A Ride on the Narrow Gauge

Image from the "Remember When" DVD put together by Beanie Loeffelholz and the City of Presidents.

 

All aboard! In 1874, the tracks of the Galena and Southern Wisconsin Railroad were extended north from Galena through what would soon become Cuba City. 

Wouldn't it be nice to step back in time and experience one of those early journeys? Well, the article below provides just such an opportunity! Staff from the Galena Gazette took a railroad excursion from Galena to Platteville and published their observations on June 1, 1875. (If you are short on time, scroll down to the section "Craiglow's, St. Rose and the Junction." Craiglow's refers to present-day Cuba City and the Junction refers to Elmo.)

Many thanks to Jim Nickoll for alerting me to the article and for providing the text and accompanying historical notes.

 

A RIDE ON THE NARROW GAUGE

Scenery Along the Road--Incidents of Trip, etc.

Broad is the gauge that leads to death

And thousands sink their money there.

But wisdom shows the narrow path

That saves--on freight and passenger.

 

We feel poetical. A trip on a railroad at this time of the year will draw the poetry out of a man if he has the least spark of imagination in his composition--and the wind too, if he isn't extremely careful of himself. We write finer prose than poetry, however, and in that measure we purpose to tell our readers a few facts which came under our observation while on a recent trip to Platteville, per the G. & S. W. Railway. We left the depot at 8:30 A.M., in company with President Hunkins and Directors Lorrain and Blewett, and under the skillful guidance of Engineer Bob Wilson, we were not long in reaching the outskirts of the city, and at Burton's Bridge lost sight of it entirely. The plucky little Galena sped along over the road as if endowed with life, and in due time we reached

COMBELLICK'S CROSSING.

To the right ran the winding and narrow Galena River, edged with waving grass and willows, while to the left rose a majestic bluff, its sides covered with trees laden with green foliage, so dense as to be perfectly impenetrable to the eye. The scenery through the valley is grand indeed, and hardly equaled by any along the line of the road. At Combellick's crossing the old furnace may be plainly seen in the distance, while beyond, are towering bluffs, and at their feet a stretch of farming country which for productiveness, cannot be excelled in the United States.

TUTTLE'S MILL,

the most famous fishing grounds in this section, was the next stopping place, and we were almost tempted to discontinue our journey and try our luck in the prolific mill pond. A party of ladies and gentlemen were pic-nicing in the grove just below the mill, while several fishermen were squatting along the bank of the creek patiently watching for "bobs." The man who goes to market and buys his salmon of the fishmonger, appreciates them far less than he who sits upon the ragged edge of a rock all day, and draws them from the water on the end of a line, and besides, knows not of the sport attending the capture of these acquatic animals. Just now fish are plenty at Tuttle's Mill, and every favorable day is taken advantage of by sportsmen, nearly all of whom have more or less luck. The mill is located in a romantic spot, and aside from the sport the vicinity affords, it is good to be there away from the noise and dust of the city. Conductor John Hatch pulls the cord before our vision is half surfeited with the scenery, and the train resumes its journey, crossing Newsom's Bridge, and soon arriving at

BELL'S MILL,

a station of no little importance on the line of the Road. Here we find ourselves in the midst of a fine farming country as well as a productive mineral region. A short distance back, upon the hill, lies the splendid farm of Mr. Thos. Leekley, now operated by his son. One mile to the right, in the vicinity of Council Hill, are the old Gear Diggings, out of which millions of pounds of mineral have been taken, and near by stands the remains of the Stahl & Leekley furnace, once the most extensive smelting works in this locality. Bell's mill is a stone structure, three stories high, having four run of stone, capable of grinding 180 barrels per day. The water power is unlimited, and the mill the finest in this part of the State. The proprietors are enterprising gentlemen, and deeply interested in the success of the Narrow Gauge Road. The station has received the name of Bell bridge [1], after Mr. Wm. Bell, well known in this locality.

FURTHER ON

We glide over Bell's bridge, passing a splendid stretch of farming country to the left, while to the right runs the winding Galena, edged with a bank of moss-covered rocks. A half mile above, is Burbank's bridge, disclosing to the view the fine country seat of James M. Day, Esq., proprietor of the celebrated Emma Mines. About one and a half mile beyond we cross Day's bridge, near which has been recently discovered a fine sulphur spring, possessing valuable medicinal qualities. On the side hill to the right may be seen the old Gear house, erected in 1836 on the site of the diggings, out of which upwards of 26,000,000 millions of mineral have been taken. Further on we plunge into the base of a high bluff, and passing through a tunnel 400 feet in length, emerge on the opposite side, glide over Temply's bridge and half a mile above, cross the Wisconsin State line, leaving Illinois at our back.

