Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-29
RAILROADS ROUND ABOUT US.
The Extension of the Pembina Branch
and the Elkhorn Valley Branch.
Sioux City Journal.
THE ELK HORN BRANCH

The Sioux City and Pacific railroad is
pushing its Elkhorn branch up from Wis
ner towards Niotrara and the Black Hills
in a quiet unostentatlous way at the rate of
about three quarters of a mile a day. The
contract for forty miles was let this spring
and is nearly completed. Now the engi-
neers are setting grade stakes for another
sixty miles. Near Battle creek the road is
to fork, one branch following the north
fork up toward Niobrara and the other up
the main river in the direction of O'Neil
City and the Black Hills. This route to
Deadwood has the advantage of going
through a rich farming and grazing country
| all the way, whereas the other routes pro.
posed, 60 through an Indian reservation all
the way from the Missouri to the Black
Hills. 1t is intended to build the main line
to Neleigh this year. Neleigh is within
twenty-five miles of O'Neil City and with
in easy reach of the grain fields of the mid
die Niobrara valley and within a trading
distance of the immense cattle country of
the upper Niobrara, where it is estimated
100000 cattle are grazing this year. The
branch up the north fork towards Niobrara
will receive som attention this year, but it
is not the intention of the company TO
finish the road through to the Missouri un-
til another season.
THE PEMBINA BRANCH.
One question that has agitated the people
of this section of country for months past,
is whether The Sioux City and Pembina
railway would be extended through to
Sioux Falls from its present terminus, this
season. We have already given some facts
in regard to this matter, but have not, as
yet, been able to give the ultimate inten-
tons of the owners of the road until now.
Yesterday morning, President Wicker
and Superintendent Merchant took the Z
o'clock morning train for Beloit, the present
terminus Of the road, and crossed over to
lower Canton and the town of Canton, pro-
per, to confer with the citizens of those
places relative to the matter. Mr.. Wicker,
as has been stated, has just arrived from the
east, and desired a speedy and satisfactory
solution of the question. The gentlemen
met Messrs. Benedict, Judge Carter, Sheriff
Dixon and other leading citizens of Canton,
and informed them that the time had now
arrived when it was necessary to have the
question definitely settled whether the road
should 90 on to Sioux Falls this season or
not.
The road, as is known, is now completed
to Belcit, and the people Of that place and
lower Canton, across the river, are naturally
not very anxious to have the road pushed
beyond their towns ut present. The people
of Sioux Falls have given a guarantee to
furnish the right of way from upper Canton
to their town, with sufficient depot grounds
also. This distance of twenty-one miles is
therefore provided for, leaving the distance
! of about one mile and q half from lower
Canton to Canton proper to be provided for,
the railroad undertaking to cross from Be
lott to lower Canton upon Its wi response
bility.
Upon the question of right of way fol
the mile and q half from Lower Canton tt
Old Canton, depends the whole question O
the extension to Sioux Falls this season
The plain question was then put to the
citizens of Canton above named, "Can you
furnish this required right Of way at once?'
and the answer returned was equally 9:
plain, mo. We cannot" The Canton mer
explained that the citizens we're now in {
somewhat discouraged condition on accoun'
of the late grasshopper visitation. and fel
poorer than they really were. It will cos
about $500 to purchase some town lots il
lower Canton and other property along tn,
proposed line. and the gentlemen said tina
without aid, they could not raise the mon
ey. They suggested that there was on
way out of the discouraging dilemma, ami
that was to appeal to the citizens Of Siou,
City, that in consideration of the advantag
of such q road to our city, they would as
sist in raising the required $500.
President Wicker gaYe the gentlemen
positive assurance that the road would b
built at once, providing the terms of tn
proposition were complied with, and b
will remain here q week or about tina
length of time, to see If outside parties vii
assist in raising the insignificant sum Q
$500, which 10Y appears to be the onl
thing in the way of the completion of tb