Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-06-04
ELECTRIC SHORT line
SURVEYORS WORKING NORTH
Program Of the Proposed Electric Line--Full Text
Of Spicer Investigating Committee Report

Inc people In parts OF the Northern
part Of the county. have been somewhat
excited over the appearance Of the
Electric Short Lines surveying crew
which has been locating the line from
spicer to Sunburg during the last
week. The crew is in charge OF Engi-
neer J. N. Gilbert, and grading stakes
have been set all along. The line pas
SEES thru Harrison, along the south shore
of Green Lake, leaves Sp1cer near the
ball park. passes between George and
Henderson lakes. strikes north OF Lake
Florida "a very practical pass having
been located thru the "Dovre'' moraine
extending north thru Lake Andrew:
runs within fifty rods of the United
Lutheran parsonage at Norway Lake
and thru the school lot in Dist. No. 50;
thence northwesterly by Ole Knutsons
place; and when last heard from the
surveyors were at work in the woods
near Sunburg. From Sunburg it is
planned to extend the road to Swift
Falls. There is strong rivalry be-
tween the towns of Starbuck and Broot
en- which is to secure the road. It is
thought that the 500 road is friendly to
the electric line and that construction
work will be done from this end, with
supplies coming over the 500. The track
will be Of standard gauge and heavy
rails suitable for heavy trains.
A meeting will be held at the school
house in Dist. No. 9, at Nest Lake, next
Saturday, June 7, to present and dis
cuss the report of the Spicer commit
tee Of Investigation. The following is
the full text Of the report:
spicer Committees Report.
To the People Of Spicer and Green Lake
Township
Friday evening, May 10th, the under
signed committee was appointed at a
special meeting of the Commercial Club
Of Spicer, to go to Minneapolis and in
vestigate the affairs of The Electric
Short Line Railway Company, which
proposes building a line to this point
Accordingly, on May 9th, your COM
mittee went to Minneapolis, and upon
arrival there, we interviewed num-
Der Of wholesale dealers and others Of
prominence in the business world, re-
garding the standing of the Luces
among business men at the present
time, and we also inquired into the
past record Of Mr.. w. L. Luce, formerly
engaged for many years. in the grain
and elevator business in this state.
We then called at the offices of the
company, 300 Phoenix Building, where
we met Colonel E. D. Luce and had a
talk with him, Mr.. w. L.. Luce being alb
sent from the office at that time. We
were later taken by representatives of
the company to the Security National
Bank, one of the largest banking in
situations in the Northwest, and in
terviewed officers of that institution,
who gave us very satisfactory informa-
ton regarding both the railway enter
prise, and the business judgment and
integrity of the Luces. Next we were
taken on a trip Of inspection over the
line and we observed with consider
able surprise the extent and character
Of the work already finished and now
under process of completion. This con-
struction work comprises many ex-
ceedingly heavy cuts and fills, s1oughs
having been bridged across or filled
in many instances and bridge-work
across deep ravines. This portion of
the line, between Minneapolis and Way
zata, we are Informed, would embrace
the heaviest construction cost to COM
plete, Of nearly any equal distance on
their entire line. This work Is prac-
tically completed, and ready for the
laying of rails, about seven miles al
ready being laid.
We found many men at work, and
while the time at our disposal would