Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-08-25
MAY BUILD NEW ROAD.

MAY BUILD NEW ROAD.
Things that Indicate Intention of Jas.
J. Hill to Build New Transconti-
mental Line Through Bismarck.
That James J. Hill is maturing plans
for new transcontinental short line
connecting the Northern Pacific coast,
on the northwest, and Kansas City
and st. Louis, and evidently the gulf,
on the southwest, unmistaka5le evil
dence in considerable quantity has
appeared. ':
These plans include the immediate
construction of 400 mile cut of, from
Lester, Ia, to Minot, n d.. and a
100 mile link between the Great North
ern terminus in Sioux City, and the
Burlington system, at Ashland, NeD
just west of Omaha. These two new
lines will give without further but;d.
ing a new short line between Kansas
City and St. Louis a1:1- the Pacific
northwest.
The construction of a line to the
gulf either from Kansas City or st.
Louis is contemplated as the ultimate
completion of solid Hill property that
may carry freight from ocean to ocean
upon an Independent oas;s.
Facts that have appeared in evil
dence Of these plans are:
Complete construction of fifty-two
miles OF road southeast from Minot,
N. D.
Construction of forty miles of road
northwest from Sioux City, S. D., at
tributed to the Great Northern.
Negotiations for large terminal prop
critics at Sioux City.
Surveys for an announcement of the
construction of link between the
Great Northern at Sioux City and the
Burlington at Ashland, Neb.
Purchase of coal lands in Arkansas,
attributed to James Hill.
Repeatedly reported purchase Of
right-of-way by the Burlington for a
line from Kansas City to the gulf.
A large construction gang is now
building a line southwest from Minot.
Fifty-two miles of this road are now
ready for the laying of steel. It is
stated that rails will be laid into Bis
marck, distance of 100 miles, by win
ter. Next spring the work will be
taken ud and construction pushed
southeast from Bismarck. The route
Of the cutoff as chosen passes through
Huron and Aberdeen and Sioux Falls
to Lester, Ia, just southeast of Sioux
Falls where it strikes the Great North
ern's St. Paul-Sioux City line. At
Huron and Aberdeen branches of the
Great Northern will be tapped, adding
to their usefulness.
The Dakota Central Railroad has
been quietly building a line northwest
from Sioux Falls, and about forty miles
have already been completed. The
fact that one of the officials Is in the
employ Of the Great Northern, added
to the fact that the line is being built
along the route chosen for the Sioux
City-Mfnot cutoff Is evidence that it
is a Great Northern project. It was
first thought to be backed by the Mil.
waukee and St. Paul railroad, but the
appearance of engineers for the latter
who began surveying q parellel line,
dissipated this theory. There Is prac'
tically no question but that the Minot.
Lester line is now under construction
from both ends.
Tue building Of this line will save
400 miles in distance between, Sioux
City and the Northern Pacific coast
At present the Great Northern must
send its coast business from here east
as far as Wilmar, Mimi, and then
back west by q circuitous route.
The Burlington now has route from
Omaha to st. Louis only forty-seven
miles longer than the shortest route
between those points. It witt readi!y
be seen that completion Of the Ash
land-Sioux City Hne. with the Minot
cut-off. are all that Is necessary u