The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-30
Branch OF Productive Industry Has Made New Record
Has Increased and Evidences Of Prosperity Every Hand
Comprehensive Summary Of the Developments
the Most Remarkable the History Of this Imperial

apohs and other cente1s Of labor sups
ply for men to carry on the work.
Wages went up and still the roads wore
shorthanded. But q wonderful total ia
shown, in work completed, and thsre
is work In state Of partial completion
that will go over into 1907, that will
provide employment for thousands,
that when finally In operation will
change the railroad map, and increases
the facilities for moving the crops and
carrying In the merchandise and ma:
terial materially.
| The Minneapolis market has been ens
tended in every direction. The 500
road struck out into new territory and
| the Minneapolis & St. Louis brought
whole counties in South Dakota! hith-
erto somewhat remote, into direct touch
with this city. Every road did its
share, the big systems leading off.
| The total Of 1926 miles, which will
stand as the record Of the three states
for 1906, does not represent, even in
the one-half part, the real work. This
us the number Of miles completed dur.
ing the year. There is work going on
that will extend into next summer. and
other work is just starting, the COM
p1etion Of which lies in the more dis
tant future. The year 1907 should wit
ness greater activity than the period
just closed.
| With the twin cities as basic point
the Minnesota, Dakota & Pacific, which
is a Minneapolis & St. Louis auxiliary,
is pushing along into South Dakota.
One line is already finished and trains
will soon be running over it. Clark,
Day, Brown, Mcpherson and Sphinx
counties are opened up in new places,
and another direct Minneapolis Aber-
deem connection is provided. Tho not
involving so great an expenditure as
some Of the plans that extend beyond
the confines of the three states, into
the farther west or Canada, the Min
neapolis & st. Louis extension, from
the Minneapolis iobbing viewpoint, is
the most important of any undertaken
in 1906. .,ss
The 500 put down 129 miles of new
rails in North Dakota, the work being
but part of the general plan of ex-
tension. Along the eastern edge Of
Minneapolis territory the Wisconsin
Central Is creeping up to Duluth, and
In the iron country and the undeveloped
forest tracts in the northeast portion Of
Minnesota small extensions are many.
the objective point being the Rainy
River district and the international
boundary line. The Omaha has done
it's share of work and the Northwestern,
It's stronger ally, has put much money
into South Dakota work. The Rock
Island has done work in Iowa in coun-
try into which Minneapolis business
goes, the Chicago Great Western has
touched up its lines thruout, while the ];
work Of connecting the Great Northern
and Burlington systems by the Ashland !
cutoff, between Sioux City and OMAHA,
has been feature Of Importance, faeil-
ltating as it will the interchange of an
immense tonnage at this point and af-
fordlng more direct communication be-
tween Minneapolis and that country.
The Northern Pacific has it's results
to show and the Great Northern plans
are many. New extensions are being
pushed between Aneta and Devils
Lake, and from Cass Lake north. There
is Great Northern plan of a new ex-
tension from North Dakota branch
south of the main line, to Minot.
Double tracking has been started be-
tween Rugby and Devils Lake, where
traffic is heavy, and much more double
tracking is in prospect for next year.
These. are the comparatively minor
things. They have no bearing upon the
grand plans with which the public is
familiar; the Great Northern invasion
Of Canada; the Milwaukee extension to
the coast; the 500 Line plan Of q
4 direct coast line south of the boundary
and the other big things that are start,
ing, the completion of which lies in the
fye-year period to come. All these
extensions are working for the good
Of the northwest and the material
benefit of Minneapolis, the principal
| supply center, from which will move in
largest part, the merchandise and
material that will 60 out along these
lines, when the country adjacent is
settled and the wants Of the people
Ihave to be met.