Nov 24, 1892 Scott Co. Argus An unknown Swede was run over by a freight Tuesday night at Merriam Jct. He was instantly killed and his body horribly mutilated. Cororner Hirsher was summoned and after hearing that the man was intoxicated and deliberately walked between the moving freight cars, decided an inquest was unnecessary. Pieces of the body were scattered along the track for a half mile. The remains were interred in the Valley cemetery.

Jan 19, 1893 Shakopee Courier Joseph E. Smith, brother of H. Smith the genial M&St.L. high trestle agent was married on Tuesday at Albert Lea and will reside in Morris.

Nov 2, 1893 Scott Co. Argus A southbound freight train was wrecked at 4:10 yesterday morning on the St.Louis road, just opposite the town. The cause of the accident is unknown but the effect is quite visible, even from town. Nineteen cars lie at the bottom of a twenty foot embankment in a picturesque but unprofitable heap. Fortunately for the company all the wrecked cars were "empties" so that the loss amounts to only the cost of of 18 cars that are totally wrecked. No one was hurt. The long train broke near the front end and a brakeman who was on top of the cars toward the rear narrowly escaped with his life. The cars broke down the telegraph wires and it was 8 o'clock before a wrecking train put in an appearance. The track was cleared before noon. Joseph Weber was the conductor of the wrecked train and James Donavin, the engineer. Weber was in headend collision that occurred at the same spot two years ago, when a fireman was killed. The track at this point is one of the best ballasted and ironed pieces on the road. The fault probably lay with one of the box cars. The regular St. Louis trains were run over the Omaha from Merriam Jct. until the track was cleared.

Nov 9, 1893 Chaska Valley Herald (Minn News) There was a wreck on the St. Louis road opposite Shakopee. A freight car jumped the track, seventeen other cars all empty, following. The cars were badly broken and the loss will be heavy. The engine was not damaged and none of the train crew were injured.

Nov 16, 1893 Scott Co. Argus A work train on the St. Louis deposited several carloads of cinders at the scene of last weeks wreck, just before dark yesterday and this caused the report to spread that another wreck had occurred at the same place. The heavy grade and sharp curve at this point will naturally cause the empty box cars to hop off the track, so that a wreck is not unexpected at any time. We would suggest that at a cost of a few box cars the road might up it's track and run it across to this point without any curve. The increase in traffic from this place would pay for the work within a few years.

Apr 5, 1894 Scott Co. Argus Some three weeks ago Atty. Chas. G. Hinds had the occasion to use the M&St.L. R.R. from Eden Prairie to the Shakopee high trestle. He applied at Eden Prairie station for a ticket but through the fault of some clerk who had refused to send a new supply of tickets before the first of the month, there were none on sale. On the train when Mr. Hinds tendered the conductor 12 cents, the regular fare, the conductor demanded 22 cents. This sum Mr. Hinds paid, under protest, rather than walk the remaining 80 rods to the station. He brought suit against the road to recover the 10 cents overcharge and the case which was tried before Justice of the Peace Geo. M. Gibbs at Eden Prairie last Saturday, resulted in a judgment for the plaintiff for the 10 cents and several dollars cost.

July 26, 1894 Scott Co. Argus One local reminder of the recent strike and subsequent troubles is found in the squad of armed men in camp near the high trestle. They are there guarding the two trestles against the work of fire bugs. A rumor was current the fore part of the week that an attempt had been made to burn the high trestle, but it could not be corroborated.

Sept 12, 1895 Scott Co. Argus Mr. M. Maher, a member of the repair gang of the M&St.L. R.R. has been appointed agent at Shakopee station and took charge on the 1st of Sept., in place of A.H. Smith, removed. Mr. Maher has moved down to his field of labor.

Nov 7, 1895 Chaska Valley Herald M&St.L. R.R.- Chas. Wanzer, assistant engineer and surveyor on Col. Crooks staff arrived here Monday with a full crew of assistants and commenced the preliminary survey of lines between here and Lake Minnetonka, intending, if possible to strike the Pacific division line somewhere near Zumbra. The work is all preliminary and several routes will be surveyed before any conclusion is reached.

