The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-02-11
RAILROADS Will EXTEND
THE MINNEAPOLIS & ST. LOUIS,
NORTHWESTERN, ST. PAUL
AND OTHERS
The Twenty-Year-Old Grade Between
Aberdeen and Pierre Will be
Used by M. & S. l..

son, and il is not certain that the
Great Northern Will not also add
something 10 the saiety OF the stu
alton.
The ST. Paul has under considera-
tiOn two lines entering the newly
opened Cheyenne River reservation
lands. The grading is practically
completed, and the lines will be rush
ed 10 completion in the early spring
to accommodate the settlers coming
out to occupy the lands indeed both
lines would have been finished before
spring had this been an ordinary win
ter. but all work was abandoned ow-
ing to the seVe~ity of the weather
early in December. The principal of
these branches leaves the Pacific coast
extension at the Missouri River bridge
and runs almost directly south, cross
ing the Morcau. until the crest OF
Fox Ridge, separating the waters or
the Morcau and Cheyenne is reached
and thence turns westward and trav-
erses the crest Of the ridge until the
reservation is crossed. and for the
present terminates on the line sepa-
rating Meade and Perkins counties in
range 3. The second branch leaves
the first one described where it cross
es the south line Of Corson county
and runs directly west into the open
lands.
Twenty years ago Pierre. under
contract with the then management
OF the Northern Pacific railroad.
graded a line from Pierre to Aber-
deem The Northern Pacific was to
build from Milnor. n. d.. to Aberdeen
and then iron and operate the Pierre
line. Soon after the Northern Paci-
fic went into bankruptcy and Pierre
was left holding the bag" Numer-
GUS PROPOSITIONS have since been
fN tc~n 1n
grade. but nothing further has ma
terialized until last summer when
contract was made with the Mime
apOlis & st. Louis by which the COM
pany took over the grade and ar
ranged to iron and operate It, The
company gives assurances this Will be
done as soon as the winter breaks.
The st. Louis has also completed
survey across the western part OF the
state from the Missouri river at lie
Beau. in a general way following the
Fox Ridge. and has announced It's In
tention Of bridging the river and ex-
tending me line at least into the wes-
tern portion Of the reservation at
once
When the Northwestern learned
the Minneapolis & st. Louis was
ready to invade its territory by build
ing to Pierre it at once undertook to
gion the Minnepalos &, St. Louis must
traverse. 1t has a line under con-
struction from Blunt directly north to
Gettysburg. Grading was well ad-
VanCed when the freeze up and heavy
snow put an embargo on further prog
ress. The company has also survey
ed and purchased the right Of way
for line running from Hitchcock.
Beadle county, directly west to Onida
Sully county, upon which buildin@
operations will be pushed at the
opening Of spring. North western par
tieans think these new lines will keep
the St Louis from building into the
region. but the officials Of the latter
line sav they are not dismayed by the
opposition.
The Northwestern will also con
struct in the spring line connecting
tho Hawarden branch with the Do
land branch This requires building
from Iroquois north to Doland dis
tance of about forty miles. and Will
give the Northwestern a continuous
line down the east bank OF the Jim
river. dominating that section thru
ont the state
The North western has also an
nounced its determination to push the
Ronesteel brc nch westward from Dal-
las across Tripp county, so that 1t VIII
be In a position to command the en-
trance into the lands about to be Op-
ened in Mellette county.
The Belle Fourche valley line is al
Sc n Northwestern proposition. IT ts
located and partly graded from
Whitewood eastward to White Owl in
Meade county. and It Is announced
that it will be continued to a south
eastward connection with the Pierre
Rapid City line somewhere in the
Bad River valley, the point not yet
being definitely settled The natural
course would be from White Owl
down the Cherry Creek, crossing the
cheyenne at Leslie and thence cross
ing the ridge to Frozen Man or Lance
Creek to reach the Pierre line at or
near Wendte. The officials prefer
this location, but there is an OBJ
lection to 1t because OF the fact that
the Cherry Creek valley Is within the
portion OF the Cheyenne reservation
not yet opened. The new govern
mental policy however. seems to be
to open all the lands Of the reservation
net vet allotted and If this prospect
seems hopeful the line is likely to be
built as indicated. Otherwise the
junction probably will be made at
Philip. Pierre is greatly interested
in the enterprise. for II the Cherry
Creek route is chosen II opens a vast
and rich region to Pierre merchants.
The Northwestern is carefully
recOnnoitering the territory. and has
a large force Of surveyors in the field.
IT is the plan to leave no section un-
exploited. 20 that end that any inva-
sion Of its territory can be promptly
checkmated WITT every possible
section covered with preliminary sur
veys. It will always he in a position
70 build before anv adverse interest
can get into the field
Several interurban lines are being
exploited. Considerable grading is
done on n line from Brookings to
Sioux Falls hut il is reported that
financial embarra ssments have come
upOn the enterprise. There is much
discussion Of a trolley from Sioux
City TO Riiou Hills. and a good deal
Of money has been spent in survey
ing. II it reported that bonds have
been sold for the line. The SURVEYS
run through rich. we'll settled regions
With exceedingly poor railroad facili-
ties.
Pierre-Ranchers western Stan
ley county are much encouraged over
the outlook In that section. Tho
thawing weather OF the past few DAYS
ba 10 tbapn LARGO erratches Of opep