St. Paul daily globe., 1891-10-17
Willard is VIGOROUS.
His Enthusiasm Commune
Gated to an Audience of
Business Men.
The Future Greatness Of st.
Paul Predicted by the
Confident Finaneier.
Northern Pacific Plans and
Hopes Freely Told and
Explained.
EdiSon's Electric Studies and
What They May Give the
Future.

cler OF UIe NOrller1 racine halfway
company, was not permitted to leave
st. Paul without a speech. He good
naturedly remarked. when he arrived,
that ''the air and the papers are so full
of the prosperity of the Northwest that
he scarcely knew what he could add;"
but when the time came he found there
was much that he could say, and many
to hear him say it. The cham Der of
commerce arranged for an informal
meeting yesterday afternoon, and gen
eral invitation was extended "to meet
Mr.. Willard in an informal way" The
result was to draw to the audience
room the largest assembly it perhaps
ever contained. Among those who came
were representatives of the railroad.
jObbIng and mercantile interests gener-
ally, with sprinltling Of bankers, min
listers and professional men. Willard
was greeted with enthusiastic applause
when he entered, and, after some little
deSultory talk at the end of the room,
he sad to the committee there
seemed no way out of it but through
speech;" so he turned smiling coun-
tenance toward tue aSsemblage and was
formally introduced. He was always
glad to meet representative st. Paul
men, he said, for they stood for all that
was implied III the words energy, enter
prise and commercial intelligence. The
Northwest was, the world over, the
synonym Of intelligent progresSiyeneSS,
and st. Paul was its prophet.
After discursive opening, in which
the surroundings and general condition
of the country were pictured, Mr.Villard
became practical in his discussion and
application of theories. The large and
intalIinanf anHia.,nn nf
became intensely interested from the
opening and graSped with ayidity the
thoughts of the man of resources in in
tellect and means of advancing indus
trial enterprises. The bountiful crops
of Minnesota and the DakotaS were
declared to be the harbinger of good
times ana renewed prosperity, not only
in the Northwest and Minnesota, but in
the country at large, and especially the
Twin Cities. When he was in st. Paul
a year ago times swere good. but there
was then no apparent reason for great
prosperity; but the unprecedented
crops of the past season had changed
the whole phase of the situation and
assured great things for this country.
He expressed his qualification at the
pronounced revival Of trade in st. Paul
and Minneapolis. He launched COM
pliment at Thomas Lowry, the street
car magnate, by attributing much of
the Improvement III the Twin Cities to
the best system of electric cars in the
country, as the system is the best with
out exception.
Talks of Union
Referring to the subject of uniting
the cities, he expressed the opinion that
the interurban line more than anything
else would bring about the union. lie
believed that the best interests Of both
cities lie in union. The selection of
be difficult because of the rivalry ex-
listing. He had given that matter con-
siderable thought himself, and score OF
names had arisen in his mind. but he
was pleased with none of them. His
advice on the point was to offer pre-
MUM for a name. and then let a COM
mission from the two cities decide upon
the most acceptable one.
Abiding to his visit of last year, he
said it would be remembered that his
conference with the business men was
then chiefly upon the subject of the
water power of Meeker dam and its
availability for manufacturing purposes,
but upon careful investigation he has
found that power to be ilusiye because
of the fact that not more than one-fourth
OF the supposed power existed when
facts were disclosed, and that this one
fourth or real power could not be made
available for the projected purpose with
out depriving the cities of the power
now i'll use by them through the same
agencies. These statements were based
upon experiments made. He said
l was offered S1,00OO0O to develop st. Paul
and build up still greater city here. That
million dollars is in the air ana you will yet
have greater city here, aud will do what |
can TO help it along. The elements of large
industrial interests are here and prosperity
Will come.
Mr.. Willard turned his attention to the
Northern Pacific system OF railroads, land |
when he resumed his association with |
its affairs four years ago it was with the |
same intentions he had when he took |
charge of its management in 1SS1-that |
being to extend the system from st. |
Paul to the coast. LIN the past four
years as manager of the financial |
affairs of the road he had succeeded |
in floating the largest mortgage
known to history-that being for $780,
100000. One part OF this vast sum had
been applied to supplying the necessary
capital to build and equip branch roads
and making improvements. The other
tWO-thlrds had been used in lifting other
mortgages and liens on the road About
S27, ,000,000 of this money had been eX-
pended in building branches. Where
there is any promise or inducement for
future traffic lines have been eXteuded.
In 1851 he started in with the purpose
of constructing network of railroads
in Minnesota, the Dakotas and the ter
ritory west of there. This brought about
wonderful
development of the Country.
The railroad also profited largely, as
its earnings were swelled from l,0O0,-
coo to S25, 100000 annually.
When those branches were being built I
was severely criticised, but had faith that
was doing the right thing CALCULATED the
magnate with self-satisted air. .Since my
return to the management four years ago
more branches have been built than before,
and am satisfied that this additional mile
age viii be as productive as that built ten
years ago"
Mr.. Willard said, to the qualification
of business men, that the principal task
of his company remaining is to regrade
the main line, cutting down the grades
and eliminating curves. With the i'm
provementof the line in this regard the
cost OF transportation will be reduced.
Based on these statements, and the fur
herpremiSe that he had been informed
that much of the prosperity of the Twin
Cities is due to the Northern Pacific.
the speaker deduced the proposition
that the work recently done and to be
accomplished by his road will still fur
tber add to the prosperity and we'll be-
ing of st. Paul and Minneapolis.
Mr.. Willard stated that he had been
asked to say something about his friend
and co-worker, Thomas A. Edison, and
the workings of this man of marvellous
genius in the field of electric railroads.
In response to this request he stated
that, ten years ago, Edison turned his
attention to working
Roads by Electricity.
81 was invited to take ride in an electric
car at his home in Menlo PARK, New Jersey,
on short road equipped at his suggestion. I
was somewhat afraid to do SO. but being re-
assured by Edison aid after a trial of the