The St. Cloud journal., 1871-09-07
|ST. CLOUD RAILROAD
! MATTERS.


MATTERS.
Highly Important Move-
ments.
DEFINITE PROPOSITION FoE
CROSSING TIE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER. -:
AND FOB: A UNION DEPOT FOR THREE
LINES IN THIS CITY.
TWO CONNECTIONS WITH THE
NORTHERN PACIFIC X. n.
PROMISING CONDITION OF AFFAIRS.
On Thursday last Mayor Kerr and the
Railroad Committee Of the Common Coun-
Gil of this city went to st. Paul to consult
with Hon. Geo. L. Becker, President of the
st. Paul & Pacific Railroad Company, cop-
cerning certain matters of special interest
to tho welfare Of St. Cloud. Mayor Kerr,
and AID. J. G. Smith, W. Powell and L.
CLARK Aid. H, G. Burbank, the other
member of the committee, being absent,)
bad lengthy interview with MIR. Becker,
who had received notice to attend meet
ing Of the Directors Of the Northern Pa
| CHIC Railroad in New York, on the 18th
inst, and to bring with him all plans, &c.,
for do6nifo nd Eco1 oot;on ~, h n.o:.>.A
| and Sauk Valley Branches. Mr.. Becker
desired to have the citizens of St. Cloud
decide among themselves at what point they
would like to have the railroad cross the
river, and also to have the depot loca.
ted-which would be Union Depot for
both lines. sauk Rapids had offered lber-
81 inducements to have the road cross at
that place. He would send Gen. Morris,
Chief Engineer, and Mr.. Folsom, up ON
NJ onday to learn what had been resolved
upon by the people Of this place. and to
receive any proposition they might have to
make.
The party returned at noon on Friday.
Mayor Kerr called special meeting of the
council for that evening. The following let
ter from Ills Honor was read
ST. CLOUD, September 1st, 1871.
TO Tho. Honorable Common Council Of the |
City Of st. Cloud:
GENTLHNEN--I have convened you in
special session this evening for the pur'
pose Of adopting measures in furtherauce
n An Snf0roofo h,n
now come for prompt and energetic action.
would recommend the appointment or re-.
organization Of committees, and the adop-
ton OF such plan of action, in the premis-
o., as may commend itself to your judg.
ment. Il will be necessary tor the city
Immediately to suggest to the Railroad
Company the point where We desire the
road to cross the river and the depot to be
secure the right of way through the city,
purchase depot grounds, and determine
"hat further aid We are willing to extend,
towards building the road through the city,
and securing the right Of way through the
county.
am, very respectfully, your ob't serv't.
CHAS. D. KERR.
Mayor.
Statements similar to hose given above,
were made by the Mayor and various
members Of the committee.
The following special Railroad Commit
tee was appointed AID. VIM. Powell. J. G.
Smith, W. Carter, P. Smith, aud H. c. Bur-
bank, with Mayor Kerr and President
Clark. ~ =,
On motion of AID j. G.. Smith, the May
or was requestsdto call meeting of the
citizens for Saturday evening.
Handbills were issued on Saturday, and
in the evening tho Court House Hall was
crowded-business men, mechanics, and
laboriug men all feeling equally interested
In what was to be done On motion, Capt.
L. W. Collins was elected Chairman, aud
r. W. DeLano Secretary.
Mayor Kerr stated the object Of the
meeting, giving somewhat more in detail
tho facts embodied in the beginning
of this article; stating, also, that
it seemed to be the desire Of Mr.. Becker to
have the road cross on or above St. Angus.
ta street, near John L. Wilson's residence
J: L. Wilson moved the appointment
Of committee Of three by the Chair to
draft resolutions to be submitted to the
meeting. J. L. Wilson, L. E. Evans and
Chas. D. Kerr were appointed.
The committee male the following re-
port, which was accepted:
Resolved. That We deem the crossing of
the lst Division Of the St. Paul y Pacific
Railroad into the City Of St. Cloud, and
the location Of the depot at some point
easy of access from the business portion of
the city, matter Of vital importa nee to
our present and future welfare.
Resoived. That in furtherance Of this OBJ
ject, irsaid Railroad Company will locate
their depot, for both the Sauk Valley and
Brainerd lines, at such point near tho city,
between St. Germain Street and the upper
ravine (so-oallsd) a. may be agreed up
on between the committees appointed
to represent this city, and said Com
pany, that then We pledge ourselves, as q
city, to procure for said Company the right
of way through the city, free Of charge to
donate to them suitable depot grounds,
not exceeding twenty acres; and to render
them such further aid and assistance in the
premises as the Common Council may in its
judgment deem necessary or advisable.
Resolped. That We deem q dilatory and
vacillating policy, at this crisis, detrimental
to the best interests of the city, and we
urge upon oil good citizens the necessity of
united, harmonious and energetic action.
We also respectfully request our represen-
tatives, the Common Council, to adopt such
measures as may in their judgment be
necessary to carry out the spirit and pur-
pose Of these res olutions.
hesolved. That committee Of fve be
appointed by the Chair, to consist Of one
citizen from essh ward, and one from the
city at large, to act in conjunction with q
similar committee, appointed by the Com
mon Council, and to represent tho citizens
in all matters pertaining to our railroad in
| forests.
Hon. H. L. Gordon, expressed himself
IS dissatisfied with the strong terms used
in tho first resolution thought if these
resolutions were to be shown to the COM
pany that it would be better to use some
milder term than "vitar' in designating the
degree Of importance attached to the en-
terpriss by the city. The speaker also do.
sired information from committee as to
whether the depot was to be only one Of