Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-03-24
PRESIDENT WICKER INTERVIEW.
ED.

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President Wicker, of the Dakota South-
ern road, has been interviewed in Sioux City
BY . Journal reporter and made to say that
the st. Paul company will not extend its
road beyond Sioux Falls this season, that
the Milwaukee road will touch the Big
Sioux and there rest indefinitely and that
there 10 . strong probability that the Sioux
City and Pembins road will be extended to
Sioux Falls Immediately. We would not
ask our readers to rely implicitly on what
President Wicker has said in this connec-
ton, because the things which are woven
into that interview are precisely the
results which that excellent gentleman
would have occur, could he manage and
direct the railroad future of the Sioux val
ley and the country westward therefrom.
President Wicker has ardently hoped that
the Sioux City and Penn bina line might be-
come the great thoroughfare over which
the products of this rich region ehall pass
to the marts Of the east. That this result
may come about, it will be necessary for the
east and west roads now threatening his
prosperity to halt on the banks of the Big
Sioux and give him the field. While we
commend his enterprise and appreciate the
intensity Of his desires upon this point, we
cannot but feel that the divinity which
shapes his ends will not cause them to con-
form to his wishes. 1t is because President
Wicker is SO strongly opposed to the vest
ward movement of other railroads than his
own that he can see q great many good rea-
sons why they should not and will not move
west. Seeing them, he talks about them
and in talking about them he induces him.
self and others to believe that things will be
~ he wants them to be. But human calcu-
%lations. biased by self-interest, are not often
made the basis upon which speculative
minds build for the future. For this reason
We do not believe that the opinion of Presi-
dent Wicker, while it was doubtless given
in the utmost sincerity, will have any great
weight with those who understand the rail-
road situation in southeastern Dakota.
Sioux City cordially and enthu-
siastically comedies with the views Of the
president Of the Dakota Southern road, be-
cause those views are fully in accordance
with the necessities of the case. as they APP
ply to the prosperity Of Sioux City. The
probability of the construction of two east
and west lines across Dakota. which are to
have no business connection with lines al
ready running into Sioux City. is too ser
ious a matter to be contemplated calmly
and dispassionately by the business men of
that city. Some Of them have already be-
come so nearly delirious with extravagant
hopes that they actually congratulate them.
selves that the Chicago, Milwaukee s. ST.
Paul road is seeking a connection with
Sioux City, via the Sioux City s. Pembina
lin other words, that it will take the back
track eastward for fifteen or twenty miles
and operate over fifty or sixty miles of
leased line, in defiance of arbitrary COM
mercisl lave, for the purpose of running
Its empty cars into this out of the way cor.
ner of the state Of lowe. When the people
Of q community hold to such absurd no.
tons their opinion upon the solution Of tie
important railroad problem now before US
10 Of very little value.
President Wicker said in his interview
that the managers. of the Milwaukee road
had "neyer for q moment seriously thought
of going to Yankton." We cannot help
must ask, what, never" And if
President Wicker was at our elbow he
would probably answer. well, hardly
The word never" hae been robbed
# half its terrors since the Pinafore bus.
ness properly modified its significance, and
President Wicker doubtless uses it with
he popular qualification understood. We (
re sure he must, because be wouldn't lib !
bout q little matter like that. No one can +.
him for wishing that it might be SO, q
'ecause the construction of that road to I
Rankton would injure the business of bis =
Dad. Y