The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-05-21
VOL. III.
Too Severe.

!
weight, but we think its comments upon
the action Of the Chicago, Milwaukee &
st. Paul Railroad Company are haldly
warranted, as far as the present survey is
concerned.
The Journal has been misinformed if
told that the present Company has run
seueral lines west from Sheldon. What
has been done in years past we are unable
to assert or dispute, as our information
respecting it is limited. Only one line has
been run west of Sheldon since the loca-
ton made to that point, and that was not
intended to have been run at 80 early a
period after the settlement of the land
grant. Of this fact we are informed by
Mr.. Klmball, the Engineer in charge, and
the occasion of this was representations
made to the Company by Mr.. A. J. War
ren, of Iowa, as to the immediate demand
for a road ard tie probable amount Of
business that an early extension westward
would insure
The instructions for the course was
westerly, ana in reaching Canton or Be-
lott a norhwsrd course, or north of west,
and the lay of the land compelled it. But
one line was run to and beyond the cross
| ing of the Rock until they reached the
elevation upon the divide between the
Sioux and the Rock, when to descend to
the Sioux but tw ravines or creeks offer
ed any approach, one veering to the south
landing upon the bottom below Beloit,
and the other bearing northward, termin-
ating at the mouth Of School Section
creek, east OF Canton. Neither of these
diversions were for skirmishing purposes,
| but matter of necessity and the only
way Of leaving the divide. And as mat
ters now look, still more favorable route
is liable to be the one finally selected, as
over the divide tho elevation has to be
reached and left, that would occasion an
expensive portion of road to operate; in
fact, no inducements could be made as we
can see, that would cause any other line
to be run, other than the lay of the land.
! We agree with the Journal wherein ii
says:
Preliminary surveys, here and there,
ought not to be sufficient to mislead the
people of the Sioux Valley into what may
fairly be presumed to be trap to defeat
them in getting the only road that is now
available to them"
If the "people from Portlandville to
Canton have been led by former projec-
ted lines either run, or in prospective,
when the objectiye point or the road was
Tankton, we certainly think that now
when the contemplated Missouri termini
has been changed from Yankton to q
point further north, and the Company
simply ordering a preliminary survey up
on their designated course, and at Il time
representation by a gentleman whose &c
| quaintance with the needs and capacity Of
| the country, was considered worthy Of no.
| ttce, that the severe comments of The
Journal are not merited. We can safely
assure the Journal that the people of this
locality fully appreciate the efforts of any
road to reach them, and were they not un-
fortunately too poor would extend liberal
aid towards any railroad that would be of
benefit to them. We speak of the major
ity of our citizens throughout the county
| in This relation. Individual instances, of
course, of "dog in the manger' policy
crops out in every community. But were
al expression obtained of the people in
Lincoln county, relative to both the Penn
bina and Milwaukee roads, it would be
almost unanimous for both roads, as they
are well aware that their construction
would ensure the competi tion that brings
high prices for products.
It is fact that there are people who
have been looking for the building Of the
Milwaukee road for years before the PEN
bins was talked of, but will hail the ap-
proach of the latter as heartily as the
other. 1t is not our province to fight the
battles of the Milwaukee road, nor would
they probably notice what we have TO say
about them, nor are we aware Of any COM
bination between the st. Paul and Mil.
waukce roads to keep the road at Sheldon.
but, as to this survey just made to the
Sioux river it will have no serious effect
upon the prospects OF the Pembina road.
| nor Will It in our humble opinion initiate
in the leas, to its derment, for we have
seen preliminary lines run before, and al
though true the surveyors tramp through
the country wakes up the sleepy-heads, the
| first road built and operated in a fair and
satisfactory manner will centraIize traffic
that only extraordinary efforts will change
We can see no effect here as the result
of this survey other than creating an un-
certainty in the minds of the people as to
where it will be made final, but have yet
to learn of any Withholding Of aid to the
Pembna road from this fact, And one
other reason why this is 80, Is that the
people have been led to believe thst the
Milwaukee company arc asking no subsi-
dies as to location. but only intend to se-
cure q first-class line and to construct only
as fast as the requirements of the country
demand il. We do not aaccept the decep-
ton" for the reason that nothing Is asked
Of US yet, and the setting OF the stakes upon
q preliminary line certainly does not en-
thuse, or occasion any voluntary offers or
suspend any intended support to the
penY,ina ROAD