The Redwood gazette., 1901-06-19
RAILROAD NEWS.
Belief That Dirt Will Fly Shortly on ths
Northwestern Extension.

4 NOIIQWSSISIu EXtSuSlO1.
The corps OF surveyors of the
Chicago & Northwestern railroad
engaged IN running the preliminary
line from Morgan to Marshall, by
/ way of Wabasso. finished the SUR
! vey on Wednesday evening of last
week and returned to their eastern
headquarters. As fast as they sur
Yeyed the line over one farm the
right-ofWay agent was on the tract
attempting to make arrangements
I with the owner for the right-of-Way.
The agent claimed that the maximum
amount allowed him Tor pay ment to
/ farmers was at the rate of $40 per
acre. With those whom he closed
negotiations he paid one dollar,
and the owners signed contracts for
deeds. Quite number of the farm
ers along the line refused to accept
the offer Of $40 per acre, and hence
the company, in case it builds, will
have to pay more for the right-of-
] way to these parties, or pass through
condemnation proceedings. Both
sides will then have an opportunity
,, before a court Of appraisers. The
fact that there are but few pieces Of
land along the proposed line that
are not worth $40 per. acre makes
the statement certain that the
farmers will certainly get that much,
anyway, if not more
There is very little doubt at the
present writing but what this line
will be built The Northwestern
realizes that it has left a gap in Red
wood county and it proposes to fill
it up before another line can get the
opportunity. 1t is limited that the
work on this lide will commence in
Is days and that it wilt be the
quickest piece of railroad building
ever witnessed in the west. The
company has a million or more ties
at Tracy, already to lay, and these
can be. sent to Morgan, Wabasso and
Marshall with but very little
trouble Stations will probably be
located this week The company is
in doubt as to whether to put in one
or two stations between Morgan
and Wabasso. If only one twill be
on the township line between Three
Lakes and New Avon Two stations
would guard againsb a possible two
stations of the Great Western.
West of Wabasso there will be two
or three stations before Marshall is
reached
The company has a crew Of grad
ers at work, about ten teams in all,
grading line from Sleepy Eye to
Redwood Junction with the view Of
placing trains for Morgan, Wabasso,
Marshall and Redwood Falls on a
separate track from that town to the
junction, and thus avoiding the
present switching at the junction.
IF the Chicago & Northwestern
builds its line from Morgan to Mar
shall, which now seems certain, the
Great Western will not build through
that territory, but if the Northwest
ern does not construct the line the
Great Western is sure to. This
statement comes from the highest
official authority. The Great West
ern surveyors have already reached
Marshall. After striking Wabasso
they took course somewhat to the
north, running to within three miles
of Seaforth and then proceeded due
west to Marshall. BY doing this
the Great Western cracks the North
western at Wabasso, Seaforth, and
Vesta, shutting off a large amount
'of territory now belonging to those
towns.
If the Northwestern builds the
line, which will Shut out the Great
Western, there is no telling in what
direction the Great Western will
proceed. It may be along the Min
nesota river north of the North
western, striking Redwood Falls
and then proceeding west, bysouth,
to Marshall Il this is done the
Northwestern S move will be to ex-
tend the line from Redwood Falls to
! Vesta, and possibly west.