The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-11-29

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This, in Brief, is Said.to be the
Northwestern's Ultimatum.
That the Chicago & Northwestern
road would straighten out the kink in
its line at this place and save sixteen
miles to New Ulm has long been a
fondly cherished dream of our bust
ness men. The time now seems draw
ing near when a realization of this
fancy may reasonably be expected,
and the change of the Omaha tracks
has been looked upon as the first
practical step to be taken to secure
this end A route from this city to
New Ulm was long since carefully sur
veyed, and more than once both the
Northwestern and Minneapolis & St.
Louis have been thought to be on the
point of rushing their lines to New
Ulm. Each has waited for the other
to make a move, and now each is
about to take the first step.
The Northwestern's plan has been
to use the Omaha track to a poin
about half way between this city and
Lake Crystal and then make
straight shoot for New Ulm. Lake
Crystal business men have more than
once asked that that place be taken
into the circuit. but owing to the
longer distance such a plan has not
been considered When the Omaha
track has been moved the North
western will be in a position to carry
out its plans.
The Minneapolis & St. Louis, in Sc
curing a feeder from New Ulm to
Winthrop, is about to strike the
Northwestern in it's tenderest spot,
for New Ulm is the best paying sta
tion on the entire division Of the
Northwestern, which has mono
poly of the business there. 1t is easy
to see that the road which has all Of
New Ulm's business on practically its
own terms is more than anxious to
retain it's hold on such juicy plum,
and will go to considerable lengths to
Go so.
1t is learned from source which
= there is every reason to believe is per-
fectly reliable, that Northwestern
official or representative visited New
UIm yesterday to make an important
proposition to the business men there.
According to our information, he was
to promise that in case the proposed
Winthrop road is dropped, the North
western will straighten its track
from Mankato to New Ulm, the
through trains to pass through Man
kato, and much distance thus be saw
ed. The lessening of the distance
will lessen the rates to practically the
amount offered by the Minneapolis &
St. Louis. In case the New Ulm
people persist in building the Win
throp road, however, they are to be
told that the Northwestern will put
in an air line from MankatO to
Sleepy Eye, which will pass several
miles south of New Ulm and tap
rich section which now does business
at New Ulm. If the Northwestern is
in earnest about this, it would be
serious blow to the business interests
of New Ulm If our information is
reliable, the question is, is the North
western sprlnging bluff on the peo-
pie of New Ulm, or is it in earnest?
1t has just completed very hand
some depot there, improved its yards,
and is doing everything to keep the
NJ. & st. L. away, even to enjOining
the placing of buildings at the
points proposed. 1t is not difficult
to believe that it will spare no effort
to hold the undivided business of
New Ulm.
P. B. Winston, of Minneapolis, who
has the contract for the construction
of the Winthrop branch, visited New
Ulm yesterday, and stated that owing
to the advent of winter, further work
would be suspended until spring. His
visit may have been timed by the
visit OF the c.. & n. w. representa-
tive, and if SO the New Ulm people
will be between two fires.
On Thursday New Ulm voted the
$4,000 bonus for the Winthrop road,
the proposition receiving so votes
for to 10 against.
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