Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, September 21, 1909, Page 1

THE BEMIDJI1 Y PIONEE SOCIETY. VOLUME 7. NUMBER 132. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 21, 1909. FORTY CENTS PER MONTH. DOES BEMIDJI WANT THE S00? Thirty Thousand Dollars Must Be Raised With Which to Purchase Right-of-Way, Before Company Will Devi- ate from Its ““Air Line”’ and Build Into the City of Bemidji. The officials of the Soo Rail- way company will extend their line into Bemidji, and this city will be made one of the most im- portant points of the most import. ant branch of this railway com- pany which intersects the United States—providing this ¢ity will raise the sum of $30,000 with which to purchase the right-of- way through the city. This bona fide offer has been secured from the officials of the Soo through the persistent efforts of the Bemidji Commercial club, which was determined to secure this great independent railway for this city if it was possible to do so; and it was only after much per- suasion that the Soo people agreed to deviate from their air.line sur- vey between Plummer and Moose lake and come into Bemidji. Diverting from their plans as originally contemplated and com- ing to this city will be something of a loss to the Soo in the making of fast time on their road and also at no little trouble and inconveni- ence to the Soo people. It isa well-established rule with the Soo to build all of its railroads in a direct line, and allowing nothing to change this rule, preferring to build up their own towns. As an illustration of the fact that the Soo has a “marble heart” in considering appeals from residents of fairly important towns, were the efforts of Fargo and Grand Forks to secure the Soo when that railway first struck the northwest, in which they failed, and " later Crookston, when the “Queen City” made strenii- ous efforts to get the Soo to build its Glenwood-Thief River Falls line through Crookston. In neither case did the Soo give serious consideration to the appeals of the business men of either of these three cities. That a” concession is made to the energetic business men of Bemidji is due wholly to the determined efforts of the members of the local com- mercial. club who have assured the Soo officials that the citizens of Be- midji will provide the desirable right-of-way through the city and will alsofurnish right-of-way whereby the road may- enter and leave the city limits without cost or incon- venience to that company. It is now up to the citizens of Bep;idji to raise the necessary $30,- 000 to purchase the right:of-way as statted above. - I:iast evening, the Bemidji city council passed a resolution vacating forj the use of the Soo the south twenty feet of what is known as the Crookston Lumber company’s “mill roz“d," being the highway extending from the M. & I. tracks to the limits of i}je village of Nymore. This, with the contemplated right-of-way south and east of Be- midji, would give the Soo entrance to_the city from the east. There has already been a survey made from south Bemidji towards Cass Lake, so that there will be little trouble in locating a fairly good line, although, as stated previously, the railway would be compelled to diviate considerable from a straight line towards Plummer, in coming into Bemidji. There is little doubt but what the people of Bemidji, with their usual generosity andloyality to their home town will soon raise the requisite $30,000, judging from comments of people who know of the proposition advanced by the Soo officials. 5 There is no doubt but the build- ing of the Soo into Bemidji will mean a great deal to this city in the way of opening up territory which is being rapidly developed for agricultural and dairying pur- poses, and it is conservatively estimated that the population of the city will be increased at least one-half within the next five years, should the Soo build into Bemidji over the line contemplated. A local party who is very close to the Soo officials says of the pros- pects of securing the road for this city and the benefits that would accrue: “The survey as now made from the Leech lake dam along the west side of Winnibigoshish Lake, north side of Cass lake and north end of Lake Bemidji and from thence west- ward to Plummer has been practi- cally completed and a satisfactory line has been secured. “However, through the persistent efforts of the Bemidji Commercial Club the company’s attention has been drawn to Bemidji, and after M. D. Stener had presented to the officials profiles and maps of about sixteen miles- of a line which would pass through Bemidji, the Soo com- pany have made a very fair propo- sition as above stated. “The route is longer and more expensive to construct via Bemidji, and with these conditions in view, Bemidji can consider herself ex- tremely fortunate to have such a reasonable proposition made by a company which almost invariably passes up all villages and moderate- sized cities and builds its own towns. “Bemidjites will not geta mere branch of the Soo railway system, if they secure the necessary right- out-way required, but will get the most important line of any built in the United States by that