UP COON BRANCH.

Here we reach a magnificent farming country, also rich with mineral. Just beyond the line and to the left is Gillett's Cheese Factory, near which stands a handsome stone residence owned by Mr. Gillett and formerly occupied by the family of that gentleman. A quarter of a mile above is the Richardson Cheese Factory, now operated we believe by Mr. Gillett. Back on the hill lies the Gabe Mills digging, one of the richest mines ever struck in Wisconsin.

BENTON.

This town is the largest between Galena and Platteville, and has received a new impetus since the completion of the Narrow Gauge Road. The depot is finished and in charge of Mr. J. Buchan, an enterprising grocer of the place. Messrs. Barrows, Taylor & Co. have a branch lumber yard near the railroad, and considerable building is going on and in contemplation near the depot grounds. Benton is an important grain and mineral point, and is certain to become a large village at no distant period.

CRAIGLOW'S, ST. ROSE AND THE JUNCTION. [2]

Beyond Benton, and but a short distance apart, are the above named stations, and no little jealousy exists among those most interested as to which shall outstrip the other in size and importance. Each station is provided with a depot, grain house and lumber yard. St. Rose also has a large country store and hotel, and the Junction a hotel at present kept by Mr. Bob. Whitam, and a fine store nearly completed. Towns have been laid out at each point, and the enterprising owners are making commendable efforts to induce speculation. We learn that a Post Office has been located at the Junction, with Mr. Thos. Leslie as Postmaster. We are told that during last season upwards of 5,000 hogs, destined for the Galena and Dubuque market, were weighed at this place.

AT PLATTEVILLE.

At 1 o'clock P.M. we arrived at the beautiful village of Platteville, and after satisfying the cravings of appetite, were given by Conductor Hatch about thirty minutes in which to saunter through the town and interview its business men. Our first visit was at the office of the Platteville Witness, where we had a pleasant chat with the editor of that old and popular newspaper, Mr. M. P. Rindlaub. Mr. R. has a pleasant office, a prosperous business, and a large and exceedingly amiable family. We also had the pleasure of meeting Col. Barbour, of the dry goods firm of J. C. Barbour & Bro. whom we found to be an agreeable gentleman and one of the most energetic business men of the place. We found our old friends, Messrs. Rountree and Hooper busily engaged in dispensing drugs and medicines to numerous customers, and further down the street we dropped in upon Devendorf & Penn, dealers in hardware, cutlery and farm machinery, and found there the same evidences of prosperity. At Messrs. Siemers & Thiele we quenched our thirst with a little sperits after which we reluctantly turned our steps depotwards, passing the Platteville Normal School, one of the finest structures in this section. We paid a brief visit to the wagon and carriage manufactory of Hawley & Sons, on our way to the depot, and held a pleasant interview with the junior member of the firm, Mr. L. C. Hawley. These gentlemen have a branch manufactory at McGregor, and are doing a large and successful business.

THE PLATTEVILLE DEPOT.

The G. & S. W. R. R. depot is located on the land of Mr. J. Robbins, directly opposite the Mineral Point R. R. depot. [3] The site is a fine one, and in our judgment the best that could be obtained. Mr. Robbins has about three hundred acres in the immediate neighborhood, which will be largely enhanced in value by the terminus of the G. & S. W. R. R. upon his land. The depot, water tank and turn table are now being erected under the supervision of R. P. Stitt, Master Mechanic, and will soon be completed and ready for use. Mr. Sid. Hunkins has a large force of men at work grading and ballasting the Platteville end of the track, and by Thursday the work will be finished and the regular running of trains resumed between Galena & Platteville. The track all the way is in splendid condition, thanks to the efforts of President Hunkins, and is one of the best pieces of road in every respect, in the West, and is bound to pay and that largely. It is already a success, and those who refuse to invest their money in the enterprise on the grounds of its being unsafe, are either extremely foolish or remarkably short-sighted.

NOTES

[1] Bellsbridge was eventually renamed Millbrig (mill + bridge)

[2] Craiglow’s (actually Craiglow, named after the first home-owner), eventually, after several name-changes, became Cuba City. St. Rose, about a mile north of Cuba City no longer exists. Junction was about 1.5 miles north of St. Rose. Named after the Junction House tavern at that site, the railroad eventually changed the name to Elmo. These name changes were all made before 1882.

[3] The Mineral Point RR built the line from Calamine to Belmont in 1868. In 1870 the Dubuque, Platteville, and Milwaukee RR (originally the Platteville & Calamine RR) built the Belmont–Platteville portion, apparently considered just an extension of the Mineral Point RR since that is way the author of this newspaper article referred to the depot. The line was incorporated into the CM&StP in 1880.