Chapter 14

Headed West

To continue with the annals of the Central as of 1879, Stewart and Abbot, Trustees in Charge;  Charles L. Colby, President;  and F. N. Finney, General Manager, now realized that their main stem to Ashland, or properly that portion extending about 150 miles south from Ashland, held little promise for a large increase in business for the immediate future. The actual and potential tonnage from the lumber industry appeared insufficient to support a trunk line railroad -  the rivers and creeks transported the large movements of logs at little expense; northern Wisconsin was meager in population and low in commercial activity. Nowhere on the Central's northern horizon, except the Penokee iron ore, appeared any other commercial or industrial source of volume tonnage for their railroad.

Hence, the Central must look to the longer haul to and from the western railroads, and to accomplish this end, the Central rails must be pushed into St. Paul and Chicago.

The Northern Pacific was casting serious glances toward the Chicago markets, and had made friendly overtures in the direction of the Central, a gesture to encourage the Central in building a line across to St. Paul, and a promise, no doubt, of a share of some of the N. P. south-bound tonnage.

On March 5, 1880, the Directors of the Central awarded a contract to build a line 54 miles in length from Colby Jct. (now Abbotsford) westward to Chippewa Falls, there to connect with the Chippewa Falls & Western. The line was chartered under the name of the Wisconsin & Minnesota R.R. Co. and was incorporated August 7, 1879.

In handling the construction of the Wisconsin & Minnesota, the identical method was used by Gardner Colby as in the building of the Wisconsin Central. A contracting company was created within the Wisconsin Central Directors and Officers under the name of “Colby & Finney, Contractors”.

On November 22, 1880 the W.& M. was completed.

In December 1880 the Central inaugurated train service over the new line to Chippewa Falls, there connecting with the Chippewa Falls & Western to Eau Claire, about 10 miles distant. At Eau Claire the freight and passenger load was turned over to the old Chicago, St. Paul & Minneapolis R.R. (later, the "Omaha") for delivery to the Twin Cities and points west.

Colby & Finney utilized the power and equipment of the Central in the construction of the Wisconsin & Minnesota, the latter owning but one locomotive and six cars. Immediately upon its completion, the Wisconsin & Minnesota entered into an agreement with the Central whereby the Central trains were to be operated under control of W.&M. management between Abbotsford and Chipppewa Falls. This agreement remained in effect until July 1, 1888, when the W.&M. was sold to the Wisconsin Central Co., forming a valuable constituent in the slowly growing Central System.

In the meantime several attempts had been made to extend the line front Chippewa Falls westward toward St. Paul, each attempt being forcibly and effectively blocked by the 'Omaha”, whose line the Central must cross at Chippewa Falls.

Official records in the matter are brief and terse, making no reference to the blockade of the Central at Chippewa Falls, yet tradition has it that the Central's construction crews were always met at the proposed rail crossing by a superior force of "Omaha" men heavily equipped with an excess of spike-mauls, crowbars and pick handles. Court injunctions were sought by the Central -- the "Omaha" started lawsuits and pressed claims for alleged injury.

F. N. Finney was a resourceful man, and. it is said that on one dark night, after careful preparation, he caught the “Omaha” men off guard, and before morning had the “Omaha” Line severed, the crossing irons in place, and an engine and cars on the west side.

The Omaha crossing problem whipped, Finney resumed his way westward toward St. Paul under the corporate name of the Minnesota, St. Croix, and Wisconsin R.R., incorporated June 28, 1884.

The M.St.C.&W. was the result of a consolidation of the St. Croix & Chippewa Falls R.R. incorporated March 15, 1884, and the St. Paul & St. Croix R.R., incorporated April 4, 1884. The latter two corporations had begun construction work, making little progress before the consolidation became effective.

The St. Paul & St. Croix R.R. was chartered in Minnesota and authorized to build a line 24 miles in length from Trout Brook Jct. (2 1/2 miles north of St. Paul) northeastward to the St. Croix River (the Minnesota-Wisconsin state line).

The St. Croix & Chippewa Falls R.R. chartered by the State of Wisconsin, was authorized to project its right-of-way eastward from a point on the east bank of the St. Croix River, east-ward from a point on the east bank of the St. Croix River, opposite the terminal rails of the St. Paul & St. Croix R.R., to Chippewa Falls, a distance of 78 miles.

In the consolidation of these two rail companies under the name of the Minnesota, St. Croix & Wisconsin, it appears that Colby & Finney, Contractors, assumed the construction contracts and were paid in securities of the new corporation.

Shortly after the formation of the Minnesota, St. Croix & Wisconsin R.R., a third corporation known as the St. Paul & St. Croix Falls Railway Co. Was incorporated in Minnesota by the same interests representing eastern capitalists who also controlled the Wisconsin Central. The purpose of the St.P&St.C.F. Company is presumed to have been necessary to complete the line into the city of St. Paul.

The construction of the Minnesota, St. Croix & Wisconsin from Chippewa Falls to Trout Brook Jct. (St. Paul) proved to be the most difficult yet encountered. The territory was heavily wooded and rough near the St. Croix River, and toward the east for 50 miles sharp rises and deep ravines occurred in regular succession.

The bridging of the St. Croix River, in a deep ravine with high precipitous banks, 190 feet deep and nearly a mile across, presented a serious situation for Colby & Finney engineers. The bridge and sharp grade descents to both approaches remained a bugbear until the new steel bridge was erected in 1909, 4600 feet long and 184 feet above water.

Colby & Finney completed the Minnesota, St. Croix & Wisconsin R.R. on December 28, 1884, at which time the new line became a part of the Wisconsin Central System.