Minnehaha County, South Dakota - Chapter 6: Railroar>s and Motor Lines, 1899

Chapter 6: Railroar>s and Motor Lines

Early in the history of the settlement of Minnehaha county, her enterprising- citizens, especially those residint^ at Sioux Falls, were enjrag-ed in projects to obtain railroad connections with the outside world.

The people of the little villag-e of Sioux Falls recog-nized the advantaf^es of its location and were filled with j>-reat expectations that at some time in the near future a prosperous city would rapidly spring- up on the banks of the Sioux. To hasten the time when this should be accomplished, nothing- promised g-reater results than securing- railroad connections.

On Monday evening-, Aug-ust 20, 1874, with only a few hours notice, a larg-e assembly convened at Allen's hall in Sioux Falls to consider the question of offering- some inducement for the buildingof a railroad into town. Rig-ht here, at the first railroad meetingever held within the boundaries of Minnehaha county the people were told that if Sioux Falls was ever to be anything- but a villag-e, railroad facilities must be secured; and this statement has been made wdth g-reat earnestness at every railroad meeting- held since then, whenever steps were being- taken to secure a new line of road. Meeting-s of this character usually result in passing- a resolution at least, and this meeting- resolved as follows: "That the town of Sioux Falls and Minnehaha county will donate to the first railroad that is completed to this place fifty thousand dollars, provided said road reaches Sioux Palls by the first day of November, 1870." From information received in reference to this meetinof we know that some of those present thou^-ht that November 1, 1876, was the latest day Sioux Palls could o-et alontj- without a railroad, and others thou^-ht that it was as early a date as the funds could be secured.

Prom this time on, the people never let the railroad question rest, and all sorts of projects and schemes were devised to ^et a railroad; and the town was exceedino-ly fortunate in having- among- its earlv settlers some of the most energ-etic, enterprising- and capable men that ever settled in a new country.

On the 2d dav of November, 1875, a larg-e and enthusiastic crowd of people g-athered at Allen's hall to consider an offer that had been made to the people of Minnehaha countv bv the Sioux City and Pembina railroad company to build a railroad to Sioux Palls and have it in operation by the 1st day of November, 1876, upon the condition that Minnehaha county would raise 8100,000 in aid of the project.

Resolutions were passed to the effect that the interest of Minnehaha county demanded a railroad, and that the citizens would do all in their power to aid any company to build a road to Sioux Palls; also that immediate steps be taken to org-anize a local company, sur\'e\' a route, open stock books and solicit subscriptions along- the line of survey. A committee was appointed to institute the necessary ])roceeding-s to this end, consisting- of M. L. Wood, K. A. Sherman, J(v seph Rol)erts, Newton Clark, R. P. Fettig-rew, J. 1). Cameron and Melvin (irig-sb}'. The committee met the day following, and after rr\ifwin<^- the situation it was decided " to organize a railroad compan\ to be known as the Sioux Palls Railroad Company," having- for its object the building'- of a railroad, with one of its termini at Yankton and the other at a point on the eastern boundary of Dakota in the town of Valley Springs. M. Grig-sby was appointed to draft the articles of incorporation, and on November 10, the org'anization was perfected. The companv consisted of M. Grig-sbv, E. A. Sherman, R. P. Pettig-rew, A. P. Shaw, Joseph Roberts, M. L. Wood and J. D. Cameron, who at once caused a survey to be made of the line.

Another railroad meeting- of the citizens of Minnehaha county was held in Sioux Palls on the 22d day of January, 1876, and althoug-h the expression was unanimous in favor of aiding- any railroad company in building- into Sioux Palls, still, the g-eneral opinion was that S50,000 would be as much as the county could afford to donate. During the month of March, 1876, the Worthing-ton and Sioux Palls railroad company was org-anized at St. Paul, with the view of making- a connection with the road to be built by the Sioux Palls company, and this company proceeded to build a railroad from Worthing-ton in the direction of Sioux Palls, completing- its line to Luverne during- the fall of 1877.

At a citizen's meeting- held September 5, 1877, in Sioux Palls, some of the officials of the Sioux City and St. Paul and St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad company made the following- proposition: "If the citizens of Minnehaha county will vote us aid to the amount of S25,000, and the villap-e of Sioux Palls will vote us an additional amount of S10,()l)(), we will build and e([uip a railroad to Sioux Falls on or before October 1, 1878." On the 28th day of September, 1877, Horace Thompson of St. Paul, president of the Worthint^'ton and Sioux Falls Railroad Co., addressed a letter to the commissioners of Minnehaha county, proposing- to build that line of road into Sioux P^alls by the first day of October, 1878, if certain conditions contained in the letter were complied with. He required that the County of Minnehaha should raise S25,000 in aid of the road, and said in this communication that he made this proposition with the expectation that Sioux Falls would raise an additional sum of S1(),()00, and that the company controlling- the charter to the Minnesota line would turn over to the Worthing-ton and Sioux Falls company its charters, surveys, rig-ht of way, deeds, or releases of the whole line, includingland at terminus in Sioux Falls for depot and side tracks, free from all expense. This communication was received by the countv^ board on October 1, and on that day the board decided to submit to the election of the county the question of bonding- the county in the sum of S25,O0() in aid of the road, as proposed, the bonds to run twenty \ ears, with interest at ten per cent., and not to be issued by the board until Sioux Falls had raised S10,U00 for the same purpose. The (juestion was submitted at the g-eneral election in November, and resulted adversely to the issuance of the bonds, the vote standing- 3i>4 fur, and 4*)2 ciiy-(iiusl.

After this defeat, the pro])osition made by the Worthington and Sioux Falls company was modified, and a ])roposition was sul)mitted to the peo])le of Sioux Falls, offering- to build a road into Sioux Falls before the 1st day of November, 1878, provided they would raise S20,- 000 in aid of the road, and comply with the conditions first proposed in reference to the rig-ht of way and depot g-rounds. The citizens of Sioux Falls by this time were determined that the road being- built west from Worthing-ton and then completed and in operation to Luverne,, should be extended with the g-reatest possible dispatch to Sioux! Falls. Fifty-two citizens of Sioux Falls petitioned the board of trustees of the villag-e to submit the question of bonding- the villag-e for this purpose, in the sum of S20,000, to the electors of the villag-e, and a meeting- of the villag-e council was called for December 15, to consider the propriety of so doing-.

When the meeting- convened. President Howard and Trustees Sherman, VanEps and Phillips were present. Trustee Callender absent. A motion was made to grant the request of the petitioners, which received an unanimous vote, and the election was called for January 15, 1878. The result of this election was 102 votes for and three ag-aiust bonding-.

