The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-10-31
Change In the Yards
Sought By Mankato


of the railroad yards in this city and
move the Omaha and Northwestern
passenger depot from it's present
location to the site now occupied
by the Milwaukee freight depot is
problematical. Nothing was said by
the road representatives at the meet
ing held at the Elks club yesterday
afternoon to indicate how they felt
toward the proposition. A. w. Tren.
holm, general manager of the Omaha
road, asked. a number of questions
relative to the plan as prepared by
w. H. Pay, and the other railroad
men maintained a silence. They
proved to be good listeners.
The result of the meeting was that
City Engineer Blomquist will prepare
plans of the railroad yard which
will be submitted to the railroad
men at conference which will be
held later. Mr.. Blomquist will draw
the plans following the work which
he is now doing in connection with
the gas investigation.
Trenholm was Pessimistic.
Judge Lorin Cray, who presided
at the meeting, feels that the rail-
road men who had attended was
interested in the revision project
and that they would be willing to do
what was reasonable.
A. w. Trenholm did not leave the
city until five o'clock. Speaking of
the proposed plans, he said that at
present he had about three million
dollars worth of work piled up on
his desk, and it was work that
would be of great benefit to the COM
pany and bring in good returns. The
fact of the matter is the COM
pany does not feel. that it
could spare the money now. He said
that the railroads like to spend money,
and they like to keep their property
i'll good shape also that after they
have paid their interest they are
willing. : put the balance into the
upEeep of the road but he could not
see just where the improvement in
this city would bring in the returns
from the investment and for that
reason it was hard to promise any
thing.
Falling OF in Income.
Mr.. Trenholm said that the income
from the roads had not been as great
as it had been before the rates had
been slashed. The cutting of the
passenger rate had not been so bad,
but the cut in the freight rates had
made a big difference with the COM
pany.
He gave some examples of bad
railroad legislation and said that the
men who want 10 cut the rates and
get cheap shipping will be the first
to demand railroad improvements in
their towns. He felt that this was
not consistent attitude for anyone
TO assume. However, he did not
want it understood that this was
the case in Mankato. There are
constant demands from all points
for improvements.
H. J. Wagon, general agent of the
Northwestern railroad in Minnesota,
has been promoted to the position of
general agent for Minnesota, North
Dakota and South Dakota and gen.
eral passenger and freight agent for
the Pierre-Rapid City division of
the Northwestern. He will assume
his new duties November l and
will continue to have his headquarters
in Winona. Mr.. Wagons many
F,s1 l. ~
his Announcements.
B. F. Farrell, Who has been the
general freight and passenger agent
of the Pierre-Rapid City division,
has been made assistant general
freight and passenger agent of the
Northwestern system, with head
quarters in Chicago.
Duties of Wide Scope.
General Agent H. ]. Wagons scope
of administrative duties has been
materially enlarged and the promo
ton comes to the Winona man in
recognition of his service since his
appointment to the local office.
Under the new arrangement which
takes effect November /, Mr.. Wagon
will remain in Winona and continue
to be the general agent for the Min
nesOta territory as heretofore. He
will, however, serve as the general
agent alos for the North and South
Dakota territories and in addition
is promoted to become general
freight and passenger agent for the
Pierre-Rapid City and Northwestern
road. The latter position is an i'm
portant one and the affairs of that
branch of the Northwestern system
will be handled from this office.
Extended His jurisdiction.
With the extension of the juris
diction of his office, Mr. Wagon be
comes one of the important officials
on the railway system, marked ad
Vancement. Entering the railroad
business in Mankato as a boy il
1885, Mr.. Wagon served as a nigh
operator for two years for the Oma
ha. He went to the Northwestern
in 1887 and held positions in variou.
capacities advancing until on Ma.
1, 1910, he was elevated from travel
ing agent to general agent of tn,
Minnesota territory, succeeding A. C
Johnson. For the Northwestern h,
has done splendid work and the ad
vancement comes as no surprise il