The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-08-20

is not likely that the grade will be far
enough along to permit the laying Of steel
this year beyond Black Duck, twenty-five
miles from Bemidji. Stations have been
located and townsites laid out all the way
to Koochiching.
Tams Bixby's Town.
The line runs almost northeast. crossing
the Big Fork and Little Fork rivers At
the crossing of the former Tams Bixby
has townsite known as Grand Forks.
Tams evidently figured that there would
be much numbering and logging activity
at that place.
With the location and building of the
new railroad line, settlers have flocked in
by hundreds until the total is now in
the thousands and little trading and out
fitting settlements have been established
far beyond the end Of the track, among
them being Ten Strike and Black Duck.
The land seekers who took time by the
forelock got good agricultural lands near
the line through the generosity of Uncle
Sam and some distance up the line many
of them got lands under the homestead or
stone and timber acts that have much
valuable pine on them. The best timber
lands on the southern part of the exten-
sion passed to private owners years ago
and is now largely held by the Weyerhaeu-
ser and Walker interests.
South Of Turtle river the land is sandy
but fruitful If rains are abundant and
north of that river it is described as
rich loan and the equal of any land in the
state. Thousands of pieces Of land have
been homesteaded in this region recently
and immense tracts Of government land
remain, though that most advantageously
situated at present has been taken. There
is little doubt that within ten or fifteen
years the valley of the Rainy river will
be recognized as one of the best agri-
cultural regions in the state. Near the
river the climate is somewhat milder than
it Is either south or north.
Connections at KOOchiching.
When the Minnesota & International is
completed to Koochiching, which will very
likely be next year, it will meet there the
Canadian Northern Railways new
line from Porth Arthur to Winnipeg
Then the settlers and towns will have an
outlet west into Manitoba and east to
Lake Superior, as we'll as to Duluth and
the twin cities. OF this new Canadian
road more will be said in later letters.
From Minneapolis to Red Lake.
The NJ. & I. is already building branch
lines, primarily for logging purposes. The
longest of these is one which starts from
point south of Turtle and will run to
Nebish, the terminus of a twelve-mile
logging road which now runs southwest
from Red Lake and has recently been
transferred from Halverson & Richards.
the Minneapolis railroad contractors to
the Northern Pacific. AS soon as this line
is completed there will be direct rail con-
nection from Minneapolis to Red Lake. the
largest body of water wholly within Min
nesota; it's area is about 500 square miles.
It is now wholly within the wilderness and
difficult of access. 1t can be reached by
stage from Bemidji after a drive of thirty
five miles or from the west by steamer
ASSN A~e%tAO
Falls. At present the whole of the shore
line except the eastern half of the north
lobe of the lake lies within the Red Lake
reservation.
A Low Gradient.
The Minnesota & International is be-
ing built in substantial manner. It will
reach the boundary with a maximum
grade of 0.3 per cent which all railroad
men will recognize as something unusual.
This low maximum was obtained at the
expense of some very heavy work Just
north of Bemidji but Thomas Croswell
the engineer, justly regards the end as
1ustifying the means. For some years to
come the principal freight traffic of this
road will be the hauling of logs to Brain
erd there to be dumped into the Mississip-
pi or forwarded to Minneapolis by the
Northern Pacific. small gradient means
Continued ON Ninth Page.