At a special meeting- of the village board held ]March 20, 1878, the bonds voted by the corporation were sig-ned by C. K. Howard, ])resident, and C. O. Natesta, clerk, and put into the hands of the villag-e treasurer to be turned over to the Sioux Falls Railroad company at the proper time. The bonds having- been issued, the Sioux Falls company was merg-ed into the Worthing-ton and Sioux Falls Railroad company, and the extension of its line secured.

the approach of the iron rail with g-reat pleasure, and ever\' issue of the local newspapers announced the prog-ress that was being- made. It reached Valley Springs the first of June, and on Monday, the 4th dav of June, the company opened its office at that place for business. Brandon, the next station, was reached on the 15th day of July, althouo-h considerable g-rading- had been done on the line west of that place, (^n Thursday, Aug-ust 1, 1878, the first train with passeng-ers in charge of Peter Becker, conductor, reached Sioux Falls between twelve and 1 o'clock in the afternoon, to be accurate, 12:40. A few g-entlemen from Sioux Palls met this train at Brandon and decorated the engfine with flag-s and streamers, and when the train reached its destination it was g-reeted by a band of music, led by T. H. Brown, and the cheers and shouts of a larg-e assemblag-e of people.

It is easy to imag'ine something' of the feeling' pervading' the people on this occasion, after haying so long- and so diligvntly labored for railroad facilities to find at last the work had been accomplished, and their ears could hear the whistle of a locomotive, and their eyes see a train of cars in Sioux Falls.

The writer was in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on the 11th day of September, 1870, when the first railroad train came into that city. It was a great day, and the people for miles around decided to make the most of it. Thousands of people were in attendance, and when the train approached bands of music phiyed, cannons boomed, and the crowd set up a mig-hty shout. A few rods from the depot a laro-e, well-dressed woman sat in a two-seated carriao-e with a driver in front, and the spirited horses attached to her carriao-e became frijrhtened and commenced to run, when she shouted "let them run, let them run, I have been in the west sixteen years, and this is the lii'st time I ha\e seen the cars."

The first passeng-er fare established to St. Paul was S*).75, to Sioux City via Worthino-ton, St). 20. Freight rates to St. Paul were as follows:

Trains from St. Paul arrived at 11:45 A. M., and departed at 1:15 P. M. Durinjjf August and September following-, the company erected depot building-s, eng-ine house, and an elevator with a capacitv of ()0,00() bushels.

The Worthing-ton and Sioux Palls line was extended to Salem in McCook county during- the fall of 1879, and was eventuallv absorbed by the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railroad Company.

During- the latter part of the year 1878, the Sioux Citv and Pembina railroad had completed its line to Beloit, and, like all railroad corporations, wanted a donation from the people residing- along- the line as it proceeded to .build. It proposed to build to Sioux Falls during the year 1879, provided an appropriation should be made bv her people for that purpose. At this time the Chicagfo, Milwaukee and St. Paul company was building- west from McGreg-or, and was getting- its line within hailing- distance, and althoug-h the proposed route entered Dakota south of Minnehaha county, it was thoug-ht ad- \i sable to make the attempt to divert it from its course and secure its extension to Sioux Palls.

As soon as incorporated, the company C(jnferred with the manag-ement of the C, M. and St. P. R. R. Co.,in reference to securing- that line of road, but after brief neg-otiations it was found impos-

During- the early part of 1879, the Pembina company manifested a disposition to build to Sioux Falls, but at the same time it wanted a donation, and submitted to the people at diiferent times, propositions for extendino- its line to Sioux Falls, and promised to have the road in operation before January 1, 1880.

On the 26th day of July, it finally proposed that it would do so if Sioux Falls would donate depot grounds and secure the rig-ht of way from Canton. This offer was promptly accepted and the rig-ht of way secured, and on the 18th day of December, 1879, the first train over thiscroad arrived in Sioux Falls. During- the month of October, 1879, the Sioux City and Pembina, and Dakota Southern railroad companies consolidated, and on the first day of April, 1880, the Chicag-o, Milwaukee and St. Paul company absorbed it into its railroad system.

Another road, the Southern Minnesota, during- 1879 was rapidly coming- west throug-h southern Minnesota and it was thoug-ht desirable that this road should build down the valley of the Sioux to Sioux Falls. It was not very g-reedy in its demand for a donation for building-to Sioux Falls, butasked that depotg-rounds in. the villag-e and the right of way for ten miles north of the corporation limits be g-iven. This proposition was accepted, and the road secured and com])leted into Sioux Falls in 1881, and was soon absorbed by the Chicag-o, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Company.

Railroad

As early as iho 13th (la\ ol" August, 1SS4, P. P. Peck, then one of the aldermen of Sioux lAalls, asked the city council, "to api)ro- ])riate S3()() to make a permanent survey of a line of railroad from Sioux Falls east to a ])oint in Osceola or Lyon counties, Iowa, to intersect with the Burlino-ton, Cedar Rapids and Northern railroad." This was done by an unanimous vote, and a warrant ordered drawn in the sum of SlOO, "to pay the incidental expenses of such survey." A few months later a warrant was drawn for S40() to defrav the expenses of the survey that had been made.

The foreo-oino- is the first record the writer has been able to iin<l of anv attem])t made to o-et the Burlin«-ton line of road into Sioux Falls.

At a railroad meetino- held in Sioux Falls Januar\' 2, 18S(), the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad Companv made a proposition to extend its line to Sioux Falls durino- the vear bS8f). To do this it required that a fund of S8(),()00 be raised bv the people residing- along- the proposed route from Ellsworth to Sioux Falls, and that the rig-ht of way and depot g-rounds be donated. Previous to this, the Sioux Falls, Iowa and Northern Railroad Company had been formed, and the final result of this meeting- was to pass a resolution as follows: '' Besoivaf, that it is taken to be the sense of the meetintr that the officers of the Sioux Falls, Iowa and Northern railroad be requested to draw a gfuarantee of the proposition here submitted by President Ives, and present the same to the people of Sioux Falls for their sig-nature, and that the chairman of this meeting- appointacommittee of five for that purpose." This meetingwas well attended and those present were in a mood to promise almost anything- to secure this road, in fact, some of them said, "Sioux Falls could not prosper without it." An ag-reement was drawn up andsig-ned by the committeeon the part of Sioux Falls, and bv President Ives on the part of the railroad company to carry into effect the proposition as first made. It was estimated that Sioux Falls would have to raise S50,00() of the S80,()00 asked for, and the contract was made according^lv.

On the 11th day of January, 1886, the city council convened in special session to consider a petition that had been circulated and larg-ely sig-ned, asking- the council to levy a tax on all the taxable property in the city, sufficiently larg'e to raise SSO.OOD, or else submit to the people the question of bonding- the city in that sum to secure the building- of this road to Sioux Falls.

The council referred the petition to the finance committee, with instruction to report at the next meeting-, and then adjourned until the next day. On the 12th day of January the committee reported, recommending- the council to submit the question of bonding- the citv in the sum of S5l),()i)() in aid of the road, to the electors of Sioux Falls, and that the election be held on the 9th of February, 188{).

The council at once passed a resolution calling- the election, as recommended by the committee. Within a day or two after this action had been taken, it was discovered that S50,000 would not be sufficient to meet the oblig-ations assumed by the citizens committee, and a public meeting- was held to take the subject into consideration.

