The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1899-10-11
FRED. HoTCHKlss HEnE.

Fred. V. HOtchkiSS OF OacOma,
South Dakota, arrived here last
Wednesday and remained in this
city for few days, renewinga num-
Der of his old acquaintance. Mr..
Hotchkiss came in from Chicago
and other eastern points. where he
has been visiting during the past
five or six weeks.
Old settlers of Redwood Falls and
Redwood county greeted MIR. Hotch-
kiss with an unusual warmth as
they II e, on streets, in Offices or in
business houses. For Mr.. Hotch-
kiss was one of the early settlers
here, and was one of the Presidents
of the then village council. It was
he, who, being painstaking to see
that everything was correct, draft
ed all of the village ordinances in
the early days and then with his
own pen transcribed them to the
records. He was one of the COM
mittee that brought about the con-
struction of the Minnesota Valley
railroad into Redwood Falls. For
long time he conducted black
smith shop on the corner of the
alley on Washington avenue, where
Schmahl & Jaehning's hardware
store is now located.
But as the population of the vii
lage grew Mr.. Hotchkiss was pos
sessed with the desire to move to
the frontier, and he went to the ex-
IRENE western side of South Dakota,
where, some time after he struck
the soil there, he founded the town
of Hotch City, the first half of the
city being the first half of his last
name. He, however, makes Oacoma
his headquarters, and directs his
land and farming operations from
there.
Mr.. Hotchkiss is in perfect health
and looks younger now than he did
fifteen years ago. His last visit
here was about six years ago, and
he was surprised at the improve
ments then-but more surprised at
the progress noted at the present
time. The new buildings, the &C.
ment sidewalks, the improved
streets and the many new residenc-
es were all source of great pleas
ure to him as being in town which
he did so much towards organizing
some % years or more ago.
Speaking of the Minnesota Valley
railroad Mr.. Hotchkiss stated that
it was worth all that Redwood coun-
ty and Redwood Falls bonded them
selves to pay for 1t. It gave the
farmers here a market for their
grain, etc., instead of hauling their
wheat to New Ulm, as they did when
the road was built only that far. It
brought merchandise to Redwood
Falls at lower rate and quicker
than hauling it from Sleepy Eye or
New Ulm, and was the real devel-
opment of the country. 1t made
Redwood Falls largely what it is
to-day, remarked Mr.. Hotchkiss.
"The St. Louis may have helped'I
some" he continued, ''but the
North western was the first real
help, and when you people get to
roasting the company for not doing
what they ought to do now you
should not forget the benefits they
gave you long time-benetits for
you which were not benefits alto
gether for the company.
'The Gulf & Manitoba road will
be big thing for you people when
you get it, and the small amount of
money you voted and that the towns
around here are asked to vote, will
be mere bagatelle in comparison
with the benefits you will receive
when the system is completed.
Then too, if the proper sinking
fund is started, you will have the
bonds paid for before you know it,
and without feeling the tax.