The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1896-01-18
A NEW RAIL ROAD COMING.
Bismarck Tribune.


N. H. is considering the feasibility of put
ting in narrow gauge railroad to the
coal fields in the northern part of this
county. Mr.. Mansfield has for some time
been in correspondence with the aueitor
of Mclean county, relative to the deposits
of coal in that vicinity, their development
and the amount of coal which is used from
the mines. Later, Mr.. Mansfield wrote
Harvey Harris of this city, relative to the
same matter, asking for information upon
certain questions. Again Mr.. Mansfield
sent Mr., Harris letter, enclosing some
information concerning certain narrow
gauge roads which had been put in opera
ton in different parts of the country, and
which he claimed could he made to pay
with any moderate amount of traffic. He
stated. also, that he would pay Bismarck
visit, ere long, look over the ground, and
decide whether or not there was sufficient
inducement to warrant the building of
such road as he described in his com.
municatien,
1t is we'll to state in this connection
that the coal which has been mined in the
northern part of Burleigh county and
marketed in this city. has given better
satisfaction than any that has been used
here, 1t is a sound, solid, highly combus-
tible fuel, burning evenly and is remark
ably free from clinkers, one of the object
ions to various grades of Ignite. At the
ichool building it has Undergone pratical
test this year, and it gives creator satis-
faction than any which has been used in
that institution.
At present, wagen transportation is the
only means BY which this product is got
ten from the mines to this city. There
are several mines in operation in the coal
region, but none of them are worked to
their capacities. But even in this embry-
mic condition of the industry this home
fuel has supplanted to large extent the
outside product which has been shipped
in to the city in former years. With some
adequate means of transportton, the con-
sumption of home coal would be largely
increased Once constructed, the expen-
ses of a narrow gauge railway system
would be light, and the cost of coal land
dowr IN this city would be less than from
any other coal deposit iu the state.
There is at present, along the Missouri
slope south of the city and in all parts of
South Dakota, demand for lignight coal,
but the bresent route over which it must
be hauled is such that the cost of trans
portation precludes its shipments. A
north and south line, tapping the coal re-
gions, ana entering South Dakota directly,
would open up new market for coal,
which would develop the new mining in
dustsy to large proportions. This demand
for coal IN South Dakota was felt whom
the Plenty scheme for river rransportat-
ion was set afoot. But river conditions
were such that barge transportation was
concluded impracticable and dropped. A
road north and south would supply direct
transportation fer fuel, and remedy the
unsatisfied demand for cheap fuel in South
Dakota, and bring about the develop.
| ment or thriving industry in North Da-
kota. Il is to be hoped that Mr.. Mans6eli
will see his way clear to spen up such {
system, eithe wholly or in part.