The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-04
The Local Railroads.

Illc1I d ldlIlOd> WILL OC Ot1AI AAOAAA W.
Paul to Preston, cutting this county
in two longitudinally, but the proba-
bilities of such an enterprise being
attempted at an early day are suf
ticiently strong to render it worth
while to consider seriously what is
likely to be its effect upon this city.
1t will not be denied that the pros
perity of a city depends almost who'll
]y upon the territorial extent and
wealth of the country commercially
dependent upon it, and that it is,
therefore, very important that every
thing which can be done should be to
done hold in such dependency the
area naturally tributary to it, and that
all proper means to enlarge this dis
trict should be availed OF. Neither
will it be disputed that the surest
way to retain and extend such tribu-
tary territory is to improve and in
crease its facilities for pouring its
products into and drawing its sup
plies from such city. Other things
being equal, that city which is most
easily approached is always preferred
as trading point.
Now, the natural approaches to
Red Wing are difficult, and even the
work done on them in twenty three
years has failed to make them desir-
able routes of travel; but notwith-
standing this fact, the city has here
tofore commanded the trade of an
extensive region. The explanation
is simple. No other equally good
and accessible market existed until
very recently. For the past year or
two, however, Hastings and Lake
City have offered inducements fo1
and have obtained a considerable
portion of this trade, and now ST.
Paul is longing for a share of it.
With every dollar of trade this city
loses it loses, likewise, a portion
of its power to retain the remain
der; for its power to offer super
Tor inducements to customers de
ponds largely upon the amount o
trade it enjoys. The slight curtail
ments incident to the diversion o
portions of her trade to Hasting
and Lake City, have tended K
weaken Red Wing, and further ans
continued losses Of this characteI
must ultimately be disastrous. 1t
essential, then, that this city shall're
tain the trade it has, if it woul<
maintain its present status, and ex
tend its trade if it desires toincrease
in wealth and prosperity.
If St. Paul shall build a railroa,
lntersecting the county at a mea,
distance of about sixteen miles iron
this city, it follows that the bulk O
trade from the county will be divert
ed thither, because the construction
of such road will afford a cheape
and more facile means of transporta
ton to that city than exists to Rec
Wing: It will not do to say tina
Red Wing will continue to have tn,
retail trade, for such will not be tn,
case. All along the line of tina
road, at the distance of six or eigh
andes apart, stations will be built
and at each of these retail store
will be established. Generally thes,
will be owned by the parties pur
chasing the farmers wheat ane
other produce, and when the latte
haul their wheat to the stations the,
will make such purchases as the,
want. Therefore, the construction
of the road will not only rob Rec
Wing of the wheat trade of the re
gion referred to, but of its entire
patronage as well; for if the station
stores have not all the articles de
sired, the road will afford conven