The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-02-03

get possession of the road.
The Pioneer Press of the goth
contains a lengthy telegram from its
Washington correspondent, who had
interviewed Gen. w. ID. Washburn
on the subject, and obtained from
him the following statement:
II notice . memorial was circulated in
Minneapolis last Monday, addressed to
to the president, directors and stockhold-
ers of the Minneapolis s. st. Louis Rail-
way company, suggesting the propriety
OF leasing its line of road to one of the
Chicago pool lines, towit, the Chicago &
Northwestern. have not received this
memorial as president of the Minneapolis
d st. Louis company. but presume it has
been quietly returned to the hands of the
stockholders who inspired, prepared and
caused it to be circulated; but feel it to
be my duty. without waiting for this doc
ument, to place myself right before the
people OF Minneapolis and the general
public of Minnesota in regard to the
my connection Herewith. l had barely
left my home in Minneapolis to attend
to my duties in congress, when became
advised that negotiations had been put
on foot looking to the sale bodily of the
Minneapolis & st. Louis Railroad to the
Chicago & Northwestern. I was soon
asked to give my assent to this scheme
declined most positively to have any.
thing to do with such q transaction, and
promptly notified parties favoring it that
1 should resist the same by all proper and
legitimate means at my command. Twas
informed that my portion of the money
to be received would amount to. some
thing over $3.50, O0O To this suggestion
replied that the Northwestern railway
had not money enough to purchase my
stock interest in the company. have
thus taken and still maintain this position
for the following reasons, which desire
the people of Minneapolis to fully under
stand, and consider that it is violation
0f faith to the city of Minneapolis, vot-
ing as it did $3.50. 900 in aid of the con-
structiOn of this line. on the district un-
Outstanding that the road was to he kept,
if possible, under the control of citizens
of Minneapolis, and to be operated. as far
Us practicable, in the interests of the city.
Further, it is violation of faith to the
towns on the line, notably the town of
Waseca. that voted aid for the cons,ruc
ton of the road on the understanding
that it was to be operated, as far as posi-
ole, independently of the Chicago pool
lines, and with its base of operations at
Minneapolis, st. Paul and Lake Superior;
that the cOnsummation of this project
destroys the possibility of building up at
Minneapolis and St. Paul an independent
commercial center, bat will leave them
both AS way stations on great trunk line
to Chicago. held in the embrace of the
great pool lines as with an iron grip. We
now own and operate 218 miles of road
from Minneapolis to the great coal mines
south of Fort Dodge. the products from
the entire line now come either to Mime
cpolis, st. Paul;or Duluth. and the return
ing merchandise is furnished by Que of
the three cities. Transfer the manage
ment to the Northwestern, and Mr. Hugh
lit Will come to the very doors almost of
our mills, and take the wheat with long
/: haul and without competition to Chicago
or Milwaukee, and returning, will load
his cars with merchandise. The entire
local business of the line will then run as
naturally into Chicago as water from q
tunnel. Assurances. pledges, contracts.
will not amount to rush when we have
once entered the Northwestern parlor
The Northern Pacific is extending its line
on the . 18th shore of Lake Superior to
the SAUL. This done, as it soon win be,
and Minneapolis and st. Paul tied. to the
Chicago kite, they cannot long escape be.
ing ground up between the upper and
lower millstOnes, liner than the .superla
tive flour made in our own city In an
swer to the suggestion that Minneapolis
would derive large advantages from the
Northwestern building line from New
! Ulm, shall state that was ON the point
iiOf closing arrangement with our bankers
In New York, Of q most favorable charac
ter, that would enable the company to ex
tend its line to Redwood Falls, and likely
to the west boundary Of the State thu
looming season, when this matter came up
the only contingency being the voting o
aid on the line. This, no doubt. can b.
now done. With. that contingency, thi.
Iextension will be of much greater advan
|tage to our city than any line the North
western could give us. have thus brief
lily outlined my views on this importan
lquestion. II. upon consideration ant
disscussion. the people of Minneapolis ar,
of the opinion that am wrong in my
Judgment and conclusions. will recon
slider and try to adapt myself to the wish
les of those who are most deeply interes
ted. I entered upon the enterprise tel
Years ago. not for the purpose or with tn,
Expectation of making money. but simpl,
} to do what could to:protect and develop
1.-THE interests of our cities and State.
think have not entirely failed. In til
future, ~ the past, shall endeayor to b.
loyal to city and State in which l hav
lpassed the best part Of my life"
I
In an editorial headed "An Immi
fncnt Peril" the Pioneer Press say
that G. G. ashburn, who owns 0
controls majority of the stock, i
lstraining every effort to bring abou
!, IA consolidation with the NQrthwes,
: fern, but that the attitude Of Mr.. w
: d. Washburn has been one of il
J flexible opposition to-all proposition
}. sor the sale of the road. It says:
HE justly regards the proposed col
i tsolidationswtth The Northwestern g di
lastrous 70 the interests Of MinneapOli
: ISE Paul and Duluth. and Of the WIN
/. Estate: and he,fs. therefore, yass0 loyal Ct
lien Of Minneapolis and Of bffnneso:'
D Fanarn0 avnn1 alRnHk frn uepvSnA tlsa fsss,aaan