At this meeting- it was thoug-ht advisable to raise S60,0()0, as it would require at least $10,000 to g-et the rig-ht of way and depot g-rounds in Minnehaha county. A resolution was passed, requestingthe city council to submit the question of bonding- the city in the sum of 860,000 to a vote of the people. In a called session on the 20th day of January, the city council rescinded its former action in the matter, and ordered the question submitted to a vote of the people on the 16th day of February, 1886, in accordance with the terms of the resolution adopted at the citizens' meeting-.

On the 26th day of February the vote was canvassed and the bonds ordered issued - 120 in number, of S500 each, at 7 per cent, interest, to become due in twenty years. On the 12th day of May the city council directed the mayor and clerk to sig-n the bonds and deposit them in the Minnehaha National Bank. This issue of bonds was at a later date destroyed, owing- to some informalities, and on the 9th day of March, 1887, a new issue of bonds was made in the same amount, to run for twenty years from date.

The road was completed into Sioux Palls on the 26th day of October, 188(), J. W. Bo3'ce drivino- the last spike at 11 o'clock A. m., and the ringing- of church bells and blowing- of steam whistles announced to the people that the B., C. R & N. railroad was com- ])leted. A freigfht train arrived that day over the road, and the following- (lav, at 3 o'clock f. M.,a passeng-er train left for Kllsworth, to connect with the throug-h train from Watertown, and on the 1st day of Noveml)er, liS8(), reg'idar passeng-er trains commenced running-.

In securing- the rig-ht of way throug-h the county, and in g-ettingthe other towns along- the line to Ellsworth to donate their ]-)ro])ortionate share, re(|uired not a little work on the ])art of Sioux Falls. Thomas H. Brow^n did a g'ood deal of this work, and is entitled to a larg-e share of the credit in obtaining- this line of road.

Illinois Central Railroad

On the 2(>th d:iy of April, 1S(S7, a public meeting- was iu-ld al Cherokee, Iowa, to take action in the matter of inducing- the Illinois Central Railroad Company to build a branch to Sioux Ealls. It was a well-attended meeting- of the business men of Cherokee, and they were alive to the advantag-es the city w'ould secure by the building- of this road. A committee w^as appointed to confer with the officials of the road, and to set before them the advantag-es that Cherokee had over all other towns on the line as a terminus of a branch road to Sioux Falls. The committee had also instruction to confer with the people of Sioux Palls, and g-et them interested in the enterprise.

This may be said to be the initial step that culminated in securing-to Sioux "Palls a connection with the Illinois Central, althoug-h the citizens of Sioux Palls had before this taken some action in the same direction.

About four o'clock in the afternoon of Thursday, May 12, 1SS7, a deleg-ation of twenty-two g-entlemen arrived in Sioux Palls in the interest of the proposed railroad from Cherokee. This deleg-ation was made up of business men from Cherokee, Primg-ar, Sheldon and Rock Rapids. They were expected to arrive the next day, but the citizens were ready for them, and dodg-ers were at once circulated, calling- the business men to assemble at the Cataract house that evening- to confer with the deleg-ation reg-arding- the projected railroad connection.

Representatives of all the various interests in the city responded to the call, and the visitors were assured that nothing- would please the people of Sioux Palls more, than to secure the railroad connection they desired.

Just prior to this time, it h.ad l)een intimated in railroad circles that the Illinois Central had a project to extend its road from Port Dodg-e to Sioux Palls, and from whatever point this road commenced to build throug-h northw-estern Iowa, the people of Sioux P^alls were determined to offer such inducements as to secure the connection. R. P. Pettig-rew, A. Beveridg-e, C. R. McKinney, E. A. Sherman and Major E. G. Smith were appointed on the part of Sioux P^alls to act with the deleg-ations present from the several localities, with instructions to do everything- possible to secure the road.

The (leleo'.'Ltions retuiMUMl home the next (1<'l\-, and reported thev had l)een enthusiastically received all alon.y- the line, and that the people were alive to the importance of enerij-etic, concerted action, if thev were to secure the road from Cherokee to Sioux Falls.

Sioux Falls had been fixed u])on by the Central, as the ultimate terminus of the proposed branch, and whether it was to commence at Fort Dodo-e, Tara, Manson, or Cherokee, (althou^-h her citizens preferred it should be at Cherokee) she was reasonably certain of the connection.

On the 22d day of May, 1887, the officials of the Illinois Central visited Cherokee, and the advantag-es and feasibility of the route from Cherokee to Sioux Falls were so strong-ly presented to them by the people of that enterprising- city, that they secured an order directing" Division Superintendent Gilleas to make a surxev of the route at once.

On Wednesday, June 1, 1887, D. C. Rice of Sioux Falls, who had l)een summoned to Cherokee, returned home and reported that the route had been divided into three surveying" districts - one from Cherokee to Sheldon, one from Sheldon west, and one from Sioux Falls east; that he had charg-e of the one from Sioux Falls, and had received instructions to push his work with all possil)]e vig-or, and that he would commence the next day.

June 2, 1887, Superintendent Gilleas was in Sioux Falls, and he said the survey would be completed over the entire route within two weeks. On Wednesday, July 11, he ag"ain yisited Sioux Falls, accompanied by Wm. J. Knig"ht, attorney of the Illinois Central railroad, and it was soon known that they came with authority to contract for the building" of the road from Cherokee to Sioux Falls before January 1, 1888. As usual on occasions like this, a meetingwas held at the Cataract house in the evening". It was larg"ely attended by representative business men, and without any delay Mr. Knig"ht made the following" proposition: ''The Illinois Central will at once commence g-rading" and have its line from Cherokee to Sioux Falls in operation l:)y January 1, 1888, if the city of Sioux Falls will secure it depot g"rounds and the rigfht of way thereto from the corporation limits." The pro})osition was accompanied with a statement that the depot g-rounds wanted by the company was a strip of land 300 feet wide and about 2,000 feet long-, on the east side of the river north of Eig"hth street, between the river bank and the Omaha track, and that the company desired the rig-ht of way to the packinghouse, polishing- works and quarries, and sufficient g-round for stock yard and roundhouse purposes.

Before this, the people of Sioux Falls had ag"reed with the towns east, throug"h which the road was to be built, that Sioux Falls would secure the rig-ht of way in Minnehaha county. After the proposition had been submitted bv Mr. Knig-ht, it was discussed fully by those present and iinally submitted to a vote, and it was unanimously decided to accept the proposition. A committee was then appointed, consisting- of R. K. Pettig"rew, C. E. McKinney, E. G. Smith, E. A. Sherman and C. O. Bailey, to obtain a g"uarantv that the ag"reement would be carried out, and to arrang-e with the company in reference to all matters contained in its proposition.

