The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1892-03-04

"A Efeexe-ou MT Game-The mime Puz-
S-szle-MayorSWood Apine MI.
Coad-The r. &. M. r. 8
ST. Paul Road Meet
ing Saturday.
THE:MeKINLEY BILL CONSTITUTIONAL
Mr.. Blaine on Young Mrs. Biaise's case-Geo
T.. Carr In chieago-W. n. coad in
Omaha Hot Springs Com
Migration.

#E94&EaHeatT5Hl 8&Ns
The call for a meeting Of thestockhold-
ers OF the Rapid City, Missouri River
and st. Paul railroad, Saturday night
brought together agoodly number OF in
terested parties, some OF whom knew
the object, while nine tenths were entire
ly ignorant of the-scheme that Il 0
loot to delegate to a select nine the
authority that rightfully belonged to
the directors. Mr.. Richard G. Lake
the banker occupied thechair, supported
by John r. Brennan, James w. Fowler,
w. Duff Haynlc and Chauncey l.. Wood,
who talked favorably towards the pro-
ject. assisted financially and morally
by Vim. Gralmberg. Mayor Woods also
spoke explaining the proposition, which
he vehemently declared was a legitimate
one. indeed, the thought which seemed
uppermost in Mr.. Wood'smind appeared
to be to Impress on his audience the re-
liability OF his word OF honor.
Mayor Woods Proposition.
Rapid City, S. d., Jan. 9th, 1892.
To the Rapid City, Missouri River & St.
Paul railroad company.
GENrIEMEM:
l will undertake to secure the construction
of said railroad from Rapid City, Pennington
county, to Fort Pierre, Stanley county, both
in the state of South Dakota, work to COM
mence thereon by July Ist, 1892, and said
road to be completed and trains run thereon
by January Ist, 1894, if you will agree to
turn over tome the unpaid capital stock and
all the property of said company and further
agree to bond said road for twenty thousand
dollars per mile, the stock and bonds to be
issued TO me on demand as the work on said
road progresses. In addition to this / am to
have the option either to repay to such of the
Rapid City subscribers to your capital stock
as may under the rules of your company be
entitled thereto the sums which they have
respectively paid in and 10 have all the CAPT
tai stock Of said company issued as l may
direct or to have issued to said subscribers
the amount of stock to which their payments
would cntitle them under said rules.
If work should not be commenced by July
Ist, 1892, then the agreement between us to
be void and the rights granted me to revert
oshe company. JAMES NJ. WOODS.
Msu1arSe explained the object OF the
lAsetlng andSalled On Mr.. Haynie who
pleaded the MUSE el%oquently, saying
that the directors hAad decided to give
nine stockholders an optson on the road,
in conjunction with Mr.. Woooh and that
it was the intention, il the meeting rati-
fed the action OF the directors, to at,
once send two of the nine east with a
view OF enlisting capital, with which to
carry on the enterprise.
Then Chas. d. Matteson, not gifted
with orator;al powers, but instead with
an abundance Of good common sense.
threw q bomb into the camp by pro-
pounding some pertinent questions, such
as "when will the other stockholders get
their money should Il sale be effectei?'
twill Mr.. Woods just put on one team
the first OF Julv?!" 'why not let the d.
directors do what is proposed to bedone
by these nine, that's what they were
elected for??' "why vas this matter kept
so uuiet??" but his best hit was when
Chauncey Wood magnanimously offered
him his share which Charlie consented
to accept on the same terms that Claun-
ccy mad received it, meaning that Mi.
Wood had been given d portion OF a
ninth Tor his influence and wi6hout pay
ing a cent. Mr.. Mattesond did notscruple
to characterize James NJ. Woods pro-
position as read by secretary Hughes as
vague and capable Of any construction:
in short a wholly unbusiness-like doru-
ment that a nan could drive IL horse
and team through.
Richard b. Hughes saw that what he
had prophesied-when President Lake
had informed him that it was not the
intention OF the directors to submit the
scheme OF the select nine to the stock
holders, but instead togoahead without
their consent-was about to take place
so he took the floor and in u neat little
speech clearly showed his inclinations as
being opposed to the manner OF carry
ing out James NJ Woods proposition.
Mr.. Matteson pointed out that the
mine puzzle" plan was one sided and
the stockholders had nothing to gain
and everything to lose should it be COLI
summated while the selectninchad every
thing to gain in the way OF profits on
the option and nothing at all to lose.
A t this j;uanet4re Mr. Brennan accused
Mr.. Matteson of kicking, Mr.. Fowler
cast sneering ~insinuations at him while
Chauncey Wood also came to the rescue,
but few considered thier talk sincere, So
it fell flat in effect and caused many to
say that it was "a cut and dry Job" and
that 'sthe meeting is packed"
No n seemed prepared to give in
formation, 40 questions could be an
sweared without evasion, in short the
meeting was expected to ratify an I'M
bnsiness-like transaction, and do it
blindly, without data. They did it, but
not without Thomas sweeney expressing
disapproyal, not without Mr., Peter.
sons pungent and reasonable thrusts
and not without Robert Flormann's
opinion.
After the adjournment Mr.. Sweeney
scathed Duff Haynie numerically in the
Harvey rotunda. He did SO in justice
to himself and did it in a manly man
ner. Yesterday it was the all absorbing
topic. Every citizen, to a man, wants
this road built, but they wantthat done
without iobbery. Had the stockholders
been afforded u little time to consider
! the question before Saturday the sam
Indignation which exists today would
have existed before the meeting and thu
result would have been different.
Mr.. Grambergs said to a reporter today
5 that he was not to be considered among
: the sselect nine Mr.. Lake has trans
e TERED his ninth to Mr.. Stewart, Of Hot
Springs, without enjoming any condi
lions, he says and giving al