The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-15
MEANS MUCH TO
CITY, INTEREST
EXTENSION OF MILWAUKEE LINE
TO COAST rs IMPORTANT

lutte Probability that Minneapolis
Will Be Eastern Terminus Of the
Fourth Northern Transcontinental
Line, Gateway to Great Northwest.
Even the most sanguine predictions
for the future of Minneapolis seemed to
have failed in the comprehension of
the commercial possibilities Of the city.
Announcement of the formation Of the
company which will build the extension
of the Milwaukee road to the coast has
deep meaning for Minneapolis, which
city, for natural causes and by man IS
handiwork, has become the gateway to
the great northwest. The news carries
with it the almost absolute probability
that, with the extension of the great
system to the coast, MINNEAPOLIS is to
be the eastern terminus Of the fourth
northern transcontinental line.
While each one of the twin cities is
commercially interested in the selection
Of the northern route, instead Of the
southern, or Chicago route, to Mime
apolis will fall the most Of the fruit.
The trend Of the freight terminal bust
ness is already we'll settled toward
Minneapolis. improvements under way
here in the Great NortAern yards are
very definite indication that the Hill
line is to. transfer it's transeontinental
Minneapolis. This change will eventu::
ally carry with it the handling and
breaking up in Minneapolis yards Of
Northern Pacific and BurlingtorAtrain
as well sas those Of the Wisconsin Cen
trail. While this work has been done
in the sister city heretofore, except as
to the Central, natural conditions have
forced the change.
Seven Chicago Lines.
Minneapolis is the terminus Of the
seven Chicago lines which act as feed
ers for the transcontinental systems.
It is natural, therefore, that the two
systems should concede: a point in
favor. Of the seven and establish its
transfer yards at their terminus.
Economy Of operation also has dictated
| this course. Another. factor in the I'M
doubted selection by the Milwaukee
mental terminus Is that Minneapolis has
more room for transit er yards than st.
Paul: A characteristic Of Minneapolis,
which has been a source Of amusement
to it's rivals, is, therefore, to prove a
boon. Freight yards in st. Paul are al
ready cramped and there is not room
for the older and more hilly city to
spread. Minneapolis has acres Of room
to spare. ~
In the first place, .altho official infor.
NATION is lacking, it is generally con.
ecededi in railway circles that the main
line of the Milwaukee from Tacoma
will enter Minneapolis by way of
Evarts, s. D., and that the main trans
continental trains, both freight and
passenger, will pass over the Hastings
& Dakota division into Minneapolis
Another distinct understanding il
road from chamberlain, S. D.. is to me meet et
the extension from Evarts at some
northern point. The short haul to Chi
cago is expected to be by way of Min
neapol1s instead Of thru Chamberlain
The latter extension will feed from thu
southwest up to the transcontinenta
trunk line. -. - s'.-o -. s>.s,- -
| - Means Much to City. ,,-
Sp accustomed has Minneapolis be
come to the flow of the traffic of thre
Il great cross country systems, the 500
Y Pacific, Great Northern and Norther1
Pacific, thru it doors that it probabl,
fails to- appreciate the full weight O
It's latest good fortune. in acquiring We
:! another system. Jobbers and manufac
tuners are grasping the situation il
good shape, for their business is direct
ly' connected Herewith. To the genera
public and its prosperity it is going t.
mean: that in the future an almost i'm
measurable territory will look to Min
neapolis as it's source Of supply, as tn
r central states have looked to Chicago
The supremacy Of the lake city in
commercial and financial way was bull
up largely by the railroads thru it
Z natural Gibralter-like situation as relat
. ing to its territory. Minneapolis is u1
doubtedly more completely the key
the west and northwest Thru it's gate
must pass much Of the traffic that is
help in developing the west, and fro,
it's business houses will flow million
Of dollars worth of merchandise an
machinery to aid in bringing the ferti]
acres Of the new country under man
r spbiection.
The Milwaukee road will open t
. Minneapolis an entirely new countr7
t Already a rich farming country is trii
J, utary to Minneapolis thru the 'Hastine
a & Dakota connection. It's extension
y the Black Hills and the building {
. short line feeders thereto will thro
open to the conquest Of Minneapol
d q vast acreage Of land rich in its pr,
J. ducing possibilities, as we'll as in mil
r erals. Penetrating the comparative
i, unknown state of, Montana, It will d
It rect to the doors of Minneapolis
$ stream Of products Of the soil, stoc
9 ranges and mines and in turn will car,
T to the settlers of the new country mi
8 lions Of tons Of merchandise. Still IA
n Their west will be found market fl
n the twin city wholesale dealers an
a manufacturers.
. Present Needs Tremendous
,, Present needs Of the inhabitants |
the new territory are tremendous, q
amount which will increase as civiliz
ton penetrates the Businesses of II
country tributary to the various st
8 t1ons. AS the government with LAWS
hand expends fortunes in the irrigatic
and the drainage Of the land which
# to become future agricultural and gra
d ing country, the business Of mercha
8 dizing will grow beyond parallel.
g While the new transcontinental wi
n make a busy place Of the twin citi
n from a commercial standpoint, it wi
} increase several fold the train traff
], both freight and passenger. The trav
Of thousands of strangers annually tn,
: the gates Of the growing metropolis W
: in itself be great advertisement Of Il
e cfty's possibilities The making of
) new system will necessitate the pu
/ chase of much land for yards, the e
70 penditure Of large sums in increasil
S the shop and roundhouse capacity al
= the employment Of hundreds Of men
q yard, shop and track work.