RAILROAD RIVALRY

The Tribune and Pioneer-Press are again engaged in a lively controversy over railroad matters. This time it is in reference to the contemplated extension of the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad to Fort Dodge, Iowa. The immediate cause of the present excitement is the fact that the Minneapolis & St. Louis has secured the so-called Ft. Ridgely road extending north from Ft. Dodge a short distance. The St. Paul & Sioux City officials claim that Ft. Dodge is their terminus and that the Minneapolis & St. Louis has taken an undue advantage in securing the Ft. Ridgely road, that now the roads must run in to Ft. Dodge parallel and near together, that their territory has been encroached upon - wherefore these complaints. Now a glance at the map will show that Ft. Dodge is the natural and necessary terminus of the Minneapolis & St. Louis - that it must run there for both coal and connections. The railroad tends in that direction, and Ft. Dodge has for some time been its objective point. The road has been so handled as to give promise of its early completion. The other road has started off a plug line, southward which makes its way slowly and may never reach Ft. Dodge, or any other important point. The Ft. Ridgely road was fairly transferred for a fair consideration to the Minneapolis & St. Louis road, which has secured for itself a direct line through a good territory to Ft. Dodge. The trade it brings in this direction will be of social benefit and almost a clear gain to Minnesota, since it intercepts business which would naturally go to Milwaukee or Chicago.