Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-08-20
NEW RAILROAD.

"s ST1CkNEY.
The Contract Let to Q. D. Brown for
Grading and Bridging tho
Entire Line
North Route Located Three Miles
West Of Brownsville.
Grading to Commence This Week.
SO many times have the citizens of Aus
tin been disappointed in contemplated
railroad enterprises, that we had prom
ised not to do any 'scrowing" hereafter
until work of construction had actually
commenced The readers of the TRAN
SCRIPT will bear us out in the statement
that we have kept our word in this respect.
We have faithfully published all the news
we could get in regard to the new enter
prise, but never allowed ourselves to get
wrought up" over the prospects. Now,
to-day, we think we may be pardoned for
indulging in few display headings, for
the news is so good, and so reliable that
there seems to be no further doubt as to
the immediate building of the road The
abstract OF title of the right of way
through Mower county for the new Min
nesota & Northwestern railroad was COM
pletcd last Friday evening Condcmna-
ton proceedings, where necessary, will
commence Immediately. VIM. NJ. Howe
with his complete set Of abstract hooks,
assisted by E. B. Crane, is now engaged
in abstracting the right of way through
the city.
o. D. Brown, head of the surveying
party at this end of the line, and resi-
dent of Sioux City, Iowa, has secured the
contract for grading and bridging the en-
tire linc-said to be about lis miles in
length-between St. Paul and Mona, Iowa.
Mr. Brown is now sub-letting the line
Three or four sub-contractors were in the
city last week. One of them has a con-
tract for five miles north of Austin, an
other from Austin to Mona, and others
for smaller sections north Active work
will be commenced Immediately. Grad
ing implements and teams have been ord
cred all along the line, and it is expected
grading will have been commenced near
Austin by the time this paper goes to
press.
Three Of the boys connected with
Browns surveying party, including S. D.
Catherwood of this city, were engaged
all of last week in setting grade stakes
between Austin and Mona. They had
finished the work about half the distance
to Mona, when they were called in to
work north from Austin.
We have all possible evidences that
the road is to be built in first class man.
ner. 1t is said the route selected will be
an almost airline between Austin and
Dodge Centre.
The Pioneer Press of the 18th says: "In
conversation with A. B. Stickney, ycster-
day, it was learned that o. D. Brown of
Sioux City, contractor for grading and
bridging the 115 miles of the Minnesota
4 Northwestern, between St. Paul and
Mona, Iowa, has fully 800 men at work
already at different sections of the line
1t is anticipated that the grading will
easily he finished this fall and the bridges
during the winter. There seems to be
nothing to prevent the completion Of
the road by early summer of 1885. All
the steel for laying the track the en-
tire distance has been purchased, and at
low prices. Asked as to the rolling stock,
MIR. Stickney said: we have contracted
for all we need, and it will be ready in
tlme'"
In an interview yesterday with Mr. A.
B. Stickney, President of the road, We
are authorized to say: That the contract
for grading and bridging the entire line
was let to O. D. Brown on Tuesday, Aug
ust 18th, and that during the week past
| nearly all the sub-contracts have been let.
Before the present week is over it is ex-
pected grading will be commenced here
and all along the line. 1t is the intention
to have the entire line graded and bridg-
ed this fail and winter.
Notices will soon be served upon occu-
pants Of houses in this city in the way Of
the road, to remove them.
All the steel rails have been purchased
at the low rate of $1,000 per ton, which
is the lowest price ever paid in this coun-
try. In 1881 steel rails were worth $S1 so.
The steel used on this road will weigh
60 pounds to the measured yard-50 and
IS pounds is the usual weight on western
roads. Steel for over 40 miles of track
has already been delivered at, and is on
the way for, Cascade-the crossing point
of this road with the Cannon Valley near
Mortified.
All the ties have been contracted for
All the locomotives and rolling stock
have been purchased.
The distance from Mona, Iowa,
to St. Paul. via the new line, is
only 40 miles, instead of 115
as has been stated, and from Austin to
st. Paul 90 miles, which is five miles less
than by the c., NJ. & St. p.
The route selected north of Austin is
the line west of Brownsville 1t will cross
| the S. NJ. r. r. about two miles east of
Ramsey. The reason given for selecting
this route in preference to via Browns
| 1olo 10 +Io+ II covoo tho ~ ovor ~,;lo
in distance, and will cost less money for
grading and bridging.
Track-laying will commence in the
spring just as soon as the ground is in
proper condition, probably about May
1st, and will not consume over forty days
for the entire line.
| LANSING.
hor half 1ono