The Washburn leader., 1901-03-23
o,-,rr The Present Year 1t 10 Ex-
u.cted That the Railroad Mileage
of the State Will be Suos.a.-
TALLY Increased - Plans OF Inv
Four Roads.

thar any other work. Last year "no.
the line reached Oakes it was reported
the company would do no more work IN
that section. as it merely wanted to con-
meet the gap with the branch line from
Jamestown to Cakes. Since then. how
ever. there have been rumors Of extern
sion, at least to the Missouri river Ellen
dale people hoped to secure the limo
through that town, but others have as
serted that the extension would be ol-
rect from Cakes to the Standing ROCK
Indian agency, a few miles beyond which
have recently been discovered the best
coal beds In the state in inexhanstible
quantities. The coal there is beyond the
Ignite stage and compares favorably with
the Iowa and Illinois soft coal. With q
branch line tapping the fuel beds in that
territory the Northern Pacific would
practically control the coal trade of the
state.
Added to this have been rumors of still
further extension Of the line into Mon
tana to connect with the main line and
form a shorter route to tho Twin Cities
than the existing one. OF course the lat
ter Is regarded as chimerical.
Other Reports of Extension
to the Missouri river country in the
southern part of the state have been rife.
Some have supposed that the present
Southwestern branch would be length
ened from Edgeley into Mcintosh county
and then into the new coal fields. This
would open up a splendid ranch and
farming country now controlled by the
500. Still others have discussed the
probability of the company continuing
the extension made last year. southwest
from Casselton, and running that line
to the Missouri. This would give the
shortest route to Standing Rock. but
would not strike quite as good section OF
the state.
It is practically certain that the North.
ern Pacific will do more work on the
Sanborn-C -Cooperstown line. which has
been built to McHenry. Engineers have
been making a survey from Mc1enry to
oberon on the present jamestown North
ern branch Of the Northern Pacific. This
would connect up the branch lines and
the new line would run up the Antelope
valley, which is one Of the best wheat
sections of the state. not even excepting
the Red river valley.
The Bowdon branch, west from Car.
rington. via sykeston, will be made longer
and run into Mclean county to accom-
modate the thousands Of new settlers
going into that section. It may go as
Tar as Washburn.
Besides the work outlined, there Is q
revival Of interest in the old plans to
build an addition to tho Jamestown &
Northern line from Leeds straight north
toward Dunseith. In the Turtle mountain
country. Efforts have been made for q
number Of years to secure this That sec.
tion Of the state has developed remarka-
bly,. and some farmers are compelled to
haul their grain forty miles to ono of tho
Great Northern branches. A Northern
Pacific line would be great feeder.
The Great Northern
Is expected to aid materially in develop.
ing some Of the newer sections of the
state. Among the lines that seem practi-
cally assured is the extension Of the
Hope-Aneta branch. from Aneta straight
north through Nelson county and along
the dividing line between Cavalier and
Ramsey. This is twenty to thirty miles
west of the Langdon branch and a great.
er distance east Of Devils Lake. It would
relieve many farmers from a twenty-five
mile trip to market and make a number
OF new towns in a prosperous farming
section. Additional interest attaches to
the line as plans are already on foot for
the formation Of q new county from nor.
tions OF Ramsey and Cavalier, with some
OF the new towns as the county seat. A
number Of townsites have already been
lald out and buildings are being erected
IN anticipation Of the road early this
summer.
The Great Northern is said to have an
nounced to the new settlers in McHenry
county that branch will be built north
from Granville, west Of Towner. This
would divide the distance between the
Bottineau Great Northern branch and the
800. Last year that section of the state
secured the bulk of new immigrants ana
the Great Northern has taken great In
terest IN the colonization of that terri.
tory. The north end Of this line will prob
ABLY be at Richburg, which is also to be
the terminus of the Great Northern
branch which has been surveyed from
6ottineau direct west to the heart Of the
mouse river country. Every quarter Sec
ton OF land is taken in that section al
the state and dts fertility seems almoat
unequaled. The two new branches wonlfl
connect at Richburg and give the Great
Northern a loop through the recently set
tied territory. = 4 3
there have been reports Of 4 area,
Northern extension south from rownar
toward Washburn. but there seems To- IS
no foundation for them. @3.33s-5
The 500 IS
IS confidently expected to make its ,on, :.
anticipated entry into Bismarck witt, the
new century. For more than vear n
mas been at Braddock, In the next county
to the south. and plans are 81 last aaid
70 nave been completed for more track-
laying, and the Capital city; people q.
pect to have their ambition gratiaed. d sI33
The most important 500 extenaIon. hor.
!. ever. T Y expected to be into Fargo from
the vicinity Of Elbow Lake, Minn. A us. .ur.
vey was made through the territory 81 4
summer ostenslbly in the Interests q !.
local company. IND . BIN passed 81 On esn: