Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-01-12
MORE RAILROAD Talk
500 Road Evidently Getting Into Line
for the Extension to
Bismarck.
Directors See That They Must Put
in Competitive Road to Mis-
souri, River.
500 GETTING INTO line

1t will be interesting to residents of
the Missouri slope who have watched
for years for the coming of the 500 to
see that the early completion of the
Braddock branch to Bismarck is likely
to be brought about by the recently an
nounced determination of the N. p. to
extend its branch lines. But what
ever the cause of the extension of the
500. 1t will be thankfully received. A
road to Bismarck, operating with Cen
eral Washburnis line north of the CITY
would give the 500 transportation
facilities, not only to Bismarck, but
the rapidly developing country up
north, and access to the stock ranges
on the west side of the river, and the
branch instead of lingering out on the
prairie would become an important
feeder for the main line of the road.
A railroad authority in the Twin cities
writing of the possibilities of 500 ex-
tensions, says:
For some time past the movements
VI Az A>oA lACAA L dCIuC Ill NOEUl InkO.
ia have been watched with consider
able interest by the officials of the 500
line and the Canadian Pacific. The
revealed purpose Of the Northern Pa
cific to build extensions to the south
ward of its main line between Fargo
and Bismarck brings the issue %suuarely
to the front. The 500 management
must either submit to an invasion of
territory regarded, under the rules Of
equity governing such questions, as eX-
cluslvely its own, or retaliate by build
ing competing lines and extending it's
construction plans into territory over
which the Northern Pacific claims dom
nancy.
1t a he stated on excellent author
lty that the 500 proposes to protect it's
interests against anything in the way
OF invasion. 1t lis not the purpose Of
that company, it is said, to initiate
raids in the territory of other lines,
but, if completed by the acts of com
petltors to build new roads or extend
those already existing the necessary
funds for the accomplishment of the
work are available in the treasury and
from The proceeds Of the sale Of bonds,
There are several contingencies asso-
GATED with the plans for additional
construction by the 500. One of these
has a direct reference to a more thor
ough concentration Of interests by
means OF extensions to important
points not now touched by that system
n the shortening of routes between
the Twin cities and interior centers of
population and industry. Fargo has
long been an inviting point anu Il line
from that place to Elbow Lake would
give an advantage to the 500 over both
It's competitors, the Northern Pacific
and the Great Northern. Further
more. ever since General Washburn
undertook the building of his line
northwest from Bismarck, the belief
has been entertained that the 500 was
not unlikely to complete it's road to Bis
marck with a view to the absorption
OF the Washburn line now heading for
Fort Buford, and thus protect itself
into the rich section of country Of the
upper Missouri, which the latter was
designed by it's promoters to develop.
1t is only necessary for the 500 to con
struct twenty-five miles in order to
reach Bis" arck, and thus effect the
combination. The Northern Pacific
is already building an almost direct
east and west line westwardly from
Darlington on its Leeds branch, with
the apparent purpose Of eventually
tapping the valley Of the upper Mis-
souri,.
General Washburn is already ship
ping in rails for the ironing of the road
as far as Wilton, and will let the con-
tract from there north in all probability
to Winston brothers. AS soon as the
road north is completed there will be
$4,000 bushels of wheat in the Wilton
elevator to haul out, and another crop
to be harvested. With the rapidly
increasing settlement Of the territory
north Of Bismarck, this road alone
promises to become a desirable feeder
for the 500.