The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-10-25
Railroads Of N. D.
Are Branching 0ut
Indicates Prosperity in the State.
Rapid Progress Made in Past
Seven Years

Ihefe Is prOOdUly Ho otIlSi HAuuoSAJ
which indicates the progress and grow
tn of state, as does railroad building.
In 1912 North Dakota has an increas-
ed railroad mileage of over 1911 Of 587
miles. In 1906 it had an increase over
1905 of 6l2 miles (the greatest year OF
railroad building in the history of this
state), and the 1908 increase over 1907
was no less than 331 miles, so, in 1912
the state of North Dakota is "beribbon-
ed'' with no less than 5,924 miles OF
main and branch lines and sidetracks.
This mileage in 1912 is assessed for
a total sum of $42, 1892, ,699.OO and is
14a per cent, or one-seventh of the
total assessed value of all property in
the state.
The new mileage in 1912 is distributed
to the separate companies as follows:
Great Northern, 308 miles.
500 $50 miles.
Midland Continental, % miles.
Northern Pacific, 12l miles.
The Great Northern has completed
what is known as the Fargo-Surrey
cutoff. This line is direct line from
Fargo to Minot, with sidetracks, located
in the counties of Cass, Barnes, Griggs.
Foster, Eddy, Wells, Pierce, McHenry
and Ward. 1t opens rich country and
does away with the necessity OF taking
the old and longer route in the trans
portation of freight, mail and pas
sengers.
The other Great Northern branch
built this year is the Stanley-Northwest
branch, from Stanley to Wildrose,
distance of some 81 miles, not including
sidings. This branch opens territory
in the extreme northwestern corner OF
the state, in the counties of Mountrail,
Burke, Divide and Williams.
The 500 has built 130 miles known as
the Drake -Fordville branch, running
from Drake on the main line OF the
500, through the counties of McHenry,
Pierce, Benson, Ramsey, Nelson, Grand
Forks and Walsh. This line was started
in the summer and is now hauling
freight. This territory is some OF the
best and had not up to this time been
equipped with adequate transportation
facilities.
The Northern Pacific has completed
its Missouri river branch, running from
Mandan, along the river through the
counties of Morton, Oliver and Mercer,
to Stanton, all very fine territory.
This line is about 81 miles in length,
some of which was completed and in
operation last year.
The Northern Pacific has also COM
pleted about 90 miles of line known as
the Pingree-Wilton branch. This is a
line operating from Wilton, where the
large coal mines are, to Pingree, which
is but short distance from jamestown
on the.u,ain line. This line operates
through the counties of Burleigh,S
Kidder and Stutsman and will furnish
a fine outlet for the coal mined at
Wilton.
This year we have in operation about
90 iss sa.,n ~ w - +ha M;d,snd - Continental
Wy 49, ns ,a;an =, 49,. ,a.a+ad = the conn.
=. =. % as s4,,ts,esn and IaMonre This
is the railway that intends to have for
~ .s.'a. a.tl sI,a ,,sstsrn s corner of North
TA..es 49,. ia ~ = .,,,;eh n;, ,,n = so,th-
4 A'noa, -'aas =. al.u w.>1 y M = ..a.4
sl;y u'1ss'.on = - = ~. -. ..;,,rae, 81.
ussl nss cesn. .ne : =. ~. -
tass pas. nse Yes - - "a. .h;s
m.ltase has p.s'. ~ as'. - .:,s. -. -,
swne'i we comp.ss.. = s '; ,;ns,,, - that
70 lna'caes .na' ~ ', .,,;.,,;n s ~
,,a,,adsr;as. ~. :, go : : ;l,vav whose main line
ss,ssa .., = aimos+. @ directly crosaw,ise e
coulse y annS.s nast.1 1 Tns r,,nn :
{. every o'ne. ..s'n1s0s'' 80 5