com- pany, which in reality is a part of the great Canadian Pacific railway, having under operation over 30,000 miles of lines, “Immediately after the line from Moose Lake to Plummeris con- structed, steps will be taken to ex- tend from Moose lake southeasterly to an intersection with the Wiscon- sin Central, which isa partof the Soo system which, when completed, will be the Soo’s main line from Win- nipeg to Chicago, or in other words, from Van Couver to Chicago, and will be many miles shorter than any other line now operated and the train service will be unequaled any- where. u “With such an addition as the main line of the Soo, Bemidji will have the advantage of any city in the state, except a few of the largest. One of the many industries she may hope to secureis a large sawmill to manufacture the Weyerhaeuser tim- ber. It is pretty generally known that the above company is waiting to see where the Soo Railway company will build, when they will locate as large a mill as any in the state to cut their vast holdings of pine in Beltrami and Itasca counties. With the M. & L and Red . Lake lines running from Bemidji into'the very heart of their timbers, it is only reasonable to conclude that they will look with favor upon Bemidji as a location for their mill. “The Soo company has assured the citizens committees that if the required right-of-way is secured, construction work will be begun within a few weeks thereafter. The entire line must be complete and under operation in time to haul the wheat next fall. “As Bemidji is the only point readily accessible by the other rail- roads, the company has stated that this city will be their headquarters for their construction work through this country. This will mean that many thousands of dollars will be left here by the employes during the construction.” Along the line of being liberal [Continued on Last Page.) f g (Pioneer Telephone Service.) Rochester, Minn., Sept. 22.—8:30 a. m.—(Special to Pioneer.)—Governor Johnson breathed his last at St. Mary’s hospital in this city, at 3:25 o’clock this morning, At 5:30 o’clock last night his pulse was 132, resperation 38 to 40. Dr. McNevin stated that death was a possibility of only a few hours, and then again he might pull through. Dr. Mayo said: ‘“He has failed in the last half hour.” At 8:30 o’clock last night Mrs. Johnson sent the following message to the newspaper men: ““Tell the governor's people to pray for him now.” Dr. Mayo came out of the room at 8:35 and said: ““He is failing rapidly. I'ts only a matter of a few hours. Dr. Charles Mayo said: “'His vitality is that of a child.” The governor became unconscious at 1 o’clock. rise and pat Mrs. Jéhnson on the cheek. His last words were: “Well, Nora, I guess I am going, but I have made a good fight,” He died at 3:25. (By Associated Press.) Rochester, Sept. 21.—10 a. ‘m.—(Special to Pioneer.)—Governor Johnson died at 3:25 this mdrning. Life quietly slipped away, and in its wake there remained but a sorrow of a great state and infinite grief of a devoted and courageous wife and thoughts of what greatness to which his career might have expanded had it not been so sadly brought to a close. Until death came the governor was quite ‘conscious, his firm, resolute mind being fully cognizant of the approaching end and meeting it with the clear_equanimity which so characterized his active life. As the shortening hours passed by, the governor remained tran- quil, despite the mental anguish which he must have endured. Knowing quite well that that which he could not avert was occurring, he lay quietly in his bed awaiting. With him during the last hours were Mrs. Johnson, the Doctors Mayo, Dr. Charles F. McNevin, Miss Margaret Sullivan, Miss Jam- mie, head nurse, and Miss Schiller, the governor’s night nurse. All the hospital attaches were there who had guarded him as best they might since the operation nearly a week ago, and who had ministered to him so vigilantly. General Sorrow in Bemidji. Too bad. Too bad.” Such was the general expression of all citizens of Bemidji when they read the Pioneer bulletins and the Pioneer extra edition, this morn- ing, telling of the death of Governor Johnson at-Rochester last night. Word came shortly after 3:30 o’clock, over the telephone, that the governor had evpired, and the news was quickly ’phoned to the editor of the Pioneer, who was soon astir and had bulletins posted at prominent points about the city. This was followed at 8 o’clock by a small special edition of the Pi_bneer, containing more particulars of the death. Bemidji has been in mourning since morning, over-the untimely demise of the chief executive, who was personally acquainted with many residents of the city and who was universally well liked by everyone. Flags about the city were speedily placed at half-mast, and the ex- pression of sorrow was general. When district court convened this morning, Judge Wright briefly announced the death of the governor and immediately adjourned the ses- sion for an hour and half, out of respect to the memory of the late governor, announcing that court will also be adjourned all day the day of the funeral, which will be announced later. “He’s gone. He will die tonight.” Just before this period of unconsciousness he would The annual fair of Clearwater county will be held at Bagley Thurs- day, Friday and Saturday of this week, and from present indications the fair will eclipse any former event in that line ever attempted over in our neighboring county. The circulars issued by the fair association give the program as follows: ‘Thursday, September 23.