Nov 14, 1895 Scott Co. Argus Ten or a dozen men are engaged this week surveying lines for the proposed change in the M&St.L. R.R. tracks between Mpls and Chaska. One of the lines run out follows the north bank of the river after leaving the uplands of Eden Prairie and almost touches the Shakopee draw bridge. Another line runs from Excelsior to Chaska, which would leave Shakopee out in the could. It seems that the "St. Louis" has fully decided to make a change. The heavy grade and expensive trestles opposite Shakopee are to be thrown overboard. The best engine cannot stand the strain of such a grade for many years and the cost of keeping the trestles in repair and constantly guarded is too heavy. Various rumors are rife as to the change. President W.N. Bull of the M&St.L., in an interview in the Journal says: "You ask about that piece of track to be run from Chaska to Lake Minnetonka. We have decided nothing as yet, although I believe engineers are working over possible routes. It's a question of grades with us. Between here and Chaska are some very stiff inclines and addition, there is some very expensive trestle work which requires considerable attention. If a new roadway is selected, both of these will be avoided. Further, our Minnetonka service could greatly be improved by running regular trains via Excelsior. Just whether the grade from Excelsior to Chaska can be made an improvement on the present one is a question. There seems little doubt but that a light grade could be obtained through the low bluffs a few miles down the river and this is one of the plans proposed. There is also a report that the "Omaha" might use the abandoned "St. Louis" track in order to make St. Paul a terminal point for their through trains, should the proposed track from Excelsior to Chaska be built. Just why the "Omaha" should take up with a piece of track thrown away at great cost by the "St.Louis" removal, the "Omaha" might build its own tracks from Shakopee to Mpls., as was intended in the first place, their old charter reading "from St. Anthony to Shakopee" The expensive steel bridges which the law now requires will be quite a factor in any one of the possible changes.

Nov 21, 1895 Scott Co. Argus Henry M. Reis has been appointed ticket agent for the M&St.L. at the Shakopee high trestle. he will carry on this new business in connection with the bus line of Reis Bros., driving over in time to open the station and dispose of the bits of pasteboard before the trains arrive. He will have the privilege of selling coupon tickets to any points tributary to the "St. Louis". Whether or not he can secure "passes" for any and all of his many friends is not announced, but we presume the matter has already been tested and will continue to be 4 or 5 times a day from now on. The ticket agent business is about the only thing that can effectually kill his well known smile and bring a hunted look upon his old time open countenance.

Mar 12, 1896 Scott Co. Argus The two year old child of Ernest Bezeman of Chaska was put on the 6:30 passenger train of the M&St.L. last night by some brute and was discovered in the rear coach by the conductor on reaching Shakopee high trestle. The terror stricken baby was taken off there and returned to it's parents by means of a hand car. If intended as a joke the fiend who did the act ought to be flayed alive in continuance of the humorous part of the affair.

Mar 19, 1896 Chaska Valley Herald Little Fritze, the 3 year old son of Ernest Beseman of this city, a chip off the old block in every respect, boarded the northern bound passenger train of the M&St.L. last friday evening and was discovered by the conductor sitting on the rear platform of the last coach just before the train reached the Shakopee trestle. He was taken off there and returned home by means of a hand car, none the worse for his experience.

Nov 26, 1896 Scott Co. Argus An injury to the locomotive of the north bound M&St.L. passenger at Jordan, Tuesday morning, delayed the train 3 hours. Mrs. Peck and Miss Mabel were deterred from a trip cityward by the accident.

Jan 7, 1897 Scott Co. Argus The report went over the telephone Tuesday that there was a head-end collision between a freight and a passenger train on the St. Louis road about 4 miles beyond Jordan that day. No one was hurt, but the two engines were damaged, the report had it.

Jan 14, 1897 Scott Co. Argus The M&St.L. passenger went through on the Omaha tracks this morning, owing to a freight wreck near Chaska.

Jan 21, 1897 Chaska Valley Herald There were two wrecks on the M&St.L. R.R. last week, one north of us near the summit and the other south delaying the trains and travel in both directions. Tim Keohen, the efficient section boss of the M&St.L. road, had his hands full keeping the track free from snow blockades last Sunday and Monday. Tim is a hustler however and keeps ahead of the weather bureau.

