Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-10

He O1ONE@ o0O G01VMODO0 ~ ~
IntsrsSSe ~ eAs sioux city = Daksta.
and shat 10 Ma~aKsnsat wan Passls.
- eAsslIanAs Of the OhisaRsA Nerth-
western. M,
The many and conflicting rumors which
for several weeks past have filled the air and
disturbed the equanimity o. people intereshd
In railroad matters, have been dispelled BY
an apparent certainty contamination
which, II not generally satisfactory. will be
90 at least to the people of Yanlkton and
southeastern Dakota. Private advices from
Sioux City, which are In part confirmed by
an article in the Sioux City Journal, inform
US that John I. Blair has bargained for the
purchase of G. G. Wicker's interest in the
Sioux City and Dakota railroad, and that
the parties in interest will meet at Sioux
City today for the purpose Of perfecting the
transfer. This purchase, tits understood, is
made in the intercs. Of the Sioux City and
Pacific and Chicago and Northwestern
roads, of which Mr.. Blair is the principal
owner, and that the purchased lines will be
operated By the latter company--running
through trains from Missouri Valley to
Yankton and Sioux Falls.
Several months ago Mr.. Blair visited
Yankton. and in company with G. g. Wick.
er went up the jim river valley as far as
Rockport. Soon afterwards he purchased
of Mr.. Wicker a controlling interest in the
Dakota Southern and Sioux City s Penn
bina roads, and following this purchase the
Pembina road was extended from Beloit to
Sioux Falls. a distance of twenty miles.
AT the same time it was gwen out that. up
on Yankton grading certain subsidies, the
Dakota Southern would be extended up
the Jim river valley. Our citizens prompt.
~ agreed to meet the demands made upon
them, but In arranging the details with the
representatives of the railroad there was so
much uncertainty in regard to the inten.
tons of the company that the summer was
passed in negotiations and nothing practi-
cal ACCOMPLISHED. In the meantime the
Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul company
constructed a line Of road from Marion
junction in the northwestern corner OF
Turner county ir q southwesterly
direction to the Missouri river
opposite Niobrara, and thus cut of a
large amount of productive territory which
had hitherto paid tribute to the Dakota
Southern. The Milwaukee c%ompany's line
from Rock Valley in Iowa, via Eden to
Yankton, was also projected, and a sufficient
amount of work done thereon, in addition
to the stipulations between the company
and the city of Yankton, to insure its com.
pletion early in the coming summer. The
construction of these lines, which not only
trenched upon the territory in which the
Dakota Southern had a monopoly, but
forced it into making competitive rates,
materially detracted from its profits, and
Mr.. Wicker, having already parted with a
controlling interest in the road, desired to
dispose of the balance and step down and
out. He was disappointed in not finding a
purchaser in Mr.. Blair. The latter had
already a controlling interest, and probably
failing to see any pecuniary advantage in
owning the whole, at first declined to buy.
Overtures were then made to the Chicago,
Milwaukee and St. Paul company, and i,
was announced on what was regarded as
good authority that that company, desiring
to m%onopolize the railroad system
of southern Dakota, agreed to
purchase the Dakota Southern
and Pembina lines at a price in excess Of
their cash value. The acceptance Of this
offer would have Topped off important feed
ers for Blair's Iowa roads, and it was &C.
cordingly rejected. Mr.. Wicker, pursuing
his intention to reach a position where he
could force a sale of his railroad interests in
Dakota (using the power which he held as
president Of the corporation) entered into
an arrangement with the Milwaukee com.
pany by which it was given access, over the
Pembina and Dakota Southern tracks, to
points which its ovn lines did not reach
and in which the Iowa roads had a monopo-
ly. This created so vigorous a "kick" on
the part of the Northwestern and Sioux
City & Pacific, that Blair has been forced
to relieve Wicker and pass the control Of
the Dakota Southern and Pembina into the
hands Of the Northwestern. This is an
arrangement long and aDxiously desired by
the people of Yankton and southeastern
Dakota generally. The control Of our sys-
tenn Of railroads by two euch enterprising
and powerful corporations as the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago &
Northwestern, will give to our people the
very best advantages which are conferred
by a complete railroad system.
The Sioux City Journal, in speaking Of
this transaction, has the following 10 say
in regard to what will follow:
The next step in the new deal will be the
Looming of the Sioux City and Dakota and
the Sioux City and Pacific under one man.