THE FIRST TRAIN!

THE MINNESOTA & NORTH
WESTERN.

A New Line of 110 Miles Built
and Equipped inside of
Eleven Months.

It was about the 20th of last August when grading was first commenced upon the Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad. Last Saturday, June 27th, at 6:30 p. m., the steel rails on this railroad were laid from St. Paul into the city of Austin, as far as Water street.

An average of about two miles of track per day has been laid since the track-layers left Cascade, a point about 33 miles this side of St. Paul. The entire line to Lyle will be ironed by Friday night, July 3d- which is less than 10 1/2 months for the grading, bridging and ironing of 110 miles of railroad. Pretty quick time.

The "front" or boarding train was the first train to cross the north bridge, and into the city of Austin, on the new track. John Grant, representing the firm of D. Grant & Co., the contractors for track laying and bridges, was with the company of 150 men composing the working party. John H. Benson was the superintendent of the track laying force. Mr. B. was recognized at once as an old settler of Austin, having left here over ten years ago. He was warmly greeted by many an old-time friend. The conductor of the train was G. W. Simpkins. Two engines pushed the train, the foremost one, No. 4, being in charge of Mark P. Were engineer, and James Goff fireman, the back one in charge of M. Synder engineer, and Wm. Ladell, fireman. The brakeman were Phillip Roach, Wm. Beard and N. C. Dell. The arrival of the busy track laying crew and the first train of cars over the new R. R. was an event in the history of Austin long to be remembered.

Work was suspended over Sunday, and the men behaved themselves well. Only two or three arrests for common drunkenness.

Monday morning the work was commenced at 6:30 a. m., and by noon the track was laid through the city and over the south bridge, besides a long side track. At this writing (Tuesday afternoon) the track if laid 3 miles south of Austin. All day Monday the scene was truly a lively one. Four construction trains were on the tracks in this city at different places, and all was bustle and life. Two supply trains, arrive from the north daily.

We were under obligations to Mr. Grant, Mr. Benson and conductor Simpkins for kind attentions and information. They are all gentlemen- whom it is a pleasure to meet.

The depot will be built immediately, in the centre of the east side of block 15, original plat village of Austin, which is the second block directly east of the public square- and one block north of where it was generally supposed the depot would be. We think the location selected altogether the best. We expect a handsome depot of Austin.

We understand an "Austin accommodation train" is soon to be put on for the convenience of local travel at points between St. Paul and Austin. The through trains will not probably run until August 1st.

A surfacing crew of 150 men are within sight of Austin, and the telegraph men are not far behind.

Joel May, Superintendent of construction, a brother-in-law of President Stickney, was in town yesterday. Also the division Superintendent of the Illinois Central.

RAILROAD NEWS.

The Minnesota & N. W. Co. is building a depot at Kenyon, 22x70, with a platform in front 12x200 feet.

The track on the Minnesota & Northwestern will be laid only to Lyle. The old mile of track between Lyle and Mona has been purchased of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul.

MINNESOTA & NORTHWESTERN TARIFF.
-General Freight and Passenger Agent
Littell of the Minnesota & Northwestern
road, has prepared his first schedule of
passenger rates from St. Paul to points
on the line which are as follows:

To Distance. Fare.
West St. Paul..................1 .............................$ .05
Inver Grove.....................8 ............................. .30
Rich Valley.....................16............................. .65
Empire...........................23............................ .90
Hampton........................27............................ 1.10
Randolph.......................33............................ 1.30
Spring Creek.................41............................. 1.65
Nerstrand......................47............................. 1.90
Kenyon...........................53........................... 2.10
West Concord................63............................ 2.50
Dodge Center.................72............................ 3.90
Hayfield.........................81............................. 3.25
Waltham........................86............................. 3.45
Red Rock.......................91............................. 3.65
AUSTIN.........................98............................. 3.00
VARCO.........................103............................. 4.10
Lyle..............................109............................. 4.35
Mona........................... 111.............................. 4.45

Supt. DuPuy of the Minnesota & N. W., says full track facilities between the two cities will be given his Co. by the St. Paul & Northern Pacific, when the latter has completed its inter-urban line. Owing to a delay on the bridge at St. Paul the Minnesota & Northwestern won't be regularly opened for traffic before Aug. 1. The road, however, will be fully ironed by July 4. The intervening time will be devoted to surfacing and ballasting the new track, so as to have it in thorough condition when thrown open to travel. Through passenger trains will not be run until Aug. 1; local freights will be run between stations as often as the business offered may demand. When turned over to the operating department there will be at least five daily passenger trains in and out of St. Paul two of which will be run through to Chicago. For the present the route to Chicago will be via Mona and Forrest. This will in all probability be only a temporary route, as the run is too long for much competition on through Chicago business. The distance from St. Paul is 484 miles, as against 410 by the Omaha and Milwaukee & St. Paul. The building of the Dubuque & Northwestern from Dubuque to Mona will give the new company a route forty-six miles shorter, a saving of two hours in time, as trains are now run between St. Paul and Chicago.