Jan 28, 1897 Scott Co. Argus An empty car received here last Thursday to convey a load of rye shipped by Eden Prairie farmers was found packed with drifted snow to the depth of a foot or more. The work of shoveling it out took considerable time, as it was almost as solid as ice. Piled alongside the track it gave the impression that the weather man was engaged in shipping snow to Shakopee by rail to augment the efficient work of the winds and clouded skies.

Apr 8, 1897 Scott Co. Argus Judging from appearances, for there is no direct communication except by sight or by boat, the M&St.L. track was washed out near the second high trestle on Tuesday. A work train spent several hours during the day dumping rock into the crevice.

Apr 29, 1897 Scott Co. Argus By a peculiar and as yet unexplained accident, Michael Maher, for two years past a day watchman at the Shakopee high trestles, lost his life last Monday night. Maher lived with his wife and six children in the house standing at one end of the upper trestle. After dark Monday night he started from home for a trip to Chaska on his railway velocipede. He spent the evening there and set out for home at about 10 o'clock. At 10:30 o'clock a freight train half an hour late came tearing down the steep grade and at a point about midway between the trestle and Chaska the engineer saw a man sitting upon a veliopede apparently asleep. The engine struck the machine and threw it, in two parts, 30 feet from the track. On arriving at Chaska the engineer reported the accident and the section crew went out and picked up the body of the unfortunate Maher. It was found 30 feet from the track, but slightly mutilated. Death must have come instantly. At the point where the accident occurred the track is in sight for two miles, hence the accident is a peculiar one. Many well acquainted with the man hold to the suicide theory and mention peculiar remarks made late in his conversations. But the general opinion is that Maher had been drinking and fell asleep while pumping the car homebound. He was a member of the A.O.H. at Montgomery.

Apr 29, 1897 Chaska Valley Herald Michael Maher, bridge tender at the Summitt, opposite Shakopee visited this city last Monday and before returning home on his railroad velocipede, filled up with booze, which resulted in his death. His body was found some 60 feet from where he collided with the railroad, the bruises and cuts about the head and mashed knee indicating instant death. From what we can learn we infer that he was asleep at the time of the collision. Dr. Hartly, the coroner, was called and had the body brought to Chaska. A post mortem examination was made by the coroner, but we have no report of the same. His remains were taken to Montgomery, Minn., for interment on the Wednesday forenoon train. We are informed that deceased left a wife and six children to mourn his death. F.A. Tuck of Mpls., son in law of Mr. John Brum of Chanhassen died at St. Barnabas hospital in that city, April 2nd, 1897. His death was the result of an operation of hernia. It will be remembered that Mr. Tuck was employed as station agent at the Shakopee high trestle some years ago and was favorably known in this city.

Apr 30, 1897 Shakopee Tribune Michael Maher was killed by a freight train going west on the St. Louis road at half past ten Monday evening. It impossible to tell just how it happened that Maher did not leave the track when he could certainly have seen the train over a mile coming toward him, unless he had been sleeping on the velocipede on which he was riding. He leaves a wife and six children. the remains were taken to Montgomery for interment Wednesday.

June 4, 1897 Shakopee Tribune Wm. Miller, formerly a resident of Shakopee, is now the nightwatchman at the high trestles on the M&St.L. R.R.

July 29, 1897 Scott Co. Argus A young man from Helena took passage for Mpls. on the M&St.L. last Tuesday and it was soon discovered he was violently insane. He was put off the train at the Shakopee station and taken in charge by Sheriff Hilgers. His relatives were sent for, but at last reports had not arrived. If they do not object the unfortunate will be examined and committed to the asylum at St. Peter.

July 22, 1898 Shakopee Tribune H.M. Reis resigned the agency for the M&St.L. station here last Tuesday and present passengers will have to pay their fare on the trains. It is expected the company will appoint another agent soon.

Nov 10, 1898 Scott Co. Argus (Minn News) Charles T. Bristol, a brakeman on the St. Louis road, was fatally crushed between the bumper of two cars at Hopkins, dying a few hours later.

