Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-11-04
IHfercietC With u. b. POarer.

AMeFcactc ~ tM u. Il. PO1ceP.
The persistent campaign lies relative to
Mr.. Kindred's connection with the land
department of the Northern Pacific road
and the harpjng upon the suits brought
against Messrs. Kindred and Power. led y
GLOBE representative to seek an interview
with Mir. j. B. Power. Mr.. Power is now
land commissioner of the Manitoba road
and the GLOBE reporter found him at his
desk at that office and without further cere
mony opened his batteries as follows:
Ii Reporter-Mr. Power, the Nelson or
gans are mixing you up with Kin lred's
land transactions and especially with
the lots at Fargo decided to the
railroad for their shops. What
information or explanation can YOU give
of the matter:
Mr.. Power-It is all as straight a trans
action as ever was, but what is the use of
me explaining to such a crowd. Look at
the way they have treated Barnum's de-
NAL. They have simply abused him and
lied more about him. People who believe
the Pioneer "Rs,ess, cannot of course
be convinced and those who don't
believe it do not need to be. -'.
Rep.-But good many read the attacks
OF the pirates and do not know what to
believe, so that your explanation will be
heard by fair minded men.
Mr.. P.-WelI, the statement that held
that Fargo property in trust for the
railroad is unqualifedly false. The
property in question was a small part
OF quarter section of land which Mr..
Kindred and myself had owned since 1874.
The ownership was well known and had
never been questioned by Mr.. Billings or
any other officer of the road. 1t never
was part of the property embraced
IN the suits. Some time in 1873
the Northern Pacific first talked of chang
ing the location of their shops at Fargo,
and little corner of our quarter section
was considered favorably. looked over
the ground personally with Billings and
Sergeant and tina understanding
had with them was that in case the
Northern Pacific wanted the land for
their shops they could have it, and 1 would
arrange with them as to the amount of
compensation. made two or three pro-
positions for the exchange of other prop
erty for the ten acres they thought they
might want.
Rep.-How was the matter finally ar
ranged?
Mr.. P.-For the purpose of extorting
money out of Fargo, Moorhead was in
duced to make an offer of a bonus
for the shops, though the company
had no idea of locating there.
The people of Fargo were accordingly
forced to meet their rival with an offer of
a cash bonus as well as the land. To en-
able Fargo to secure the shops the people
authorized their mayor, W. A. Kindred,
to offer in addition to the
bonus that particular piece of
ground, and 1 ratified him that so
far as the people of Fargo were concerned
the ground would not cost them ANYTHING
as l would settle with the company. The
ground was appraised by e. S. Tyler and
other prominent citizens at $500, Or $50
per acre, and that was the enormous sum
the company had to pay for it.
hep.-How does it come that they say
there was restitution of $4,000 worth of
property.
MI. P.-The company went ahead and
built their shops and improved it, and I
suppose it is worth to-day $780,
600, or perhaps $4,000, and
they are applying the valuation
they have made for it instead of what it
was worth, when they took it for their
shops. Five hundred dollars was the sum
then.
Rep.-How came Mr.. Nee. Reeve to
finally deed it to the company?
Mr.. p We had sold the entire tract TO
Mr.. McC.Reeve with the understanding that
he was to let the railroad have the ten
acres if they desired it. In the mean
time they began the suits so much talked
OF and did not propose to allow them to
treat me in that manner and have it all
lovely for them and would not secure
them the deed while they were prosecuting
me. That is why the deed was not made
until the dismissal of the suit. 1t was
matter arranged for long before,
and was simply executed when
they ceased their persecution. Then
called on McC. Reeve and he decided it.
Mr.. Powers continuing an incidental
stated that he had been a
little surprised that Mr.. Kindred had not
asked him to make some statement as the
falsehoods could be SO easily
and fully explained. but
added that he (Kindred) had probably
nNkod tho xrisoe& M In