St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-01

ing to push further on, he was suddenly re-
called to Philadelphia on account of the at
tack in Baltimore on the United States
troops. by mob on the 18th of April.
For the moment all efforts TO carry out
the agreement were suspended by the syn
dicate but Mr.. Rice, never dispairing, pro-
ceeded a short time after to Philadelphia
and renewed negotiations so successfully as
to close new and more comprehensive
contract for construction purposes. The
attack on Fort Sumter, followed by the
Baltimore affair. had
SHOCKED THE COUNTRY,
but all Were willing to believe that the put
ting down of the revolt would be the work
of few weeks at best. When, however,
the news Of the battle at Big Bethel threw
the country again into intense excitement,
to such an extent as TO bring business to a
standStiIl. he was at once advised that until
order was restored no work in Minnesota
could be thought of by the syndicate and
it looked then as if the only business of the
country was war. Mr.. Rice was in New Y DIRK
at that moment, and. through an introduction
by Col. De Graft. met Messrs. E. T. Drake
and Valentine Winter of Ohio, with whom
he at once opened negotiations for the COM
pleton of the railroad from st. Paul to the
Falls of st. Anthony.
The people Of Minnesota were tired and
impatient, and demanded that something
be done to push forward our public works
The tive-million loan had failed of negotia-
ton. because principally of the bitter and
INSCRIPTIONS attacks of the then organ of
the Republican party, The Minnesotian
The prairie SchOonerS We're heading east
ward and matters in st. Paul were in a
very bad condition. Under these circum-
stances. Mr.. Rice made a proposition to the
gentlemen. which lad the effect of causing
them to come here; and after satisfying
themselves that he had made no miSrepre-
sensations, they made the deposit with the
governor OF S14. 600 as q guarantee OF good
faith, and that they would complete the
road to the falls. After some delays, the
road was completed to the suspension bridge
III st. Anthony. and opened for business
July +, 1862. This finished link OF our
system encouraged the other lines of pro-
jected railroad, and at once they put forth
signs of life.
At this time Mr. Litctfeld of New York
was prevailed upon by Mr. Rice to continue
the work, and he built the road to Anoka
in 1864, St. Cloud in 1866, and west from
Minneapolis to Delano in 1853 In 1864
Hon. George L. Becker, under a new or
ganlZatIon, succeeded Air. Rice as president
of the First division, so-caIled. Under the
able management of this gentleman and
those who followed him,
THE SUCCESSFUL ISSUE
TO which the plans framed by Edmund Rice
were brought, by Mr.. James j. Hill. are
well known, admired and fully recognized.
Mr., Rice's attention was then given to
the River division, from st. Paul to La
Crescent. and after an expenditure of over
S22. 600 of his own fortune for surveys and
other necessary expenses caused by the
prosecution of his energetic work, he sue
ceeded in gaining the attention of Mr..
Mitchell, Mr.. Merrill and others connected
with the Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul
system, and this River division was the key
to Minnesota's connection with the railway
system of the world.
The charge is made that Mr.. Rice OBJ
tanned charters and then sold them. This