June 8, 1899 Scott Co. Argus E.C. Wolf, employed as a cook at the quarters of the construction crew of the Omaha road at Merriam Jct., fell through the railroad bridge at Carver one night last week while trying to get out of the way of an oncoming train. the night was dark and the bridge is unusually long one. Wolff had reached a point over the river when he fell through and as he was hurt about the head in striking against the timbers of the bridge, he went to the bottom. Nothing but the prompt action of friends saved him from death and as it is was his injuries were so severe that his life was despaired of for a time. Dr. Hartley pulled him through, however, and he was about Shakopee, Monday, with his head swathed to the eyes in bandages. the young man lives in Mankato.

June 15, 1899 Chaska Valley Herald We are informed that a corps of surveyors connected with the M&St.L. R.R., were at work last week, running a new line north of the present track, starting at Mr. Wm. Melcherts farm, passing through the hay meadow of Mike Hall and climbing the bluff gradually over Schwie's and Rademacher's farm, striking the road again near Riley's lake. The survey is made to avoid the heavy grade of the present line. Should a feasible route be found the work of grading will be commenced as soon as the right of way has been obtained. We will know in a short time.

Sept 14, 1899 Scott Co. Argus (Minn News) An unknown woman was killed by an M&St.L. way freight train near Eden Prairie. She called at the home of S.F. Miller, postmaster of the village and ask for a drink of water. She was given the drink of water and then she started down the railroad track. She had gone towards Mpls. about a mile and a half when she reached a long trestle bridge across which was coming a freight. She started to step off the track but was too late and the engine knocked her down. her head was badly crushed, both legs were cut off and her entire body was horribly mangled. The engine carried her some forty feet.

Mar 2, 1900 Shakopee Tribune Early yesterday morning the roof of the M&St.L. R.R. station house was on fire. Night watchman Wm. Mueller was on the inside and only noticed the fire when he went out to meet an early freight. With the assistance of Rudolph Teich, however, he succeeded in extinguishing the flames which had by that time already found their was to the inside.

Apr 27, 1900 Shakopee Tribune Wm. Mueller resigned his position a night watchman at the M&St.L. station after 3 years in the service, last Monday. He is now employed by contractor Joseph Fischer but intends to move his family and household effects to Mpls. in the near future. John Reimer has accepted the position as nightwatch at the M&St.L. trestle.

Sept 21, 1900 Shakopee Tribune About 30 men are engaged in repairing the M&St.L. R.R. high trestle near this city.

Oct 25, 1901 Shakopee Tribune (Minn News) The M&St.L. is making a survey between Chaska and Eden Prairie and may change it's line between those points to avoid heavy grades.

Dec 13, 1901 Shakopee Tribune Surveyors at work laying a new route for the M&St.L. R.R. along the bluffs across the river from this point. They will be engaged in their present work until the first of the year and it is probable that in the early spring the work of grading a new route will be begun. As the road runs now there is a heavy grade from the Summit siding to the bottom lands near Chaska and two high trestles are required. The new route will do away with the east trestle entirely, coming more directly south from Eden Prairie and out of the side of the bluff near Joseph Feltman's house. The new grade will be lowered all along this new route and will require no trestle work at the mouth of the big ravine. The line as surveyed runs through Adam Teich's pasture lands and just north of his house, crossing the high trestle, which will be lowered somewhat, and thence running further into the bluff on the north. The grade to the Chaska bottom lands will be raised by means of the new route into the bluff and this in connection with the longer ascent to prairie toward the east will provide a grade which will be comparatively easy. The project of a new route at this point has been considered for years past, but until now nothing has been done for the reason that expense involved in the change was greater than the improvement deemed worth. But the new route as now surveyed seems to solve the problem, doing away, as it does, with one of the expensive trestles and reducing the heavy grade to a very moderate per cent. Years ago there was talk of getting the road to touch the city limits by coming out of the bluffs near Mr. Feldtman's and crossing the bottom lans which lie between the bluff and the river; but this seems to be impracticable. the new route will at least bring the track into plainer view and for a mile or more additional in extent, so that we "can sit on the fence and see the trains go by", even if we can enjoy no closer relations with the road as at present siuated.

