Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-30
RAILROAD MEETING
Extension OF the Dakota Southern up she
Jim River Valley.

Jim River Valley.
In response to published call. . numbe
Of the citizens of Yankton assembled las
evening at the reform club room to consl
der the proposition made by Messrs. Blai
and Wicker towards aiding the extension
of the Dakots Southern railroad up the val
ley of Jim river to On intersectio.
with the Chicago and st. Paul.
J.C. McVay, president Of the board o
trade. took tho chair. and in the absence o
Mr.. Jas. s. Foster. secretary. G. ". Kings
bury was elected to that position.
The object of the meeting was briefly
stated, after which there was q very gener'
eral discussion of the whole matter:
Mr.. NJ. T. Woolley. being called upon
stated that the people of the jim river val
ley were quite anxious to have railroad &C
commodations, and preferred a Ysnkton
connection to any other. Believed the road
would be generally beneficial. Mr.. Blair
on bis recent visit up the valley was quite
favorably Impressed with the country and
looked upon 1t as a valuable field for opera
alton. Mr.. Woolley proposed that Messrs.
Blsir and Wicker make a written propo.
sition and then We could take definite
action.
Gov. Edmunds was next called for. He
said that the prospect looked feasible and
desirable. He would feel a more active in
terest in the Milwaukee road but could see
that a road up the Jim would be very ad-
v%antageous. Yankton wants increased rail
road facilities. The extension Of the Chi
cago and Milwaukee across to Firesteel
would possibly. cut off from Yankton q
certain amount Of business, and if we can
by reasonable efforts reach the trade Of the
Jim river Yankton will be benefited and
our business interests improved. The
character of our trade would be changed to
more wholesaling stores and business would
come to us from a greater distance. Think
it would be well to have a formal propo.
sition from Messrs. Blair aud Wicker as
suggested by Mr.. Woolley, and then we
could 60 to work und%erstanding|y TO do
what was expected Of US.
Gov. Pennington was next called out:
1t was an unpleasant thing to discuss a
question where be had to take a position
in anita onism TO friends. AS a rule he
was in { pr IF railroads everywhere and
thought that if Yankton was ever t, be-
anything OF importance it must be
made q RAILROAD oo,tra md - ,,,. 49,.
of sound policy 10 give to all railroad en-.
terprises all the support possible. The ex-
tension OF the railroad proposed, with Mr..
Blair at its hsad, promises to Yankt,n q
through line to Chicago and a material reduc
ton 10 rates for freight that would enable
her merchant, TO compete for the trade of
all this vast section. The speaker alluded
to the unprecedented immigration into the
valiey-that there would soon b. Thousand
where there are ten-and o there would
be 30 acres cultivated where now there Is
one. He thought the opportunity a golden
one for Ysnkton and would strike hands
with Mr.. Blair aad push the road
through as speedily AS pos
sible. He could see iu this
enterprise. at no distant day the further ex.
tension of the road to the North Pacific,
which would give this grand valley COM
munication with southern Dakota and with
the great wheat markets on the lakes. He
was favorable to giving the right Of way
and depot grounds, but was not favorable 10
building a depot.
The governor read to the meeting a nun.
Der Of resolutions which he had prepared
but declined to offer them at that time 70,
action. He spoke at some length and urged
the hearty cooperation of Yankton, believ
ing it an enterprise that promised decided
advantages.
JIG. McVay was called upon. He dc
not believe the exter sion Of the road woult
injure the town, but on the contrary it woul,
stimulate business, increase trade an,
strengthen our business establishment
Was anxious to hear a full and free discus
sion and was glad to see an active interes
manifested. He did not apprehend tina
the extension of the road would work iniur,
to any interest Of the city.
Mr.. Leighton Wynn was the next speah
er,
M. Wynn had not given much though
to the subject, but felt disposed to encou,
age the enterprise. Believed it va
the true policy to aid the people of the Jill
river valley in whatever would promo ,,
their interests, and he could see that it WI
important to them that this road should g
on. BE was in favor of doing somethin
for the road, and would like to haye a del
mite proposition to act upon. Thought II
proposition for aid should be submitted
. writing and then we could oct understand
ingly.
|. Remarks we're also made by Secreta,
8 Hand, Msjor Dewitt, Mr.. E. P. Wilco
and Mr.. Eph Miner.
A motion made by Mr.. Wilcox that ii
president of the board reuuest Messr