Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-09-10
new ELECTRIC LINE
MEETING ENTHUSIASTIC
Representatives of Towns Between
Decorah and Preston Confer.
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
WILL EXAMINE PROJECT.
FinanCiers and Prominent Business
Men Will Make Thorough Inves-
tigation of Proposed Line
and Make Report.

1t was an enthusiastic gathering of
prominent business men and financiers
of northeastern Iowa and southeastern
Minnesota that assembled at Preston,
Mimi, last evening, to confer together
concerning the new St. Paul Southern
Electric Railway, and the proposition to-
continue the line which it proposes to
construct from Hastings to Rochester,
Minn., next year, and on to Decorah,
through Preston, Harmony, Canton, and
Burr Oak. Delegations were present
representing Preston, Chatfeld, Forest
vile, Harmony, Canton, Fountain, Burr
Oak, and Decorah, all OF whom drove
in by automobile during the afternoon.
Those representing Decorah yere Ben
Bear, c. J. Weiser, E. J. Curtin, N. L.
Bailey, G.. F Baker, |. w. Brunt B. o.
Marsh, VIM. Tobiason, E. A. Water
bury, Fred Biermann, and H. J. Green.
Supper was served at the hotel, after
which the meeting was held i'll the hall,
and the enthusiasm shown by the men
representing the territory proposed to
be traversed by the line was evidence
of the great desire of these commun-
ties for railway service of this character
and their willingness to back PROPOSE
ton that showed merit.
The plan in a few words as outlined
by Mr.. Snyder, representative of the.
company, is as follows: The St. Paul
Southern Electric Railway Co. has
nearly completed the construction of
new line between St. Paul and Hastings,
Mimi, and will have cars running over
the. line within very few weeks. 1t
is proposed to continue the line south
to Rochester, Mimi, next year, and on
to Decorah in 1915, and thence to
Dubuque. The estimated cost OF con-
struction is $4,000 per mile. Arrange
ments have been made for the bonding
of the road for $4,000 per mile, which
leaves $4,000 per mile to be provided
for elsewhere. 1t is proposed to ask
the communities through which the line
would pass to subscribe for stock to
the amount of $1,000 per mile, and to
sell the remaining $4,000 per mile to
outside investors. The business men of
St. Paul have already subscribed $780,
.OOOO0, and will do more. The cities and
country communities along the line have
shown disposition to get behind the
project, and it is believed to be a prac-
tical and feasible plan, with reasonable
assurance of success.
The meeting was addressed by repre-
sentativeS of the various towns along
the line, all of whom stated that there
was demand amounting almost to
necessity for adequate transportation
facilities north and south, and that they
believed, if it could be shown beyond
question that the project was backed by
honorable men of capacity and ability,
and that they would be able to do as
represented, that the people along the
line would subscribe for their share Of
the stock; that a modern interurban
running through the recognized best
agricultural section in the world would
not only be good proposition finan-
cially, but would enable the people to
enjoy the comforts of life in this respect
to which they are entitled. 1t was the
general opinion that the plan was the
most feasible that has yet been offered.
1t was decided to appoint committee
of representatives from each OF the
towns along the route to make very
thorough and exhaustive investigation
of the plan, the financial and business
responsibility of the men behind the
project and their ability to do as they
proposed, as we'll as the advisability of
the construction of such line This
committee represents the highest finan-
cial and business interests of the towns
on this route, and when their report is
issued it will be the best judgment of
the men most capable to make such an
investigation. Ii it should be favorable,
steps will be taken at once to proceed
with systematic organization of the
plan, and there is every probability Il. t
in that case it will only be a question.
OF months until modern electric rail-
road will be operating trains between
Decorah and St. Paul, reducing the
mileage by fifty miles or moro wing
us direct communication with Bur ak,
Canton, Harmony, Preston, Roch, for,
Cannon Falls, Hastings, and St. Paul
1t would be the most forward step this
section has ever taken, and would in
crease the value of land, the facilities
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