The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-01-23
Our Railroad.

The following extracts are from al
able article in the Anoka Union, re-
plying to the structures Of the narrow
gauge Elk River Star:
The foregoing neat and truthful(!,,
notice Of our city.and its action in vot'
ing aid to the proposed railroad ap'
pears in last weeks edition Of the Elk
River Star. We apprehend that this
effusion is slightly tinged with jealousy
and malice, as we'll as untruthtulncss,
from the fact that the proposed road
when completed, will necessarily de-
privc Elk River Of the advantageous
position which it now holds, as the
gateway to Princeton and the pineries,
and Of the trade and business incident
to such position, upon which it, as a
village relies mainly for existence. and
will naturally and necessarily transfer
all or nearly all such trade and bust
ness (Which will be greatly increased
by the railroad) to Anoka. @@ hi
s2r&* 4:
The road is to be of the standard
width established by the laws of this
state, viz: Thirty-six inches between
the rails, and is to be equipped with
rolling stock sufficient for large bust
ness, which it is believed will necessa.
rily flow in upon it from the com.
mcncemcnt of its operation, for the
following reasons: s.ss Fl ... -~:.
lst. Because 1t taps, at Princeton
tac largest, AMI in point Of quality the
best body of hard wood timber in the
Northwest, which, when marketed, is
much more valuble than pine and
which must find an outlet through this
road alone, from the fact which has
been proved by repeated trials and
failures, that it is not practicable to
float it down the river. This state is
annually importing from Wisconsin
and Michigan, many millions Of feet Of
hardwood timber, far inferior to this,
for the manufacture of farm machin-
cry, wagons, cars, barrels and other
purposes. which by means Of this road
can be profitably furnished at lower
prices than are now being paid.
2nd. Because it will naturally absorb
the business Of transporting the mer-
chandise necessary for the wants of
the inhabitants of the villages and
towns along its line and become the
medium through which the most of
the products of their industry will find
their outlet.
3rd. Because. for the reasons and
facts above stated, all Of the indus
tiles along its line will be stimulated
to greater activity, and many and
varied industries will spring into ex-
istence, the country will be more
thickly settled, all of which will con-
duce to the prosperity of the road.
With these facts in view it is not
surprising that the proposition to
build this road has met with such favor
along its whole route. Nor is it sur
prising that Anoka, which has in
creased nearly ten fold in wealth since
the St, Paul & Pacific r. R, passed
through and afforded it the necessary
facilities for the transportation of its
manufactures can see in this new road,
of which it is the terminus, which
opens up to it a trade with thousands
Of people who have heretofore looked
elsewhere for their markets, which
makes Anoka the market for an unlim.
tied supply of a large variety Of hard
wood timber Of the first quality, a
reasonable prospect for a large in.
crease of our manufacturing industries
especially in view of the fact that iron
can be laid down at Anoka almost as
cheap as at St. Paul, and if History
repeats ITSELF the country tributary
to the road will each year become
more and more thickly settled. The
forty millions of bushels of wheat, i
bound to attract large immigration
to this state, and now is as good tim,
as ever to do something to help our
selves. The road will pass through
the best stock raising section of til,
state, and long experience has laugh
that stock raising pays better thai
wheat raising.
The Washington correspondents arr
needlcssly alarming themselves 2bou
the resignation of Mr.. Schurz. The,
should ii CURE on something more near