The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-07-11
CANADA TO GULF
A GOOD ROUTE
Favorable Report From Automo-
bile Party

'~A -
auto seeking a feasible route for a
railroad. report favorably upon their
preliminary work.
This report is made by C. Hill
dreth. one of the officials of the
Nebraska company already incorpor-
ated under the name of Dakota.
Kansas & Gulf R. r. Co." The re-
port says in part:
I'VE made the trip from Kearney,
Nebr.. to Darlington, N. D., looking
up the most feasible route, taking
nearly three weeks. and covering
1.700 miles of travel. Outside of the
rainy weather and muddy roads it
was a most satisfactory trip.
Crossing the Missouri river at or
near Wheeler you strike a level
country which continues practically
all the way through both of the Da-
kotas to the Canadian line, Across
South Dakota and into North Dako-
ia to Darlington you run through
ore long stretch of level country
over 300 miles northward without a
hill. Of this great stretch it is a
remarkable fact that u road can
follow on the same half section line
through 40 sections. 1t would be
one straight run of 140 miles without
a and on almost a level grade.
The other 100 miles would be almost
as straight and as nearly level hence
one stretch Of 800 miles of straight
track and nearly ever grade.
1t is a wonderful country through
which to build and operate a road.
1t is also a most productive country
and quite well settled, although cap
able Of ten times it's present develop
ment. The towns. while not very
frequent, each have from three to
six grain elevators, and there are
many other evidences of the produc-
tiveness Of the country. 1t is also a
great cattle country, and you find
the sleek white faces on every hand.
The large fine horses seen every
where were an indication also of the
high-class farmers through these
states.
At Darlington you reach the Ca
madam Pacific. AT Hutchinson,
Kansas you reach the Sante Fe. The
distance between Hutchinson and
Darlington is about TOO miles. With
this 790 miles built between Hutch
inson and Darlington you would have
at once a continuous line from Cana
da to the Gulf. Of this 700 miles
nearly 600 miles would be through
a level. rich country. The other 100
miles is a fairly good country both
for construction and for productive
ness.
In the entire distance over this
route from Canada to the Gulf there
are no ranges to cros such as east
and west roads encounter, and no
difficult rivers except the Missouri.
The entire road from the Moose Jaw
country in Canada to Galveston. a
distance of about 1900 miles. would
certainly surpass any great road in
the United States for easy grade,
straight track and rich, productive
country. 1t will be a wonderful
road from an operating standpoint
and certainly from a proit-earning
standpoint. That it would in a short
time become a double-track road is
surely probable. The fifty million
bushels of wheat now in western
Canada that cannot get out because
of lack of railroad facilities would
require two big trains a day for a
year-two trains Of 50 cars each and
each car carrying l400 bushels, or
say three trains a day of 81 cars to
the train. The through freight from
the Canadas and the Dakotas, to-
gether with the immense local freight
the entire length of the line, would
make il a great freight road and one
of the greatest of the west if not of
our entire country.
The London men were highly
pleased with the entire route. They
sailed a week ago and are now
reaching England. They soon are
to return with their engineers. The
construction of our Beloit-K earney
part of the line by oIr contract is to
begin by October first. The entire
length of the greater line is to be
pushed.
Mr. jenkins. the English promoter,
has rented a house in Kearney and
will bring his family with him. He
expects to spend from two to three
wears in this country building che
road.
Most cordially yours.
G. Hildreth
Chairman Executive Committee.