The Minneapolis journal., 1902-02-10
BLIGHT OF MERGER
Settlers in MOI thern Minnesota Must
Do Without Railroads.
WORK ON THE M. & /. ABANDONED
Extension Toward Canadian Line
Won't BE Resumed TIL AmbiE-
nity Is Cleared Up.

Special to The Journal.
Bemidji, Mimi, Feb. 10.-It is given out
In railway circles that the further exten-
sion of the Minnesota & International
line will not be taken up for couple OF
years, owing to the uncertainty as to
who Is to furnish the funds for new lines
for the Northern Pacific. When the en-
gineers Of the road were laid OH rev
weeks ago, the rumor gained credence,
and now an official Of the road has con-
frmed the rumor.
The line is now completed to Black
duck, thirty miles north OF BemidJl, ana
daily train service has been installed. 1t
has been the intention OF the M. q l.
people to continue cutting the right or
way beyond Blackduck this winter 'ana
bringing in supplies for the summer work.
But since the agitation over the merger
these plans have all been sidetracked.
This fact will be a terrible disappoint-
men to thousands of settlers who in the
past two years have taken up homesteads
in northern Itasca county, along the sur
vey of this line. Perhaps in the United
States there has been no portion OF coun-
try more In need of railroad to accom-
modate the people. In winter there are are
wagon roads that may be Travelled with
difficulty, but in the summer surrounding
swamps and lack of county roads nave
made this country practically shut OIL
from the world except by using water
routes. In summer the residents OF the
Big Fork country have been obliged TO get
their supplies either by boat from Canada
at the mouth Of the Big Fork or up the
stream 200 miles at Deer River. And this
stream is so rapid that the trip is one OF
great hardship.
The conditions in the Little Fork coun-
try have been about the same, only the
settlers are not as numerous and the dis
not 8
river empties into the Rainy river but a
short distance from Koochiching on the
American side and Fort Francis on the
Canadian side both important ports for
the steamship lines on tAe big river.
Not only will the cessation Of construc-
ton of the NJ. & I. be hardship to the
settlers, but discouragement to toWns1te
boomers who have invested thousands OF
dollars along the survey. TWO years ago
St. Paul syndicate, headed by Tams Blk
by, purchased land at a big price ana
plated town on the Big Fork beside one
OF the best waterfalls in this country.
Recently G. J. Swedback plated another
town on the opposite side of the river.
Last summer w. F. Street plated town
beside the waterpower of the Little Fork,
all three towns being on the direct sur
vey Of the NJ. & I. Real estate in town
lots can not be expected to boom until
stimulated by railroad work In its vi
cinity.
By this delay the Big Fork proprietors
will probably be the greatest losers.
Koochiching already has practically rail-
road communications by the completion
last fall Of the Canadian Northern on the
opposite side of the Rainy. and now an
other road promises to strike that town
this year, making 1t the metropolis OF
the northern half Of the county. II 1t
gains this prestige, the Big Fork boom
ers will see It's railway come In too LAKE
to make 1t the formidable rival that It
has promised to be for Koochiching.
But those interested in the interior are
not discouraged They are hopeful OF
railroad connections by way OF Deer
River. The Simms logging road has been
extended from the Great Northern at this
station, and 1t is reported that it will be
continued directly to the two towns on the
Big Fork. To the settlers the extension
OF the Duluth. Virginia & Rainy River
road is one Of great promise. At present
this company has two construction crews
at work day and night balancing the road
bed between Virginia and Duluth. twenty
miles through the hardest part being COM
pleted 1t Is promised that the road will
be pushed through to Koochiching by next
winter.