The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-10-02
WHY PRINCETON rs FRIENDLY no
j. u. HILL.

Why PRINCETON rs FRIENDLY 70
j. j. HILL.
. NEWCOMERS cannot appreciate the
conditions that existed in Princeton
prior to the building OF the Great
Northern branch from Elk River to
Milaca; the old-timers can. After the
lumber trade had dropped off and
finally dwindled away altogether, and
before the advent of the railroad,
Princeton was on its last legs. There
was no cash market here for anything
the farmers had to sell; Elk River was
the nearest railroad town, and the
twenty miles stretch Of road between
here and there was a fright; our bust
ness men were disheartened and dis
couraged; there were no Improvements
being made either in the village or
surrounding country; the best farms
could hardly be given away; wild land
was not considered worth the taxes,
and everybody was struggling under
crushing loads. of debt. It was con-
coded on every hand that our only sal
walton was railroad connection with
the outside world. There was not
business man in Princeton or farmer
within radius of five or six miles of
the place who would not willingly have
given half of what he possessed for
assurances of a railroadsto Princeton.
It must not be understood that no
efforts were being made during those
dark years of business depression and
stagnation by the citizens of Princeton
to secure railroad. It would require
columns to tell of the fruitless endeav-
Ors in that direction and of the heart
breaking disappointments. At last
Mr.. J. J. Hill came to the rescue and
the long-sought for railroad was a re-
ality. 1t is unnecessary in this article
to enlarge on the benefits conferred on
Princeton and surrounding country by
the railroad. Is it any wonder that
old-timers have a friendly feeling for
Mr.. Hill and his road? Is it to be
wondered at that our people do not
join in senseless denunciation of Mr..
Hill? There are those who will ex-
CLAIM, ''Oh, Mr.. Hill built the Prince
ton branch because he knew it would
pay" We venture the assertion that
no other man would have built the
road with the expectation of realizing
anything out of the investment. AS a
matter of fact the road did not pay
running expenses for years after it was
built. Bonuses aggregating 100000
were offered for the construction of a
narrow guage between Princeton and
Anoka, and several thousand dollars
were expended by G. II. Rines, E. M.
Campbell is. Mudgett, and other
public-spirited citizens of Princeton
and Anoka in making surveys. but
capitalists could not be induced to
touch the project-they could not see
any money in it. Had it not been for
J. J. Hill's business sagacity Princeton
would still have been destitute of rail-
road facilities and the grass would
have been growing on it's streets to-day.
Princeton owes a debt of gratitude to
Mr.. Hill that it can never repay. After
giving US railroad, Mr.. Hill, in order
to make business for the road, invested
heavily in manufacturing enterprises
at Milaca and encouraged the brick
making industry in our town. Our
brick-makers have no better customer
than the Great Northern Company,
and that company never misses an op-
portunity to advertise Princeton brick.
The same is true of the lumber industry
at Milaca. It is only a question of time,
and short time at that, when the
Great Northern will extend it's line
from Milaca to Mile Laos lake and be-
yond: then the north end of our county
will grow and prosper as the south end
OF the county is now growing and pros
pering. The building of the splendid
new depot at Princeton-a depot good
enough for city of so, 900 Inhabitants
is another evidence of Mr.. Hills good
will and friendliness for the people of
Princeton and vicinity.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT proposes to
take the bull by the horns and see if