The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-28
NEWS OF RAILROADS
ROAD BED OF DULUTH, HURON &
DENVER PURCHASED AT
SHERIFF,S SALE
BY SECURITY TRUST COMPANY
.. j. Hodgson Gives History of
the Line on Which 100000 Was
spent-WiIl Try to Interest Cap
ital In Furthering It's COnstruc-
tiOn-NOrthern Pacific Earnings
Continue to Show an Increase.

E. J. Hodgsen. president of the Sc
curity Trust company. of this city. re-
turned yesterday from Glenwood. Pope
county. where he. purchased at sheriff's
sale the road bed Of the Duluth, Huron &
Denvere railroad. Mr.. Hpdgson acted as
trustee for some half dozen of the judg-
ment creditors and bid in the road for
100000. The road bed was graded and
bridged from Sauk Center through Ben
son and Appleton to the western line of
the state about twelve years ago at
cost Of $SO0,00O and while the bridges
are gone the road bed is in fairly good
condition.
Mr.. Hodgson last evening in speaking of
the purchase which was made under
judgment said the original intention of
the parties interested in the road was to
build line from Duluth to Huron, s.
D., and twelve years ago the work was
commenced. Instead of starting at Du-
luth tho work was commenced at Sauk
Center, 1t being contended that as both
the Northern Pacific and Great Northern
roads were at this point it would be just
as we'll to use these lines from Sank Cen
ter to Duluth. From Sauk Rapids the
line was graded southwest to Benson, q
distance of thirty-five miles and from
there to Appleton twenty-five miles
further. From Appleton the route still
ccntinuede southwest about forty miles
to the western line of the state.
About s3OO,O0O was expended in bridges
and grading the roadbed of the proposed
line distance of something over 100
Will Ill
statement of Mr.. Hodgson, the parties
at the head Of the project were not prac-
tical railroad men and after spending
what money they had were unable to go
ahead. The president of the company
was Rev j. G. Conkey, Of Dubuque, To-,
and the officers and members Of the syn
dicate were equally as we'll posted III the
business of constructing railroad as the
president of the company
The result was that after working over
100 miles from Sauk Center the company
came to the end of It's cash and work
was stopped. There were numerous
creditors as the work done aggregated
$500 900, but only six or seven, which were
represented by Mir. Hodgson at the sale,
held Wednesday. held on and followed up
their claims with Judgments
The names of the parties interested or
the judgment creditors Mr. Hodgson did
not care to give lout. The intention was
to get title to the road bed and interest
| new capital or some railroad company in
/ the scheme. Mr.. Hodgson said so far as
| he had personally examined the road
bed he was Surprised to find the grading
almost Intact. He had often heard that
there was nothing so enduring as mound
building and this statement was proven
correct Iy the condition of the old road
bed constructed twelve years ago.
The proposed road, Mr.. Hodgson said
crossed the 500 at Sedan, tho Great
Northern at Benson, and the H. & D.
division of the Chicago, Milwaukee e St.
Paul at Appleton. The country was the
most promising in the farming Inns in the
state, and If, it was possible to interest
outside capital or some railroad company
to put in money enough to complete the
| line he had on doubt but that 1t would
pay for the Investment