— Forenoon—Arrangement of the exhibits in the fair buildings. Afternoon — Farmers’ institute, under the supervision of A.J. Mec- Guire, superintendent of the experi- mental farm at Grand Rapids. Friday, September 24.— Afternoon—Tug-of-war, farmers of the east end of the county vs. west-end farmers. Farmers insti- tute, under the supervision of J. N, Worst, superintendent of the North Dakota Agricultural college, and Hon. George Welsh, state immigra- tion commissioner. Music furnished by the Symphony orchestra. Saturday, September 25— Forenoon—Tug-of-war, farmers of the south end vs. farmers of the north end. Afternoon—Farmers’ institute, judging of stock and awarding of THE KNIGHT OF THE MASK. Col. Stadsvold Will Catch; He and Kaiser Are 01d Ball Enemies. premiums by superintendent A. D. Wilson, of the Minnesota farmers institutes; game of baseball, married men of Fosston vs. married men of GUVER"“" J' A' Jn““su" Bagley; foot race, farmer boys only, OVERNOR JOHNSON EXPIRED ~ (CLEARWATER FAIR THIS MORNING AT 3:25 OCLOCK| AT BAGLEY Fair Opens Thursday and Lasts Three Days, — Splendid Program Prepared, Including Hair-Raising Baseball Game, Between the *‘OId-Timers’ of Fosston and Bagley. and Saturday evenings of the fair under the auspices of the Bagley baseball team. A balloon will be sent up every evening of the fair to inform the good people of Mars how the fair is “progressing, . Two performances each day in the- Bijou Electric theater, at 3 p. m. and 8:45 p. m, A feature of ‘the fair “will be a baseball game, which will be played on Saturday afternoon be- tween the ‘‘old-timers” of Bagley and Fosston. In the line-up of " E. H. Reff Will Play on the Infield for Bagley. this game will be seen some old ‘“‘codgers” who haven't had hold of a baseball in a decade, but who won renown on the diamond many years ago and are posseseedof 'the idea that they still know some- thing about basebalL In the Fosston lineup will be Col. S. S. Stadsvold, catcher and president of the Fosston “bunch.” He used to catch ’em with his bare hands, back in the ?80's,~and can stop most any old thing, human or animal. W, Louis Lohn will pitch. He was the originator of the “cork-screw curve,” and has an arm like cast iron. He got his arm through hard work at Caledonia, in the days of the “Tiger” regime. Mr. Lohn, al- though well along in years, can step a quarter in thirty seconds, climb 2 greased pole or give a lecture on WAS A UNIQUE FIGURE Was Proud of the Fact that He Began Life as a Poor Boy. Some pessimists say that the oppor- tunity for an American boy has passed, but the carecer of the late John A. Johnson, governor of Minne- sota, does not prove it. When John- son was nominated for governor in 1804 to lead a forelorn hope, a8 every- body supposed, his political opponents published broadcast a statement that his father had died a drunkard in the poorhouse and that his mother had taken in washing. The report was in- vestigated and proved true, but it did not have the effect that its circula-|’ torg had hoped. The American man- hood of Minnesota, the same kind of American manhood that had elected the rail splitter, Lincoln, president, arose for Johnson. He was elected, although the remainder of his ticket was snowed under by nearly 100,000 majority. Not only so, but he has been elected twice since, the only Democrat chosen in this strongly Re- publican state. In 1908 Johnson was the most prominent candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, second to Bryan. Governor Johnson died as the result of a fourth operation for appendicitis, or, more correctly, adhesions resulting from former operations for appendici- tis, the first of which occurred ten years ago. The last nctable utterance of Governor Johnson was an appeal oony KET =M RSN YR TAAT 'S RIGHT 01D MAN , TRRE YovR TiAE, O MURRY , WAIT AS LONG AS YOU LINE, Dr. Falk, the O1d Caledonia “Tiger," Will Heave 'Em Over for Bagley. for the West to stand together and look out for its own interésis, which | President Taft regarded of sufficient importance to refer to in his Boston address, made at the very time that Johnson was preparing to undergo the operation which resulted in his death, Native Son of Minnesota. John Albert Johnson, sixteenth gov- country girls only, under age of 13 years; sack race, country boys under 'the age of 16 years. Evening—7:50 p. m.—Ad- dress in Erickson hall by Judge Marshall A. Spooner of Bemidji on topics of interest to all, A dance will be given Friday under the age of 16 years; foot race, | “ossfied remains.” The remainder of the team will be composed of the following gentle- men, who have heaps of knowledge of the great national game: VN L. W. Larson, D. A. Ray, L L Hillestad, James E. Campbell, A. [Continued on Page 8] MINNESOTA HISTORICAL i i {