The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-04-17
Railroad Scheme Being Pushed.

.9 Railroad Scheme Being Pushed.
News comes from Grand Marais that
there is much quiet work preliminary
to the construction of a railroad from
4 that point to connect with the Canadian
line from Port Arthur that now has it's
terminus at Gunhint, where valuable
iron deposits are located. It is evident
that before the railroad projectors begin
actual work on the proposed line that
they intend acquiring possession OF val.
liable lands through the country which
it will traverse. Options on large tracts,
that without a railroad, will forever be
without value are being obtained right
and left and in many instances contracts
are being secured by the terms of which
owners agree to turn over to representa-
tives Of the proposed railroad company a
one-haf interest IN their holdings on
the completion of the line. Quite
number OF contracts of this kidd have
been signed, ard on other properties
long time options at a nominal figure
have been sold.
The mon back of the railroad enter
prise are very careful to keep in the
background, but those who represent
them claim that they have an abun-
dance of capital with which to carry
out the enterprise and that they are
only waiting until they secure enough
property to make reasonable profit
on the investment certain. Explorers
are being sent out to investigate the
resources of property on which options
have been obtained and for which con-
tingent contracts have been signed.
On the result of some of these explo-
ratlons the future of the project will
largely depend. It is known that much
mineral Of deterrent kinds exists in the
region to be opened by this road, and
that the indications are that ore bodies
are of sufficient magnitude to make
mining profitable. When this fact is
demonstrated to the satisfaction of the
men who intend organizing the CON-
pany, dirt will fly.
That they have considerable conf
dence in it is evidenced by the fact that
they have already made number of
expenditures and that contracts have
been made for still others. Among
those is the purchase of harbor front
property at Grand Marais for ore, coal
and merchandise docks, which require
the payment of $500 before May 81.
This contract is on record in the Office
of the register of deeds in Cook county
RS the property is absolutely Necessary
to the carrying out of the enterprise
Other contract purchases that are not
deemed of such vital Importance have
been made, but for prudential reasons
have not been recorded.
: There is back of Grand Marais snot
only lands rich in mineral, but large
tracts Of good timber that would be
cut and marketed as soon as a railroad
is built that will make it practicable to
haul it to Lake Superior. The people of
Grand Marais have felt confident for
many years that eventually capitalists
would be apprised of the great opportu-
=. mites for profitable investment that are
afforded in Cook county. In the past
number of companies have been organ
lied to build railroad, but none of them
have ever passed beyond the paper period
of their history. The last move in this
direction has inspired them with new
hope and they feel certain that the fond
dreams Of years are about to be realized