The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1883-05-24


Is Canton to have another railroad !?
Monday S Pioneer Press states that John
|. Blair has purchased the Fargo South
ern railroad with the object of forming a
connection with the old Dubuque & Sioux
City road, owned by Mr., Blair and now
operated under lease to the Illinois Cen
tral. This Fargo Southern road was
started under the auspices of Fargo cap
itaists and other persons, property owners
there and in its vicinity. A portion of
the grade southwark some fifty miles has
been completed and ready for the iron.
The original intention Of the company was
simply to secure a southern outlet up the
Red river and down the Sioux valley, by
buildin" their line in accordance to a con-
nection with the c. VI. & st. p. at Nil
bank or at some other point to which it
was supposed the latter road would ex-
tend their line from F}andrau northwarl
up the Sioux, before long. Most Of our
readers are familiar with the arguments
presented 4 few years ago by the proiec-
tors and friends of the old Sioux City &
pemblna road, when urging the people
along the line to extend aid towards its
construction, one of which was that Can
ton and other towns on it's location would
be in time on the line of one of the great
tramways Of commerce, line extending
from the rich valley of the Red river of
the north and the British possessions
down the Sioux to the Missouri valley and
thence to the Cult of Mexico, road
which was destined to be the bearer of a
large portion of the immense products of
these rich valleys referred to. Many saw
and appreciated this picture so plain to
those who had become familiar with the
geography of the country, and could
with reason forsee. Well, however will
ing, poverty prev ented any substantial
assistance, and for years we watched tor
the smoke of the iron horse round the
bluffs, that Hubbard, Davis, Charles and
other enterprising Sioux CITY gentlemen
had with their private means started to-
wards the goal in the far regions of the
north 1t came at last One bright win
ter morning the engine manned by cole"
and George Merchant rolled to the east
bank of the Sioux, and three-score miles
of the hundreds contemplated was fixed
fact. We had a railroad. The weary
staging and treighting to LeNlars and
Portlandville became thing of the past.
The struggle for the start, so often TIE
case in this. rQRG1n1ife with individuals
was syge1!ys n0s 81 did not tarry long, up
the valley onward the project extended,
(though by other hands, and to. day up
wards of l6O miles of rail lies, where those
resolute men had designed it should.
Since the old Sioux City & Pembina start
ed, long the pioneer and only road into
the territory, the Northwestern and the
Milwaukee roads, two mammoth corpora
tions of the west have entered and travers-
ed from its eastern boundaries to the Mis-
souri,, opening up one of the richest agri-
cultural countries, befie unsettled peo-
pling counties, building cities and villages,
scattering wealth, comforts. and conven-
fences of older and long settled states.
These roads conduct and control the COM
mercial traffic of the country tributary
thereto, as we'll as the Northern Pacific
along it's line No competition occurs
except at one or two points, each have alb
solute sway and regulate their rates and
tariff The Milwaukee and the North
western have through lines to the lake.
No choice is afforded to the shipper, but
one course, east or west. OF late the
James river and Sioux river valleys have
presented inducements as necessities tor
railroads, extending along then. banks, the
rich developments of the soil and facilities
for grain, and stock raising, and the increas-
ing rural population and thriving cities
demand this. As to the Sioux valley
alone, not only does apply, but the exper-
iencc fresh in the minds of all within the
last three winters of the deep snow, caus-
ing serious and delayed blockades, has
proved the fact that north and south
line can be kept open and these terrors Of
winter railroading obviated, These roads
already mentioned apparently are prepar-
ing to protect themselves by building and
connections, so as to soon have
north and south as Well as east and west
lines. 1t is considered as far as signs in
dicate that the Milwaukee road intends to
continue its line in the valley to perfect its
north and south connections.
Now as to whether Canton is to have
another road, although we have a good
one, well managed and officered, but all
creatures are selfish and want more; in
view of this rlmored purchase of the Far
90 Southern by Mr.. Blair, it gives rise to
this theory. 1t is supposed that he has
no interest in any of the lines coming in
to the territory whatever, neither in the
North western. Northern Pa
cifc nor the Wabash, which is point
ing territorial ward; that is, no controlling
interest, none, if any except may be a
stock holder in one or two. His pets and
important roads are south. His desire,
if any, in establishing feeders is such as
will pay tribute to the Illinois Central and
the Missouri Valley and Northwestern,
and to reach them Sioux City of course is
the outlet of this valley and the desired
point Now can any person who has
watched Mr.. Blair's railroad movements
west, point to an instance where he has
purchased stub road,
and one entirely disconnected from the
main arteries he fosters, and particularly
where numerous cross roads intervene,
before, without time developing the fact
that it ultimately became by his extending
it or purchasing other lines an important