Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1884-12-20
THE RAILROAD.
No Prospect for an Extenslon in
the Next Two Years.

~~SSAo~e~~A 49,
the Next Two Years.
The INTER-OoEAN has it upon the very
best Of authority that nothing short of
the discovery of a rich gold mine or the
unearthing Of a township or two of first
class anthracite or bituminous coal west
of here would induce the M. & NJ. rail-
road company to extend its line beyond
this city within the next two years. The
reasons for this are quito apparent. The
present depressed financial condition Of
the country generally makes railroad
building anywhere and everywhere a
hazardous business. The Northern Paci
fio would not now be engaged in pushing
line to the west end of the lake had not
that company repeatedly promised that
the work should be done; and the COM
pany will be extremely glad when the
end is reached and the promises are
fulfilled. Dakota railroads have passed
through some bitter experiences by rea-
son Of the aggressiveness brought on by
''f1ush" times. The extension ofthe line
from Grand Forks to Larimore, during
the "boom' period, did not bring antic-
ipated profits until the tide of immigra-
ton reached the Devils Lake region, 60
miles west of Larimore. The extension
from Larimore to Bartlett was attended
with loss for time, and the building of
the line from Bartlett here, 25 miles,
drew largely upon the earnings Of other
lines for that year. Indeed, it is not al
together certain that the business over
this last extension has shown any mar
gins up to the present writing. Ifit is
true that the NJ. & NJ. company, with the
acquired wealth of 188O-82 from it's Min
nesota and Eastern Dakota lines, does
not see it's way clear to push on toward
the Missouri river, it is not very prob
able that the Northern Pacific, with its
pinched exchequer, will be ambitious to
leave Minnewaukan behind and make a
new terminus further north or west.
The outlook, therefore, for Devils
Lake is very flattering. This city being
the terminus Of the road for the next two
years means that the town (already Sec
ond in importance in the Territory, ac-
cording to the classification of its post
Office and the extent Of its last annual
| improvements and volume Of business)
will by that time rank with Grand Forks,
Jamestown, Huron, and other Dakota
cities having populations of 5000 to 5000.
Devils Lake is now the metropolis Of an
area Of country-rich agricultural and
grazing lands-containing over 5000
square miles, reaching from the eastern
boundary Of Ramsey county to the west
ern limits Of the Turtle mountain, and
from the south shores Of Devils lake
proper to the international boundary
line. It is estimated that there are now
10000 to Ii, 900 people, nearly all Of them
owning the homes they live in and the
lands they cultivate. This vast popula-
tion-vast for new country-has plant
ed itself here within the past two years,
and there is every reason to believe that
it will double and perhaps treble in the
next ensuing two. Besides, there must
come large transient population, drawn
hither by the peculiar summer attrac-
tions and healthful atmosphere-al OF
them paying tribute to the "growing city
at the end of the track"
And finally, when the railroad does
move westward with the star Of empire,
Devils Lake will have reached q size
and strength and importance that will
make such move benefit to the place
by reason Of the increasing trade that
must come this way from the budding
border. The town must grow rapidly in
size. Its situation-at the end of a rail-
road; on the shores of a marvellous lake;
in the heart of fertile and growing
country, and holding the key to the gate
through which must pass the coming
thousands who will go to the cattle ranges
of the Mouse river and the Ignite mines
Of Turtle mountain-make Devils Lake
the favored spot upon which Destiny
is now smiling. ~
u