St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-04
WASHBURN'S BONANZA
The 500" System From Minneapolis Via
Sault Ste. Marie to
Montreal.
The Western Systematic Minneapolis
& Pacific.
The New washburm system.

the road has not as yet been completed into
| Minneapolis renders the enterprise to
many a decidedly unknown quantity in
railway construction. But the gap be-
tween Minneapolis and Turtle lake-from
which latter point the road is now being
operated as far east as Rhinelander is OF
comparatively nominal Importance from
an engineering point of view, and it is
gap which will be closed early next season.
( This is essentially Minneapolis en-
terprise, conducted with Minneapolis
cap tai. and primarily designed as a
permanent protection to Minneapolis inter-
estS. 1t is something more than this. how
ever, in that it pl omiseS TO be great trunk
line from ocean TO ocean. At present
Montreal is the objective point. but any
student of railway progress in these latter
days knows how natural it is for railway
line to expand. Who supposed, for in
stance, that either the Pennsylvania, Mil
waukee, Northwestern. Rock Island, or
Burlington systems would have grown to
their present dimensions. scor years
ago? And whatever Gen. WashOdln may
now have in mind concerning the 500
system. the course of empire, the tendency
of events. the force of destiny will unite.
in all probability to expand this system
into
GREAT INTERNATIONAL HIGHWAY,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and the
principal international railway system on
the Amer can continent. But aside flom
future probabilities the $500" is already
seen to be a most important enterprise,
probably the st important that has been
conceived and put in operation in the
Northwest in the past twenty years, for it
iS n W q wi
prove to be the balance of power in keep
ing certain of the trunk lines now operating
between Minneapolis and the East in place
If the management did not control a mile
of road moth and west of Minneapolis, the
500" would nevertheless be master of the
situation, in that it will lay down freights
at the seabnrd at rates that none of its conf
petitors can approach. As a road for
through fire. ghts alone it will prove most
fortunate conception. But when we
consider that the country through
which it passes is rich in timber
and minerals and capable of contributing a
very large permanent local business. the
enter prise appears doubly fortunate one
for its stockholders. Let us glance at the
route, and, comparing it with others inquire
as TO some of its advantages By referring
| to the accompanying map we notice the
500" road runs almost in a direct line
| from Minneapolis to Sault Ste Marie.
thence via its Canadian Pacific connections
to Montreal. In time it will have another
eastern outlet via the Grand Trunk VIII Gil
is now being constructed from COdwaier
westward to the Sault. Here is direct
| line from the Northwest to Montreal saw
ing about 400 niles transit to the seaboard,
and reckoning the average speed OF a freight
| train at twelve miles per hour. of thirty
three hours in time. 1t is the biggest strike
made in railway construction on this CONT
| nent in twenty years. for time is the very
| essence of business in these days.
THE TOURISTS ROUTE.
In the summer season the 800" will
naturally receive the great bulk of tourist
travel from Europe. via Canada, to the
Northwest and the Pacific coast. But it is
after all its splendid freight traffic which
will secure a magnificent income to the
500" almost immediately. A fine local
business is already being done on the com
paratiyely few miles completed. But when
the whole system is in operation from Min
neapOl.s 70 Montreal look for lively com
petition that will in all probability result in
material reductions in grain freghts, at
least to the seabOard. A recent writer in
| the Chicago Times referring to the 800, "
admits that it Twill prove Itself menace to
the commercial interests of Chicago on ac-
count of the enormous traffic it Will enjoy
that would otherwise be benefit to Chi
cago." This is the whole story in nut
shell. and it would appear that the
somewhat deSpotic reign of the
| Chicago lines is about ended so far as the
discontinuance of arbitrary freight rates can
| end it.
Referring further to the future of the 500,
the Times writer says: During navigable
seasons there will be great opportunity
| for hauling coal and salt west. and lumber.
and iron. nillstutfS. flour and grain east,
besides the miscellaneous freight and travel
resulting therefrOm. During the entire
year the line must. from necessity of its 10
cation, enjoy great lumber and iron trade,
for it is the natural outlet for these heavy
articles of commerce to the west"
THE WESTERN LINES.
of the Washbum system, that is to say the
lines extending north and west from Min
neapolis. have had their beginning in the
Minneapolis q Pacific. line conceived two
years ago. but not brought to the attention
of the public earlier than last spring. To
conceive was to execute. The line passes
the two lines of the st. Paul, Minneapolis
u Manitoba railway. northwest via Buffalo
and Glenwood to Lidgerwood 21S miles.
and simply Skins the cream of the business
of the W hole country north and south on
either side of the line. and up to the present
time for more than 200 miles from Min
neapolis CHANGING at the map we notice
the road comes to an apparently abrupt
termination in the middle of the prairie
west Of LidgerwoOd, 225 miles from
Minneapolis. And here. ike the
sphynx in the Egyptian desert. the
Riddle gives forth no sound. If we ask as
to its further destination the headlight OH
the locomotive flashes the answer across the
prairie westward, and its rays seem to
penetrate and illumine the waters OF the Pa
citic One may almost hear the waves
breaking upon the granite base Of Seal
rock, and note the welcome extended by
the people of the Occident. The race be-
tween the great lines of railway nowadays
seems to be made up of gigantic strides
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Should
the Minneapolis & Pacific push to the west
ern coast. as its name would seem to hint.
the Washburn allied lines will extend in an
unbroken course from Montreal to the Pa
citic. and this will open up the hitherto
| undiscovered Country" country in
which the husbandman, the miner, the
lumberman and stock raiser will
find new and virgin fields for
the development of their enterprises and
a rich reward for their efforts. The COM
| pietion of the 800" system will shorten
up the time between Minneapolis st. Paul
and all New England at least twelve hours,
and the company will run through sleepers
- U,Nrl- DcfD 4
ing time and distance and the present
numerous and vexatious changes.
1T IS DUE TO GEN. WAsHBURN
to state in this connection that his mind
conceived and his efforts have secured to
MINNEAPOLIS and the Northwest this mag