The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-03

nent viii be found somewhere not far
frona the spot on which stand, at the
head OF navigation on the Mississippi
river"
Untheught of developments Of steam
and electric transportation and communi-
cation may prevent the fuifillment Of this
prophecy as to our city's relations with
the whole country but It has already been
established as regards the Northwest, an
American region vast in extent. and still
in the early stages of development. While
above the 18th parallel, across which is
stretched an artificial barrier, some day
to disappear, is more territory reaching
to Alaska, the trade Of all which naturally
belongs here Railroads from ST. Paul
touch and cross this boundary at many
points in 1,50e miles straight away from
Northern Minnesota to the Western sea,
which separates us from the Orient, the
trade of which is being sought and en-
couraged through ships controlled from
st. Paul
Railroad Mileage in Minnesota
OF the hundreds Of railroad companies
chartered by the legislature of Minnesota
and neighborfng states to build roads in
our state. many only reached the paper
stage, while others constructed lines
which became links in existing companies.
OF these twenty one-exc1usfve of six
terminal and transfer companies-remain
and operate the nearly 5000 miles OF
track In the state. The companies now
reporting mileage In Minnesota are as
follows:
Canadian HJorfJ, or,, M
Chicago. Burlington 6 Quincy. % Isl
Chicago Great Western .......... 145 62
Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul 4, al. 05
Chicago. st. Paul. Minneapolis &
Chicago G. Northwestern ...... GO. 80
Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific 235 ST
Dubuque & Sioux City (Illinois
pulush. nlssabe & Northern iss,.. Isl s.
Duluth & IRON Range ............ 2es 81
Duluth & Northern Minnesota 700
Great Northern i, $40. IS
Minneapolis & ST. Louis . 37S. 81
Minneapolis. st. Paul & 5. g. M. go. 80
Minnesota & Northern Wisconsin. 66 40
Minnesota & international ....... LAG. 81
Northern Pacific !, 022 SO
Wilma e Stony Falls i............. 1ss az
Wisconsin, Minnesota & Pacific. 247 so
The six terminal and transfer COM
panies operate over 100 miles of track,
three of them IN the Twin Cities, two at
Duluth and one at Winona There are
various logging roads in the northern part
of the state not now considered common
carriers which IN time to come will be
added to the permanent railroad mileage
of the state, inasmuch as settlement is
following the tracks into the forests, and
every sawmfil becomes the nucleus of q
town surrounded by fields from which the
stumps have not disappeared, but In
which the plow Is busy.
Fortytwo years ago witnessed the lay
Ing of the first rail- In Minnesota at st.
Paul. and many OF our older citizens were
present at this Important event. Today
the number of miles of track operated
by lines entering it is not less than Sc,
600, or one-auarterS of the mileage OF
the United States, while with allied lines,
or lines represented in the city through
general agencies, the total Is not less
than LOG. goo miles. And the local sys-
tenn Is extending all the time. 1t has not
been long since one of the great lines of
the South and West entered the city on
its own tracks, and another great line
will be here In due time, seeking a share
of the business originating In the fair and
vast empire that Hes tributary to ST.
Paul.
St Paul had been on the map good
many years. q frontier town. enjoying a
limited trade with the Northwest through
Red river carts, and by occasional steam