The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-02-07
MIDLAND CONTINENTAL RAILWAY
Enthusiastic Meeting of Citizens
at Hamilton Discuss
the Proposition.

A joint railroad meeting was held at
Hamilton on Monday to discuss matters
relating to the proposed Midland Con-
tinental railway.
There were present representative
men from Crystal, Hamilton, Carlisle
and Pembina, besides number of farm
ers between these points. For the last
two weeks d. II. Hull, the right-of-way
man of the company has been in the
county working up interest, and judg-
ing from the enthusiastic meeting his
labors have not been in vain.
Mr.Hull was present and explained the
proposition from the company's stand
point and created favorable impress
sion. He gave the outline of what the
company expected and we doubt if there
was man at the meeting but thought
his proposition was fair one. Unlike
the other companies they enter the field
without.a cent'of nelp from the govern
ment and are building the road inde-
pendent of any other railroad corpora
tions. The Northern Pacific and Great
Northern were given land grants along
their main lines IN Minnesota and this
state amounting to millions of acres.
Regarding the right-of-way and cash
bonus, the company asks what the peo-
pie are willing to give. They figure
where a farmer lessons his haul to mar
ket,certain miles he is that much bene-
fitted and ought to be willing to pay ac-
cosdingly, besides lthe increase in the
the value of his land on account of con-
venient to railroad, competition and
taxes.
There are townships in this county
where the railroad pays one fourth of
the taxes. The road, when completed
to the Gulf of Mexico, will cut out the
MinneapolissDuluth wheat combination
which this state has fought for better
grades, and thereby create competi-
tion that is bound to help all. AS for
the cash bonus the company don't ask
nescent until the road is built and in
operation, when the amount subscribed
can be paid in annual payments, with
out interest.
1t would hardly seem fair that one
farmer should donate right-of-way and
his neighbor receiving equal benefit
should pay nothing. However it is up
to the different committees and the peo-
pie along the proposed route what shall
be done.
Crystal was present with nine dele
gates, including several farmers who
own land in the vicinity of the town and
who are much in favor of the road, and
willing to lend all assistance they can.
John Eastman, the "father of Car
Isle" was there as enthusiastic as the
rest Of them. Mr.. Eastman says Car
Isle is destined to be good town if the
road is builtan he will do all he can to
help it along, as will all of his neigh
bors.
One farmer stated to the reporter at
the meeting that it cost him over 500
per quarter to market his grain annual
ly and he was willing to give that if the
road came near him with siding, and
he is only five miles from an elevator
now.
Mr.. Hull left on the southbound train
IN the evening to look over the line
farther south, through Walsh county.
In leaving he stated that as soon as the
county organization is ready to report
acceptable proposition the surveyor
will come and lay out the line, which
will be final. Mr.. Beech, who has
charge of the engineering department,
who ran this line last summer, is at the
office in jamestown, and it was
throughlhim the air line through the
county, from Crystal was proposed, in
place of following the prelimir ary sur
vey.
IF this road will not do any more
good than to furnish cars to the farmers
in the fall it will doa great deal'' was
the remark of one of the delegates from
the Hamilton district. "a week after
we start threshing we are all filed, with
an average crop"
Below we give complete report of
the meeting, furnished by the secre-
tary. 4.
Delegations from Pembina, Carlisle,
Hamilton and Crystal attended meet
ing in Hamilton on Monday to consider
the Midland Continental railway propo-
lsition. The meeting was called to order