Allhoui^-li tliis project of l)iiil(lin<^' tlu' road from Clu'rokre to Sioux Falls was heini;- carried on 1)\' the Illinois Central company, still it could not do it directly, as its charter obtained from the State of Illinois did not permit it to construct <an\- railroad lines outside of the state, but it could ac([uire possession of railroads bv ])urchase or consolidation. To avoid this inhibition, the Cherokee and Dakota, a construction company, was incorporated, composed of ])rominenl officials of the Illinois Central.

On Tuesday, July 12, 1887, a larg"e deleo'ation came over from Rock Rapids for the purpose of seeintr what could be done in reference to the rijLrht of way nine miles in leng-th, in Minnesota. This deleg-ation wanted Sioux Falls to take care of it, as they had all thev could do at Rock Rapids, havino- to procure thirty-two miles of ri;^ht of way in Lvon county besides dejiot o-rounds. The result of this conference was an a«*reement that Sioux l'\alls should ol)tain \hr riu-ht of way in Minnesota.

The followino" Thursday prominent officials of the Illinois Central came to Sioux Falls and informed the people just what was wanted to settle the question whether the road would be built or not. Some of the recjuirements it was impossible to perform, and soon after, E. A. Sherman and R. F. Petti^jfrew went to Dubucpie to confer further with the railroad officials, and obtain, if possible, such modifications of the contract as would enable the people of Sioux lAalls to enter into it, feeli no- assured that the\ could perform the oblio-ations assumed.

In this mission they were successful, and Mr. Sherman relunu-d to Sioux Falls. On Tuesday, July 2<), 1887, he started out with a contract of o-uaranty to ol)tain the sig-natures of the business men of the city, and the amount they would be individually responsible for if the road was built in 1887. The city had bond'^ed for S()(),(M)() in building- the B., C. R. and N. railroad, and had promised the Willmar and Sioux Falls company S()0,()00 more, and it looked like a big- job to secure S40,0()0 for this road, and it was ]irobal)le that it could not be obtained for a less sum.

Mr. Sherman put in a g-ood day's work, and at night had S3(), ()(»(» subscribed. Thirteen men had subscribed SI, 000 each, and thirtyfour men S500 each. The next day he increased theg'uaranty to S-l-2,- 250, and then teleg-raphed the officials of the Illinois Central that the guarant}' was completed in accordance with the Dubuque ag-reement. Thursday evening- a public meeting- was held, but it was only necessary as a ratification meeting-, and it is safe to say that a Sioux Falls audience was never in a happier mood. A committee was appointed to secure the rig-ht of way, consisting- of E. A. Sherman, R. F. I^ettig-rew, C. E. McKinney, H. M. Avery and R. (x. Parmley.

On Saturday, July 30, 1887, the gfuaranty was accepted by the railroad officials, and the g-rading- of the road let, to be complete<l within sixty days, and the people of Sioux Falls retired that niyht assured of another connection with a great railroad system.

E. A. Sherman, R. F. Pettig-rew and R. G. Parmley went into Minnesota to secure the rig-ht of way, in fact, all alongf the line as far as Sioux Palls %vas to obtain it, and one of the committee re- ported that when they were all tog-ether they could always secure it. Pettig-rew and Sherman would g-et the men into their barns and Parmley would g-o into their houses and b}- his bland smiles, winningdeportment and entertaining- song's would so please the ladies that when they came to the point of contracting- for the amount that should be paid, they always found the wives more liberal than the husbands. On the 12th day of Aug-ust, 1887, this commitee reported that thev had secured the rig-ht of way throug-h Minnesota, except for a short distance over the property of two nonresidents, and that in so doing", had contracted to pay S(i,4()0.

Monday, December 19, 1887, was a cold day, but nearly five hundred men with two hundred teams were approaching- the terminus of the Illinois Central in the city of Sioux Falls, laying- the iron rail as thev advanced, and the whole city was ready for a burst of enthusiasm when the last spike should be driven. At just 11:30 o'clock, P. M., ever^'thing- was readv, when Mayor Norton, wieldingthe sledg-e with with a few well directed blows, sent the last spike home, and the whole ^city was soon made aware b}^ the g-reat commotion that followed'that Sioux Falls had an air line railroad connection 'with-Chicag-o.

It had been previouslv arrang-ed that a banquet should be g-iven the officials of the Illinois Central when the road was completed, and the evening- of the Dth day of December had been fixed upon as the time, and as Governor L. K. Church was to be in the city on that day, it was made a dual affair in honor of the officials and his excellencv.

At midni.yht Mayor Norton appeared at the l)an(iuet room with the railroad officials, and as the governor and other invited quests were ])resent all sat down to one of the most ele.o-ant spreads Sionx Falls had ever o-iven. E. W. Cakhvell was toastmaster, and called on Governor Church to welcome the Central to Dakota, which he did in a splendid speech. This was followed bv speeches froni U. R.Baile\- anti Major E.O. Smith on the part of Sioux Falls. (leneral Manaj4;er Jeifries then made the speech of the occasion, and eloquently asserted that notwithstanding- a majority of the stock and bonds of his company was held by foreio-ners it was American to the core. Speeches from F. R. Aikens, C. H. Winsor and E. G. Wrij[»-ht followed, and the tratherino- dispersed after having- g-iven three cheers and a tig-er for the Queen Citv.

It only remains to add that Sioux Falls fulfilled all the ol)ligations entered into by her citizens to secure this road, and that the city council issued the warrants of the cit}- in the sum (^f S43,32*>..52, to pav for the rig-ht of way and depot g-rounds,

Willmar And Siofx Falls Railroad

On the 18th day of February, 188(), several business men of Ri})estone \isited Sioux Falls to work up the interest among" her people in building- a railroad to be known as the Willmar and Sioux Falls railroad. They reg-istered at the Cataract House and then called upon some of the most prominent business men in the cit\', extollingthe enterprise they had in hand as only men can do who want a railroad. In the evening- a meeting- was held in one of the samj)le rooms at the Cataract House and the project discussed in all its phases. E, A. Sherman was chairman of the meeting-, and before it adjourned it was decided unanimously to make a move to obtain the road, and Andrew Beveridg-e, C. L. Norton and Cvrus Walts were a[)[)ointed a committee to act for the city. A day or two after this meeting- a local company was org-anized as the Willmar and Sioux Flails Railroad Company, with S2,()0(), ()()() capital to build the line, and amongthe directors elected were E. A. Sherman and H. T. Corson of Sioux Falls. On March 11, 1886, articles of incorporation were filed with the secretary of state of Minnesota, and on April (>, the local company ordered a preliminary survey to be made.

On Tuesday, July 20, 1886, a mass meeting- was held in Sioux Falls to g-et an expression of the citizens and to see what could be done to secure the road. The meeting- was quite larg-ely attended, and resulted in passing- a resolution g-uaranteeing- ^5(),()(H) and the rig-ht of way for the line in Minnehaha county to the Manitoba Railway Company, if the company would build the road into Sioux Falls, xVfter this time, during- the year 1886, conferences were held in St. Paul with the Alanitoba management by prominent citizens of Sioux Falls for the purpose of obtaining-, if possible, the assurance that the road would come to Sioux Falls. Nothing- of a definite character was accomplished, althoug-h the people at this end of the line were doing- everything- the>' could to aid in the project.

