The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-23
NEWS OF RAILROADS
GREAT WESTERNS PLANS FOR A
BRANCH LINE IN NEW
TERRITORY
IS A RICH FARMING DISTRICT


Question of the Southern Terminal
of the Branch Not Yet Decided
Road Making Extensive Improve
ments, and an Effort to Increase
It's Business Over the Cannon
Valley Section.
President stickney, of the Chicago
Great Western, has recently returned
from visit to Albert Lea, in company
with DR.. Haldor Sneve, which has
caused considerable interest in Steele
and Freeboru counties, in connection
with the roads plans for a branch line
penetrating this territory. Some tina
ago the statement was made by an Of
fetal of the Great Western, familiar
with President StIckney's views and
plans. that road would be built as a
feeder to the Cannon Valley branch, be-
ginning at Faribault, running south to
Owatonna, a distance of eighteen miles
and from thence either southwest to AL
bert Lea or southeast to point on the
Great Westerns line in Dodge county.
The reason assigned for building through
this section was that it contained a rich
farming and dairy district and that the
road would probably prove a valuable
investment as a carrier for manufac-
lures from Faribault and Owatonna and
dairy products. This section Of the
state is one of the most productive dairy
sections of the United States.
President Stickney made a trip from
Albert Lea through Geneva and Clark's
Grove, in the center of the dairy district
and midway between Owatonna and AL
Ssbert Lea, and from there to the Bancroft
creamery country, lying few miles to
the south After the trip the president
conferred with prominent citizens of AL
bert Lea, during which he made careful
inquiry into the resources of the district
through which he had passed and the
probable increase in population. He per-
sonally made estimates covering such
information as would be necessary in
the construction of a road and tacitly
admitted that the plan was not only I'M
der consideration, but in a fair way to
realization.
The question of the southern terminal
of the branch is not yet decided upon.
The road is making every effort to in
crease business over the Cannon Valley
branch and is making extensive improve
ments With the continuance of the
branch from Owatonna to Hayf1eld 1t
could be utilized for the TRANSFORMATION
VI OI41CdSO UuSlU0SS from NdnkaC0 ana
Faribault and intermediate points In
case it were put through to Albert Lea
a rich farming and dairy country would
be opened up with rich prospects from a
freight traffic standpoint
second route by which the road
might enter Albert Lea is suggested,
through the Duluth, Red Wing &.
Southwestern. This road is projected
from Duluth via Richmond, Wis, Red
Wing, Zumbrota, Owatonna, Mansfield
and Iowa points to Sioux City. This
company has become active recently
and after a quiescent period extending
over several years has suddenly taken
on new stimulus. A meeting of stock
holders will be held at Red Wing on
Tuesday and it is significant that the
call issued states that the purpose of the
meeting is to put the company's records
In shape and prepare for business. It
has been suggested by stockholders Of
this road that with the increased ac-
tivity President Stickney has decided to
secure control of the road and carry out
the projected construction work in con-
junction with his own plans for South
ern Minnesota. The position of the line
In its relation with the Great Western
shows that the latter road could make
an advantageous combination by taking
up a controlling share of its stock and
using 1t in connection with the roads
projected line from Faribault south.