Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-25
EXPECT CENTRAL TO CONE
Yankton People Look For the Illinois Road
Up Their Way.
THINK The LINE IS HEADED TOWARD THEM
Thrilling Account of the Heroic Dash
of south Dakota soldier
Against the Filipino
Insurgents.

YANKToN, s. D.. May 24.-(Speclal.)--
Once more the people of this vicinity are
encouraged to believe that the Illinois Cen
trail railroad is aiming to extend its line
to this city. on uD the Missouri river to a
point in Charles Mix county, there cross
the river and enter the Black Hills coun-
try, from Lemars, Ia That the Cenirals
line points this way there can be no doubt.
Yankton lies nearly due west OF the gem
eral direction of that line through Iowa.
At Lemars the Central makes an abrupt
departure from its western course and turns
almost south to Sioux City, had it continued
west in the day OF its building Yankton
would have been touched. Rumors, and
some of them apparently coming from re-
liable railroad authority, have been nu-
merous the last two months, all intimating
that the extension from Lemars to Yankton
was only question of but short time.
Nearly thirty years ago the Yankton busi-
ness men set energetcally to work to Sc
cure n railroad. At that time the Illinois
Central was running to Lemars. The Da-
kota Southern Railway company was organ
lied here and under its charter the road was
built from Yankton to point on the Big
Sioux river anywhere between the old Big
Sioux bridge and some fifteen miles north
of it. That end of the line was intended
for Lemars, but fearful that the co-opera
tion of the Central would fail, the charter
was so worded as to allow connection
with Sioux City line. Committees were
sent to Chicago to interview the Central
people and others, but very slight encour-
agement was met with, however, although
the Central people said they had Yankton
on tEeir way. 1t is generally known that
the upshot of the enterprise was the build
ing of the Dakota Southern by construc-
tion company, Wicker, Meckling & Co,
who built 1t for the money there was in 1t,
and who built 1t to Sioux City for several
good business reasons at that time; they
finally sold out to the Chicago & Milwaukee,
the present owners. The original plan of
the promoters who incorporated the old
Dakota Southern was to build to Lemars.
Had this been accomplished in that day
there is no question but that Yankton and
all surrounding territory would have been
vastly better off than it Is today. II the
Central people finally determine to take
advantage of the situation as it stands, no
one can deny that it will be greatly to their
interest. Shipping that is being done from
South Dakota, this section especially, goes
by the way of Sioux City, whereas, II the
Central came through a great deal of this
business would be diverted to Chicago, and
this business, to say nothing of that which
would be acquired by the opening of ter
ritory that is practically uncovered by rail-
road facilities, is an item that would not
be laughed at by any road
Soldiers Heroism.
Recent letters received from the Philip
pines tell of the heroism of John Holman,
Company C, the Yankton company, who for
bravery in action was given the promotion
from the ranks to second lieutenant of Com
pany G. On the 26th day of March, before
Marilao, the First South Dakota regiment
found the insurgents intrencheA along the
river across the railroad. The river was too
wide to ford and the natives were on the
other side under cover and pouring lead
into our ranks. Colonel Frost thought it
unsafe to cross the bridge with the troops.
At the moment of the arrival of Company
C boys the rebels had set fire to the bridge
at their end. Adjutant Lien called atten-
tion to the fire and some one yelled, LET
the lbridge 20 to HI" mo" replied Lien
1--WE need the bridge"
81 will go over and put out the fire."
cried Holman, and made dash across the
long bridge. He was deaf to the universal
cry of Come back" got safely over before
the fire had made much headway and sue
ceeded in extingulshing it. Then coolly turn
ing around he opened fire upon the enemy,
who was but few yards away and in plain
sight. The regiment, inspired by Holmans
example, then dashed across the bridge and
the natives were soon put to flight Moth
ing especially was said of the affair and
when his commission was rendered him 1t
took him completely by surprise. His pro-
motion is a qualification to his friends here.
He left prosperous business, being a sue
cpHSful cd
riage to young woman of this place and,
asking no preferment, enlisted as a private. |
William Fahrenwald, whose death from
dysentery was reported In last nights Asso- |
ciated Press dispatches from the Philip |
pines, was Yankton man. He was well
and favorably known here. Two years ago
he took the civil service examination and |
soon after was appointed as substitute mail |
carrier here, which position he held at the
time of his enlistment He leaves a widow |
and three small children.
The population of the state will be ma |
terially increased during this year. In this |
immediate vicinity the gain is not noticea-
BILE, but north and west new settlers are
pouring In. Douglas county and the old |
Yankton reserve in Charles Mix county are |
rapidly gaining. Hutchinson is also secur-
ing a large number of desirable settlers |
1t is common In that county to sell n SIS, 900 |
farm. These tranactions are frequent be-
tween new settlers, who have plenty OF
money, and the old settler, who wants the |
cash to take with him into a newer sec
tion like Mcpherson county, where he can
get land for $5 an acre and begin anew.
Turner county is also building rapidly
Farmers generally are giving more atten-
tion to forest and fruit tree culture this
year. Thousands of small orchards are
being planted and groves OF ornamental and
shade trees are being added to farms While
the season is very late the favorable char
acter Of the weather since the growing sea-
son has largely made up for the springs
tardiness.
Tubbs Gets New Trial
SIOUX FALLS, s. D., May 24.-(special
Telegram Judge Garland in the federal
court this afternoon. granted q new trial In !