Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-01-23
The Proposed Railroad.

The prospect of the early construc-
tion of railroad from Little Falls TO
Big Stone Lake now appears very en-
couraging. At the railroad meeting
held in Little Falls last Saturday eve.
ming, the minutes of which appear in
another column, Senator Simmons de-
scrlbed the enthusiasm that prevails
along the projected line, having be-
come acquainted with the views of the
leading men by correspondence and
otherwise. The newspapers published
along the line reveal the same state of
feeling. A Pope county correspond
ent of the Stevens County Tribune,
writes as follows under date of Jan. 13:
''On Saturday last, an enthusiastic
R. R. meeting was held, addressed by
Bates, Miner and Searle, of Sauk Gen.
tre, and others on proposed narrow
gauge R. r. from Little Falls, on the
Mississippi to Bi g Stone Lake. The
Brainerd Branch is now completed to
Little Falls, about 80 miles from Sauk
Center. The road would be likely to
touch at Glenwood and Morris. You
have given good article in your pa>
per on the subject. 7 was appointed
to correspond and give information re-
specting this important measure Lit>
tie Falls has splendid water power.
not yet developed, bordering on the
big pine regions. This road would
bring better price for grain, and furn-
ish cheaper lumber to all this prairie
region. A mass meeting is to convene
at Sauk Center, on Thursday, the 23d
inst, at 2:30 p. m. It is expected
that large numbers of R. R. men from
Little Falls, Minneapolis, and all along
the proposed route, will be in attend
ance, which is earnestly requested.
M ay good come Of it."
The following is an extact from
report IN the Pope County Press of
the railroad meeting held in Glenwood
on the 11th inst:
"Mr. Barto, being called for, spoke
in regard to the interest taken in this
movement by the people of Morrison
county and those in the western part
of Stearus county. 1t was of vital in>
terest to this community to have road
running not east aud west but north
and south. He spoke Of pet scheme
that had been considered and talked |
Of for years, that Of the constr uction
Of line Of road from Little Falls,
Morrison county, via. Sauk Centre
Glenwood, Morris and Big Stone, on to
the Missouri river. There were no
p eople, he said, so liable to get thing
done as those who tried to do it them>
selves. He suggested, as plan of op-
GRAFTON, to appoint committees at this
meeting, or at the general meeting to
be held at Sauk Centre to procure sta>
tistics in regard to wheat and lumber
Organize home railroad company and |
get it in shape so that when we could |
find company that would build the
road we could turn the organization
over to them. He explained the adj
vantages to be derived from such an
organization and the appointment of
snch committee. He spoke of the
movement in Minneapolis, but the
people, he said, wanted more competi-
ton in markets than they do in
railroads. A general expression
of the people is what is wanted now.
Mr.. Miner spoke next, and stated
that the distance from Sauk Centre to
Little Falls was about 80 miles
Little Falls had one Of the best,
most substantial water powers in
Minnesota. The construction Of this
line ofroad would tend to develop that
water power and the building of mills,
and afford US ready market for wheat
and place to buy lumber. It was
unnecessary for him to speak Of the
Importance Of such a road, the number
present showed its importance. The
amount of wheat raised in Pope and
the western part Of Stearns county for
market at low estimate, amounted to
100000 bushels, and the price paid on
the line of the Northern Pacific aver
aged 25 cents more per bushel than
was paid here, which made $125, 600
lost to the farmers zach vaarN