The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-25
THE SAINT PAUL SYSTEM.
Ell Perkins GrOws Eloquent abont
This Great Railroad.

Everybody wonders. writes Eli Perkins
to the Pittsburg Commercial Gazette, why
st. Panl stock is the most active on the
lists. All wonder in its high price. II
they wonder now how will they wonder
fifteen years from now when all the wis
liages along its western extensions be
come cities, and these cities are built right
up around the railroad? When this grea
road becomes as much part of these
cities us their city halls?
The ST. Paul was laid out wisely. Its
franchises are valuable beyond computa
ton. What would buy its franchises in
Chicago, st. Paul, Milw aukee. La Crosse,
and Minneapolis Thirty millions might
buy them to day, but twenty years from
to-day 800, GOO, 600 would be no tempta-
ton to the railroad
How did the railroad get those fran
chisesf
In many instances the road went ahead
of the cities. 1t located them. These
cities are a part Of the road. The st.
Paul also went for good land.
A few years ago, the directors got tim
id. The road stopped building farther
into Dakota. They had a good man for
manager. His name was s. s. Merrill
He had big head. He said;
Boys, we cant stop this road when
there Is rich land six feet deep ahead of
u.s."
Then Merrill got onto his horse and
rode from Mitchell to Chamberlain on the
Missouri, and improvised construction
train to follow him. Now, the road is
lined out there with t1ourishing cities and
the land is worth 1875 an acre, and will 90
to $50.
When the directors came to examine
their property in the fall there was the
new road and the best paying section in
the west. This road will soon be extend
ed to the Black Hills.
1t is doubtful if any railroad on earth
was ever lined with such rich land. Good
everywhere
Ono strange thing is the love the PEG
pie have for the St, Paul. 1t has always
been paternal road.
why of course we like the road" said
an old settler in Minnesota. when we
could not make our farm payments, they
extended our time and gave US seeds
They took care of US, and now we will
take care of them"
Grain buyers all say the St. Paul can
always draw freight, hogs and corn five
miles further than the Northwestern road
| know this to be so all through Iowa.
The st. Paul policy is always liberal
They have no arbitrary rules to worry
the people. They have no litigation with
the people. II they kill mans COW they
pay for it md make him friend of the
road.
There is nowhere in the west tina,
you cant 90 by the 81. Paul, and now
she is heading via Ottumwa for Kansas
CITY"
This was said by commercial travel,
Ter.
The man was right The st. Paul has
four trunk lines running from Chicago to
the Missouri river She runs to Omaha
and the shortest line going there. She
to Rock Island, Green Bay and Sioux City
She parallels the famous Jim River in Da-
kota and parallels the Mississippi from
Rock Island to Minneapolis. She draws
the wheat oil: of Dakota and Minnesota
and then takes the same cars and draws
the corn out of Iowa
rs the ST. Paul going to build to Kan,
sas City?' | asked General Passenger
Agent A. V. Ii. Carpenter on day in Mil
waukee.
Eyes" he replied. The St. Paul is on
its way to Kansas city. We run to o.
tumwa now We shall probably bridge
near Wyandotte, Kansas, Wyandotte has
about 10000 people and is fast rivalng
Kansas City. We shall take in Wyandotte
on our way TO Kansas City"
The Ut. Paul has two heads-a business
head in Milwaukee to run the road, and q
financial head, Vice President Julius
Wadsworth in New York. The Hon
Alexander Mitchell and Mr. r. Miller. of
Milwaukee, see that the money Is made
to pay dividends. and Julius Wadsworth
of New York, pays them and contracts
for great supplies.
Once Mr.. Wadsworth bought iron
enough at low price to pay the annual
dividends. The iron advanced, but the
profit went TO the road.
The Armours are now interested in the
road. They are young and ambitious. 1,
will be arranged that one of the Armonrs
may take President Mitchell's place wher
that great and honest financier shall die
President Mitchell is an old man, but hale
and hearty yet