Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-07
RA11RoAD DEVELOPMENT.

| RAILROAD DEYELOPMENT.
The New Branches of the Winona & St.
Peter Acknowledged, Country Tapped,
| Local Aid Extended, Etc.
! The Winona Republican improved the
opportunity furnished by the railroad cele-
bratlon at Rochester Wednesday to give
some interesting data Of the three branch
roads or feeders of the Winona & st. Peter
road, constructed this season, and of which
brief mention was made in the GLOBE GEN
eral review of the railroad building of the
season in the State, published Monday. The
Republican says:
''The present year has been an eventful
one in the history of Southern Minnesota,
and witnesses material development of the
interests of this section. The branch lines
OF the Winona & st. Peter railroad, con-
structed under the management Of the Chi
cago d Northwestern Railroad company,
bring large tract of rich territory into inn
mediate communication with this important
trunk line, and reaches many furnishing
towns that have been working vainly for
years to get an outlet by rail.
LIE CdAIt1ELD BRANCH.
| One OF the most important feeders is the
Chatteld branch, running from Chatfeld
Fillmore county, and connecting with The
main line at Eyota junction-about one mile
west OF Eyota-distant twelve miles. The
| line received some aid from the towns.
Chatteld gave $35, 700: Elmira, $4,000:
Jordan, $4,000.
| Chatfeld has a population of about 1000
people, and IS known as one of the most
prosperous and wealthiest places in this sec
ton of the State. Mr.. E. Edwards, a resi-
dent of Chatfeld for several years, is the
agent OF the railroad company. The road.
Tor new one, is said to be In unusually
good condition. The new depot is in course
OF completion, and the enterprising people
OF Chatfield are supremely happy that their
long wished-for desire for railroad is at
| last realized.
THE PLAINvIEW BRANCH.
An arm of the Winona & st. Peter road
stretching out from Eyota Junction to Plain
view, distance of about sixteen miles, forms
the Plainview Branch, running through
Elg1n, Douglas and Viola into Wabashaw
county and eliminating at Plainview, which
IS the center of rich farming and grain
growing country. This branch with the
Chatfeld Branch--it will be seen-forrn
really continuouous line between Plainview
| and Chatfeld. Local aid was voted quite
| literally for the Plainview Branch. Plain
view voted bonus of $4,000; Elgin, $40
600; Viola, $4,000. Plainview has popu-
latlon of about 1000 people; probably lit
tie over that; possesses a fine class Of thrifty
people, and is emphatically growing town.
1t IS distant by rail about ffty-two miles
from Winona. The new railroad was opened
about the middle of October. Mr.. Lee NELL
is the agent.
ROCHESTER, AND NORTHERN BRANCH.
Ihe rich country about Zumbrota, Pine
Island, and Goodhus county in general has
long been looked upon by the Chicago &
Northwestern company as Offering good in
ducements for railroad, and has finally re-
suited IN the construction of the branch
from Rochester to zumbrota, a dis
tance OF about twenty-five miles. Toward
this enterprise Rochester gave her bonds for
S3O,OOO, Zumbrota for $4,000, and Pine
Island for about $4,000. The road was
finished about the Goth of October. Zum
orota, the present terminal point, has pop
ulation of 1000 in the village, but the people
IN the township would number probably
l,5oO. The town is lively and is going
ahead we'll 1t has excited considerable RI
valry among the railroads, the Midland mar
f[ow-gauge from Wabashaw having reached
Aumbrota IN June last. It is estimated that
l,OOO,OOO bushels Of wheat are annually re-
ceived at that market.l
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
VI the effect of this railroad construction.
and the appearance of the city of Rochester,
the Republican says:
"A difference of opinion exists among the
Rochester people as to the effect of the new
Dranch railroads on the business of that CITY,
Inc new stations on all sides draw off a vast
amount OF the grain trade that formerly
brought farmers into the city, but whose
trading is now mainly done at stores nearer
nome. Some take a gloomy view of the
SITUATION and think that Rochester voted aid
to kill her own business, and on
the 4th inst. celebrated her own
funeral. Others-men of Good
judgment-think that compromising adyan
tages will accrue in the enlarged character of
the business which the Rochester merchants
will hereafter transact. Still others are lib
eral enough to view the construction of the
branch railroads as the natural outorowth of
the country in general, and that no one CITY
may expect to always be the favored locality
IN respect to railroad facilities. The con-
structlon OF the roads, they argue, will in no
wise affect the advantages that have thus far
wrought the prosperity of Rochester.
Ihere are many evidences of thrift in
kochester that strike the eye of the occa-
slonal visitor, and produce the impression
that the city is keeping steady pace with her
sister cities of the State in all that contrib
utes to solid and enduring prosperity. She
is blessed with class of citizens noted alike
for enterprise, intelligence, public spirit and
wealth; press interchangeable in her inter-
ests, and tributary country we'll high mex
haustible in its abundant agricultural re-
sources. AS one of the speakers we'll