The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-12-18
A WORD OF CAUTION
Who Is John M. Wiley? Where Does
Does He Represent?
These Are Pertinent Questions to
the Voters of Greenbush and
Blue Hill Townships.

OsAS AAls ~" A0uAPos
Elsewhere in this issue appear
notices of special elections in the
towns of Blue Hill, Sherburne coun-
ty, and Greenbush, Mile Laos coun-
ty, to vote on the proposition of
issuing bonds to the amount of SIS, 900
in each town to aid in the construc-
tion of a railroad ''from the Canadian
boundary in Roseau county, Mime
sofa, to Minneapolis. >" Perhaps it is
best to give the circular letter, which
was presumably furnished by Mr..
Wiley, in full. 1t will be noticed
that no place Of business is given,
nor is the name of the firm or corpo-
ration mentioned. Here is the letter
or proposition:
ITO the Voters, Greenbush Town
ship, Mile Laos County, Mime
sofa.
"Gentlemen: 1 have received a
proposition from John NJ. Wiley:
who has been employed to select the
route and locate railroad to extend
from the Canadian boundary in
Roseau county, Minnesota, to Min
neapolis, and have been requested by
legal number of freeholders to call
special meeting of the voters in
Greenbush township, for the purpose
of authorizing a bond issue of five
Thousand (s5, OOO) dollars, to aid in
the completion of such a railroad.
These bonds are percent interest
and run for a period of twenty years,
the interest payable semi-annually
at any bank or trust company in
Minnesota. The bonds when voted
are to be issued and deposited in the
German State bank of Pierz, Mime
sofa, for delivery with accrued inter
est to John NJ. Wiley, his nominee
or associates, when the road is in
operation through Greenbush town
ship, prior to September l, 1916.
Should the road not be completed as
above by that date, the bonds with
accrued interest are to be returned
to the township board without any
expense to them whatsoever, all OF
which is stated in the bonds.
''Pursuant to the above request
you are hereby notified that specia
meeting of the voters in Greenbust
township will be held on---day oil
-------, 1913, for the purpose Of
authorizing the issue and delivery Of
these bonds as per above understand
ing.
Dated------191 -
We can we'll understand why thu
people of Blue Hill and Greenbusf
should be anxious to secure addi
tional railroad facilities. and if the,
can induce any man or company tt
build d railroad through their town
the bonus is mere bagatelle ant
should be voted unanimously in bott
towns. The Union heartily favor
the upbuilding and development O
this section of the state and rail
roads are great upblilders and de
velopers. But right here we viii
ask few pertinent questions tn
answers to which should govern tn
action of every voter in the towns O
Blue Hill and Greenbush. Who i
John M. Wiley? Where does he hal
from? Whom does he represent
Where is the headquarters of tn
company that proposes to build thi
Canadian Minneapolis railroad 10
Gated? Can Mr.. Wiley give the nam
of any frst-class responsible bank o
financial institution in ST. Paul O
Minneapolis, in the state of Mime
sofa or in the United States VIII
will vouch for him? Can he give tn
name and location of any responsible
bank or financial institution tina
will vouch for the men or capitalist
he claims to represent? Surely thi
is not asking too much of man VIII
claims to represent large interests
Ii he is acting in good faith, if h
or the capitalists he claims to REP
resent mean to build railroad fro1
Minneapolis to Canada they mus
have means, and if he or they hav
means he or they can easily Civ
references. Is there anything unfai
in the questions propounded to MI
Wiley?
There is not a schoolboy in Blu
Hill or Greenbush but knows tina
a railroad cannot be built an
equipped short of forty or fit
Thousand dollars per mile. IF ever
town along the route of the propose
railroad and not even a preliminal
survey has yet been made-was
vote bonus of ten Thousand instea
of i've Thousand it would not pa
more than one-quarter the cost {
building and equipping railroad.
If Mr. Wiley cares to answer tx