LA CROSSE COUNTY HISTORICAL SKETCHES

these there were freight and express charges. It may interest you to
know that this transfer boat was clearing from four to five hundred
dollars a day over running expenses, every working day. And in the
years following, up to 1880, profits were greater, although rates for cars
transferred were reduced. But increased business on the railroad more
than offset the reduction.
     In 1880 the Milwaukee Road secured and took over the manage-
ment of the Southern Minnesota Railroad, renaming it the Southern
Minnesota Division. Grand Crossing, Minn. was abandoned, the trains
running through La Crescent and over the railroad bridge built in 1876
into La Crosse.
     Everything pertaining to the track or road bed from   the "Dry
Land", across the marsh to the river at Grand Crossing was removed
and at the present time, not a single thing remains to mark its loca-
tion, except that in some places the road bed, where it had been graded
up, may be traced. This was the end of Grand Crossing, Minnesota.
     The transfer boat was all right for the summer time, but when the
river closed, other means must be used to connect Grand Crossing with
the Wisconsin side. This was done by constructing a winter bridge.
    Late every fall, Raft Channel was crossed by trestle work, the
railroad track was extended from the upper end of our loading switch
track at Grand Crossing across onto the Southern end of Barron's Is-
land. A grade was thrown up and rails laid along the west side of the
Island, extending to the northeast bank of the Island.
     Piles were then driven in the Mississippi River from the north end
of Barron's Island to the switch track north of the Milwaukee depot,
excepting a gap of about 45 feet.
    This was left open until the ice was running so as not to interfere
with navigation. Then it was closed and the rails were connected. This
labor did not take more than twenty-four hours and the delay was not
serious. Sometimes the change was made on a Sunday.
    This story of Grand Crossing, Minnesota, is really the second
chapter of Col. Stoddard's activities and labors in the upbuilding of
this city. He was certainly busy from 1850 to 1864 and very little is
known of his projects, plans, or acts, only that he was elected Mayor
when the city was incorporated in 1856 and then, at a later date, built
the Southern Minnesota Railroad.


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