The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-02-10
REPORT OF THE RAILRAAD COMMIT
I TEE - .9:.se
To. the Mobiles County Railroad CON-

,nittee:: IS: II. IS. . s.: ~ g.. ::- j s.
!, GENTLEMEN: Your subcommittee
selected at your meeting held; atIYOrtl,-
ington on the 25tll of January. 1876. to
arrange the details for submitting to
the voters of your county the cues
ton of extending aid to the Southern
Minnesota Railroad Company deemino
it advisable to have some definite UNI
derstanLing with the managers Of said
company, proceeded to Lacrosse, Wis
colsin, for the purpose of conferiilg
with said company in reference to the
matters entrusted to them, and would
respectfully submit the following as
the result of their visit: 81: - j -:
Your Committee met Mr.. NJ. G.. Van
Horn, General Manager Of the Southern
Minnesota Railroad, and Mr.. J. G: Eas-
ton, at tile Office of the former at La
Crosse, on the evening Of Feb. 5. and
stated to those gentlemen tile object of
their visit. and from them and other re-
liable sources obtained the following
information as to the financial ~condi-
ton and standing of the company. and
its ability and disposition to. extend its
line west during the year 1861.
First as to the financial condition.
We find that it has from the earnings
Of the road during the past fifteen
under the present management, made
large and valuable improvements in re-:
pairs, and has also 'increased4;the car
IyiMg capacity of said road by tile
addition Of i large amount. 1T rolling
stock, and freight and ,passenger &C.
c0mmodations; and has paid iii current
expenses and matured obligations or tile
company, and ON the first day of Janu-
ary, 1875, was able and did pay every
dollar of matured interest, and then had
in their treasury i surplus Of over
$50,OOO. 80 !. 5''
Second. Tie ability of the company
to extend its line of road west to a juno
ton with the Sioux City and st. Paul
Railroad during the year 1875; seemed
to your committee beyond question.
Although the road is at present niolni-
nally in the hands of 4 receiver, nearly
all the obligations of tile old Southern
the present management, and steps are
now being taken for the reorganization
of the company, which will speedily
and entirely relieve it from all .embar-
easements. --.'.'- - 49, y. -.
Third. At the conference above re-.
ferred to, the managers Of the road
stated to your committee that iii con-
sideration Of the rapid development Of
the country. and the prospect Of rap
idly increasing business, they are pre-
pairing to extend their road westward
to a junction with the Sioux City and
st. Paul road at All early Cay.
And that your committee believethat
it the aid asked along the line be grant
ed the road will be built on the south
ern line and reach WoIthington III 1876,
and the west line Of the State in, 1877;
but should aid, he withheld, tile road
will follow the old survey when. built.
We are gra: flied to lie able to
make the above favorable statement
i'll reference to the financial condition
OF the road, and especially in view of
the alleged emparrassments of the road,
and the fact that the good faith of the
company had been called. in question.
And your committee, after Il careful
investigation and consideration of the
whole subject. earnestly recommend the
people of Mobiles County to vote the re-
quired aid.
J. p. MouLToN,
NJ. Is. SOULE,
G. z. SUTTON,
I. n. SAFER, Com.