On the 8th day of January, 1887, it was reported that the surveying- partv was west of Willmar, and coming west, and on the 7th day of March, that the survey had been completed to Pipestone. March 24, the surveyors arrived in Sioux Falls, ha\'ing- completed the survev of the entire line.

April 28, 1887, a meeting- was held in the court house by the citizens of Sioux Falls, for the purpose of considering- a proposition that had been made by President J. M. Spicer, which contemplated the building- of the road to Sioux Falls. It was larg-ely attended, and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed; and when it was known that the conditions of securing- the road were a donation of 850,000, and the rig-ht of way in Minnehaha countv, it was so g-ood a thing- that no discussion took place and the proposition was accepted by a unanimous vote. A petition to the city council was then and there sig-ned by upwards of liftv taxpayers, asking- the council to levy a direct tax in aid of the road, and j)ledg-ing- the sig-ners to use their best endeavors to secure the name of every taxpayer in the city. William Van Eps, W. H. Corson, P. P. Peck, N. E. Phillips and John Sundback were ap- ])ointed a committee to wait upon the county commissioners at once, and urg-e them to call a special election, and submit the question of levying- a direct tax in aid of the road to the electors of the county. A committee, consisting- of M. Grig-sby, C. E. McKinney, K. 1^. Pettig'-rew, M. (xerin and J. T. (Gilbert, was a[)pointed to draw up and circulate for sig-natures a g-uaranty to the company in suflicienl amount to secure the immediate commencement of work on the line. Mav 8, 1887, this committee reported that there had been secured S48,000 upon the g-uaranty. A meeting- was held in Palisade township on the same day, which was lar^gely attended, and W. W. Coon, E. Millard and Ezra Royce were appointed a committee to aid in securing- the rig-ht of way throug-h the township.

June 18, 1887, President Spicer came to Sioux Falls, and ui)on liis arrival a meeting- of the citizens was called for the evening-. It was a representative g-athering- of the people, and wdien convened E. A. Sherman stated that the people had come tog-ether to hear a report of the meeting- of the directors of the Willmar and Sioux Falls Railroad Company held at Pipestone the day before. He said it had been determined at that meeting- that the road could not be built to Sioux Falls during- the year 1887, as it was impossible to secure the necessary ties, but that the manag-ement of the road throug-h its president was ready to submit a proposition to the people, which would, if accepted, secure the road. President Spicer then came forward and submitted the following- proposition:

The Willmar and Sioux Falls Railway Company being desirous of obtaining from the City of Sioux Falls, County of Minnehaha, Territory of Dakota, a bonus from said city in aid of the construction of tlie line of railway of said company from Willmar, Kandiyohi county, Minnesota, to Sioux Falls, Dakota, hereby makes to said City of Sioux Falls, the following definite proposition as heretofore mutually agreed upon:

Secontl, The said amount of aid to be paid as follows: At the time of the acceptance of this proposilioii tlie citizens of Sioux Falls shall execute an indemnity bond to said railway company in the amount of $50,000. Said bond to be approved by the president of said railway company and conditioned upon the construction of said railway line as herein proposed and the payment of the said aid as follows: At the time of the completion of said line of railway to Sioux Falls, $50,000 in cash, with the option on the part of the city to make said payment as follows: $20,000 January i, 18S9; $15,000 January i, 1890, and $15,000 January i, 1891, with interest thereon at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum from the lime when said railway company shall have cars running to the said City of Sioux Falls. Said right of way through Minnehaha county to the City of Sioux Falls to be obtained at the expense of the citizens of Sioux Falls, or of Minnehaha county, Dakota, and deeds to be placed in the hands of the said railway company on or before September 1, 18S7, and it is hereby understood and agreed that the citizens of Sioux Falls shall fully protect and indemnify said railway company against any cost or expense in obtaining the right of way through Minnehaha county, Dakota, to the City of Sioux Falls.

Third. The said railway company proposes and agrees, in consideration of said bonus, to cause to be constructed its line of railway from Willmar, Kandiyohi county, Minnesota, to Sioux Falls, Minnehaha county, Dakota, and to complete its line of railway and have cars running thereon to Sioux Falls, Dakota, on or before the ist day of January, 1889, and to grade said railway through Minnehaha county to Sioux Falls on or before January i, i888.

In witness whereof said Willmar and Sioux Falls Railway Company has on this iStii day of June, 1887, caused this proposition to be signed by John M. Spiccr, its president, and Charles C. Cioodnow, its secretary, and sealed will, its corporate seal.

lie said that all tlu' count irs aloiii;- the proposed riMilc in MiiiiK-- s(»ta had xoted a ta.x and secured the rij^dit of \\a\ , except 1 *i])c^'st(»ne coiint\ , and that the [)L'o])]e of that count\- would xote on the (piesti(»n the lollo\vinj4" Monday. He urj^'ed the peojWe to take prompt action in the matter, as Sioux City on the one side, and towns west of Sioux Falls would pav liberal bonuses to divert the road from Sioux i^\'Llls, and that Sioux' City had already oifered S30(),0()() for the road. Other remarks were made, when R. F. Pettig-rew made a motion that the proposition submitted be accepted and the bond given. It received a unanimo'is vote. A committee to secure the guaranty was ap- ])ointed, composed of John Norton, Andrew Beveridge, C. F. Mc- Kinney, M. Gerin and J. T. Gilbert.

During the summer a g'ood deal of s[)ecnlation was engaged in, in reference to the commencement of the work here, the location of the depot and other matters pertaining* to the road.

August 1, 1887, a large crew of men and several hundred teams camped on the Willmar and Sioux Falls line at a point about e(|uidistant from Willmar and (iranite Falls, and by the 5th of Septein her there were about one hundred camps of graders between Willmar and Sioux Falls. September 12 it was learned that a large force of g-raders had been laid oif, and that there was trouble somewhere. E. A. Sherman and R. F. Pettig'rew visited St. Paul at once and saw James J. Hill, and were rfot long in finding the cause of the trouble. The Manitoba wanted depot grounds near the Omaha depot south of Eighth street, but expected to get what land the company wanted for S25,()()(), but had been asked S5(),(M)(), which sum was considered exorbitant. The result of the interview was an order b\ Mr. Hill that the jLi"radinti- should g'o on, and that the matter of depot grounds should rest until the spring- of 1888, when, if necessar}', condemnation proceeding-s would be instituted to obtain them. At the conclusion of the interview Mr. Hill said: "I have ag-reed to put my line throug-h to Sioux Palls, and it is g'oing" there." This statement was a g-reat relief to the people of Minnehaha countv, for it must be admitted that the boomers at Sioux City had not only kept them g-uessing% but had g-iven them a g-reat amount of hard work, and sharp work to thwart their schemes to divert the road from its orig-inal destination.

