The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-09-21

poses, and it is conservatively
estimated that the population of
the city will be increased at least
one-half within the next five years,
should the 500 build into Bemidji
over the line contemplated.
A local party who is very close to
the 500 officials says of the pros
poets of securing the road for this
city and the benefits that would
accrue:
The survey as now made from
the Leech lake dam along the west
side of Winnibigoshish Lake, north
side of Cass lake and north end of
Lake Bemidji and from thence west
ward to Plummer has been practi-
cally completed and a satisfactory
line has been secured.
However, through the persistent
efforts of the Bemidji Commercial
Club the company's attention has
been drawn to Bemidji, and after
M. D. Stoner had presented to the
officials profles and maps of about
sixteen miles, of line which would
pass through Bemidji, the 500 CON-
pany have made a very fair propo-
sition as above stated.
The route is longer and more
expensive to construct via Bemidji,
and with these conditions in view,
Bemidji can consider herself ex-
tremely fortunate to have such a
reasonable proposition made by
company which almost invariably
passes up all villages and moderate
sized cities and builds its own towns.
Bemidjites will not get mere
branch of the 500 railway system,
if they secure the necessary right
out-way required, but will get the
most important line of any built
in the United States by that COM
pany, which in reality is a part of
the great Canadian Pacific railway,
having under operation over 10000
miles of lines.
Immediately after the line from
Moose Lake to Plummer is con-
structed, steps will be taken to ex-
tend from Moose lake southeasterly
to an intersection with the Wiscon-
sin Central, which is a part of the
500 system which, when completed,
will be the Soo's main line from Win.
nipeg to Chicago, or in other words,
from Van Couver to Chicago, and
will be many miles shorter than any
other line now operated and the
train service will be unequaled any,
where.
With such an addition as the
main line of the 500, Bemidji will
have the advantage of any city in
the state, except few of the largest.
One of the many industries she may
hope to secure is a large sawmill to
manufacture the Weyerhaeuser tim
Der. 1t is pretty generally known that
the above company is waiting to see
where the 500 Railway company
will build, when they will locate as
large mill as any in the state to
cut their vast holdings of pine in
Beltrami and Itasca counties. With
the M. & I. and Red Lake lines
running from Bemidji into the very
heart of their timbers, it is only
reasonable to conclude that they
will look with favor upon Bemidji as
location for their mill.
The 500 company has assured
the citizens committees that if the
required right-of-way is secured,
construction work will be begun
within few weeks thereafter. The
entire line must be complete and
under operation in time to haul the
wheat next fall.
AS Bemidji is the only point
readily accessible by the other rail.
roads, the company has stated that
this city will be their headquarters
for their construction work through
this country. This will mean that
many thousands of dollars will be
left here by the employees during the
construction"
Along the line of being liberal