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 CHAPTER XXVI THE MIRACLE OF THE BOOM

discovery of gold in the Black Hills had turned the eyes of the world upon South Dakota, and many who had come out to find gold had found the boundless prairies of fertile soil and were led to believe that they were intended by Providence for the happy homes of men. Among those who came into Dakota during the gold excitement was Marvin Hughitt, president of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. The purpose of his visit was to assist in establishing a line of transportation into the Black Hills, by way of his railroads to the Missouri, and thence by steamboat and stage. While on this errand, he was impressed with the vast possibilities of the Dakota prairies, if only railroads were built to bring in supplies and carry out the products. He went home resolved to try a great experiment in western development. He believed that the railroad should be the pioneer, leading the way for the settler, and that if such railroads were built in the Dakota prairie, settlers would flock in and, by their industry, provide freight for the railways that would make the investment profitable.

President Hughitt laid the plan before his directors and it was approved, and as speedily as possible he 156