Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-30
could be entertained, and hence the failure
of the company to carry out its plans.


his negotiations for the purchase of property
held in trust for the Simpson heirs, the next
person naturally sought was Mr.. Harvey Of
fcer, administrator of the estate. Mr.. Of
fcer being found, made in substance, the
following statement to the reporter:
Mr.. Merrill has correctly stated the facts,
80 far as he goes, in relation to the proposed
purchase of the Simpson levee property. In
his will Mr.. Simpson had directed this prop
erty to be held for the benefit of his heirs,
while certain Fourth street property was to
be opened, the supposition of his being that
the levee property was to be the most val
liable. By the opening up of railroad COM
munication with st. Paul, and the conse
quent falling off in river business, the levee
property deprecated in value for business
purposes, and the Fourth street property adj
vanced in corresponding ratio. Just at this
time the railroad company offered $3.50, 900
for the levee property. Believing the price
offered the full value of the property, and
that it would be advantageous to the heirs
to sell the same and retain the Fourth street
property, I applied to the district court for
authority to change the terms of the will in
this respect The application opposed
by Mrs. Simpson. The court referred the
matter to Judge Young to hear and de-
eide. After argument and due considera-
ton, Judge Young decided that while the
position had taken as to the changed value
OF the property was undoubtedly correct,
and that the change and sale would be ben
eficial to the heirs, the court, as matter of
law, the testator having designated the dis
position to be made of his property, could
not 90 behind such designation.
Still satisfied his position was correct, Mr.
Officer was about taking the application to
the supreme court, when the financial de-
preston was precipitated upon the country,
property rapidly deprecated in value, and
business was contracted to suit the changed
surroundings. Under these circumstances,
Mr.. Merrill withdrew his offer of 100000,
and declining to guarantee the purchase by
the company should authority be secured
frorn the supreme court, all legal proceed
ings to that end were stopped, and there the
matter rests to-day. Mr.. Officer says events
have fully justified the wisdom of his propo-
sition, which is some satisfaction; but he re-
grets, as do the heirs, that he prevented
IN carrying out his views.
MANAGER FARLEY.
Having received the above explanation
from Mr.. Officer, the reportorial thoughts
naturally turned next toward Manager
Farley, of the St. Paul & Pacific, as
the representative of the corporation, quite if
not more deeply interested in the project than
any other, and upon whose action much
if not more, depended either for or against
the scheme. And SO the reportorial steps
were turned in the direction of his office.
Mr.. Farley was found seated at his desk, as
usual busy with tho affairs of TIE great cor
poration over which he presides with such
marked energy and ability. To the reportori-
al inquiry if he could be interrupted for a
few moments, Mr.. Farley made cheerful
affirmative response, and the inquis1torial
augur being applied, the following informa-
ton was elected.
union passenger depot is very desirable,
most desirable in fact. But the trouble with
| this company is it is bankrupt, and while
Messrs. Horace Thompson and Edmund
Rico of st. Paul, and Mr.. Kennedy of New
York, trustees in charge of the property, all
sagacious business men, undoubtedly recog-
nize the need of such an institution, they
| would not, think, feel justified in making
such an expenditure as would be required,
and if they did, doubt if the court would
permit it to be done, in the present condi-
ton of the company. The fact is the
company is compelled to strain every nerve
to keep its line in shape to do their
rapidly increasing business. Why, we have
had to buy sixteen new locomotives the
present year and increase the other rolling
stock correspondingly, and still we are COM
PEELED to borrow rolling stock of other COM
panies to do the business pouring in upon
u.s. Saying nothing of the Branch line ex
tension from MelrOse to Alexandria, and the
building of the st. Vincent extension through
to the Canadian line, we have put in more
than two miles of side track here in the St
Paul yard, and are now building q double
track to the company's shops to be finished
in few days now, and are also building q
large round house, made necessary by the
increase in the number of locomotives. Sc
you Will see we have our hands full without
touching the question of union depot
even If the present management had right
to go ahead in the matter. But it will come
in time, suppose. but you cannot crowd it
Why, the great city of Chicago, with it's i'm
mense railroad business, has been working
for years for union depot, and yet it is but
little better off to-day than st. Paul. But
Chicago will undoubtedly have its union
depot-it will be good one
too-and St. Paul. When built, il
must be to accommodate al
least dozen tracks, being, say 300 feet wide
by 600 in length. When ready to 90 ahead
the matter of location will be an important
matter. AS it looks now, the land of this
company from Rosabel street to the Lake
Superior depot, and from Third street to the
river, is the most desirable. But it would
require large expenditure in filling to put
$this in shape. These matters, however, viii
adjust themselves when the time comes, anC
when the time does come this company will
undoubtedly be ready to meet all other com
Panies with spirit of hberality and fail
dealing, That's all that need be said now
GEN. j. W. BISHOP,
general manager of the st. Paul & Sioux
City company, was next sought out by the
GLOBE envoy. Gen. Bishop was found in
his office, and bis managerial ear being OBJ
tanned, the nature of the reportorial visit was
explained, to which response was mode in
substance as follows:
up to this season our repot accommoda-
of course, as desirable as could be wished
The policy of the company has been to keep
its track, bridges, etc., etc., in first con-
dltlon, devoting whatever the surplus earn
ings of the road above the sum required TO,
these purposes to paying off the heavy in
debtedness of the company. To accommo-
date the rapidly-inoreasing business of ou1
road this season, we are just about couplet-
ing excavating the bluff along Second street
from Cedar to Minnesota. This will give Ms
probably all the track room desired for sey-
eral years to come, and also gives us place
for a passenger depot, if the erection of such
a building is deemed advisable. OF course,
a passenger union depot would be great
accommodation to the travelling public and
also to the railroad companies, and at the