The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-26

Furch0Se WOulO Expedite the
Handling of Stock.
A conference was held yesterday af-
ternOon between President James J.Hill,
Of the Great Northern, and commit
tee of twenty comprising representa-
tives Of the chamber of commerce, job
bers' union, Commercial club and Man
ufacturers' union, with reference to the
proposed purchase of the New Brigh-
ton stOckyards by the Minnesota Trans
fer Railway company. The conference
was in line with other interviews which
will be had by the committee during the
next week with the presidents and gen.
eral managers of the railroad COM
panies interested in the Minnesota
Transfer Railway company.
1t is claimed by the commercial bodies
of the city that the purchase of the
New Brighton plant would be inimical
to the best interests of st. Paul, as 1t
would injure the stock market at South
st. Paul, which is directly tributary to
st. Paul.
The conference with Mr.. Hill was
most satisfactory SO far as it went
Indeed, there was a question In the
minds of more than half the commit
tee whether the purchase of the New
Brighton yards by the transfer COM
pany would work any great injury to
the South st. Paul market, as claimed.
Mr.. Hill asserted that the transfer
company could greatly expedite the
transfer and handling Of cattle con-
signed through its terminals, and that
1t would in no wise interfere with the
business done at South st. Paul. 1t
would draw considerable additional
business, which would otherwise go to
chicago. The principle features which
recommended strongly the purchase of
the stockyards was the easy access of
the railroads and time saved by utiliz-
Ing the New Brighton property. The
Northern lines could deliver stock with
great facility, and much time and ex-
pense could be saved
General Manager J. r. Hastings, of
the burlington, was also present at the
conference, but he refused to commit
himself one way or the other.
Although there was an existing doubt
In the minds of some members of the
committee as to the effect the pur-
fauI market, there were quite few
VINO were strongly opposed to the pur-
chase Of the yards
Richards Gordon acted as spokesman
OF the joint committee. It was. claimed
by some of the committee that the
business of the South ST. Paul yards
would be divided, which would result
in Gripping the industry at South St.
Paul. A large amount of the Montana
and Western business might, they
thought, be lost to South st. Paul
through the medium Of the New
Brighton yards.
Another argument advanced by those
opposing the proposition was the mea-
ger sanitary facilities at New Brighton.
materially from the plant at New
Brighton, as the river between St Paul
and Minneapolis would be used as a
dumping place.
Since the industry at South st. Paul
had become permanent one, it was
argued that the St. Paul people should
do all in their power to defeat any
proposition which would have ten
dency to cripple SO large and lmpOr-
tant an industry. South st. Paul had
become the Northwestern market for
range cattle and had brought a great
deal Of capital into the state. The
proposition for the purchase of these
yards had been defeated over a year
ago, and there was no valid reason
why they should be purchased at this
time.
When the conference ended, the men,
bers Of the committee were undecided
as to just what effect the purchase Of
the New Brighton yards would have
on the South st. Paul industry but
determined to interview all the other
railroad officials who were directors
Of the Transfer company and inquire
into the matter further. 1t rests en-
tirely with the eight directors repre-
senting the eight different roads wheth-
er the purchase is made or not.
The annual meeting of the stock
holders and directors Of the Minnesota
Transfer Railway company will be held
on June 8, when the matter will be for
mally disposed Of. In the meantime
the committee of the commercial bodies
will visit each Of the interested roads
with a view Of defeating the purchase
If it is not proven to their satisfaction
that the purchase will not injure the
South st. Paul business.
The committee will meet several Of
ficials today.