Year: 1865

Council:


The great Importance to the city of st. Paul
of railroad connection between Mendot and
this city, and the interest manifested by Your
body in the subject, seems to make it proper
for this company to explain fully the present
prospect for accomplishing the desired end,
and the reasons why the public will be disap-
pointed in not having the road at as early day
as was expected.


When this company commenced its active
organization to build the Minnesota Valley
Railroad from Mendoza up the river, the Min
nesota Central Road was engaged in construct
ing its branch to the city. We were assured
that the branch would be completed in time
for our use, and as the city aid to that compa-
ny was dependent on the completion of the
road at a certain time. we had no reason to
doubt, that by the time we could reach Men
dota, the road would be completed to st. Paul.


After the suspension of the work by the Gen.
trail company, negotiations were opened be-
tween the two companies, and q contract put
in form by which both companies were TO con.
struct the work on the line adopted bv the
Central company.


The contract was ratified by the Central
company, but this company failed to do so. As
the work from Mendoza to st. Paul did not en-
ter into the estimates of this company Origin
ally, it had provided, and it had no means to
appropriate to the work, and wholly from ina
bility to meet its share ofexpenditure the pro.
posed arrangement was abandoned. It is due
to the Central company to say that in the mat
ter OF the proposed contract for the joint con-
struction OF the road, that company met us on
fair, liberal and satisfactory terms.


Thus matters rested until within the last few
days. Another meeting was had between the
officers OF the two companies and negotiations
were renewed. The last arrangement contem-
plated completing the road during this wear to
hriI I>o
pleted in another year. This arrangement
failed because the Central company required as
condition for uniting with this COMPANY that
their expenditures on the river piers and on
this side OF the river should be taken at cost
and this company advance one-half therefor !:
practically requiring this company to invest
in the work done by them, that could not be
available for one or two wears to come. AS
this company had not the means to comply
with the terms proposed, the arrangement was
abandoned, and negotiations NAV be regarded
as closed between the companies. From the
best information We have, the Central company
has no present purpose of building the road
from Mendoza, and if the work is done it must
be done wholly by this company. The cost of
the bridge is too great to be undertaken row
by this company. With such aid as the citv
might give, and such aid as the business men
might add to the help from the CITY, this com.
pany would undertake to build the road to st,
Paul, commencing the work Immediately and
prosecuting the same vigorously.


It is believed the work might be done before
the opening of navigation for the coming sea
son. If this work can be provided for BY lib
eral aid from the city and citizens, the COM
pany will most likely close another arrange.
ment for rails TO extend the road to Belle Plain
curing The next summer.


Very respectfully,


E. F. DRAKE, President


st. Paul, July q, 1865.


Alter the reading of the above reports, Aid.
Dawson said 1t would be difficult to get citi-
zens to subscribe to road which would run
to West st. Paul. He found no one in favor
OF II, Is they feared that it might stay there,
ana me buildings be located there perma-


AID sliehter said he was of different opin-
DIN. He thought i. was better for the road to
come to West St. Paul than to stop at Mendoza,
and not come nearer at all. 1t could not stop
there long At all events, and the buildings
erected would be only temporary. In the
meantime 1t would greatly advantage us. He