Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-10-22
MlLACA TO BRAlNERD.
Expected that the Great
Northern Will Build.
That Road.

The Great Northern has for some
years had surveys of Il line from
Milaca to Brainerd, passing west Of
Mile Lacs. 1t Ia now claimed that
the Great Northern can obtain pos
session OF the Brainerd & Northern
Minnesota line. The Minneapolis
Tribune outlines the plan:
Another line OF railroad into the
Twin Cities. to built by james j.
Hill, III said to he strong prob
ability. The proposed line would
open for settlement large territory
in the Eastern part of the state, and
would make tributary to Mime
apnlis and st. Paul a region of valu'
able resources.
Articles of incorporation were filed
with the secretary Of state several
days ago covering the ''Park Rapids
4 Leech Lake Railway" which is tn
tM all extension Of the FOsston
Branch OF the Great Northern. to
connect with the Western terminus
of the Duluth & Winnipeg. which Mr.
Hill recently purchased at sheriff's
sale. The entire line from FOsston
to Duluth will he called the "Park
Rapids 4 Leech Lake Railway
Work on the line has been in progress
tor sDn:e time, and it will be IN Oper-
alton next season. 1t will give a d.
rect outlet TO the head OF the
lakes for grain from Northern Min
nesota, North Dakota and Mani,
toba. The section Of country which
it will traverse has been rapidly fill
ing up with settlers.
A few years ago u line was sur
veyed by the Great Northern. from
Milaca, ON the Eastern Minnesota
railway, to- Brainerd. 1t passed
through Mile Laos. Morrison and
Crow Wing counties. Considerable
difficulty was experienced in making
u sa tisfactory crossing of the North
ern Pacific, but the winter following.
the line was surveyed north of
Brainerd to l.eech Lake. The prof.
ect was supposed to have been
dropped. Several years later, how
ever, a corporation OF Minnesota
lumbermen constructed n logging
road from Brainerd north, and 1t
followed exactly the line Of the FORM
or survey. it is significant that this
corporation received a bonus Of
several thousand dollars from the
citizens of Crow Wing county, and
the city of Brainerd. This road ia
now known as the Brainerd & North
ern Minnesota. and liz IN active opera
ton. Its present northern terminus II
Walker, on the eastern shore Of
Leech Lake. An extension has been
surveyed, and is partially graded.
and it is said will be built next
spring. to Bermidji, point on the
Park Rapids & Leech Lake road.
The question is asked why Mr.. Hill
should call his new road the Park
Rapids & "Leech Lake." when, al it
at present looks, the road does not
come within many miles of Leech
Lake, unless the acquisition Of the
Brainerd & Northern Minnesota was
not contemplated. The latter road
is now owned by Minneapolis lum-
bermer. who, when they have ac-
quired timber tributary to the line.
are said to be willing to sell the
property, Ms their numbering inter-
ests are of more Importance to
them. The road was well built,
and III point of grade and condition
is equal to many larger systems.
There are a number of towns on the
line which are growing rapidly, and
the company has had considerable
travel to Walker, where u
hotel has been erected.
TO complete tne line to the Twin
titles, it is said that all that would
be necessary would be to build ~
miles of track between Brainerd and
Milaca. on the line which has al
ready been surveyed, and that this
with the Brainerd & Northern Min
nesota, would open for settlement Il
rich section. A large number Of
settlers have located during the past |
summer in the counties through |
which the new road would pass.