The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-02-26
COUNTY :.
RAILR0ADWANING;;.
HELD GOVERNMENT
y. :. ;HASN0AUTH0RITY

1t looks very much as If the efforts
Of J. ]. Opsahl, to have a railroad
constructed in Beltrami county.
would attract little attention in the
state legislature this session, not
his aggressive action.
In giving their views anent the CAM
paign of Mr.. Opsahl along this line,
the following letter was written him
by Representative Rako and Senator
L. H. Nord:
Dear Mr.. Opsahl: We have re-
ceived several petitions from the set
tiers, business and professional men,
petitioning us to aid by legisl.. .4on
your suggestions whereby the county
may aid in building a railroad in Bel
trami county.
'The proposition is a meritorious
one but 1t occurred to us at once when
we received your letter that such a
proposal would encounter strong op-
position, as 1t would, as in the case
of ditch bonds, put the county pri-
marily responsible for the payment
of them. Secondly. 1t was a Ques-
tion in our minds as to the consti-
tutionality of such an act. There
fore, Mr. Nord whote the at
torney general Of the state and today
received his letter giving his opinion,
a copy of which we are enclosing, by
which you will note the plan appears
under our constitution. =.
''In view of these facts we prefer
not to introduce a bill which we doubt
very much would ever get out of the
committee, and X 1t did it could
never become law. The members
from the Northern part Of the state
have thousand and one things to do.
We are right up to our necks In work
and we prefer that@our time In this
session will not be taken up further
with this new matter. We are not
saying this to complain OF your In
terest taken in different matters per-
tanning to development Of Northern
Minnesota. You have always been a
real booster for the development Of
Northern Minnesota and we would
like to have you write US from time
to time, even though you fail in this
railroad scheme" ,>
States Legal Opinion.
Senator Nord referred the matter
to Attorney General Hilton's office
and in reply received the following
from M. J. Brown, assistant attorney
general:
Dear Sir: Yours of February 6,
addressed to Clifford l.. Hilton, at
torney general, is before me for At
tention.
"You state that the suggestion has
been made that law be passed by the
Legislature for the purpose of enabl-
ing settlers along bitches in Northern
Minnesota to procure railroad facili-
ties, such suggestion being embodied
in petition which reads as follows:
I'VE, the undersigned, citizens
Of. or taxpayers in, Beltrami
county, respectfully ask you to
use your best efforts to amend
the rural highway or drainage
and road laws so that the land
owners in the northern part of
the country, where railroad serv-
ice is needed for farm develop
ment, will be given power and
authority to petition the federal
railroad director for needed rail-
road service along the same prin-
ciples or ,lines as used in securing
the postal route service. @.<
And for such routes as ap-
proved by the federal director,
to cooperate with the govern
ment by entering into contract
with the director through our
county board. (or. other munich
pal boards,) by leasing to the
railroad company available ditch
grades, or public streets or roads.
or to underwrite bonds for the
purchase Of ties, (and spread as
sessments for same against the
lands or industries benefited
within seven and one-half miles
on each side Of the main line,
in the same manner as the rural
highway or drainage assessments
are made,) on condition that the
federal departments Will furnish
rails, equipment and service, CIV
ing the railroad departments op-
tions to purchase on payment to
the public for advances made"
What It Would Imply.
"You inquire whether a law can
be drafted along the lines suggested,
which II enacted by the legislature
and approved by the governor, would
result in the procurement Of railroad
facilities for the persons referred to.
"The above plan. II I may refer to
it as such, contemplates the construc-
tion of extensions of present railroad
systems in certain counties Of the
state, through the joint undertaking
OF the federal government, through
the director general of railroads, and
county boards or other municipal leg
isIative bodies; the county boards or
other municipal legislative bodies to
furnish rights Of way and the federal
government, through the director
general of railroads, to furnish rails