Dec 19, 1901 Chaska Valley Herald Same as Shakopee Tribune's Dec 13th article.

Jan 3, 1902 Shakopee Tribune Messrs. Jacob Ries and Herman Schroeder, who have been looking after the interests of the city in the event of a change of route by the M&St.L. R.R. next spring, have received word from the company that, while no change has yet been determined on, the railway company will weigh well the matter of getting closer to the city and the providing of a depot and sidetracks here. It is to be hoped that the change in the track will be made and that a line can be brought much closer to the city. In any event, the route recently surveyed would do away with the hill climbing and permit the building of a freight depot at a nearer point than the present stopping place. Shakopee has always had a very friendly feeling for the M&St.L., despite the chill of a ride of over a mile to the station; and up to three years ago, when the Omaha passenger service was so splendidly increased as to give four trains a day each way and at varied hours of the day. There was a considerable passenger traffic on the St. Louis. If there were freight as well as passenger accommodations the patronage from Shakopee would be quite a prize. The town is of vastly greater importance now as a manufacturing point than it was when the St. Louis was built. The freight charges paid at the Milwaukee and Omaha stations exceed a quarter of a million dollars annually.

Mar 21, 1902 Shakopee Tribune (Minn News) The Milwaukee depot at Hopkins was destroyed by fire.

Apr 17, 1902 Scott Co. Argus The M&St.L. road is going to spend in the neighborhood of $400,000 on its tracks and right of way between Hopkins and Chaska. An expenditure of so large an amount must be the laying out of a new track.

Apr 18, 1902 Shakopee Tribune The Mpls. Times is authority for the statement that the St. Louis road will spend $400,000 in improving its track between Hopkins and Chaska this summer. This means a new track along the bluffs opposite this city and the plan will no doubt be to get the tracks along the foot of the bluff at Teich's, where a freight and passenger depot will be built and traffic from Shakopee resumed. This is good news for Shakopee. The Times also states that H.H. King & Co., whose feed mill at Jordan was burned last week, have determined not to rebuild there, but will put about $70,000 into a new mill at Mpls. For the sake of Jordan we regret very much to hear this, although that city has enough energy, no doubt, to open another door where this one was closed.

May 2, 1902 Shakopee Tribune A crew of 9 surveyors is present stopping at the John Goodrich home on Eden Prairie, and making some additional changes in the new route for the M&St.L. tracks between Hopkins and Chaska. The new route will bring the tracks 1200 feet north of the present high trestle and on this side of Adam Teich's residence. The track bed will be brought down to such a level that a station and wagon approaches will be made there and Shakopee shippers will thus be accommodated. The work has begun on the new track and 16 teams are now on the scene. A crew of 400 men will be soon be at work.

Oct 2, 1902 Scott Co. Argus J.J. Sisterman, of Belle Plaine, who is employed by the M&St.L. across the river, met with a peculiar accident on Tuesday, while heating coffee for his dinner in a covered pail, the cover blew off and his face was severely scalded.

Oct 3, 1902 Shakopee Tribune J.J. Sistermans of Belle Plaine, one of the men at work on the new line of the M&St.L. track, was seriously injured about the face on Tuesday, in a peculiar manner. At the noon lunch hour, he made some hot coffee as is the custom with the hundreds of men at work there and was boiling it in a pail with the cover tightly in place. Just as he leaned over the fire to take a look at the contents of the pail, the steam blew the cover and some of the hot coffee up into his face. His entire face scalded badly and Dr. Reiter found it necessary, in dressing the injury, to swathe his whole head in white linen bandages. With holes cut for the eyes and a slit for the mouth, Mr. Sistermans presents an odd sight and one that would make cold chills run down a person's back if he met up with the masked gentleman late at night. If the doctor were only as good an artist as he is a surgeon, he could do well to paint up the expressionless cloth face of Mr. Sistermans into a brown eyed gentleman with a pleased smile.

