The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-05-19
RAILROAD SOLD.
Great Western Will Operate
Cannon Valley.
New Owners of the Road Will take Pos
session June lst...lmpOrtant Move
for MankatO.

the purchase of the Cannon Valley road,
Mankato to Red Wing, by A. B. Stick
ney, president of the Chicago Great
Western. While this new purchase has
not been consolidated with the Great
Western it will be operated in conjunc-
ton with that line and will no doubt
eventually pass under its ownership.
Mr. Stickney is one of the most pro-
pressive railroad men in the northwest.
He has made the Great Western one of
the strong:trunk lines radiating east and
south from the twin cities'and it has been
his policy to always give the Immediate
towns along his line of road fair and
equitable treatment, affording shippers
chance to do business in competition
with the larger cities.
Under the new management many
needed improvements will made. No
doubt Mr.. Stickney will, among the
first things to be done here, get his de-
pot into a more central AMI accessible
location. AS now situated it is in an
out-of-t he-way place and not acces-
sible to either passenger or freight traf-
fc. With the change will come new
depot building and other improvements.
1t is understood that direct connec
ton will be made for Chicago and the
east by running a night passenger train
from Mankato to connect with the
Great Western main line at Randolph.
If so passengers can leave here after
supper, and breakfast in Chicago. 1t
will also open up to Mankato manu-
facturers and jobbers new territory
for business, and give US strong COM
petitor in freight rates from Chicago
and the twin cities.
Speaking of this purchase, the Min
neapolis Journal gives the following
particulars:
The main line of the Wisconsin, Min
nesota & Pacific, running from Red
Wing to Mankato, has been brought
under the control of the Great Western.
President A. B. Stickney of the Great
Western and few associated capital
lists have Just completed negotiations
for the purchase of the property and
will take possession on June 1.
The road was owned by Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific interests and is
operated at present as part of the M. &
St. L. line.
The main line is 937 miles long and
considered very valuable property on
account of it's large local business, es-
pecially in dairy and agricultural pro-
ducts. 1t will be an important feeder
for the Great Western in the southern
part of the state. The line crosses the
Great Western at Randolph and then
runs through Northfield, Faribault and
Waterville to Mankato.
President Stickney states that the
road will not be absorbed by the Chica-
go Greatest Western for the present,
but will be operated by the Great
Western after this month. He was un
to state what the purchase price
was, or any plans which the new owners
have for extensions of the branch.
Beside the main line from Red Wing
to Mankato to the Wisconsin, Mime
sofa & Pacific includes disconnected
branch from Morton, Mimi, to Water
town Junction, 1879 9 miles. In the f.
nancial statement for 1893 the cost of
the road and equipment is given as S.
500, 400 for the entire line The present
capital stock of the company is $5,0O0,-
900. Bonds are also authorized to the
extent of $15, 900 per mile for construc
ton, $4,000 per mile for equipment and
SO, 900, 900 extra for bridges.
The earnings for the entire line as re-
ported to the state last year were
1914, O82
The branch from Morton west will
continue to be operated>b by the Mime
apolis & ST. Louis, not having been in
cluded in the sale.
One result of the change of ownership
of the road may be the coming of the
Postal Telegraph Co., as the Great
Western does it's business with that
company. Whenever the postal com
pany comes to Mankato it will do COM
mercial as we'll as railroad business.
While it IS the general impression that
the coming of the Postal Telegraph Co.
would result in reduction of rates, it
is said that there is an agreement be-
tween the two telegraph systems where
by rates are maintained at the figure at
which they are when the second COM
pany enters the field, thus doing away
with cutting rates.
Sunday was another dry" day in
the city, but along the river bank and