River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-02-26

Inc air mas been full OF railroad ru-
mors for some time. Now we hear
that Jay Gould has got control of all
the leading rail roads in the north west
and now that some other prominent
railroad magnate has seized upon some
other lines of communication threat
ening to monopolize the transportation
of a large section of country to the
manifest injury of the great producing
population.
Those matters in which we are most
Interested locally and which most d.
rtctly affect as are the recent move
ments III relation TO the Hudson &
River Falls Z. R., and the new move
in regard to the Sioux City. AS prob.
ably large number of our readers
are already Informed the Hudson ana
River Falls road has virtually passed
into the han Is of the Sioux City r. r.,
the stockholders of that road having
acquired large majority Ur tilo oteoiz
and bonds either by purchase or orig
inal subscription; and it is now re-
ported that they will supersede this
corporation and incorporate it bodily
in their own road and stock will be is
sued for that purpose. The same is
true of the saltwater aud Taylors Falls
road acquired by the Sioux City some
time since.
But there now comes a rumor of far
more portentious proportions and that
is, that not contented with their al
ready extended lines the leading men
in the Sioux City and those of the
North Wisconsin Il. r., and this ill.,
cludes the old West Wisconsin as well,
have formed combination and unit
ing their interest have consolidated
so as to make a combination including
all of the roads and interests controll-
ed or owned by these companies. AS
to the exact terms of consolidation the
parties interested are silent; that it
benefits the St. Paul Company greatly
would seem evident from the tact of
the advance in their stocks and bonds,
although it may we'll be conceived that
the heavy owners of that road may be
taking advantage of the general boom
in railroad matters to force up the
price of their stock for their own adj
~
t. be that the new company or combi-
nation of companies by whatever name
1T may be known will be a virtual alb
sorption of the st. Paul company by
The Wisconsin roads. but with a mali
dsement composed of each of the in
terested parties. Of course all is at
present conjecture by those not in the
ling and it would be idle to attempt
to guess at the actual state of affairs.
But the question is often asked
How will this affect us he,e? VIII
the newly projected extension be BULL!
So far as any thing can be gathered
from the acts and expressions of the
railroad officials we may answer that
the extension will be built the coming
summer. AS we understand it from
good authority the Cioux City direct
ors have recently ordered that the
work should proceed, and last Saturday
the general manager and other promi
nent officials came over in special
train to look the ground over. We
understand that before they left they
dropped word that a surveying party
would soon be over to examine the
ground and if possible to make some
changes in the line as located last sum-
mer 50 rs to avoid the very serious in
jury to the village caused by the orig
nal line. The route to Ellsworth will
also be re.examined SO as if practical
BILE to get nearer to our county seat,
diversion from the old line which
would be very welcome to those who
have frequent business at that place.
The result to this section of the
country from all these changes in rail-
road relations it is too early to predict
or even to form a reasonable cOnject-
ure. As to the immediate and future
effect upon this village from the ex-
tension we do not think there is any
need of apprehension. 1t is undoubt-
eddy true that the terminus of a road
will be the location of village in
many respects the rival of this village
unless the road should pass SO near
Ellsworth us to make it more for the
interests of the business men to make
headquarters there than at the actual
terminus. A rival village would
doubtless draw good deal of trade
from this place, and rivalry more or
less friendly would spring up. This
however would he rather an advantage
to us than otherwise if such rivalry
should take the direction of generous
competition. No town can be built
up in this county without in some de-
gree benefiting this place, as natural
result from the increase of population
and wealth. That it might effect
some unfavorably is true but it would
be those who could not from some
cause adapt themselves to the change,
and not those who foreseeing the re-
suits, shape their business so AS to re-
suit in expansion rather than limita-
ton. 1t must be remembered that
the value of woods products would be
greatly increased if the railroad should
be successful in its efforts to get tim
Der, etc., from the woods. This in
crease would to great extent assist us
as we'll as other towns, and with the
present advantages possessed by this
place and the fact of well established
business it is rather difficult to see
how we could fail to get generous
share of the new business. The larg-
er place will naturally be the source of
supply for many articles and the ne
cessity of coming here to obtain such
articles will tend to retain most of the
trade.
Much depends of course upon the
position taken by the business men.