The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-08-18
The n. P. Fears
To Build the Line
Farmers May Lay the Rails Without
Cost to the Company If They
Will Run a Train

Mandan Pioneer: g. L. Tim.
norman returned Wednesday from
a trip to Chicago and st. Paul and
in the latter city had a conference
with President Howard Elliott, of
the Northern Pacific, with refer
ence 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 officials of the road, and de.
cision reached very shortly as to
what would be done.
The month of July has shown a
very considerable shrinkage in op-
Grating receipts of the road and
for that reason the officials are
very cautious as to the expendit-
ures for extensions and improve
ments. 1t was pointed out by Mr..
Zimmerman the great need Of SER
vice in the country north of Man
dan. The crop in this section
not a bumper crop is nevertheless
a good crop and with a very largely
increased acreage will provide an
immense amount of traffic that
greatly add to the earnings of the
road.
It is understood that one of the
causes that lead to the hesitancy
of the railroad officials going
ahead with the line, is the fear
that the amount of traffic they will
derive will not be sufficient to
warrent a daily or even a tri-week-
ly service, and they are afraid in
case the line was completed and
service installed there would be
pressure brought to bear on the
state railroad commission to order
the road to put on a service that
would cost them more in operat.
ing expense than they would re-
ceive in business
An interview was held with w.
III. Stutsman, president of the
state railroad commission, with re-
gard to the subject and he believed
that if the people along the line
would sign an agreement not to
press for daily or tri.weekly
service until the road felt that
they were justified in putting it on,
that the road would be amply pro-
tected, and that the commission
would be relieved from action in
case a demand was made later for
greater service.
It may be said that the people
at ::Sanger, Hensler, Fort Clark
and Stanton would be satisfied
with any reasonable service. even
If q train were run but once a week
during the winter. This would
give them an opportunity to mar
ket their crops and get in needed
supplies and it is thought if a
statement to this effect were pre-
pared and submitted to the rail-
road and the state comission that
the Northern Pacific might be in
duced to complete the line this
fall and put on. service that would
help out the people to the north.
AZ indicating the crying need
for service in that section it may
be stated that certain parties have
had in mind requesting the road
for permission to get together
farmers and others interested and
lay the the rails without cost to
the company if they would only
put on a train once a week. This
however, is thought would not be
practicable, for rails are laid by ma
chimes, and the time it would take
would bs very short as compared
with tho old way Of laying track.
|It Is hopsd some solution will be
arrived at that will result in the
completioa Of the line and work i
I>2<~ r,n;nA0e, I1nnn - A11A~,. khn