Part 84 (1/2)

MINNEAPOLIS, SAULT STE MARIE & ATLANTIC

The following memorial, introduced by the writer while a member of the state senate of 1877, is the first public estion of this road as far as we are aware It was adopted by the legislature, forwarded to Washi+ngton, read and duly referred to the committee on railroads:

STATE OF MINNESOTA

NINETEENTH SESSION SF NO 36

A MEMORIAL _Introduced by Mr Folsom, Jan 12, 1877_ TO CONGRESS FOR RIGHT OF WAY AND GRANT OF LAND FOR RAILROAD PURPOSES

_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress asseislature of the state of Minnesota, respectfully represent that the rapidly increasing settlericultural products and reater and cheaper facilities than now existing, and a more direct transit to the Atlantic seaboard and European ports, and eastern products transported to the Northwest

That the saving in the distance to eastern markets of three hundred miles, by a railroad route from St Paul and Minneapolis to Sault Ste

Marie, will tend to ion of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota, and Montana The surplus of wheat, which forovern the distance to European reat source of wealth to our whole land, and deserves aid and protection

That by reason of the facts set forth in this memorial, and many other considerations, the nearest transit makes cheap transportation and thereby develops the country and increases prosperity

To further these objects, we ask Congress to donate land to aid, and the right of way through government land to build, a railroad from the cities of St Paul and Minneapolis to the falls of St Marie's river

Sept 20, 1879, a largeto consider the feasibility of the ”Soo” route Over five hundred persons were present, aates from Minneapolis, St Paul, Stillwater, and Superior City The subject was discussed and resolutions passed favoring the building of the road to Sault Ste

Marie via the Dalles of St Croix

Not, however, till Sept 12, 1883, were the articles of incorporation filed in Wisconsin and Minnesota by W D Washburn and others of Minneapolis, for the Minneapolis, Sault Ste Marie & Atlantic Railroad Company

The road was completed to the ”Soo” in December, 1887 At that point it connects with a branch of the Canadian Pacific The St Marie river is to be crossed on a union bridge built by the roads centring at that point It is now under construction, and will cost when coth of the line is about 225 miles The capital stock is 12,000,000, divided into 80,000 shares of common stock, and 40,000 shares preferred The board of directors for the first year is co persons, all residents of Minneapolis: W D Washburn, president; H T Welles, John Martin, Tho, Clinton Morrison, J K Sidle, W W Eastman, W D Hale, C A Pillsbury, and Chas J Martin

The following comparison of distance will be of interest to the people of the Northwestern States:

MILES MILES

St Paul to Chicago 411 Chicago to New York City 962 New York to Liverpool 3,040 ----- 4,413 St Paul (via Sault) to Montreal 997 Montreal to Liverpool 2,790 ----- 3,787 ----- Difference in favor of Montreal route 626

CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & NORTHERN RAILROAD

The Chicago, Burlington & Northern Coo to Savannah, Illinois, and fro its east bank to St Paul, crossing the St Croix at Prescott

The road frohty-five th, and was co stock, was 30,000 per ht-tenths feet to the rees in one hundred feet The St Croix, Chippewa, Wisconsin, Platte, Grant, and Fever rivers are crossed by iron bridges

MILEAGE OF ROADS CENTRING IN ST PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS IN 1887

MILES

Manitoba 3,200 Northern Pacific 2,200 Hastings & Dakota 344 Pacific division of the Minneapolis & St Louis 223 Minneapolis & Pacific 230 Omaha, Western division 627 Milwaukee, River division 100 Milwaukee, Iowa division 100 Minneapolis & St Louis 100 Burlington & Northern 100 Northwestern, Oo, St Paul & Kansas City) 200 Wisconsin Central 100 Soo Ste Marie 210 North Wisconsin 250 St Paul & Duluth 216 ----- Total 8,476

CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE ST CROIX RIVER