Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-31
ota1 track laid, miles. .......
FURTHER PROGRESS.

Total track laid, miles. ........... 203.4
FURTHER PROGRESS
While it cannot be confidently stated
Just what the plans Of the company are
for the coming years and while, doubt
less, these plans must be subject to modi-
fications from the development Of plans
of other companies in the same or con-
tiguous territory, yet the partially COM
pleted work and surveys in progress will
serve to indicate enough of construction
contemplated to occupy several years.
The line graded west from Wahpeton 80
miles is to be ironed and is not likely to
have its terminus short of the James riv-
or. The line On which work has been
begun eastward from Morris will certain
ly be extended to the Fergus Falls divis-
ion and the survey in progress between
st. Cloud and the Duluth road indicates
that it will be carried east to thai road.
The Clearwater line is evidently to be ex-
tended to the Fergus Falls division, proba-
bly, at st. Cloud. and, if not transferred
to the Northern Pacific, may be connect
ed with the cross line from Morris at or
east of Lake Whipple. A line is being
surveyed from Sank Center northerly, of
which thirty miles has been located and
which was originally projected to the
northern boundary of the state passing
west of Red lake or along the eastern
border of the Red River Valley. The
Pelican valley line, of which sixteen
miles was graded in 1881, may be tied up
in knot with the North Pacific branch
projected down the same valley, as the
two cross and twist about each like
pair of black snakes. The Durbin ex-
tension, from Fleming to Hope, is to be
ironed, and the direction of the line
indicates that it is to be built to or beyond
DEVILS lake. The northward branch of
the same extension lately completed to
Goose river, will probably be extended to
Ojata or Grand Forks. The line graded
northwestward from Larrimore points to
the International boundary and a west
ward connection with the Canadian Paci-
fic. From Larrimore west no work has
been done the past year, but it is under
stood as probability Of the future that
the westward line will be followed past
DEVILS lake to the Mouse river valley and
possibly westward on the north side OF the
Missouri to Fort Buford.
A few years ago when the st. Paul &
Manitoba company acquired the property
and franchises which had been held by
the St. Paul & Pacific companies, none
of its proposed lines were complete and
its finished roads aggregated less than
500 miles. At close of the year 1881 it
has 1,060 miles of road in operation and
everv part of it's roads. is in perfect con-
dltion, while its additions OF rolling
stock and permanent improvements
along its lines have amounted to even
more than the doubling of its trackaye,
and its increase of traffic has been at the
rate Of over fifty per cent annually until
the gross earnings of 1881 are now esti-
mated at nearly $4,000
BETTERMENTs.
During the year ITO miles Of iron rails
have been replaced with steel rails in the
Fergus Falls and St. Vincent divisions,
mostly on the latter. Station buildings
have been erected at Litchfeld, Norcross,
Kindred, Everest and Fleming on the
Durbin extension; at Beardsley on the
Browns Valley line; at FELTON,,
Beltrami, Argyle, Stephen and
Kennedy on the st. Vincent
division; at Sabin, Moorhead and Fargo,
on the GAINESVILLE Fargo line; at Gardner
on the Fargo and Grand Forks line; at
Marvel and Mimic on the Grand Forks
Northern line; and at Osseo and Month
cello on the Clearwater line. Station
are also in progress q.
Clearwater, Grafton and other points. A.
permanent engine house has been built
at Fergus Falls, frost-proof water tanks
have been built at fifteen stations, and
generally the betterments Of the road
have kept pace with Its extensions and
its increase of business.
Additions of rolling stock during the
year have been Is locomotives, IL pas
senger coaches, baggage cars, 700 box
cars, IL cabooses and 400 fiat cars. The
total of rolling stock at this date includes
81 locomotives, 1916 freight cars and 81
stock cars.
LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The st. Paul improvements by this
company during the year have been main
y in connection with the construction of
the new double track line, shortening the
distance and reducing the grades and
curves from st. Paul to Minneapolis. The |
double track has now been extended to
University switch in East Minneapolis,
where it will rest pending the building of |
the new bridge at Minneapolis. With
the grading for the new track an extern
sive work of grading has been carried on
at the shop grounds purchased |
two years ago, between the
old shops and Elevator B. Here new
round house has been built, and is now
nearly ready for use. 1t is stone build |
ing, occupying full circle of lbs feet,