Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-06-15
OF that whole system he was the Boss,


slaves. Scarcely anyone paid as poor
wages as the Great Mogul, and for such
mean pay no one expected so much
work. 10 the high officials OF the road,
men distinguished for ability and
strength. he was overbearing and I'M
perious His voice was the Jupiter Ton
ans OF the railroad world of that region.
He had bold plans for reaching way out
to the Orient and securing the monopoly
of the business with Japan. Little did
he care for the protests OF the people. 1t
was no concern OF his that his name was
household word in many parts OF the
Northwest, and almost always with bit
terness and all oath. The fact that the
success OF his plan would place that
region under an industrial despotism
was as nothing to him compared with
| the glorifcation Of his success and am
| bition.
This is the tnan behind the desk. And
/ before HIM stands the Homesteader, the
J Dreamer, the Prairie Dog; rough, I'M
couth, ignorant. but supremacy gifted
with pure visions.
| swell, what do you want?" cried the
Car IN his abrupt way.
This sharp note startled Minds, and he
advanced to the desk with the same pc
culiar smile, and told the great man OF
his own railroad project, ending with
the astonishing request, made with
simple dignity. for transportation over
the lines OF the road as Il courtesy eX-
tended from one railroad president to
another!
The scene was ludicruus in the eyes OF
the Moyul, and at it's contamination he
roared with glce. 1t was his first laugh
for davs, and it caused CONSERVATION
throughout the building. After quizzing
Minds and finding that he was really in
tending this Utopnn scheme, the Great
Moyul said, ".AlI right, Ill give you a
pass" and then he added With chucllle.
and ii you are in the same business at
the end OF the year, drop i'll and I'll re-
new it for YOU
Minds thanked him ciiusively, and
lett the Office with Il radiant lace. He
then went directly to Duluth, which was
to be the terminus OF the new railroad,
for there he thought he could arouse an
interest in business men. But his efforts
were apparently fruitless. The news
papers took him up gai]y. and had much
sport over the visit OF Farmer Minds. .
That city had Just ielt the disaster OF Il
COLLAPSED boom, and no farmer from Da-
kota could enlist the support of the
uuaking business men.
Unwra1.ietl and undaunted he then
plunged inro the country on a journey
never before traversed by Il white man.
He had been told that his proposed line
was impra ticable, because in its route
lay lakes and swn,nps that could not be
bridged. He determined to find out for
himself and set out on foot to traverse
the land between Duluth and the Red
River. The thought OF starvation, OF dy-
ing on the prairie or in the great woods,
or being drowned in the lakes did not
come to him. He was a dreamer. and he
thought OF naugllt save the iruition OF
his dreams.
1t had become almost summer. The
mountains lay off in the distance, the
first he had ever seen; yonder to the east
lay Lake Superior, while to the west
stretched the rich prairie. Now he
plunged into the woods, and he who had
known for so many years a land where g
riding whip was hard to find was al
most craz-d by the great pineres. Lucli
~ he had chart and a compass, and he
held doggedly to his route. Now he en-
tered on prairie land, but found few
titled fields after leaving the towns
How he slept in hollow logs or in the
open clearings: how hefoundered in boys
and swamps. and, once, almost went
down in the quieksand OF a creek how he
was welcomed by the trapper. the front
iersman, the lone farmer, and the Indians
OF the great reservation. all OF whom
saved him from famine-thesc are tales
he told very seldom. and then only tic
Justify his faith in the divinity OF his III
SEPARATION. To those who entertained hin
he never failed to tell OF his mission, anC
they all knew that he was sincere. but
doubted his nationality. He found to hi
great Joy that there We're no great OBJ
stacles to his route, and that his frs
plan was entirely feasible SO far as thu
survey was concerned. In three weeks
he had traversed the 300 miles, and il
! was with glad heart that he saw tn.
Red River and the town OF Brighton ris,
into view.
The cold and narrow minded people o
that region, SO unresponsve at first tt
the appeals OF the farmer railroad builder
were not proof against his earnest ant
steady activity in projecting his doctrn
es: their works could be carried by sieg,
ii not by assault, and it was not many
months until Minds many railroad meet
/ lngS IlaQ aroused lnucn IflenuIv 1nIereS
and sympathy. Duluth finally seizet
hold OF the enterprise, some capital was
provided. a company was incorporated
OF which Minds was made president
at salary Of $75 per month, ane
Brighton was made headquarters. II
every county on the proposed railroad
meetings We're held and local organiza
lions were formed. The scheme became
more clearly defined, and it's practica
nature was seen by business men Mind!
preliminary plan was to issue shares o
, stock to the farmers and business men
for which they would contribute work
on the grade or money. He figured thai
$40 from every quarter-section OF lant
through which the railroad passed
would form capital large enough for 6
basis.
Further than the grading OF the roai
he would not 60 at first in his publit
plans. He was shrewd enough to SET
that there would be needed some add
tonal capital to equip the road afte1
the grade should be completed. He hat
now arrived at the point IN his plans