Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-30
ODESSA.
An Emphatic Denial of the Abandonment
of the Town Site-It Will Still Continue
the Metropolis of the Devils Lake
Region.

An Emphatic Denial of the Abandonment,
of the Town Site-It Will Still Continue
the Metropolis of the Devils Lake
Region.
There was a decided shrinkage in the
membership of the Odessa syndicate on
duty at the Merchants yesterday, quite a
number having returned home. Anumber
of the leading spirits still occupy the field.
however, including Hon. Geo. 81. Walsh
Hon. Jud La Moure, Hon. o. NJ. Towner.
and +. L. Walker, president of the Fi1si
National bank of Grafton. When the
GLOBE representative met Mr.. Walsh he
went for him with blood In his eve. de.
termlned that for once he would not be put
OF, but that Mr.. Walsh should talk about
Odessa. This is the way it was done:
What truth, if any, Mr.. Walsh, is there
IN the statement that the Odessa scheme is
busted?"
Mr.. Walsh-"What do you mean?"
Simply that the report Is in circulation
that your syndicate town site proprietors.
or whatever you may call your organiza-
ton are disgusted, and that you voted yes
terday to withdraw your scrip in the Fargo
land Office and let the project go to the
demnition bow-wows."
Mr.. Walsh, Qaughingly)-''WelI, that
Is good, but unfortunately there
Is no truth in it. The syn
dictate is intact and propose to continue
SO, and the only possible ground there is
for such report is the fact that it has
been decided in view of the negative posi-
ton Of the railroad company not to make
any effort to 'boom" the town at present.
We have been unable to get any definite
information as to what the railroad COM
pany propose to do. We don't have any
doubt that Odessa will have railroad, but
cand1dly do have grave doubts about the
main line of the st. Paul & Manitoba road
west from Grand Forks going to Odessa.
indeed l don't think it will strike
this lake at all, but pass it some distance
north. But In my opinion, the Brecken-
ridge branch, now at Hope, the county seat
of Gr1ggs county, only between thirty and
forty miles from the lake, will be extended
to tue lake as soon as possible. Where it
will strike cannot tell, but the superior
location of Odessa, 1t having the only nat
ural harbors on the lake, will be largely in
Its favor. Why, steamboat drawing six
teen feet of water can run to within three
feet of the shore at Odessa. At the
present time regulations are pending for
landing and wharfage by the parties who
are to put on the lake the steamboat which
was rallied through here a few days ago
from Lake Michigan, and there is not the
least doubt that Odessa will be one of the
principal steamboat and railroad ports on
the lake. But with the railroad company
refusing to show their hands, and the sur
veys not made, all we can do is to wait,
and that is what we have decided to do, and
nothing more.'
How much land has your organization
covered?"
Mr.. Walsh-"Two thousand acres"
"When will it be surveyed?"
Mr.. Walsh-''In a few weeks, Mr. G. G.
Beardsley, who has the contract, being
now engaged Ill getting everything ready
to go forward with the work as soon as the
snow disappears"
"Then Odessa is all right?"
Mr.. Walsh-''I should smile.''