The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-01-07

81 Edul Rloneef Press: Although
considerable work was shut off the
beginning of July, owing to poor crop
prospects in some scattered regions,
and financial reasons, largely senti :
mental, vast sums in betterments and
extensions have been spent by the
northwestern railroads during this
year Taking the undertakings of the
Chicago and Northern lines together,
the expenditure runs UP easily to
S40,0Oo,0OO, marking 1910 as a big
year in development, possibly not
surpassed by any other
The 500 line alone has spent $11,500,-
600 in improvements and new work
this year, the biggest part of it in Min
nesota, SO that as far as the territory
CONTIGUOUS to st. Paul is concerned
1t has experienced splendid progress
But for the policy of retrenchment
adopted by the railroads there would
have been still greater development,
The needs of the territory were so
imperative however that this policy
had g comparatively minor effect.
There was considerable work under
way that had to be finished. To have
dropped it would have meant loss
to the railroads. To finish it has
meant quicker realization from profits
from the money already invested.
Coming Year Uncertain
With the work that was under way
already finished undel imperative con-
ditions, it is hard to gauge what the
railroads viii do the coming year.
Surveys for new lines have been made
and there is considerable work tenn
porarily suspended, SO that there is a
great deal more planned by the rail-
roads. But whether they will attempt
much of it the coming year is profile
NAUTICAL, from the expression Of opin-
ions by officials. Conditions for the
rest of the winter will be the deter
mining factor, although at this time
some of the executives do not look
forward to much expansion While the
500 line has been the most active the
PAST year. Pres. Edmund Pennington
says that he does not expect to see
much improvement carried on during
1911 officials say that the railroad
situation in general is such that the
money is not available to carry on big
work. But railroad men have been
expressing pessimistic sentiments
for two or three years and the work
keeps UP.
500 Builds New Lines
The 500 line this year finished and
put into operation its Duluth Winni-
peg line, extending from Moose Lake
to Plummer 10 miles. The Guyana
branch, from Lawler junction on the
Duluth Winnipeg line, was built and
opened for operation to Crosby, tap
ping the new iron range. A branch
was also extended as far as Deerwood
the two roads representing fifty miles,
These lines cost about $7,000,0O0 to
build
Work is going on the construction of
ore docks by the 500 at Superior, in
order to AXE care of the tonnage from
the new range. The dock being built
this year has $4,000 tons capacity,
which can be extended to 100000 tons
capacity. making it one of the biggest
in the world. This work, together with
the construction of short line from
South Superior, viii be finished this
winter and represents about 100000
expenditure.
Another Mesahi Range Road.
Other work of Importance to Min
nesota has been the construction of
the line by the Canadian Northern be-
tween Duluth and Virginia, which will
give a new through line between Du-
luth and Winnipeg. At present the
Canadian Northern runs as far as
Virginia and is extending further into
Minnesota, so as to get closer connec-
ton with Chicago.
The 500 line this year has spent
100000 on its Chicago division, for
merly the wisconsin Central. In the
revision work extending seventh miles
there has been a shortening in dis
lance Of twenty-one and half miles
from Chicago to the freight terminals
at Shoreham
All the revision work on the Chicago
division has been finished except that
of the Withrow- New Richmond cut.
off. A part of this project is the build .
ing of one of the biggest steel bridges
in the west, representing cost of
$600,0e0. 1t stands 1S5 feet above the
ST. Croix river and is $50 0teet long
The approaches at both ends have
been completed and work is being
done on the arches. There is so per
cent. of the material already on the
bFounu, ana the mlddle OF FEBRUARY
will see the new line in operation
This shortens the distance to Shore
ham twelve and one half miles.
Big Project in Wisconsin
The biggest project under way in the
territory immediate to st. Paul is be-
ing carried on by the North Western
in Wisconsin. This is the extension
from Wyeville to Milwaukee and from
Wyeville westward to Sparta, Wis, i'm
volving the construction of ITO miles
of new line. This will give ST Paul a
new connection With Chicago, since
the North -Wetsern will make it the
main route, insuring double track
practically all the way between st
Paul and Milwaukee and four track
service between Chicago and Milwau-
kee. This route touches few towns
and win have easy grades and nc
curves, The new connections win add
six or seven miles to the prevent mile
age Of the North Western, but it will