Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/261

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 205 Company built a branch line through the village, giving the peo- ple of the village and surrounding country much needed trans- portation facilities. In the early days the only means of trans- portation was by wagon over the rough country roads, and the nearest markets were Red Wing and Lake City on the river. In 1902 the Great Western Railroad Company, having purchased the Duluth, Red Wing and Southern railroad from Red Wing to Zumbrota, extended the line through this place to Rochester, con- necting with their line at that place, so that at present the rail- road service enjoyed by the people of this vicinity is nearly all that could be desired. In the spring of 1878 the village of Pine Island was incorporated and separated from the township. The first council to serve the village was composed of the following: President, Charles Hill; trustees, Messrs. Dickey, Thompson and Lowery; recorder, G. II. Glidden. In 1899 the people voted bonds in the sum of $6,000 and installed an excellent system of water- works. Water is obtained from a well drilled in the solid rock and located beneath the mill power house and power for pump- ing is obtained from the mill power engine. The water mains have since been extended so as to afford city water and fire pro- tection to nearly every portion of the village. An electric light plant was installed at the mill in 1899 by Loomis F. Irish and electricity is now being used in all parts of the village, both for public and private lighting. The year 1900 saw the beginning of the present excellent telephone system, when Thomas II. Bunn put in a small switchboard and built a few miles of line. The system has grown rapidly and now penetrates all parts of the village and many miles into the surrounding country in all direc- tions. Pine Island is justly proud of its schools. From the log shack of 1857 the school moved to a brick school building erected in 1864, built on the site of the present school building, but this; building was outgrown and a commodious wooden building took its place, in 1883. This building served its purpose admirably for many years, but the school again outgrew its quarters and in 1904- an additional building of brick was erected at a cost of .$10,500. This building furnishes quarters for the high school and tin- seventh, eighth and ninth grades, library, gymnasium, labora- tories and several class rooms. Out from these schools a number of men and women have gone who have attained a high place in the work of the world. A few notable examples are a United States diplomatic representative now stationed in Spain, a representative in Congress, a professor at Harvard Uni- versity, several men in the United States civil service, and teach- ers of both sexes in large numbers.. The village boasts of over forty business places, including two banks, two grain elevators.