September 20, 1887, a meeting- of the directors of the Willmar and Sioux Palls Railway Company was called at St. Paul. At this meeting- all the directors resigfned and an election was held for a new board. It was the intention to elect a director from each of the principal toAvns along- the road, but it resulted in retaining- only President Spicer and Vice President Sherman, the balance being- made up of prominent officials of the Manitoba.

Mr. Sherman arrived home on the 22d of Septeml)er, and the next day it was known that the road had secured depot g-rounds in the southwestern part of the city, but at the same time it was known that the managfement still desired to obtain land near the Omaha depot for depot g-rounds, if it could ])e obtained at a reasonable price. This it was impossible to do, and on the 0th day of ()ctol)er, 1SS7, the depot was located where it now is.

The work of g-rading- the road commenced early in the spring- of 1888, but was delaved bv heavv rains during- the latter part of the spring and early summer, but on the first day of Aug-ust a larg-e force was put on, and from that time the work was pushed with g-reat vig-or. The approach of the force eng-ag-ed in completing- the road to Sioux Palls about October 20, 1888, astonished the ])eople. It looked like a small, well equipped army. Some of the boarding- cars were three stories hig-h; and when the people saw seven hundred feet of track laid in just eig-ht minutes, they were all ready to vote for "Jim Hill" for president of the United States. The line was completed to Sioux Palls at 4:30 o'clock, in the afternoon of ()ct()l)er 25, 1888.

The first reg'ular passeng-er train on the Willmar and Sioux Palls railroad pulled out of the city of Sioux Palls at 8:30 A. M., November 1, 1888. The bridg-e not being- completed over the Big- Sioux river near the company's depot, temporary quarters had been provided on Eig-hth street, east of the Omaha depot.

E. A. Sherman secured the right of way and depot g-rounds for this road in Minnehaha county, and in doing- so, labored hard to have it cost the city as little as possible, but having- done the best he could the city was compelled to pay $77,403.65.

After the completion of the road, it was considered the rig-ht thing- by the citizens of Sioux Palls, to formally express to James J. Hill its appreciation of what he had done for the city in gfiving- her a connection with the g-reat combination lines of railroads under his management, and a time had been fixed for so doing-, but had been changed, and finally Tuesday, December 11, was settled upon for the occasion. At first the intention was to g-ive a recei)tion to tlic railroad orticials, but as time wore on the orig-inal ])lan was enlarg-ed and the business men of St. Paul, Minneapolis and towns along- the line were invited to the hospitalities of the citv.

On Monday nig-ht, December 10, 1888, a train of nine sleepers and day coaches started from St. Paul for Sioux Falls. At different points along- the line deleg-ations got aboard the train, and when it arrived at its destination there were 185 passengers. A few persons from adjoining- towns had also been invited, so that the g-uests of the city numbered more than two hundred. It was a g-reat disappointment to every one that James J. Hill could not be present, but a law suit involving- about two million dollars detained him.

From the arrival of the train until its departure ten hours later, nothing- was left undone by the people of Sioux Falls to make the occasion enjoyable for her g-uests and memorable in the annals of the Oueen City. The arrangfements were simply perfect, the banquet eleg-ant, and the whole affair terminating- in some admirable speeches in harmony with the occasion.

South Sioux Falls Railroad And Rapid Transit

The incorporators were R. F. Pettigrew, S. L. Tate, F. H. (xerrish, C. (t. Ferg-uson and F. W. Pettig-rew. It was supposed at lirst that the company intended to build a belt motor line around the cit\ , the central station to be located at South Sioux Falls.

January 4, 188*), the city council of Sioux Falls passed an ordinance g-iving- this companv the rig-ht to build and operate a motor line within the city limits, and the exclusive rig-ht to certain streets in the citv, commencing- at the intersection of Fleventh street and Phillips avenue.

During- the spring- and earl\- summer the road was graded and ironed to South Sioux Falls. Two new passeng-er cars for this road .-irrived in the citv about the 10th day of May, 188'). The 18th day of June, 1880, the first business was done on this road, over one tlKHisand people being- conveved from Fleventh street to Coats' race track. A trial trip was made Tuesday, June 25, 1880, to South Sioux Falls, and all the city officials were invited to honor the occasion with their presence.

During- the summer of that year all sort of surmises were made as to where the western terminus would be located, but the idea pre- \ ailed quite g-enerally that it was the eastern end of the Midland Pacific, and would ultimately be built to Pug-et S(nind.

South Dakota Rapid Transit And Railroad Company

In June, 1889, it was known in Sioux Falls that there was a project on foot to construct a motor line from Sioux Palls to East Sioux Falls. The organization was perfected about the 1st of July of that vear under the name of South Dakota Rapid Transit and Railway Company. W. R. King-sburv, R. J. Wells, C. C. Crandall, C. E. Johnson, A. M. Crosby, J. T. Little, Jr., and S. C. French were elected directors, and they elected Kingsbury, president, French, vice president, Johnson, treasurer and W. S. Welliver, secretary.

An ordinance was passed by the city council of the city of Sioux Falls on the 1st day of July, 1889, g-ranting the right of way for this company to build and operate a single track of its railway along and upon certain streets in the city, commencing at the foot of Ninth street crossing the Sioux river and thence east to the city limits. But before anything was done at the west end of the line, the company and the owners of property on Tenth street arranged for the building of a viaduct on that street, east of the bridge over the tracks of the Milwaukee, Omaha and Great Northern railroads, and the ordinance granting the right of way, was afterwards amended so as to begin the line at the intersection of Tenth street and Phillips avenue.

About this time the Tenth street bridge was condemned, and owing to the fact that this line was to cross the river on Tenth street, the bridge was rebuilt in a most substantial manner.

As soon as the right of way through the city had been secured the company proceeded to survey the route, and when it was completed on the 1st of August, Engineer Jackson reported that the line was just six miles in length. The building of the bridg-es on the line, seven in all, was completed in November and track laying commenced on January 27, 1890.

The motors for the electric cars arrived April 8, and were taken to the engine house on block one in East Park addition. The engine arrived on April 12, and the boiler - weighing 13,000 lbs. - on April 17, 1890.

About this time in the history of the electric motor line, a disagreement arose between the city council and the company, and during the afternoon of May 14, a special meeting of the committee on rules and ordinances met to consider the matter.

At the time of the passage of the original ordinance number 81, the company thought it possible that thev might want to cross the river on Tenth street, although by the terms of the ordinance it was to cross at Ninth street. Afterwards ordinance number 102 M^as passed, amending ordinance 81, giving the company the right to enter the city by way of Tenth street across the viaduct, and the laying of a double track on the bridge, the company to keep up the repair of the bridge roadway between the rails. At the time this ordinance was passed, Col. J. H. Drake appeared in opposition to it.

