Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-02-06
Railroad Meeting.

s Railroad Meeting. 3E .$s,.s,
On Monday last Col. Crooks, Of St. Paul, ar
rived in Little Falls, and it was Immediately
arranged to hold 3 public railroad meeting at
Vasaly's Hall in the evening. The meeting
was attended by nearly all the leading citizens
Of the village, and other persons who wished
to witness the proceedings. r. II. Paine was
elected president, and H. G. Stivers secretary !.
Hon. y. Simmons stated the object of the
meeting to be to discuss measures in relation
to the construction Of the proposed Little Falls
i Dakota railroad. He then introduced Col.
Crooks, who was greeted with enthusiastic APP.
plause, and who proceeded to explain in detail
the past and present features of the subject
under consideration. The following shows
the principal points referred to in the course of
his remarks: - @}'4 - =: ,1Et: - %-.,!.a$
eve are now engaged in the endeavor to.
build a railroad from Little Falls to the State
line at the head of Big Stone Lake. The at
tention Of myself and some of my, associates
was brought to the feasibility of such pro-
jest by reason of our being property owners
in Morrison county. Twenty two years Of
effort and adjustment have resulted in bring
ing the State to its present position; and al
though there were some disappointments,
there were strong reasons for them. It be-
hooved the men who were engaged in improv-
ing the State to persist in their work, and let
the responsibility for the disappointmcnts fall
where it may. My associates and myself
were compelled to take $4,000 acres of land in
Morrison county in payment of debts, and we
are satisfied that these lands should be here.
Some time ago Senator Simmons called our at
tention to our large interests here, and urged
us to join with the people of Morrison county
in m effort to procure additional railroad IA
cilities: We replied that it would be advisa-
| bic to wait, and not push the matter too early,
[ for fear the project would be killed in its in.
fancy. We would be compelled to ask the aid
of capitalists, and if our bonds were put on
the market at a time unfavorable for their
sale, they would necessarily acquire tho repu-
tation of being undesirable, and it would be
impossible to make satisfactory sale of them
even after the commencement Of the business
revival that the country is now enjoying. Est
last spring told Senator Simmons that the
time for action had come, that an era of pros
perity was beginning, and that worthy enter
prises would thereafter receive proper atten-
| ton at the hands of capital. A line drawn on
q map from Superior City, on Lake Superior
to the mouth of the Cheyenne river and the
Black Hills, via. Little Falls and the head of
Big Stone Lake, is almost straight. AT the
vast region that would be traversed by rail-
road built on that line, requires an outlet to
Lake Superior. The Weland canal is about
to be enlarged, and am informed from official
sources that in three years ocean vessels will
| carry grain from the shore of Lake Superior
/ to- liverpool The reason that the people
I have taken hold to secure the construction of
a railroad giving them an outlet to the lake is
| that they see. it to be: for their interest. It
means ten to- twelve cents per bushef more for
their wheat, and this will add from q to 8
dollars per acre to the value of their lands.
james ]. Hill, General Manager of the St.
pleasant social relations, but antagonistic bus
mess relations, assures the people that he will
build a road from Sank Centre to Big Stone
Lake without asking any bonds Of them. The
people said, Suppose you do, will it give US
an outlet to Lake Superior? Will it break up
the monopoly chat now requires exorbitant
rates for transporting our wheat ?? They
knew that no relief could be obtained in that
county $65, 900, and in Sauk Centre every man
who voted, except FIVE employees Of the St..
| Paul g. Manitoba road voted to issne bonds.
The people want cheap lumber, cheap iron and
cheap SALT regardless of St Paul or Chicaa o..
They want the best market in the world to sell
their produce in, and these facts are what the
movement we are now considering isbased on.
The whole. thing, was examined and I sub
scribed for stock in order to advance the lake
system. We intend to begin work before the
first of July next, and complete the road in
two. years. We have already paid $4,000 for
surveys, etc., and that proves the sincerity of
our intentions. All the aid that we required
has been. voted except in Big Stone county
and in Ashley township, stearns county
which: voted down the issue of bonds amount
ing to $4,000, and in. Grey Eagle town ship,
Todd county, which voted down the issue Of
$1,000. Big. Stone county will vote the re-
quired bonds as soon as the county is organ
| lied, as we are assured; by Father Ireland,
/ Geo. Becker, and other persons interested in
that county. En- the two townships named,
the issue of bonds was voted down nnder q
misapprehension. and another election will be
held in those towns; and the:proposition to is
sue bonds will doubtless be carried. The $685.
900 expected of Morrison county is not one
tenth the cost of building the road; to the
county line, and no bonds are to be issued by
the county until the road is completed be-
yond the county line and cars running: The
law regulates the issue ofbonds: am not
here to ask for bonds. or 70 ask. for anything;
I am here only to make a plain business state
ment. We care more for the good will of the
people of Morrison county than We do for
their; bonds. The price of iron, has advanced
nearly ono hundred:per cent during thepast
year, and the road will cost half million dol
lars more than it would have cost fifteen
months ago. But if you vote the:bonds we
viii hypothecate your credit and ours, and
prosecute this work as we agreeds Edo not
say that if you fail to- issue bonds the road
will never be built, for believe that ultimate
ly there will be road from Lake Superioz to
the mouth Of the Cheyenne river. and the
Black Hills; passing through this part of the
State 1t will be a trunk line, and will be
built because the nature of the case will re-
quire'ik., But by voting the bonds you will Sc
cure the construction of the road sooner, and
with certainty, and under conditions more
favoraBlep' to your prosperity. At present we
do not propose to- build further east than Fit
tie Falls, but I have talked with able capital
lists aho see this opportunity to, continue the
road to Superior City; among whom are; Gov.
McGoffn and Senator Beck, Of Kentucky s:
Mr.. Corcoran, banker of Washington, and
Others who control large interests that would
be materially improved by such a road. There
art