The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-02-10


way for the elevation of the masses. He
has seen some of the fruits of this system,
prepared by this bill, and can commend
them to the consideration of enlightened
legislation.
MINNESOTA.
Facts Relating to the Minnesota Val.
ley Railroad Company.
from the Mankato Record Feb. oath.
The Minnesota Valley Railroad Com
pany was organized for the purpose Of
constructing and operating railroad from
the city of st. Paul up the valley of the
Minnesota river to the city of Mankato,
thence in southwesterly direction to the
Iowa line, there to meet road authorized
from Sioux City, Iowa, to the north bound
airy of the last named State. The Com
pany is also authorized to build line from
81. Anthony Falls to form junction with
the above named line north of Shakopee.
At st. Paul the Minnesota Valley Road
will connect with the St. Paul and Pacific,
now in operation up the valley Of the Mis-
sissippi river, and rapidly extending its
main line west from St. Anthony, and its
branch line north to st. Cloud. It also
connects at Mendoza, six miles west of St.
Paul, with the Minnesota Central Road,
now having its rails laid between the Falls
of st. Anthony and Owatonna, where it
will meet the Winona and st. Peter Road,
now in operation for fifty miles from Wi
mona on the Mississippi river; also at st.
Paul with the Mississippi and Superior
Road, from st. Paul to Lake Superior.
The last named road is in process of con-
struction. At St. Paul the Minnesota
Valley Road meets boats at the head of
of steam navigation on the Mississippi
river; and also meets line of road pro-
jected down the valley of the river.
Sioux City, Iowa, is the northern termi-
nus of branch of the great Pacific Rail-
road. The Minnesota Valley road forms
the middle link of three roads connecting
great Pacific Road with Lake Superior. A
glance at the map will show its important
position.
The length of road to the State of Iowa
is about seventy miles; the Minnesota
Valley Road, one hundred and seventy;
and st. Paul and Lake Superior Road,
one hundred and forty-making the entire
line three hundred and eighty miles, being
about one hundred miles shorter from
Sioux City to the Lake than by any other
feasible route. The three several COM
panies forming this chain of connection,
have land grants of great value, being es-
timated at more than sufficient to construct
and equip their road.
The construction of the Minnesota Valley
Road was commenced and prosecuted with
the aid of the State of Minnesota; and
finally became the property of the State,
discharged from all debt, bond, or lien,
except as held by the State.
Forty miles of road, extending from the
mouth of the Minnesota river, ak miles
from st. Paul, to Belle PLANE, are graded,
the culverts and bridges built, and all in q
good state of repair The portion of the
line from st. Paul to Mendoza (six miles)
is now being constructed by the Minnesota
Central Company; and by the laws of the
State may be used in common, on fair
terms, by this company. The Central
Company has proposed to admit the Mia
nesota Valley Company to an equal own
ership, at one-balf the cost of construction.
The Legislature of the State of Mime
sota, at its session in 1854, granted all the
property and franchises acquired by the
State, together with the lands granted by
Congress, to the present organization, by
the name of the Minnesota Valley Railroad
Company.
The company as now organized, is en-
tirely tree from debt. Its stockholders
number twenty-five persons and firms, who
have subscribed in the aggregate $40, 900;
and there is paid into the treasury of that
sum one hundred and five. thousand dollars.
The remainder is payable on call, and viii
probably be paid in by the opening of nav
igation in the spring. It is the policy of
the company to build the first division Of its
road for cash without debt or incumbrance.
unless it should be found advisable to pur.
chase rails payable at future day, when
gold shall be at less premium than at
present.
The following is the organization of the
company:
Presidens-E. F. Drake.
Vice President-J. l. Merriam.
Secretary-W. D. Washburn.
Ireasurer-Horace Thompson.
Direetors-Russel Blakely, E. +. Drake,
John Harrington, r. II. Hawthorne, T. A.
Harrison, John L. Merriam, John 8. Prince,
F. Steele, Horace Thompson, W. D. WASH
burn, F. r. E. Cornell, Isaac Lincoln, A.
6. Ohatfeld, d. w. Ingersoll, b. @. Smith,
John ]. Porter, VIM. Huey.
The lands granted by Congress to aid in
the construction of the road are ten Sec
tons per mile, or equal to 6240 acres per
mile. When ten miles of road are COM
pleted, the company will be entitled to
sell 128,000 acres of land; when twenty
miles are built, 256, 900 acres, and when
finished to Belle PLANE, the present end