The meeting- of the committee was called to consider an ordinance amending- ordinance number 81. Col. Drake and Wm. Van Eps were present and discussed at leng-th the question at issue, while the company was represented by J. W. Jones and its president W. R. Kino-sbury. This proposed amendment declared the rights and privileo-es !L>-ranted under ordinance 81 forfeited, unless the line of railway should be wholly built and equipped for business and in full operation within the limits of the city of Sioux Palls on or before the 15th day of July, 1890, or within fifteen days after the Tenth street bridge and yiaduct should be completed and open to travel.

The hearing- in this case ended with the promise of President Kino-sbury that the company would lay only one track over the ])rido-e and viaduct, and that it should be laid upon one of the sidewalks supported by brackets if found practicable.

The committee reported this ordinance to the city council on May 17, with a recommendation that it be referred to the city attorney, which was accordingly done.

About this time one of those little affairs occurred in the citv that usually follow in building- motor and street car lines where there are, or are supposed to be, conflicting interests. Sunday morning-, May 25, just after midnight, there appeared to be an unusual activity in the vicinity of Tenth street and Phillips avenue. It so happened that, owing to some public gatherings in the city that were just breaking up, a good many people were on the streets, and, as it was only a step out of the way to visit Tenth street, the\" did so to verify the rumor that something unusual was taking place at that point. A crowd soon gathered, and to their surprise found about fifty persons on Tenth street engaged in laying a street car track, flavor Peck soon arrived, and was horrified at finding so many men breaking the Sabbath, and expostulated with them, using- some of the most approved scriptural quotations "in accents wild," but all to no effect. The tall form of George Arneson was to be seen everywhere among the Sabbath breakers urging them on. Fred Pettigrew and C. G. Ferguson appeared to be associated with Arneson in command, and this g-ave the whole scheme away, for who was there but Judge Tate, that could induce such men to work on the Sabbath. The mayor and City Attorney Brockwa}' took a hack for Judg-e Tate's home. They found him asleep, or apparently so, but they aroused him, and then commenced one of the most remarkable disquisitions upon the desecration of the Sabbath that was ever delivered to a wicked man. Peck told him that the example he was setting was not in keeping with his Presbyterian pretensions, and Brockway reminded him that there would be a hereafter that was fearful to contemplate for such men as would induce unreflecting*- persons like Arneson, Pettigrew and Ferguson to break the Sabbath. The judg'-e was awed, if not convinced, and with a treml)ling hand he wrote a note and handed it to the mayor, which read as follows: "To Georg^e Arneson, F. W. Pettigrew and Mr. Hyde: - Please to stop work on Tenth street and level up the ground so that the work can be renewed Monday morning. S. L. Tate." This note was recognized as authoritv bv the street car force. Of course, this movement was for the purpose of occupying- the street in advance of the motor line, and the mayor, after havino- stopped the street car scheme, turned his attention to the mana^^ers of the motor line, and they agreed to do nothing- on Sunday. All day Sunday the air was full of rumors as to what would happen on Tenth street at the beginning- of the next secular day, and a g-ood many people took an afternoon nap on Sunday, so as to be present when the exercises commenced. About eleven o'clock Sunday nig'ht two hundred men appeared on Tenth street between Phillips and First avenvies, armed with spokes. They were there in the interest of the motor line. The mayor was also there with the police force augmented by thirty specials sworn in for the occasion. The street car managers were also present and tried to induce the mayor to disarm their opponents, but the mayor had enlisted in the interest of peace, and while he would not disarm any one, still, he declared he was there to see that no weapons were used by either party in the attempt to occupy Tenth street. It was evident, however, that he was pleased with the extensive preparations that the motor line had made to give the public the advantag-e of their line upon Tenth street at as earh- a date as possible. During Sunday evening the street car people had been eng-aged in spiking rails onto ties and had them in readiness for laying-. Just before midnight a crowd of men started from the street car barn on Eleventh street, with rails spiked to ties. At this demonstration larg-e wagons of the motor company came from Phillips avenue into Tenth street; the first was loaded with ties, the second with rails, and the last witli spikes, which were dropped as they proceeded east on Tenth street. The motor force occupying the line, went at the work in earnest, and in four minutes had the iron laid to First avenue, in fifteen minutes more they had the rails spiked in place, and at 12:20 o'clock Monday morning, the motor line was running a handcar over the line. The horse car people carried three lengths of rails spiked to ties to First avenue, but in attempting to lay one of them in the middle of Tenth street, it resulted in its being dropped in the gutter on one side of the street. The collision was not much of an affair, as the force of the motor line was so much stronger that they had only to place themselves in the path of the street car people to prevent them accomplishing- anything. After the motor people had the track laid they proceeded to perfect the line and put it in as g-ood condition as possible. The street car people after being repulsed, drew several loads of ties and rails into Tenth street between Phillips and Main avenues, but the motor people were prepared to prevent any further attempt on the part of the company in laying its track.

During Sunday the motor people had prepared injunction papers against any interference by the car company in laying its track on Tenth street, and during Sunday evening W. R. Kingsbury, J. W. Jones, W. A. Wilkes and C. E. Johnson took an engine, went to Canton and induced Judge Aikens to return with them, and they arrived in the city at midnight. Judg-e Aikens signed the papers, and within thirty minutes they were served on Judge Tate and the foreman of the car company - and the war for the occupation of Tenth street was transferred to the courts.

The cause of this little scrimmajjfe, of course, was the desire on the part of the street car company to prevent the motor from occupying any of the principal streets of the city. The company had an exclusive franchise for twenty years, and had been operating' its street cars at a loss, and the manao-ers felt that the motor was trespassing- upon its rig-hts, and that the buildino- of the motor line would lessen the value of the street car property.

We left the ordinance limitin*^" the time for the completion of the motor line, when we turned aside to chronicle the Sunday war between the two companies, in the hands of City Attorne\ Brockwav, wht) reported to the city council on May 27, that in his opinion the ordinance outjfht not to pass - and the council defeated the passa^'e of the ordinance.

On Friday, June 13, 1890, at live o'clock in the afternoon, the iirst trip over the electric motor line was made. Three trips in all were made durino- the evenino- of that da}', and as this was the Iirst electric train that had ever been run in the state, it was quite an event. Ever^'thin^ worked smoothly, and to the entire satisfaction of the manatJ-ement.

For two or three years there was considerable tralfic over this line, and durino- the summers it was laro-ely patronized by picnic parties and pleasure seekers, who invariably enjoyed the seven-mile trip between the two cities. But the enterprise did not prove a g-ood investment, and after considerable strug-glino- against adverse circumstances, it went into the hands of a receiver, and during the summer of 1898 the rails were taken up, and we reg^ret to state, there is now nothing left but the bare roadbed to remind the people that there was at one time a rapid transit raihvav line between the cities of Sioux Falls and East Sioux Falls.

Sioux Falls, Yankton And Southwestern Railway

This railroad, the last one to enter Sioux Falls, was opened to the traveling public Octol)er 19, 1893. No railroad project ever conceived of bv a citizen of Sioux Falls, had been so constantly before the public, as a railroad from Sioux Falls to Yankton. The files of the newspapers in Sioux Falls for fifteen years, disclose the fact, that this project, though dormant at times, was ready to come to the front whenever the slig-htest interest in railroad building was manifest among her citizens. At times its construction seemed assured, and then again, it would for months appear as remote as aerial navigation.

