Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-28
THE SALE OF THE DULUTH ROAD

~ 10 sIuSuAaI Iudt SlNco Gle
sale of the Duluth road, or a
controlling interest therein, there
should have been such a wonderful discovery
relative to its Importance to the Minnesota
system of railroads. The matter was a pure
business question. If the road had paid it
would not have been sold. That it did not
pay was the fault of the people of st. Panl,
Minneapolis and other towns in
the State as we'll as the Minnesota
railroad lines. Here was one hundred and
fifty miles of railroad wholly isolated during
six months OF the year and the other six
months dependent on the whims and caprices
of shippers, or perhaps more properly upon
the cut. throat policy of powerful and gigantic
railroad combinations. Unless the people
who were especially benefited by such line,
rallied as one man to its support, no other
result than it's transfer to other parties could
reasonably be expected. It was never
owned in Minnesota, though it was
managed in the interest of Minnesota,
and Minnesota having given her business and
support to other routes the Philadelphians
have parted with on unproductive property.
This is simple recital of what has happen
ed and why; matters which are already
familiar to our readers.
Without assuming any moralization or
speculation as t0the future the GLOBE simply
desires to make the two points-frst, the one
already made, that Minnesota did not sus-
tain and make the road profitable
az she might; second, that
the original construction of the road
was bitterly opposed by those who are now
the loudest in their lamentations. To those
who are familiar with men and measures in
st. Paul, it is no news to state that when the
Duluth road was projected it encountered
bitter opposition from large number of our
then leading citizens, many of whom have
since attained still greater prominence. Mr..
Banning was one of the early projectors of
the road, and every obstacle possible was
thrown in his way to prevent success.
The voting of 100000 bonus was Bit
terly opposed, and even after the bonds were
voted an effort was made to prevent their
issue and throw doubt upon their legality. A
personal hostility was developed towards Mr..
Banning and to Mr.. James Smith, Jr., which
exists to this day, because they were the
especial champions and advocates of this Du-
luth line. To people in st. Paul we do not
need to particularize, but we can say without
possibility of contradiction that if the men
who own and control the st. Paul &
Sioux City road had manifested one half of
the earnestness in behalf OF the Duluth line
which they did in FIGHTING Messrs. Banning
and Smith and their associates in their efforts
to get the enterprise started, the Sioux City
company would to day have been the owners
or lessees of tae road to the lake.
We recognize that the St. Paul & Sioux
City road is and always has been splendid
enterprise for st. Paul, and we would not de-
tract an iota from the full measure
of credit due the men who have built it,
but we nevertheless record the
fact that by standing in their own light they
fomented an opposition and dissension
among our own people. which has prevented
their securing the lake outlet which they
ought to have, and which it is vitality i'm
portant to Minnesota that they should have.
Nothing could be more advantageous than a
continuous line of road, under one owner
ship, from Sioux City to Lake Supe-
rior. 1t would be advantageous to
both the road and the public. And we say
with regret rather than reproach, that. the
early policy of the st. Paul & Sioux City
company in, more than any other one cause,