The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-12-21
KELSEY PLAN IS NOT
FAVORED BY
THEM
Transportation Committee of
Commercial Club Make An
other Proposition.

At the adjournment of the meeting
Of the Railroad and Transportation
committee of the Commercial club.
which was held yesterday afternoon
in the Commercial club rooms, it was
announced that the committee had
made the proposition to w. H. Kelsey
that If he would build a line south
west from Grand Forks to connect
with the Northern Pacific and 500
lines, every thing possible would be
done that could be done towards pro-
noting the scheme b. the commercial
club.
The proposition made by w. H.
Kelsey, of which previous mention
has been made, was submitted to the
Commercial club in the following let.
ter.
Mr.. E. ]. Lander,
Pres. of Commercial Club,
City.
Dear Sir:
A few days ago I was talking to
some gentlemen in the city and told
them that If I could get $4,000 do
nation from the city of Grand Forks,
would give this city connection with
the 500 railway north and southwest
of here. This matter came to the ears
of reporter and he called on me;
confirmed the statement, and they
published it. Since that time l have
had so many fattering offers of as
sistance, that l deem it best to bring
this matter before you as President
of the Commercial club, and in doing
so might say that have two parties
of considerable means who will go
into the deal with me. If the City
Of Grand Forks, or the Commercial
club, will donate the sum of $4,000
to new railroad company, will or
ganize company, and will build as
soon as possible connection from
here north to connect with the 500
railway west of the Red River, and as
soon as that is completed, will builu
southwest from the city, connecting
with the 500 in that direction.
This is no idle claim, but is simply
a straight, business proposition, and
we mean it. If the city will take up
CAAAo plopOSACIOn al OACC, duu
the money, We will not ask them to
pay it over until the line is completed
from here to connect with the 500
north.
Since the matter has been made
public, have met quite few of the
reliable business men of the city, and
they have promised to give good rea-
sonable sums, and have made some
very flattering offers of assistance.
Our object in the matter is to start
in and build series of lines north,
southwest, and south, and make Grand
Forks the home Office of the company,
and have so much faith in this pro-
position that if the citizens of Grand
Forks will contribute enough to make
it an object, will put every dollar
have in the world into the PROPOSE
ton, and sell my real estate holdings
In the city and adjoining, as fast as
possible, and invest it in the new rail-
road and 60 out of the real estate
business entirely and devote all my
time to the road. All we ask is this
donation as starter, and I will as
sure you that it will be the best in
vestment Grand Forks ever made. I
have talked with several parties, and
one party offered me $500, and when I
explained the situation to him and
told him it was local company, he
said he would make 1t more than that
and probably double it. This road
will be of more benefit to Grand Forks
than If the 500 would come in them
selves, as this will be the terminal of
the road, and will mean that the head
Office and shops will be located here,
and you can see as we'll as myself
that a road running, such as 1 have
proposed, southwest from this city,
would be the greatest benefit that
could possibly occur to Grand Forks
from a railroad. We mean business,
and it is now up to the citizens of
Grand Forks to say whether they wish
500 connection or not. We want this
connection, and we must have it if
Grand Forks is ever to be a city in
our time.
To get this road under way, and
have trains running in time to do the
fall business, next fall, it is absolutely
necessary to know as soon as pos
sible, as steel must be ordered months
ahead before it can be secured. I
have already had considerable cor
respondence in the matter, and can
begin to lay the wires as soon as
Grand Forks proves that she means
business
Thanking you, l am,
Yours very truly,
w. H. KELSEY.
Alvin Robertson, chairman of the
Commercial club committee stated
that it was the sense Of yesterdays
meeting that by building the line pro-
posed by Mr.. Kelsey, no new territory
would be opened to Grand Forks. The
committe, however, recognizes that a
south west line is necessary to the |
further growth of Grand Forks.
When seen, Mr.. Kelsey stated that |
he would investigate the matter fur
Their, and that it was probable that
some new developments would come !
shortly.
While Mr.. Kelsey offers to put in
the south western line, after the con-
nection is made with the 500 on the
north, the committee does not believe
that the proposition in that form is
good one. The city has a connection
now with the 500 line at Adoch, where
q transfer switch has been put in.
Tho fo1IowinO momhorc woro nrocor<