Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-09-11

A couple OF years ago, more or less
when it became evident through the
usual indications that the officers ot
the Manitoba railroad corporation de-
| signed extending their rail system south.
westward from Willmar, in Minnesota
to Cor III the direction of Sioux Falls,
In Dakota, the people of Sioux Falls
grasped the situation and took hold OF
the opportunity with the purpose OF
making the most out OF it. Their rep
resentatlves waited upon Mr.. Hill, the
head of the Manitoba management, and
conferred with him. They found him
we'll disposed-fsYorable to an invasion
OF southeast Dskota-but evasiye in his
encouraging responses to their PROPOSE
tlons. he did not commit himself upon
the main point, their proffers OF
pecuniary aid we're neither accepted nor
rejected. He encouraged them TO visit
with him and manifested interest in the
project. He was pleased to talk with
them and show them his maps and dilSte
upon the Importance of southwest ex-
tension, and diagonal line connecting
the CITIES OF Duluth and Denver was fire..
quently mentioned in an incidental way.
But through all this preliminary
skirmishing Sioux Falls received no
positive indication that the Manitoba
would build to Sioux Falls.
After time, in the midst of the semi-
social, semi business encounters between
the president of the Manitoba and the
people of Sioux Falls, there came upon
the scene gentleman supposed to be
connected somewhat remotely with
Manitoba sffairs-R Mr.. Spioer-who
finally made q definite proposition
to Sioux Falls. If this proposition was
accepted he would undertake to con-
struot railroad from Willmar to Sioux
Falls, under local organization
to be known as the Wlllmar
& Sioux Falls railroad company. He
would not promise that this strip of
track would ever become part of the
Manitoba system, though it was to con-
nect with the southwest end of the Mani
toba line running to Duluth from Will
mar. Sioux Falls finally accepted the
proposition of Mr.. Spicer, which invol-
we'd cash bonus. a survey of the pro-
posed route had been previously made,
MIR. Hill permitting one of his engineers
to take charge of the work. Along this
survey Mr.. Spicer placed force
of graders who went to work in earnest
and in the course of time dirt was fly
ing upon the southwest extension from
to Sioux Falls. The Manitoba
locked on somewhat Indifferently and
did not father the project. Its president
said to callers who hroached the subject
that local company was building line
southwest from WilImar, about which
be was willing to converse in general
way. Finally the grade of the Willmar
Il Sioux Falls was completed sufficiently
TO fit it for more advanced operations
and then the construction trains OF the
Manitoba moved forward and began
placing the ties and rails. There was no
formal transfer OF interest that anybody
eyer heard Of. In obtaining the bonuses,
securing right of wsy and making the
grade Mr.. Spicer and his associates seem
TO have fulfilled their mission. The
Wiilmar & Sioux Falls became part of
The Manitoba system by process SO
'asy as to confirm the previous sus-
oicion that this outcome was the meat |
of the original plan. Why it should
aave been necessary to adopt this
method the people OF Sioux Falls never
stopped to enquire. It was the Mani
'oba railroad they were after and it was
The Manitoba they secured.
In railroad operations, as we'll as in
The affairs OF nations, history is liable
70 repeat itself. The stretch from Will |
mar to Sioux Falls is one section of an
extension and in this section alone has
Mr.. Spicer any personal interest. Two
'ther sections are already indicated in
Advance of any positive information and
here is nothing startling in the suppo-
'ition that something may occur similar
10 the operations which gave the Will
mar d Sioux Falls rtilroad company q |
temporary existence. So il Mr.. Smith
or Mr.. Jones, or man with any other
name comes isto community
and fingers long enough TO acquaint
himself with its people and their desires
and finally places before them PROPOSE.
lion to build section Of railroad for
'ertain consideration it is eminently
proper to give heed to the words OF Mr..
Smith, or Mr., Jones, or man with
my other name who represents pur-
oose beneficial to the community. The
'nly duty OF the community is TO MAKE
he best possible bargain. It will be
business transaction purely. The