Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-06-03

On May %, 1857, the legislature OF
Minnesota passed an act authorizing
the construction of the Minnesota and
Pacific Railroad company, the fore
runner of the Great Northern. We
therefore celebrated last month the
SEVENTEEN anniversary of one of Mon
tana's great railroads.
Under the act the Minnesota and Pa
cinc Railroad company was authorized
and empowered to construct a railroad
with one or more tracks or lines OF rails.
from Saltwater by way of st. Paul and
st. Anthony, via Minneapolis. to the
town of Breckenridge on the Sioux Wood
river. with a branch from st. Anthony
via Anoka, st. Cloud and Grow Wing to
st. Vincent near the mouth of the Penn
bina river.
The company's board of directors
named in the act were F.. r. Delano. Will
liam Will.m, Alex Ramsey, Edmund Rice,
r. r. fielson, VIM. l.. Ames. Richard
Chute. Henry T. Wells, Abraham M. Frid-
ley. Dwight Woodbury., Franklin Steele,
S. B. Lowry. j.. d. Crittenden, Charles H.
Cakes and Daniel Basset.
First Railroad Act
The act was very complete and pro-
vided for the manner of operation and
management of the railroad. There were
no general laws at the time regulating
organization, construction or operation Of
railroads. hence this Act had to provide
for all of these activities.
1t is interesting to note that the act
stated hat the Width of the track shall
be four feet eight and one-half inches,
and the iron used in the track shall be
of approved quality and pattern, and the
railroad shall be completed. furnished
and equipped in q style n of q quality
equal TO the average Of other first class
western railroads. The construction of
wheels, the form and size of cars, the
uyoinny nf loads fnn ~atn ~ c~nnd ta~V1c
of running, connections with other rail-
roads, n all other matters and things
respecting the use of said railroads, shall
be in conformity to such rules and regu-
lations as said Board Of Directors shall,
from time to time determine and estab-
lish.
Must Wear Badge
Every conductor, baggage-master, en-
gineer. brakeman or other servant of such
corporation, employed In a passenger
train or at stations for passengers. shall
wear upon his hat or cap a badge, which
shall indicate his office, initial letters, or
style Of the corporation. No conductor
without such badge shall demand or be
entitled to receive from any passenger
any fare, toll or ticket. or exercise any
OF the powers Of his Office. and 40 other
of said officers or servants without such
badge shall have any authority to med
die or interfere with any passenger, his
baggage or property.
ut is provided in the act that a bell
of at least 80 pounds weight or q steam
whistle shall be placed on each locomo-
tive engine, and sha be rung or whis-
tied at the distance OF at least 80 rods
from the place where said road shall
cross n other road, and be kept ring
ing or whistling at intervals until 1t
shall have crossed said road or street. I'M
der a penalty Of $50 for every neglect.
49, - $780, - - ~
and the other half to the Territory or
future State of Minnesota. and to be
liable for all damages by reason Of such
neglect. Said corporation shall aus
boards to be placed, well supported by
posts or otherwise, n constantly main
tanned across each public Dad or street
where the same Is crossed by the rail-
road. on such elevation as not to OBJ
struct the travel, and to be easily seen
by travellers, and on each side Of said
board shall be painted in capital letters
of at least the size Of nine inches each,
the words. Railroad Crossingl Look Out
for the Carsl"
st. Paul Small Town
AT the time OF the Incorporation Of the
Minnesota and Pacific railroad the city
OF st. Paul was a town of about 5000
people, and there were approximately
500,0 00 people in the entire state.
The new railroad company issued bonds
to finance the construction OF its line,
5000 900 thereof being given to the state
as security for a loan Of an equal amount
Of state railroad bonds, but due to the
panic Of 1857 1t was found impossible to
dispose of the company's own bonds. Not
having any income the company default
ed after 62h miles Of its line from st
Paul to near st. Cloud had been COM
pleted.
On foreclosure proceedings the state
of Minnesota purchased this railroad
property. The railroad was held by the
state of Minnesota until 1861, when 1t
was restored to the company, but the
Sioux outbreak and the Civil war caused
the company to again forfeit the prop
erty.
In 1862 the legislature Of the state OF