Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-17
THE ST. p. .e u. WASH
BURNS SVJNDLE PUNCTUREp

THE ST. p. & d. R4ILROAD-WASI-
BURNS SPINDLE PUNCTURED.
The Minneapolis morning paper, printed
in st. Paul, and the Minneapolis evening
paper geefully print pretended interview
published in the Chicago Times with H. H.
Porter, general manager of the st. Paul &
Duluth Railroad company, which is so mani
fest perversion of the truth that it should
not pass unnotioed, especially as the Trib-
une gives it editorial prominence with the
evident purpose of injuring the road and
helping Bill Washburn's swindliug scheme
to extort money from the people between
White Bear and Taylo,s Fails in aid of a
branch of his bankrupt road that will never
be constructed. Mr.. Porter is represented
as saying that the roadbed is in every way
miserable, and to improve it would be a
useless squandering of money; that it is now
used occasionally by some brave traveller,
who takes the chance of instant humiliation
a losing one, and will be abandoned as soon
as the owners can absorb the land grant.
We do not hesitate to Fay that MIR. Porter
never made use of any such language, and
that it was simply the creation of the re-
porter's muddled brain. In fact, the con-
duct of the company under the new man
agement gives the lie direct to tho state
ments imputed to Mr.. Porter. So far from
the roadbed being in bad condition, it will
bear comparison with any road in the North
west, and though the equipment may not be
as large as that of some other roads, what
there is of it is of the best class.
TO prove that the present managers do
not intend TO abandon the road, we are at
liberty to give q few facts that not only
dsprove the statements given currency
by the Minneapolis papers, but may serve
to show tho animus of their ibels upon the
road. 1t is we'll known that during the last
Congressional contest Bill Washburn, in or
der to procure votes, had preliminary sur
vey made of what he, called the Taylors
Falls extension of the Minneapolis e. st.
Louis road. After the election-perhaps
three months since-he organized q company
for the construction of this extension, but
announced that the towns along the line
must contribute money enough to build and
equip it, after which, he and his partners
would kindly take possession of it. So
patent was the swindle that it was promptly
denounced by the GLOBE, and thus far but
one town-Taylors Falls responded
favorably to Bill Washburn's cheeky propo-
sition. The GLOBE took occasion TO saw
that the road would be built by some lepiti-
mate company already in existence without
asking for dollar OF aid. Our prediction
has already been verified, for yesterday Hon.
James Smith, Jr., received telegraphic in
structions to proceed at once to secure the
right of way from Wyoming to Center City,
seven miles from Taylors Falls, and to ad-
vertise for proposals for grading and tieing
the road, the contracts to be awarded as soon
as possible. II is the intention of the COM
pany to proceed with the work at once-to
allow the grading to be done as far as pos
sible by residents along the line, and to have
trains running to Center City by the 4th of
July next. If the improvement of the
water power at Iaylors Falls shall be under
NN~'~S'A 50
plated, the road will be pushed forward to
that point without delay. ... .sy-
This enterprise on the part Of the st. Paul
& Duluth road, therefore, is the cause of the
abuse it is receiving at thdhand Of the Two.
Minneapolis papers. The company has had
the hardihood to begin the con-
struction of an important feeder without
asking the people along its route to con-
tribute dollar in its aid, while Bill Wash
burn demanded that the expense Of building
bis line should be betrayed by the people.
he simply agreeing to pocket the property
and the profits. OF course the enterprise of |
the st. Paul & Duluth road puts quietus
upon Washburn's swindle; hence tho wrath
OF his plant newspaper minions.
The Duluth company is determined to |
keep abreast of the other railroads of this
State, both as to safety and perfectio, Of
equipment, enthusiastically shown an earnest