St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-14
Sketch of What Has Been accomplished,
and What is StiLI to be Dome at the
Empire CitD of the Northwest.

Company.
This company succeeded the Western
Railroad company of Minnesota as owners OF
the railroad extending from Brainerd to
Sank Rapids, and also the land grant con-
nected with this railroad.
The new company was organized under
amended articles of incorporation on May @,
1888, with capital Of SIC, 900, 900, and foI
the purpose of extending its line from
Sank Rapids, and to provide proper terminal
facilities in Minneapolis and St. Paul for the
traffic Of the Northern Pacific railroad.
The charter of the Western railroad pro-
vides for the construction of a railroad from
Sank Rapids via Minneapolis and st. Paul to
the city of Mankato, and under this provi-
sion the new company commenced the work
of constructing that portion Of the line be-
tween Sank Rapids and Minneapolis in Au-
gust, 1888, and on July l, 1894, the line was
opened to the traffic of tie Northern Pacific
railroad. This latter company had antici-
pated their need Of terminal facilities in the
two cities by the purchase of large tracts OF
land, which were transferred to the st. Paul
d Northern Pacific Railroad company. In
GLIDING purchases made by the company
since its Incorporation, these tracts are as
follows:
At the junction Of the main line with the
st. Paul Minneapolis 81 Manitoba railway
and nneapolis, Sault Ste, Marie 81 Atlantic
railway in northeast Minneapolis, ninety
acres.
In northeast Minneapolis at the present
station, grounds containing four acres.
In the city of Minneapolis, bounded on the
north by Tenth avenue, on the east by First
street north, on the south by the st. Paul,
Minneapolis 81 Manitoba railway, and on the
west by Second street north, about twenty
acres. The property upon which the shops
above described are to be erected situated
midway between the two cities and contain
ing 2l6 acres.
The Rice purchase, so called, including
the several purchases near Mississippi street
and north of and adjoining the property Of
the Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis e. Omaha
railway, in Trout Brook valley, aggregating
100 acres, and also the land lying south OF
East Seventh street and east of Broadway,
constituting what is now the city freight yard
of the Northern Pacific company, and con-
tanning fifteen acres.
Ii is the purpose of the companyto develop
these properties as fast as it becomes neces-
sary, and they have abundant funds for this
purpose. The finances of the road are
under the immediate supervision of
Edward D. Adams, OF the firm of
Winslow und Lanier, of New York, and the
vice president of the company, and this is a
fact that is alone sufficient To assure anyone
OF its financial soundness.
The work done by the company since the
summer Of 1888 consists of the construc-
zion of the main line from Sank Rapids to
Minneapolis, and the development of their
terminal facilities in Minneapolis. The con-
struction of the main line involved a bridg e
to cross the Mississippi river in Minneapolis,
and other bridges OF less magnitude. With
one exception, combination struc-
ture of wood and iron, these
bridges are constructed of iron.
The masonry is Of granite, and first class in
every particular. The work upon the ter
minal grounds in Minneapolis is of a very
substantial and frSt-class character.
Bassett's creek has been disposed of by
confning it to an arehed culvert which is
twenty (20) feet wide and three hundred
and sixty-hye 1861 feet long. The valley
of the creek is filled with earth to the height
Of thirteen feet above the culvert, or to the
grade of First aud second streets. This en-
bankment required 1870, 600 cubic yards OF
earth, The grade of Second street has been
raised to correspond with that
of First street, the work
having been done by the company.
A brick freight depot has been constructed
on First street. Il is 700 feet long and forty
feet wide, being divided into two compart
meuts BY fire wall. The north end is oc
cuped by the distributing refrigerator of the
Northern Pacific Refrigerator company
Each compartment is supplied with Fair.
banks Il Cos. warehouse scales. At thu
south end is situated two story Office build
ing 40x40 There are three rooms and fire
proof vault on each floor. The offices will be
heated by steam, the APP aratus being placed
l.. the basement The entire building viii
te lighted by gas Tue company are also flu
ishlng an engine house which will accommo-
date nineteen engines.
Connected with this is blacksmith and
small repair shop, engine and boiler house
and lav4tory. A kellogg & Maurice turn.
table sixty-one feet long is already compile
ted. The tracks in the yard are well under
way. When completed there will be eight
miles of track. \ forty ton Fairbanks track
scales has been provided and put in place,
When completed this will be one of the
most convenient and commodious railroad
wards in the city. These facilities are to be
shared With the Minneapolis, Sault Ste Marie
4 Atlantic railway under lease.
The work already done is an earnest OF
fhe intention of the company to provide rail
fosa facilities in the twin cities that shall be
IN keeolng VITA their commercial import
ance.
In nesrly every city throughout the country
The railroad corporations have made the error
Of not providing enough room for the ex,
parsion OF business. The St Paul &
Northern Pacific Railway company have
Guarded against this, and have anticipated q
tipe in the not far distant future when thS
two great cities of the northwest win contain
collectively upwards of half a million inhab
itaats. When that time shall arrive. as i
win within the next decade, this company