Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-07-25


pire Tributary to St. Paul-Prospective
Business of the Roads.
Especial Correspondence of Chicago Tribune]
CHICAGO, July 22.-When the syndicate
that has grown into the Oregon s. Transcon-
completion of the Northern Pacific, the Ore
gon Railway & Navigation company, its nu-
merous branches, and the Oregon & Califor-
MA railroad, all of which it controls, Mr.. Vii
lard and his friends will have the management
of 5000 miles of road, stretching from the
terminus of Lake Superior to the three princi-
pal points on the Pacific Ocean. This will be
the
GREATEST NET OF RAILROAD TRACKS
in one hand in the United States, and the great
est but one or two in the world. With it goes
an imperial land grant, given to the Northern
Pacific when it was supposed its course would
be largely through desert. This transconti-
mental route will be the shortest by roo miles
between New York and Asia. Its easy grades
have committed its managers to the resolve to
make the time between New York and San
Francisco twelve hours shorter than by the
other sky climbing lines There are over S40,-
100000 on hand to push the work in its differ
ent divisions, and plans have been made for
$4,000 more If needed. These millions are
TO be spent as rapidly as lines and levels can
be determined and men and materials concen-
trated at the points of construction.
All through Eastern Oregon and Washing
| ton the finest quality of wheat is raised, and
| the common yield is fifty to sixty bushels to
1 the acre. There has never been failure of
| The crops in Oregon, Mr.. Willard says, since
| the settlement of the country in 1916. On the
west side of the Willamette branch Will be
| built from Portland, ninety-eight miles, to
Corvallis, and a further connection is likely
| that will carry the road 100 miles up the val
ley These branches will be prolonged, and
| will have subbranches built as business de-
mands. The plan is to have a system of
| UPWARDS OF 1900 MILES
in operation in the Oregon Railway & Naviga-
ton system to feed the Northern Pacific when
that is ready to take the traffic of the Pacific
coast These feeders will at once, Mr.. Viii
lard calculates, add 100000 year to the re-
| ceipts of the Northern Pacific, and their trib-
ute will grow yearly.
In the vast stretch between Eastern Wash
ington and Glendive on the Yellowstone
| no plans have yet been made for branches,
with the exception of one to the National
Park of about 100 miles in length. The main
line has not been built through this import
ant part of its route. But the valleys of Mon
ana are so fertile and their population is al
ready increasing so rapidly that great many
branches will have to be put by the Northern
Pacific into that Territory before many years.
In Dakota and Minnesota definite plans
have been made for branches with an aggre-
gate mileage of about 1000 miles. Work on
them is already under way. Railroad meets
railroad in the rich valleys IF the Red and
lanes rivers. An eager contests already be-
haf,u- r.
Manitoba, the Chicago. Milwaukee & st
Paul, the Chicago & Northwestern, and the
Northern Pacific to see which shall pre-empt
most of the territory IN Western Minnesota
and In the eastern half of Dakota. All un-
derstand the value of the prize to be gained,
and surveying and engineering parties are
icing deploAed over the country ] Ike the adj
vance guards of hostile armies. In his sort
Vt contest, the Northern Pacific under the
Id regime was at great disadvantage
| Branch lines, according TO the agreement with
the preferred stakeholder, could be built only
out of the net earnings, and the bonds placed
on the property of the company ceuld be used
| ONLY TO COMPLETE the MAIN LINE.
The Northern Pacific had to stand still and
see its competitors marchiug over its terri
tory without being able to defend itself. But
Mr. Wizards brilliant idea of the Oregon &
IFaAseapttPsEgta T ut qI it SIS Of
'o.he --red if it is wanted, has provided an
'mpl f''rd for the immediate and simultane-
'us 'lding of all branches that can he
1eeded.
At Jamestown surveys have been made
alghty miles north for road TO run $50 miles
I'D the James river valley to the Mouse rive.
COUNTRY. This branch will he extended sonth
| If thn Northp~r pan'f To Aistanro not We.
determined. o her roads are connecting for
nossession of this valley. The maps of the
Northwestern road show that it has branch
laid out TO Ordwav, sonth of jamestown.
| The ST.. Paul has made SURVEYS for line m
the valley towards Jamestown. The Manitoba
road has a line projected and partly SURVEYED
that will cross the northern half of the Jim
| river valley at its best point, that near the
Mouse river county, The fact is, though not
} vet widely known, that there is here region
not second to that of the Red river. The Cas-
seIton branch of the Northern Pacific, built
thirty one miles out of the net earnings. has
been surveyed twenty-five miles further, and
will be at once pushed by the Transcoafinent-
mp to the Canadian line. The land here much
resembles that of the Red River It is too
rich to cultivate easily. The Fargo & South
western branch has been graded for twenty
five miles, twenty-five miles more are under
contract, and its further length is
simply a question of time and expe-
I IHlo IOdQ Will CUT 1nbO Inc
territory of the Manitoba's Breckin-
ridge and Standing Rock branch. Another
branch. called the Northern Pacific. Fergus
Falls & Black Hills, is to run from Wadena to
Fergus Falls and Breckenridge, and ultimately
TO the Black Hills, with branch up the Pel-
can valley to Pelican Rapids. Grading is be-
ing done on the Pelican Rapids branch and on
the piece between Wadena and Fergus Falls
description has heen given in previous let
Ter of the Little Falls & Dakota road, of which
Mr.. Willard bought the charter during his re-
cent visit TO st. Paul. It has a land-gra of
$1,000 acres of what are called swamp lands,
hnt are really only lowlands. and subsidy
from the counties through which it passes Of
abont S2,0o0 a mile IT will RIM 1877 miles
southwest from Little Falls to Big Stone Iake
and perhans further. This branch cuts into
both the Manitoba and St. Paul roads. A
northern branch of the Northern Minnesota
| will be bnilt from Detroit northward. buf IFS
exact route and length have not yet been de-
| termined. ta 800
All through Minnesota and Dakota the
Northern Pacific finds an $50 80
| UNTIRING AND UNcoMPRGMIsING ANTAGo-
| MIST
| in the Manitoba road This is owned mostly
by four men, who hold S., 600, 600 each of it's
common stock. Its general manager, aJim"
Hill, as he is Familiarity known in st. Paul. is
| an active, smart railroad man, who is ALWAYS
| looking out for "Jim" Hill and the Manitoba.
| Now millionaire three times over and more,
he was but few years ago shipping clerk
| on the docks of st. Paul. Hills theory of
railroad'ng is that, as far as other roads are
concerned, tits war. IF the Northern Pacific
lays out branch he likes, he ''lumps" it. He
did this with the branch from Pelican Rapids
| He squatted on the route originally laid out
by the Northern Pacific, Fergus Falls & Black
Hills line, which he crosses five times with
competing tracks. The Manitoba is to have
branch from Morris to Big Stone Lake, at
Browns Valley, to head off the Little Falls &
Dakota. Mr.. Hills corporation is also build
ing on the west side Of the Mississippi river,
/ between Sank Rapids and St. Paul, on the line
| originally laid ont by the Northern PaniAo In