A bill was passed by the last territorial legislature, 1889, in aid of the construction of railroads, that was introduced and pushed through, with nothing behind it but this project of Sioux Falls to build a road to Yankton. The writer was sent to Bismarck bv the

Commercial Club of Sioux Palls, and spent thirt\' days in o-ettingthis measure (with others of less importance) throug-h, and while there reported to R. P. Pettig-rew, then president of the club, that it seemed impossible to g-et the law enacted, and received in reply a teleg-ram which directed the writer to "stick, " that it must be done, and strong-ly intimated that the writer's residence in Sioux Palls would not be desirable if this measure did not become a law. The law was enacted, and before the constitution of the state was adopted, the citizens of Sioux Palls went at this project with a determination that it should be accomplished. E. A. Sherman in particular, devoted a gfood deal of time to the matter, org-anizing- a company and endeavoring- to enlist capital in the East, and at one time it seemed as thoug-h he would be successful. But it was decreed otherwise, and all hope of aid throug-h any leg-islation after the adoption of the constitution was at an end. On the 27th day of September, 1892, some of the foremost citizens of Sioux Palls met at the request of Senator Pettigfrew, "to consider a matter of public interest," and when the meeting- was org-anized, he stated that the time had come when a railroad could be built to Yankton upon certain conditions. The conditions were stated, and the meeting- promptly decided that the requirements were reasonable, and proceeded at once to pledg-e that the city of Sioux Palls should perform all that was required of her people. This much having- been accomplished, the Sioux Palls, Yankton, and Southwestern Railway company was org-anized, with Senator Pettig-rew as president. On the 31st day of October, the Arg-us-Leader announced that the g-rading- contracts had been let by Senator Pettig-rew. Prom this time on, the work prog-ressed rapidly. On August 15, 1893, the first passeng-ers came from Lennox to Sioux Palls on a construction train. As the road approached completion, the Jobbers and Manufacturers Association of Sioux Palls decided that the road should be opened in due form, and proceeded to arrang-e for an excursion to the Queen City from all points on the line, and Monda}-, October 19, 1893, was the day fixed upon.

The train left Yankton at 8:20 A. M., consisting- of six coaches, and arrived in Sioux Palls at 11 o'clock sharp, having- made the run of sixty-two miles in two hours and forty minutes. The train was in charg-e of Conductor Aug-ust Burr and Eng-ineer C. N. Oram. Upon the arrival of the train at the corner of Eleventh street and Phillips avenue, nearly 700 people disembarked from the cars, and a procession, headed by the Sioux Palls band, the city council and reception committee, was soon formed, and all falling- in line marched down Phillips avenue to Eig-hth street and thence up Main avenue to the council chamber, where the visitors were received and welcomed by C. A. Jewett, president of the Jobbers Association. Mayor Peck followed in a speech of welcome on the part of the city. The Yankton fire department, accompanied by the K. P. band of Yankton, were among- the excursionists, having- received an invitation from the fire department of Sioux Palls to honor the occasion with their presence.

s])lendent last nio-ht. The baiKnu't hall with its decorations, its lio-hts, its beauty and the attending brains, made a yvm that scintillated in the breast of the metropolis of the D.akotas never before e(|ualled, and lonjj- to be remembered. The mana^-ement of the celebration had turned over the entire mana«>-ement and arrano-ement of the spread to the Ladies' Industrial Societv and the St. Ag-nes Cxuild of the Kpiscopal church. Royally the ladies did their duty. The two societies had for assistants thirty-five young- ladies of this citv, who, under the supervision of captains, did the service at the tables in a' manner to do credit to Delmonico's finest. Stout's orchestra occupied the stao'e and furnished music throuo-hout the entire |)roo-ramme. Seven tables were tastefully arran<j-ed with palms and rtovvers. Banquet lamps and boundary ribbons of colors to match were used to divide the tables in sections. Over each section a bevy of youno- ladies, costumed in the same colors as the decorations, g-ave the o-uests constant attention. Everything- was the perfection of order. Every section had distinctive arrang-ement of plate and decoration. Two hundred and seventy-live covers w'ere laid. The service was solid silver, and at each cover was a rose boutenniere." E. W. Caldwell was toastmaster, and Captain W. H. Stoddard, William Blatt, Esq., of Yankton, W. H. Wait of Lennox, Melvin Grig-sbv, E. A. Sherman, J. Tomlinson, Jr., Herbert L. Greene, H. H. Keith of Sioux Falls and Judg-e Georg-e W. Roberts, Otto Peemiller and W. B. Wilcox of Yankton responded to the toasts. The speeches were all admirable, but the g-em of the evening- was the address of Mr. Wilcox. Mr. Tomlinson in closing- his response to the toast "Sioux Palls and Her Business as a Jobbing- and Manufacturing-Center" said: "And further, I want to pay my respects to one man who more than any other has made possible the occasion tonig-ht. A man, who day and nig-ht, can always be found pushing-, workingand accomplishing- for Sioux Palls, a man who differed with him in politics, but who ev'ery man in Sioux Palls should be ready and is ready to honor as her most energ-etic and worthy citizen, the Honorable R. P. Pettig-rew." During- the construction of the road, Jacob Schaetzel, Jr., acted as disbursing- ag-ent, and furnished for publication the following- list of the stations and their distance from Sioux Palls: Bvron, 10 miles; Lennox, 17 miles; Davis, 26 miles; Viborg-, 33)^ miles; Irene, 41 miles; Volin, 50 miles; Yankton, 62 miles. On Monday, October 23, reg-ular trains, both passeng-er and freight, commenced running- over this line under the manag-ement of the Great Northern.

Rig-ht here the subject of railroads is dismissed, and althoug-h nothing- is expected in a work like this but a record of the past, the writer cannot foreg-o the pleasure of predicting- that in the near future other railroad enterprises wdll orig-inate in Sioux Palls, become accomplished facts, and bring- additional prosperity to the city and the country tributary thereto.

Schedule Of Distances From Sioux Falls To Other Important Points

From Sioux Palls, gfoing- east, to Brandon 8.6 miles, to Valley Springfs 15.1 miles, to St. Paul 240 miles; going- west, to Ellis (>,(> miles, to Hartford 14.2 miles, to Humboldt 20.0 miles.

From Sioux Falls, gfoing- north, to Renner 6 miles, Baltic 13.6 miles, Dell Rapids 20 miles, Eg-an 34!2 miles, Flandreau 40.6 miles; g-oing- south, to Harrisburgf 9 miles. Canton 20 miles. Elk Point 60.7 miles, Sioux City 91.5 miles.

From Sioux Falls, g"oing north, to Corson 11 miles, Garretson 19 miles, Sherman 22 miles, St. Paul 240 miles; gfoing- south, to Yankton 63 miles.