The evening times., 1896-12-22
MIDLAND PACIFIC SCHEME
Old Transcontinental Project
Will Be Revived.
ENGLISH FINANCIERS IN IT
Sir Henjamin Baker, the British
Civil Engineer, Will Survey the
Proposed Route and Report Upon
Its Practicability- Bonds VIII Be
F1oated in London.

road. which was designed to be great
transcontinental route, is likely to take
definite form inthe shape Of the sale soonor
$40. 900 900 worth of bonds for the build
ing of the line.
1t is expecte. dthat English capt. alists VIII
take the ntire issue OF bonds, and the s,ir-
vey preliminary to the sale will be made
by Il representative OF Sir benjamin Baker,
the eminent engineer, i'll the springtime.
The Midland PaCifi cRailroad scheme first
became prominently mentioned in railroad
circles about twelve years ago. 1t was
fathercd by many distinguished men, and
WAS intended to be Il formidable rival OF the
Central and Union Pacific lines.
Its seasternterminul was to be South F alls,
paki little city in The far middle West,
and its western end the city of Seattle.
WASH The distance is l,6I9 miles, and
the road was 10 cross he Black Hills re-
gion and the Yellowstone Park in a due
northwest direction.
OPEN up VAST RICHES.
The promotes of the plan saw in it vast
riches, as it would open up oil regions,
mining countr yehyvheatbelts and vast tracts
OF farming lands and place them within
easy reach CT transportation TO all tie
great centers of trade
The present transcontinctnal lines do not
run within 200 miles of this region and its
vast resources are yet undeveloped and
in an embryotic state because they cannot
now be profitably developed.
A charter for the Midland Pacific was
obtained and authority srantedto cross the
Yellowstone Park. The route was care
fully surveyed and the projectors spent al
together Sl5o, 900 in the survey and pre-
liminary details.
AttlIat time inthe SOS, it was eStim at ed
that the cost for building and equipping
tile line would be $40 ,o00, 200, and it was
confidently expected thatthe issue of bones
could be entirely floatcd in this country.
The election of Mr.. Cleveland for his
first term made large investors very timid
and they declined to handle such n vast
enterprise. Therefore it fell to the ground
and has remained inactive dCring all the
subsequent years until this time
A few months ago Hon. Byron G. Daniels
OF this city, formerly United States consul
at Hull, England, during Mr.. Harrison's adj
miniStration, was consulted by one of the
Midland Pacific directors. Col Daniels,
at that time, was about to return to Lon
don, where his family reside, for the pur-
pose of interesting English financial CON
nections of his ewn in several large invest
ments in this country. The director sug-
gested that Col. Daniels broach the Si0.-
600 900 bond loan among the Britons. and
placed him in possession Of all the papers
and maps bearing upon the subject.
' THEBANKERS ADVERSE.
Col. Daniels went abroad and laid the
matter in all its details before many Lon
don bankers and financial solicitors. but all
refused to handle the loan and attempted TO
discourage his efforts.
Finally Col Daniels secured an inter-
view with Sir BENJAMIN Baker, one Of Eng
lands most distinguished civil engineers.
He it was who was consulting engineer
of the Canadian Pacific railroad and who
also designed the greatplan dripping water
from Wales to London.
Sir BENJAMIN examined at great length
all the papers in Col. Daniels possession,
and after several weeks consideration OF
the matter entered into contract for 81 g.
600 to make another survey Of the Midland
route for the purpose OF demonstrating its
feasibility to English capitalists.
He referred Col Daniels to his assistant
MI Woods, in Westminster, who was com
missioned to come to this country in Sir
Ben jamins behalf and IN AXE thorouGhin-
vestigation of the American project.
Mr.. Woods will come here in the spring
and will visit the principal cities along
the contemplated route, and then submit
his report.
Col Daniels, after having completed
these arrangements, again saw his English
Il q, b.
fact that Sir. Benjamin Baker had agreed
to survey the route was initselfa guarantee
of its genuineness, and that if he reported
favorably. English investors would buy all
of the $40 900 900 bonds.
Mr.. Cory, OF the firm OF Morton. Rose &
Co. bankers, stated that Englishmen are
not afraid to invest in American securities
and that they have always preferred min
ing or railroad stocks.
Col. Daniels returned to this country at
once, and on the 10th instant a meeting
of the beard of directors of the Midland
Pacific was held in this city At that
meeting there were present three United
States Senators, one of them being Sena-
tor Pettigrew, and also the governor of a,
Western State.
COST OF BUILDING.
1t was stated at that meeting that Daniel
Grant, the great, railroad contractor, in
dicated his willingness to, undertake the
work, and he Is confident that the 1,6te
miles of track can elaid and equipped now
for S2O,O0O,000.
Senator Pettigrew is very enthusiastic
over the scheme, and believes it will devel-
op vast riches through the Northwest 1t
will transverse country that has been in
viting labor and capital for years, but has