The Norfolk weekly news., 1899-08-03
THE NORFOLK -YANKTON
Promoters Say Grading Will
Begin September 1.
HOPES OF TnEFAiInTuL REVIVED

Ncssrs Mecitling aud Graham In The city
Last Evening on their way to Pierce
The $500, 900 Seeded tor Construc,ion
Forthcoming Light Rails WIN h" Used.
From Tuesdays Daily
j. $. Mcckling of Chicago and w. w
Graham OF Norwalk, ONO, promoters of
the Nankton. Norfolk 81 Southwestern
Railway company, were IN the city yes
terday and left today for Pierce on bust
ness connected with the proposed line
They have with them great rolls of blue
prints showing the route of the line,
grades, etc. IL il understood that n
meeting of stockholders will be held
here for the purpose of eleoting officers
and transacting other important bust
ness.
The prospect for the early building Of
the line, in their estimation, is brighter
than ever and 1t may be that Norfolk's
desire for the past several years will Mt
last be realized
While passing through Sioux City yes
terdny Mr.. Meckling was interviewed
by representative of the Journal who
CLEANED the following informrtion:
1.-The Yankton 81 Norfolk road and
the Yankton bridge are to be built ut
last. have been in the field almost all
the time since | passed through Sioux
City two months ago. After sixty days
of as hard work as l ever did in my
fifty years of railroad experience we
have completed the survey and have the
grade stakes set. Grading will begin
September / and the track layers will
follow right behind the graders. My
negotiations with the manufacturers of
rails are practically concluded and u
made any day. Strange az it may seem,
can get all the rails want in ten days.
III explain how that happens. We in.
tend to use a light rail, one that will
weigh not to exceed sixty pounds to the
yard, and that is lighter rail than gen.
orally is demanded just now. All the
mills have more light rails in stock than
they want
"The construction of the bridge and
road will cost 81 800 900, the amount at
which the company has been capital
ized The arrangements for the tinanc.
ing Of the company were completed
months ago,
1T is needless to say that Yankton
people as we'll ~ Norfolk people and
people ut intermediate points are .lated
at the prospects Of securing the railroad
this year, and if there is any feeling OF
regret in Sioux City might say there is
no necessity for it. That road, hon.
estly believe, will be great help to
Sioux City. Sioux City is the best city
III the northwest, and whatever devel
ops the territory around Sioux City is
beneficial to Sioux City itself. "
Mr., Meckliug has been closely watch
ing the movements of President Hill, Of
the Great Northern, in his Investigation
in the vicinity of Yankton, and is in
duced to believe the Great Northern in
tends to build "A road from Yanktor
through Charles Mix county to the point
on the Missouri river where the White
river empties in from the Black Hills.
The Journal reporter also interviewed
A. w. Erwin, president of the Siou,
City Commercial association, in regart
to how the proposed road would etfec,
Sioux City, commercially, should it bt
constru, ted Mr.. Erwin candidly &c
knowledged that the road would be O.
detriment to Sioux City and benefit I,
Omaha, as has been represented to th'
commercial club Of the latter city. H,
said:
1T will hurt us, there is no question
about it. The road will be a positive
harm to Sioux City's interests. A lot o
traffic from rich region in Nebrask,
and from garden spot in South Dakota
which latter always has been tributary
to Sioux City, will be diverted to Omaha
II do not think the road will b.
built by the Great Northern or any othe
railroad. In my mind its construction
and the construction of the bridge is dc
pendent upon the sale of the bonds, a
the construction of the Omaha ant
Northern is so dependent"