Oct 16, 1902 Scott Co. Argus An accident on the high trestle of the M&St.L. R.R. just north of this city this morning came very near causing the instant death of Daniel Duchanne of Mpls. Mr. Duchanne was riding on the foot board at the rear of the dilapidated switch engine which was backing on to the high trestle to couple onto a train, when the engineer lost control of the engine and it dashed into the car at top speed, crushing in the rear end of the tender of the engine and also the car and catching Mr. Duchanne in the wreck, as he could not get out of the way, for a jump from the trestle to the ground 95 feet below meant instant death and it was almost a miracle that he escaped with a compound fracture of the hip and several serious bruises. Dr. Fischer was immediately called and pronounces the injuries not necessarily fatal.

Photo of one of the Chaska trestles being removed.

Oct 17, 1902 Shakopee Tribune The first accident to the army of workmen on the M&St.L. track across the river came yesterday, when a switchman, riding on the rear of an old dilapidated engine was crushed between the engine and a car and had his hip broken and his body badly bruised. Dr. Fisher attended the man and he was taken to Mpls. this morning for hospital care. The cause of the accident was peculiar. The engine became unmanageable just as it was crossing the high trestle and the brakeman had to remain and collide with the car or jump 95 feet to almost certain death below. His name is Dan Duchane.

Oct 24, 1902 Shakopee Tribune Last Saturday Mayor James McHale, Alderman H.P. Marx and John B. Ries and Messrs. Theodore Weiland and John Theim of the Commercial club drove over to the high trestle, where the long hoped for change in the road up the "Vogel Hill" is about to be effected. They met there Messrs. Charles Buchkowski, Bernard Kessler and Peter Moltke, the town board of Chanhassen and also the engineer for the M&St.L. R.R. and were able to further the plans for the new road to such an extent that the change is sure to be made early next spring, at the latest. The long steep hill as the road now runs is almost too dangerous for travel and heavy loads cannot be hauled over it. The history of the hill contains quite a chapter of accidents and much valuable trade for Shakopee has been cut off owing to the dislike the residents over that way for traveling up and down its steep incline. A new road has been laid out ready for grading, which cuts off at least twenty feet of ascent and make the grade very much easier. It follows the present road to the trestle and then cuts through the hill to the left, reaching a ravine that leads by a little longer route to the high ground above. Properly graded, the new road will be easily traveled and the business of that fertile section of country will be open to Shakopee. The work upon the new route of the M&St.L. tracks at this time makes the plan of the change in the wagon road all the more feasible just now, because the R.R. Co. will take all the dirt from the cut through the hill and be glad to do the grading for the dirt, which they will need in the enormous fill to be made where the high trestle now stands. This will reduce the cost of building a new road to a minimum and Shakopee will contribute $250 and the town of Chanhassen enough more to complete the work. The road would be built at once, but for the fact that the railroad company is not yet ready to use the dirt and will not commence grading until next spring. Everyone who uses the road and the business men of Shakopee especially will rejoice to know that the new road is to be built so soon and in such an advantageous way for all concerned and a good deal of credit is due to the citizens who have taken so deep an interest in the plan, and furthered it at the cost of their time and expense.

Nov 20, 1902 Chaska Valley Herald Work trains on the M&St.L. road, engaged in work on the new track east of here, now make this city their stopping place. It helps many of our business houses. Christ Nygren, formerly freight conductor on the M&St.L., son-in-law of Jake Ottinger, has moved with his family to this city to make it his future home. It will be remembered that Mr. Nygren, lost an arm in an accident on the road. The Co. has settled with him in a manner satisfactory to Mr. N., glad to welcome him here. The M&St.L. R.R. Co. have recently installed a new train on their road running from the Twin Cities to Chicago, over the Albert Lea route. It is the finest of its kind we have ever seen or rode on and it is a pride to the Co. The "North Star Limited", as the new train is called, is the acme of perfection turned out of the Pullman shops and in detail of construction is superb. The decorations of the interior possess the highest type of finish and show off splendidly. There are finely finished day coaches for those who do not use a sleeper, fine combination compartment and sectional sleeping cars, a buffet and library car, with its large lounging room, which is stocked with a goodly assortment of periodicals. Also card tables are provided for those who wish to play. The train is entirely lighted by gas and shows off splendidly. This train is as good as any now running on any line and the time made from the cities to Chicago, equals the best. The Co. has also spent a half a million dollars the past year in straighting curves, reducing grades and balasting the road bed between here and Mpls.

