The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-10-30

,1O0NlQuGu ETOIu rage OAlS&
OF the companies to straighten ana
shorten their lines, as we'll as to reach
out for new territory. and new cut
offs and feeders are the principal
topics of interest. While the feed
ers are largely only Of local interest,
some Of the cutofrs will materially
affect states both east and west OF
North Dakota, and will change rates
and time tables between many Of the
larger cities.
Perhaps the most important of the
eutoffs under construction in North Da-
kota is that of the Great Northern
railway from Fargo, northwesterly,
through New Rockford to Minot, run
ming in an almost straight line for 225
miles, through the very heart Of the
state and almost paralleling the main
line of the 500. Grading was COM
rnenced early in 1910, but owing to the
unfavorable season last year and the
general financial conditions, the work
was temporarily suspended last fall,
but was resumed early in 1911 all along
the line and its completion Is promised
before August, 1919. A. Guthrie & Co.,
Of st. Paul, are the principal contrac-
tors. but the work has been divided
among numerous sub contractors,
working on short sections Of grade. so
that It can all be completed in short
time
On the Latest Maps.
The exact location Of the new road
was definitely determined In 1910 and
appears on the latest maps OF North
Dakota, printed by the commissioners
of agriculture from data furnished to
him by the railroad company. Grading
is completed at the western end, from
Minot southeastward about twenty
miles, to the crossing OF the Mouse
river, and that stretch Of road Is be-
ing ironed in order to haul material for
the building of a bridge across the
Mouse river. At various other places
along the line grading has been com
pleted, and at others the work Is Still
in progress.
The new cutoff crosses parts Of ten
counties, and already over twenty new
townsites have been plated, the prin-
cipal new towns being as follows:
PilIsbury, in Barnes county; Luverne,
in steele county; Fairview, Revere and
Sutton in Griggs county; Glenfleld,
Juniata and Grace City, in Foster
county; Brantford, Dundas and Mum
ster. in Eddy county; Bremen, Viking.
Heimdahl and Wellsburg, In Wells
county; SELF, Clifton and Aylmer, in
Pierce county; and Guthrie, Karlsruhe
and Simcoe in McHenry county.
Older towns that will be touched by
the new line are Page, Hannaford and
New Rockford. The last named ex-
poets to be made division point. The
new townsites are owned by town
site corporation with headquarters at
willmar, Mimi, of which d. M. Tall
man, S. B. Quafe and others Of Will
mar are stockholders and officers. They
have organized bank in each to look
after their interests there. Auction
sales of lots were held in each in 1910.
Postoffices were established, newspa-
pers started, and bank and store build
ings erected.
Good Thing for Fargo.
The construction Of this line means
much to North Dakota in general, and
to Fargo. New Rockford and Minot in
particular Fargo will be the eastern
end of the line and will be thus brought
into touch with territory that hereto
fore has not been tributary to that city.
New Rockford, which heretofore has
had only one railroad, a branch of
the Northern Pacific, now expects to
be made a division point and to have
q new union station. It expects also to
become a wholesale distributing point
for central North Dakota. Minot will
be the western terminus and junction
of the new line with the present main
line and many improvements will be
be made in the magic city, including
larger switchyards and a new station.
The nominal terminus Of the line is at
Surrey, about five miles east of Minot,
but as that is small place, the be-
ginning Of the Minot yards, the city OF
Minot Is the real terminus.
The territory tributary TO the new
line embraces some OF the choicest
in the state, settled and farmed for
years. This will all be brought into
more direct touch with the markets
and wholesale and retail centers, both
east and west, and land values will
increase In proportion. The whole
Of central and northwestern North
Dakota viii be brought nearer Fargo,
the twin cities and Chicago, and a
denser population will naturally result
Eastern landseel5ers can then reach
the central parts Of the state without
the delays consequent upon changing