The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-08-14
Railroad News
N. ?. FEARS TO
BUILD The Line

Mandan Pioneer: G. l. Zimmerman
returned Wednesday from a trim 10
Chicago and st. Paul and in the lar
ter city had conference with Pres
dent Howard Elliott, OF the Northern
Pacific, with reference to the building
of the north line to Stanton. He was
unable to receive any assurance from
Mr.. Elliott other than the matter would
be taken up at a conference with Off
Gals of the road. and decision reach
ed very shortly as to what would be
done.
The month OF July has shown a
very considerable shrinkage in ouerat-
ing receipts OF the road and for that
reason the officials are very cautious
as to the expenditures for extensions
and improvements. 1t was pointed
out by Mr.. Zimmerman the great need
Of service in the country north Of Man
dan. The crop in this section while
not bumper crop is nevertheless a
good crop and with a very largely in
creased acreage will provide an i'm
mense amount of traffic that will
greatly add to the earnings OF the
road.
1t is understood that one Of the
causes that lead to the hesitancv of the
railroad officials going ahead with the
line, Is the fear that the amount of
traffic they viii derive will not be suf-
ficient to warrant daily or even a
tri-weekly service, and they are afraid,
in case the line were completed and
service installed there would be pres
sure brought to bear on the state rail-
road commission to order the road to
put on a service that would cost them
would receive in business.
An interview was held with w n.
Stutsman, president of the state
railroad commission with regard to
the subject and he believed that IL
the people along the line would sign
an agreement not to press for daily for
or tri-weekly service until the road felt
that they were justified in putting II
on, that the road would be amply
protected, and that the commission
would be relieved from action in case
a demand was made later for greater
service.
II may be said that the people at
Sanger, Hensler, Fort Clark and STAN
ton would be satisfied with any rea-
sonable service, even IL a train were
run but once a week during the win
ter. This would give them an oppor-
tunity to market their crops and get
I'm needed supplies and 1t is thought If
a statement to this effect were prepar-
ed and submitted to the railroad and
the state commission that the Northern
Pacific might be induced to complete
the line this fall and put on a service
that would help out the people to the
north.
AS indicating the crying need for
service In that section 1t may be stated
that certain parties have had in mind
requesting the road for permission to
get together farmers and others inter-
ested and lay the rails without cost to
the company IL they would only put
on a train once a week. This, however,
1t Is thought would not be practicable,
for rails are laid by machines, and the
time 1t would take would be very short
as compared with the old way OF lay
ing track. 1t Is hoped some solution
win be arrived at that will result In
the completion OF the line and work Is
being quietly done to allay the fears Of
the company that they will be COM
PEELED to operate at a loss.