The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-28
AIR line SURE TO
CANADIAN BORDER.
MINNEAPOLIS TO BENEFIT VAST
LIZ FROM NEW RAILROAD.
Assurance Is Given that the Itasca
Lumber Company Line Is to Be Ex-
tended North to international Falls
and South from Deer River to Twin
Cities.

AS soon as 1t mas developed "
point where it's trade is worth while,
the territory between Minneapolis and
International Falls will be traversed
outlet to the twin cities. This is the
conclusion drawn in part from state
ments made today bysH G. Akeley, vice
president of the Itasca Lumber COM
The Great Northern, building north
ward from Milaca Junction, around
Mile Laos, to Deer River, is due event
ually to take over the Itasca Lumber
company's road, partly btilt and sur
veyed from Deer River almost to In
ternational Falls, thus completing the
possible that Brook Park, in Kanabec
county, may be chosen as the point
from which to extend the Great North
ern, but the Milaca Junction extension
appears the most feasible and probable,
as the distance is short, some prellmln-
ary surveys have been made and the
territory that would be tapped is de-
veloping and in need of a road. In
either event, vast new field would be
opened to twin city jobbers.
.., Line Will Be Built.
That the line will be built is abso-
lutely certain; only the date Of COM
pletion is in doubt, and this depends
ritory. The Great Northern has made
no announcement, but it's attitude is
clearly indicated by the fact that 1t is
apparently making no effort to enter
| international Falls, which is bound to
be an important terminal. That it lis
planning to secure the Akeley road
thus appears more than probable, since
the Great Northern is keen for new
territory. -.... q ......~
Today twenty-five miles Of line, well
built and in operation, awaits the time
when 1t will become part Of this main
line between Minneapolis and lnterna.
will be link Of forty-fve miles. It
is the lumber road Of the Itasca Lum.
Der company, from Deer River to Tur.
tie Lake. Already it has been substan
italy strung across Turtle, Shoal and
Bella lakes. 49,.
Twenty Mile Extension.
This year the extension Of twenty
miles to the Big Fork river will be
built. It was to have been constructed
last year, but was held back by the wet
season. Surveyors have passed north
ward and tho they have trayersed to
} not be established that they have en-
tered that city. However, it is the in
? tentiop to survey thru line.
Unlike other log roads, the ltasc;
T. road has not been allowed to deterior
ate. From narrow gage line, which
heretofore has proved adequate for log
ging traffic, it has been widened to tn
! standard gage. This is significant: I
> has been perfectly ballasted at grea
. expense, and It's extension will be a
| substantial. Temporarily, the line AM
3 it's extensions will be operated by tn
Itasca company in it's logging work, bu
! Mr. AkeleX admits that the assum ptio
t that it will become part Of the Grea
!. Northern system is reasonable.
Easy Grades Possible.
8 Another potent argument is the fac
i that the territory thru which the sui
n veys have been pushed Is level. Their
q are no grades, and more nearly idea
Q right Of way could scarcely be foun(
t The line already built is as level as
9 floor. ,=. e..
?. Thru the region that the closing lin
9 from Milaca Junction would have to b
o built. conditions almost as promisin
l. are found. Rum river could be para
leled to the lake and the line carrie
around that body. It is known thu
surveyors have traversed this countr,
North of Mile Laos, Aitkin and poini
in Itasca county that are without raj
: roads, would be in line with the rout
that could be put thru almost {
=. straight as the crow IS course to Dee
. River, where completed line woI]
= be joined. .......