St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-25
RAILWAY RESUME.
Extensions and I'm Made
During the Year.

luc pOllcy OF The railway companies OK
Minnesota during the past year has been to
operate their respective lines as economic
ally as possible, and incur no unnecessary
expenses. During the first eight months
the industrial depressio n. which was gen.
eral the country over, prevented the rail-
roads from making any extensive improve
ments in their systems, more than keeping
in order what they had. This being their
policy, and brighter times having opened,
they feel more Free and will do next
year what they contemplated this.
But regardless of decrease in the miles OF
new lines built compared with previous
seasons the year 1885 has been one of the
most important in the railroad history OF
Minnesota. The larger corporations have
been taking under their care the lesser ones,
to make less competition and prevent rival
lines of equal greatness from securing any
advantages. The Chicago lines have been
looking longingly at the rich agricultural
territory ever which the Northern Pacific
and Manitoba companies have
HELD FULL SWAY,
while the two Latter companies have been
placing themselves in position where any
offensive move which may be made by the
Chicago lines can be met. The most i'm
portant piece of work completed was the
building of the Minnesota & Northwestern
road from St. Paul to a connection with the
Illinois Central at Lyle and the building OF
line from Lyle to Manly junction. to a
connection with the Central Iowa, making
direct lines to Chicago, St. Louis and Kan
sas City, and giving the Illinois Central and
Central Iowa lines direct connection with
st. Paul from all southern points. The short
line now building between st. Paul and Min
neapolis by the st. Paul & Northern Pacific
road, now nearly completed, will not only
afford the Northern Pacific the great advan-
tage of entrance into St. Paul over its own
tracks, but will enhance the value Of prop
erty in the two cities The Wisconsin Gen.
trail will soon be able to run its own trains
to Chicago over its own track. The en-
trance of the aggressive Burlington in the
Northwest, is move which is most gratifY-
ing to all citizens of Minnesota and espec.
tally to St Paul and Minneapolis. 1t will
not only
INCREASE THEIR IMPORTANCE
as railroad eenters, but with the extra COM
pletion will secure them lower rates and
better service from and to Eastern points
In another year the Minneapolis, Ste. Marie
& Atlantic will be running it's own trainf
into ST. Paul and Minneapolis, and will ba
extended to some point on Lake Michigan
near the straits. 1t is the intention of the
Canadian Pacific line to extend its Ontario
branch to connection with the Ste. Marie
& Atlantic, and from an air line to Mon
treal, claimed to be 400 miles shorter
than the shortest line now built
1t is the intention of thu
Chicago, Freeport G. ST. Paul company ia
commence work next spring and build az
rapidly as possible line from Chicago to
st. Paul. This built there will be seven
trunk lines between these cities. With
what it already has st. Paul, as a railroad
center and distributing point, ranks second
only to Chicago among Northwestern
cities. The total number of miles of road
operated by lines entering ST. Paul aggre-
gates 16, 600. and before the close of 1885
another thousand miles will be added.
With the growth of st. Paul, the increase
in the balance of
TERMINAL FACILITIES
is noticeable. The expense attending the
purchase of adequate terminal grounds has
become so enormous as to almost prevent
the building of new lines. The general
physical condition of the railways in Min
nesota is admirable. Nearly all of the chief
lines have been provided with steel rails.
It is ten years since the first steel rail was
laid in the state, and there are now over
1850 miles laid with this metal,
it having supplanted iron. Local traffic
throughout the state is increasing with the
development of the country. Considerable
loss was sustained by the Manitoba, ana
the Chicago lines in inter-C Canadian traffic
by the completion of the Canadian Pacific
road, and the Northern Pacific road will
lose part of its British Columbia business
another year from the same cause. But
statement of the business done at Mime
sofa transfer will explain what has been
done in traffic in 1885.