The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-09-14
TWO ROADS CLASH OVER TOWNSHIP
frosty IN Williams County Is The Bone Of Contention and
Great Northern at Cross purposes in New Territory.

a battle royal between the 500 and
the Great Northern companies over
the Crosby townsite impends. Both
roads are building into this section,
the 500 a branch from Flaxton on it's
main line and the Great Northern a
branch from Berthold, also on its
main line; but neither will enter
Crosby's present site, which has for
two years been the trade center of
northern Williams county, 1t being
contemplated that the grade is such
as will not permit sidetracks.
The 500 plated a new Crosby town
site two and cne-half miles northeast
OF the present location and put, the
lots on sale, but Crosby business men
refused to buy. for many reasons, all
OF which they made known to the
500, except the chief one-a banker.
Ing belief that the Great Northern
would plat q townsite only a mile or
two to the south. and. hemmed in be.
tween the International boundary line
and the Great Northern road. the 500
town could never be a good trade CEN
ter.
Whether unconscious or not of this
feeling on the part of the people, the
500. with heart to please, plated
a new townsite nearer and free from
the farmers Objectionable features;
but the sale of lots proved a frosty
acknowledgment of the roads gener.
GUS disposition, only a few sales, it
is said, having been made.
All Doubts DispelIed.
Tie 500 people contended that the
Great Northern would not build into
Crosby this year, but the latter, while
not presenting evidence as tangible
as desired by many. has fortified itself
strongly in the confidence of the bust
ness men Of the town by verbal rem
reservations and such evidence as it
was possible for the road to put
forth at this stage of construction.
All doubt that has existed as to the
company's sincerity has been dis
PEELED now. however. as about 500
men and teams arrived here last
week. and grading is being rapidly
pushed from this end.
The following want ads of each
road, which have been appearing in
the Twin City dailies, will give an
idea of the sharpness of the contest:
WANTED-Merchan to know that
splendid opportunities can be found
for the establishment of stores of
all kinds in Crosby, the promising
new town In Williams county,
North Dakota. Track will be laid
to Crosby next week; big crops
now being harvested and must be
marketed there. G. A. Campbell.
ToWnsite Agent 500 Line, Mime
apolis, MINI.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and others to
know the exact situation at Crosby,
N. D.; all ordinary lines of bust
ness we'll represented in Crosby at
the present time. See Land Com
missioner, Great Northern railway,
st. Paul, Mimi, for locations in new
towns on Berthold- Crosby extern
sion.
Facts and Conditions.
For the benefit of those who are
unac quainted with the conditions
and are seemingly conflicting adver-
tisements, the following statement of
facts is made:
The 500 line runs west from Flax
ton, about six miles south of the in
ternational boundary line, to AM
brose, point about nine miles west
Of Crosby. and the Great Northern,
from near F1axton parallels the 500,
about mile and half to the south,
and its terminal will be one mile
east Of the present Crosby. The bust
ness men of Crosby have decided to-
cast their lot with the Great North
ern, and for this reason all ordinary
lines of trade will be well represent!
ed in Crosby on the Great Northern.
It is probable the 500 will have to
change the name of its station, as
there is but little doubt that the pest
Office WI! go with the rest of the