balance, �old Beeswax� is a comin, sure! �Legislation permission� or not. ******************************************* Reported in the Wisconsin State Register (Portage) October 15 1870 �The work Goes Bravely on� The work of laying the track on the Madison & Portage railroad is still progressing, but for a few days past has been delayed for the want of a pile driver for putting in the foundation for the Duck Creek Bridge. The track was completed to that point�some 3 1/2 miles south of here�the fore part of the week, and would have been laid half way to Poynette this week but for the disappointment in getting a pile-driver from the St. Paul Company. We learn that it will be here to day (Friday). The bridge is already framed, and after the piles are driven it will require but a little time to put it up; after which, Mr. Clinton informs us, he expects to reach Poynette in about seven days. During this temporary delay, the construction force have been engaged in putting in the side-track, from the main line to Wentworth�s elevator, on the canal bank so that in reality, no time has been list. Mr. Campbell, the president of the road, returned to this city from New York on Wednesday, and is feeling remarkably well at the progress already made in track laying; and he assures us that the work will be driven with all possible speed until completed. Inasmuch as there have been many rumors and much speculation of late in regard to a surmised transfer of the road to the St. Paul company, it is proper to state that Mr. Campbell has heard nothing of it, and there is no foundation whatever for any such statements. The grading force is now at work in the town of Windsor, Dane county, and will, it is expected, finish the work on the big cut (the high bridge on Smith Rd. between Morrisonville and DeForest) in that town by the latter part of next week. From there on to Madison the grade is comparatively light, and they will make a quick job of it. The grading is all finished in this county. We desire to correct an error which occurred last week, in designating Mr. Clinton the Superintendent of the road, and which has given him much annoyance, in the many applications for situations on the road. Mr. Clinton is merely superintending the construction of the road; Mr. Peck is the Superintendent, or general manager ******************************************* |