The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-09-06
THE NuN0T-
BISMARCK LINE
OPENS MONDAY
This Opens To World a Won.
derful Rich Counhy-Both IN
Agriculture and Mining.

Agriculture and Mining.
Last Monday morning the 500
railroad put on trains to run be-
tween Bismarck and Minot. leav-
ing Bismarck at Z a. m. and arriv-
ing in Minot in the evening. This
railroad also has a train leaving
Minot, getting to Bismarck at 7:3O
p. m. These trains pass each
other at Max, where the passeng-
ers take dinner. The distance be-
tween the two towns is 1874 miles,
This opens up to the world a
wonderfully rich country-a coun-
try that it is hard to understand
or appreciate.
AS a farming country, it has no
superior in the northwest, taken as
a whole, while as a stock country
it is surpassed by none.
The towns, about twenty in num-
Der, are a wonder to the North Da-
kota people.
In 1899 the Bismarck, Wash
burn & Great Falls railroad pro-
ject was inaugurated, and the first
part of the road built. Many peo-
pie in this state had but little con-
fdence in the enterprise, thinking
it would pass thru country of but
little value, if built, but really
doubling the probability of the
road ever being completed.
Many 'hought it only a chimeri-
cal scheme of a very worth but
deluded old gentleman, who was
honest in his convictions, but who
would fail in ever accomplishing
the desired results. Then when it
was realized that he owned 13O,-
600 Of land in Burleigh and Nc
Lean counties, some people
thought that it was only a real
estate scheme. But there was real
headway made in the building, and
in 1904 the Minneapolis, St. Paul
& Sault Ste. Marie railway-the
500 bought out the B. w. & G.. F.
company and pushed the road a
little farther
Two years ago the company
built on to where the town of Gar
rison now stands. and this year
finished the line on to the juno
tion of the main line at Drake,
thereby completing the line from
Bismarck So as to reach Minot
over the main line. This MARKS
the completion of one part of the
plan. And this part is very i'm
! portant, too, but is small in CON-
parison with the possibilities Of
that which may and is almost GER
tain to follow in the immediate
future.
From Max northwest to Plaza, q
new town near the corner of Fort
Berthold Indian reservation, there
also extends a line of the 500.
This line is one of great impor-
tance to the state, and especially
Bismarck, as will be seen at a
glance by any who will take the
trouble to look the matter up on
the map.
The extension of the railroad to
Plaza is a very important matter
within itself, but the possibilities
with which it is frought are much
greater. That the 500 people will
be content to let the road stop at
Plaza for any great length of time
is not at all probable when there is
such rich territory just beyond to
! penetrate territory that will yield
tonnage for thousands of cars an
! nually. and territory that the three
great systems of the northwest are
! struggling to control.
! It is almost certainty that the
! road will very soon be built on
west and go thru the rich territory
between the Great Northern and
the Missouri river on the west
possibly going in north Of Willis.