The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-27
500 EXTENSIONS
TO COST. MILLIONS
Many Sections of Northwest Will
Be Tapped with Main or
Branch Lines.

With an appropriation of $6,500,000
for next years work and a decision to
build 200 miles Of new road, the 500
line has outlined an extensive cam
paign for territory: conquest in the
northwest for 1907, -
The 500 line has consistently en-
ployed it's annual surplus in betterment
rolling stock. In this way it has re-
turned to the people the profits Of the
years business over the payment Of
fixed charges and dividends. The reg
ular program will be carried out next
year and between $6.0O0,00o+ and &c.,
100000 will be used in bringing terri
tory tributary to Minneapolis in close
lis. =
Buys Much Equipment. -:
Attic it has not been, definitely an
nounced what extensions will be made,
the 500 is buying steel at $28 ton and
stock by the purchase of box and fiat
cars, passenger coaches, and locomo-
tives for delivery next year. Mean
while, the construction Of new and the
revision of old lines is going on.
Above the $4,000 a mile for which
new construction will be bonded, the
seostsWill she paid from the surplus. Out
coo for sthe year ending June 80, must
come the payment of a 4 per cent divi-
dend. on $14 100000 common stock and
per cent on $1,000, 900 preferred stock
or $1,050,000. This leaves tidy sum
for .betterment work and addition to
equipment. In *
Room for Growth.
In the three western states which the
500 line traverses is a great dominion
still to be put in touch with railroad
facilities. just what the 500 line will
do toward this work will depend a
great deal on what the line has already
accomplished and what other roads will
do: It is generally known that the
Northern and that the 500 8 chief. aim
| will be to secure a. hold on anything
that might become Great Northern ter
ritory which has any revenue in sight,
or in promise. r. "
This year the 500 is constructing a
branch from Drake, N. D., on the main
line westward to Plaza with a short
branch from Max to- Garrison, on the
Bismarck line, also an extension from
Flaxton westward to Ambrose. In 1905
the Thief River Falls.Kenmare line: was
built. e.. - .--:-.,
Lines in Prospect.
The 500 undoubtedly Will soon build
to connect its Wisconsin line with Du
luth. Whether the 500 will ever build
from Thief River Falls to Duluth is a
question, but it has a definite plan to
secure head of the lakes terminals. An
other line which the people expect the
500 to build is from Valley City on the
main line to Grand Forks, crossing
Barnes. Steele and Grand Forks coun-
ties. Valley City is already much ex-
cited over the prospect.
Combinations of the Ambrose, Plaza
and Pollock lines are also logical, each
one reaching the rich country and sure
to become valuable feeders to- the main
lines, reaching out to the great west:
Development, Not War.
! Inasmuch as the 500, thru Canadian
Pacific connections, is the one agrees
sive western line which has a coast
line, its energies can be spent in devel-
Isoping the contiguous territory instead
Of taking part in the battle for traffic
from the great west. II. K. c..@e.. =. =.
Another Of the 500 schemes, which is
probably farther away from consumma-
ton, is a line to run between the North
ern Pacific and the Great Northern
tracks from Glenwood northward to
the international border, thus reaching
Fargo and Moorhead. ~ ::