Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-05-22

the Northern Pacific Company
from Brainard to St. Cloud
points almost directly to Mankato
He thought that company would look
with favor upon such a road. While It's
main line is now absorbing its capita
and time. he knows i! looks with favo
upon the road pointing this way, and i
will give Its encouragement, and possibly
its pecuniary aid. He thought it Al
object for large corporations to make AZ
effort to get the carrying trade of th'
country between Mankato and ST. Cloud
1t may be that the towns and countie!
will have to be levied upon in the way O
bonuses-it is now the style to do so
While in times past it cost from $1O,OO(
to $25,OOO per mile tO build railroads.
they can be built very cheap now. Mr..
Farley has said this road can be built FOR
$4,000 per E,ilc-hc has built such road
this year. 1t devolves upon the friends
Of this measure to make rs good show:
ing As possible, 10 bring an organized
influence to bear in its behalf, so that the
parties desiring to build it will have
some one to deal with. There may be
| roads and communities that may oppose
it, rival roads both here and at Lake Su
pcrior. Also, interests in mills and lun
Der that may consider that such road
would not inure to their benefit. We
have always found an insiduOus and
powerful opposition at the present com
mercial ccnters to oppose US, and some OF
US have been charged with seeking Ia
divert business from them. AS to bonus
es Mr. Gilman said he could not say what
his people would do. They had always
looked with favor on this enterprise, and
would VOTE literally.
Senator Officer Of Mower county, being
called for, said that Mr. Page had given
an accurate statement of the sentiment
in his county. HI had expected to hear
more from the north-had hopcl that the
country would have been canvassed, and
the gentlemen from that locality be able
to say what will be done. He thought
that Austin will pay for the grade from
that point to the present terminus Of the
Illinois Central railroad-about Is miles
He had talked good deal about the pro-
ject and thought that he had found par
ties who are willing to 6uil1 the road to
Mankato, and possibly to St. Cloud. He
believed that the people Of all the towns
interested ought to concentrate their en-
ergies to make the undertaking 4 speedy
success. Mr.. Kennedy had offered to
build the road if the Illinois Central will
lease it ut 7 per cent on the cost. In re-
gard to the matter Of bonus he thought
81, 900 now was equal $4,000 heretofore.
One object in coming here was to zee
what we can do to effect an organization.
Austin means business, and proposes TO
follow this matter up until it is success
full. He wanted to hear further from
Mankato.
Mr.. Willard spoke at length In behalf
of Mankato.
Mr.. Page argued that the agricultural
towns were greatly benefited and could
we'll afford to give $4,000 each. Tie
interest on that sum at Z per cent. was
only $70O year. Take for instance the
town Of McPherson-the tax would be
only ~ mills, and on an so acre farm,
worth $500, only $1.87 per year. An av-
erage farmer has about 500 bushels OF
wheat to market yearly. The facilities
which railroad affords for reaching
market will add from two to three cents
to the price Of each bushel, and the re-
suit is that the farmer pays $1.S7 to Sc
cure an additional income of $40 to $15
per year, to say nothing Of the enhanced
value of his lands, and the many other
benefits and advantages which railroad
confers upon community. AS to the
principal, judging from the past, by the
time It becomes due, tho valuation will
be two or three times what it is now, and
the tax TO pay it will not be high. It
seems to me that the probabilities of
such an Investment are as certain as OF
the farmer who s0Ws one and half bush
els of grain to get Is bushels in return.
Mr.. Pfaff, OF WlnnebagO Agency, be-
ing called for, said: The town is alive
to the importance OF having the road,
and willing TO give reasonable bonus.
There was meeting last Friday, attend
ed by about 35 persons, and all but three
or four were willing to vote bonus. He
was willing to work for reasonable bo-
nus in that town.
In response to further inquiries, Mr..
Willard said that Mankato had never
turned cold shoulder to railroad, and
would not do it now. She could he re-
lied upon for her proportion OF the ex-
pense necessary to secure the road. Those
towns that have not yet given anything
to railroads, must take the lead, Mankato
would cheerfully follow.
Mr.. Wheeler Of Austin, thought there
were some things that ought to be taken
into consideration. We have not gone
over this route in the interest of any cor.
porati0n, but in the interest of the people.
We have come here to unite our interests
and see what can be done. Our first pur-
pose was to get up line from Austin to
Mona, to extend the Illinois Central to
our city, but after consultation we con-
cluded to endeavor to extend it to Manka-
10, the probabilities being that the com.
pany would prefer 10 build long rather
than short distance. On general prin'
ciples the speaker said he was opposed to
bonuses. But this thing is different. 1t
is the people asking the railroads
to take hold Of the matter. We must put
our energies together. We know thai
we cannot build the road-we do not ex
pect that you will build the st. Cloud
road. We have sent parties to see wha,
can be done, and Mr.. Kennedy is willing
to build the road, provided the ILLINOIS
Central will lease il, ut seven per cent on
the investment. Now we have to make
arrangements with the Central. He sug-
gested an organization to ascertain what
can be done, and on what condition the
capitalists can be induced 10 take hold OF
the enterprise.
Mr.. Gilman spoke of the business fea-
lures OF the enterprise. Between Manka
to and st. Cloud is rich, beautiful and
we'll populated country. Mcleod and
Meeker are well settled aud developed
Stearns is the most populous count,
north Of Hennepin. 1t is rich country
susceptible of high degree Of cultiva
tion and sustaining dense population
The Northern Pacific Is extending it!
main line west. and before fall the navig
able waters of the Yellowstone, 200 miles
distant, west from Bismarck, will be reach
ed. Soon the road will penetrate th'
gold hills of Montana, and at NO distan
day reach the Pacific. This route viii
give you q direct connection with tha
great national althoroughfare. In addition
to the agricultural resources of our coun
try, we have a magnificent water power .
Sauk Rapids, continuous ledge of rocl
underlying the bed of the Mississippi
river, and the adjacent banks are vel
adapted to building canals. There Is n
reason why 4 manufacturing city. Gee
ond only TO Minneapolis may not b
built there. There is no reason why tn
logs which are cut In the north and drivel
hundreds of miles to Minneapolis. from
whence lumber is brought here and t
tOther southern points bY the roads d.