Dec 18, 1902 Scott Co. Argus The gang of darkies employed the construction of the cement arches across the river finished the work there and broke camp Monday. They have gone to Missouri.

Dec 19, 1902 Shakopee Tribune The remnant of the camp of colored people who have been at work on the M&St.L. R.R. Co.'s vast improvements in the road across the river took their departure Tuesday evening for their Missouri homes near Hannibal. Shakopee will miss the jolly, light-hearted gang, whose custom it has been to over in numbers every Saturday night and Sunday and sometimes of a pleasant evening during the week. The darkies were cleanly and orderly, had money to spend, but spent freely rather than recklessly and the town will look forward to their return in the spring, when the work will be resumed and continue for at least another year. The colored camp was in the ravine under the high trestle and the scenes presented of an evening, when the days work was done and the beautiful spot was lit by the full moon, the darkies out in front of the long cabin playing banjoes and guitars, singing and dancing with peculiar amble and sinuous grace of the black race, were distinctly southern. Those who came to know something of the colored contingent will be pleased to learn that Minnesota skies and other charms of environment are favorable to Cupid's attacks on the southern negro as are the sunbaked plains of the south. Last Sunday Judge N. Meyer united in marriage Mr. Walter Humphrey and Miss Vina Taylor, both members of the camp the past summer.

Jan 22, 1903 Chaska Valley Herald A dilapidated engine and a crushed caboose was the result of a collision on the M&St.L. tracks opposite the power house, Tuesday morning. The accident occurred while switching and the scattered debris and mutilated engine and car kept the 10:20 passenger here until 11:15.

Feb 6, 1903 Shakopee Tribune John Lundberg has the contract to for a number of bridges on the M&St.L. R.R. which are to be built this coming summer and he already has a force of thirty men at work in the quarries. He is also the man who built the Shakopee draw bridge 25 years ago.

Mar 19, 1903 Chaska Valley Herald Several of our young men left Monday to work for the Walsh Construction Co. at Eden Prairie.

Mar 13, 1903 Shakopee Tribune Work on the trestles across the river has been progressing all winter, the steam shovels having been kept busy through the coldest weather and now the work is to begun in earnest with a large crew of workman again. Since the drying up of the roads the trestles have been a favorite spot for those with leisure for sight-seeing and numbers of carriages and foot travelers make the journey to see the gigantic work in progress.

Apr 10, 1903 Shakopee Tribune Messrs. Jacob Ries and Herman Schroeder went to Chanhassen the other day to meet the town board an discuss matters relative to the new ravine road which it is hoped will this years do away with the trestle hill road. The matter of the proposed change and the opportunity which is presented right now, while the M&St.L. R.R. is anxious to remove the dirt for the use of it, has been fully set forth in the tribune columns and it is to be hoped that nothing will be allowed to come in the way of the change being made this year. Aside from the advantages which Shakopee would enjoy in increased trade from the section of country penetrated by the trestle hill road, it would be a matter for congratulation in general as removing a hill that is a constant menace to the safety of the traveling public.

May 1, 1903 Shakopee Tribune The baseball game advertised for last Sunday at Athletic park between the Corals and the Eden Prairie railway camp did not materialize, for the reason that the railway campers could not get away from their work.

June 11, 1903 Chaska Valley Herald George Randall, a brakeman on the M&St.L R.R., was killed Tuesday in a railroad accident at Eden Prairie, Hennepin Co. His body was brought into this city and is now in the county morgue awaiting action on the part of the relatives. Randell was doing switching work when he was thrown under the wheels in some manner. Trainmen did not see the accident when it happened, but Randall's mangled body was found soon afterwards.-Mpls. Tribune

June 11, 1903 Scott Co. Argus A man named Ransom. employed on the St. Louis road over at the trestle was accidentally killed Tuesday morning. He was a brakeman and while at work, slipped and fell under the wheels, receiving fatal injuries. The remains were taken to Mpls.