Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1893-09-29
n MARKET.
Elm Dale Needs a Railroad
Her Timber Products
Would Have a Market.
Stumpage Values Would n
Once Increase More in
Value Than the
amount of the Bond
Issue.

Elm Dale contains more standing
hardwood timber than any other
town in Morrison county, and has
about the poorest facilities for getting
it to market. The town is in the
center Of a triangle formed by the
Northern Pacific main line, the Little
Falls & Dakota and the Great North
ern railroads. TO each the distance
is so great that it is scarcely profit
able to haul wood and ties. 1t is a
heavily timbered town, and if it had
railroad facilities the settlers could
sell their cOrdwOod and ties made
from clearing up their land at good
profit. Now the cost of hauling
wood to the railroad almost equals
the amount received for it. and there
is little, if anything, left to pay the
expense of cutting it or to pay for
stumpage. The last statistical re-
ports made from Elm Dale shows
that there were Gin 1889 1,74S acres
OF land in that town under cultiva-
ton and 1901 acres ''improved"-
the latter probably including beside
the cultivated land, meadow in use
and fenced pasture land. The total
acreage in the town is 1890. Max
ing a liberal allowance for incom-
pleteness in the returns of the asses
sor, it is not probable that there are
5000 acres OF cultivated land in the
town. The balance is nearly ali
timber land, portion, of course.
being meadow. OF the $1,000 acres
in the town it is certain that there
are considerably over 10000 acres OF
timber land, most of it covered with
the best standing hardwood in the
county. Every year the set
tiers increase their clearings,
but it is slow work. The
distance to railroads is SO far that
there is no profit in making ties and
cordwood for shipment. The cost
of labor of cutting and hauling
equals or exceeds amount received.
Therefore, it is impossible for the
settler to employ help in clearing his
land. If the haul was SO short that
the owner could sell the stumpage at
a good figure, or could afford to hire
men to cut the timber, the settlers
| would find his timber a source OF
large revenue, and be able at the
same time to clear his land rapidly
for cultivation. A timber country is
far the best for settlers, if they can
get Il market for their wood. 1t
gives them at once a source OF
income. The settlers along the Little
Falls & Dakota and cutoff have
received thousands of dollars yearly
for wood and ties, and hundreds OF
men find employment. Saw mills
are constructed wherever the timber
supply is heavy, and good prices are
paid for logs. Without railroad
facilities the development of a timber
country is very slow, and the
average settler is many years in
clearing up enough land to raise
crops sufficient to support his family
With good railroad facilities the
timber settler is prosperous from the
start. Elm Dale is in position to
receive the greatest aid from a rail.
road nearer it's people. 1t was
urged few years ago that the town
should give literally for bridge
across the Mississippi, in order tC
reach a railroad which was over
eight miles from the nearest point O
the town, and about twenty from
some parts of it. Now the town has
a chance to get a railroad. and al
who wish to see Elm Dale prosper
will certainly hope the proposition
Of the Mississippi & Leech Lake rail
road will he accepted.
The people of Elm Dale are in
telligent enough to know that th
opposition from villages that nov
get their trade, comes from a fea
that the railroad will provide then
with better markets. Why woul,
Elm Dale trade go to some new
, point if the road was built? BE
cause bettermarket would be found
:, Then the town that draws muc
: prosperity from Elm Dale trad
e would lose just in the proportio
what Elm Dale would gain. An
: that proportion is sufficient t
anxiously excite the opposition t
Y the railroad plan in certain parts I
Morrison county.
:. OF course all other products of Eli
: Dale will receive the benefits of
2 nearer railroad, hut considering tt
:, sale of timber alone the railroad wi
: = he of more benefit than it can poss
bly, cost. - Is.
Indicted for arson.
The grand jury today returned q
Indictment against John A.. BenG
kin for arson in the third degree.
is charged with setting fire to tt
saloon in the Vasaly row this wee
1t was certainly the work of an i
h cendiary, and suspicion pOin
n tlward Renolkin. Efforts shou
d have been make long ago to punit
O. the parties guilty. of burning bull