The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-30
Short Line to Port Arthur,
Fort William and Nipi.
gon Country.
Clog on Wheat Terminals at
Duluth Removed and
/. Great Section Opened.
=, IMPLYING a connecting link for

CgUPPLYlNG a connecting Link for
- Minneapolis and the Canadian
:. boundary at International Falls.
with direct short line to Port Arthur.
Fort William and the Nipigon country
in Ontario, railroad is to be COM
structed from the Big Fork river te
International Falls.
Yesterday there was fled at the Sec
Rotary Of states Office at the state
capitol the articles Of incorporation of
a new Minnesota railroad company, the
Big Fork & International Falls railway.
with E. W. Backus, W. F. Brooks and
G.. J. lockwood, all Of Minneapolis, as
the incorporators and first board Of di-
rectors. They will build and operate
the new line from the present northern
terminus of the Minnesota & Interna-
tional railroad to the city of Interna-
tional Falls, a distance of thirty-zve
miles. s-s S5ss
n On the completion Of the new line
it will sbe possible for a business man
or tourist to take the evening North
ern Pacific passenger at Minneapolis
and by q continuous night trip of 800
miles over the Northern Pacific. it's
branch, the Minnesota & International.
and the new Big Fork extension, arrive
at International Falls in time for
breakfast without change Of cars.
( The new road thereby "Opens up to
Minneapolis trade the entire valley Of
Rainy river and Rainy lake, and at the
same time insures for that fertile
young empire an of lift industrial
and commercial developments. The
thlrty-six- hour roundabout route into
the new country via Winnipeg will be
a thing Of the past, and will give way
to the ten-hour shortcut over the
Northern. Pacific, the Minnesota 8 In
ternational and the new road.
4. Backus on the Work.
E. w: Backus confirms the announce.
ment Of the speedy construction and op-
GRAFTON of: the new road. He says:
, s'The new road will be constructed az
speedily as it is physically practicable.
It will form the connecting link be.
tween the twin cities on the one hand,
and the young city Of International
Falls and the tributary Rainy river val
ley on the other. The contract for con-
struction was let by the constructions
company five weeks ago, and four
weeks work at clearing and grading
the right-of-way have already been ac-
complished. The present crew Of zoe
will gradually be increased to 500, and
the work pushed with all dispatch. It
is anticipated that the first section Of
nearly twenty miles to the Little Fork
will be completed and the rails laid by
April, with the prospect and expecta-
ton that the entire extension of thir-
ty-fve miles into International Falls
will be completed and ready for opera
ton in time to celebrate next July 4.
The two feet of snow which fell early
in the winter protected the ground from
frost, SO that the work or winter grad
ing and ditch-making is progressing
with the most encouraging dispatch.
The grade is easy and permits. of rap
i'd and economical construction of the
roadbed, so that we feel safe. in az
surfing the public thru line from the
twin cities to International Falls by
midsummer
Cost Of Extension.
The cost Of the new extension, in
Guiding roadbed, bridges and equipment
will be upwards of $1,0O0,0OO. AS re-
CARDS the current superstition that the
Backus-B Brooks company is associated
with other large financial interests in
this enterprise, Mr.. Backus did not care
either to affirm or deny. He admitted,
however, that all financial arrangements
for building and operating the road
were completed, and likewise that trait
fc arrangements with the Northern Pa
cific and the M. & I. were already
fully perfected, providing for continu-
GUS thru passenger and freight service
between the twin cities and Interna-
tional Falls as soon as the last rail II
laid, and the new extension ready for
operation.
The Backus- Brooks company, imme-
diately upon the completion of tho
road, will erect in International Falls
next year q large sawmin Of upwards
s0,0oo,00o feet capacity, which will !
Continued on Sd Page, 5th. Column.