The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-07-01

tended as a transcontinental line. The
route to be traversed was rich in fer
tile soils and abundance of mineral
and forest Quite as inn
portant. perhaps. was the fact that it
admitted of the construction of a line
With grades SO low and curves So
moderate as to make possible cheap
err overland carriage than had ever
been previously considered. Montana
was beginning a large development of
her own. while the active growth of
the North Pacific coast, though only
in embryo. could be foreseen.
I'm 1857 the lines of the Manitoba
were extended to a connection with
the Montana Central. This latter COM
uary. 1856. Realizing the Importance
of occupying a field in Montana which
was essential to the future transcon-
tinental line. valuable in itself and
one which others were already pre-
pairing to secure we had, with some
friends, organized the company under
the laws of Montana. Work was he
gun at once. the surveys being made
i'm the coolest winter weather. Con-
strnction was rushed. The track was
completed to Helena in 1887. and to
Butte by the middle of 1888. A
branch to Sand Coulee opened up the
coal mines Of that region, furnishing
fuel for use on the Montana and Da-
kota divisions of the line and for the
development of the mining interests
in Montana, which had been obliged
up to that time to bring in their coal
from Wyoming. The work of extend
ing the Manitoba line to connect with
the Montana Central launched this
company upon the most active period
of construction ever known in this
country.
Set Construction Record.
Five hundred continuous miles
were graded between April and Sep
tember. 1887. and by November is
6i3 miles of track had been laid. an
average rate of construction Of 3 Ia
miles for each working day. The an
nual report for hat year said: The
new mileage under construction with
i'm the period covered by the fiscal
year ending June 80 and the residue
of h calendar year 1887 g..
amounts to the relatively large quaint
ity of 1,443.97 miles. or 95.5 per cent
of the mileage under operation at the
beginning of the same fiscal year.
Rut this activity on the main line to
the west was only one item in the eX-
tension program. In the years be-
tween 1882 and 1885 the stone arch
bridge and terminals in MINNEAPOLIS
~ IN idhoid lIl6
down the Red river was finished to a
connection with the Canadian Pacific:
the Casselton branch was purchased:
a line was built from Willmar to
SiouX Falls. n afterward extended
to Iankton: some railroads in South
Dakota were bought; the Montana
Central was taken eel at cost, and
an elevator n large terminals at
West Superior We're arranged for. In
1SSu tho linz e. To.1 --a WA
superior was completed. giving ter
minals and dock accommodations.
which today are not surpassed any
where in the country. The total mile
age operated had now increased to
1890 miles. The company had also
begun to operate its own steamships.
through the Northern Steamship
COMPANY. on the Great Lakes. These
boats. which began to run In 1855
ana 1889. not only afforded greater
dispatch in the carriage of grain and
-four from the head of the lakes to
Rnfalo and other lax" ports. but they
made the railroad Independent of 9th
err lake lines. 1t was thus enabled
10 protect its patrons and to prevent
IT'S reductions in rates from being alb
sorhed by increases made by the lines
east of its lake terminals.
Great Northern Organized.
I'm 1889 the Great Northern Rail-
way company was oIsanized, to bind
into a compact whole the yarious
properties that had grown too large
Tor the charter limitations of the old
Manitoba. II leased all the property
or the latter COMPANY. and was pre-
pared to finance the undertakings
about to be completed or in contem-
plation. BY 1898 the line was opan-
ed through to Puget sound. In the
next FIVE or six years many improve
ments were made by relaxing track
with heavier rails and by changes in
equipment and large additions tlaere-
to. Branches n feeders we're built
to round IL the system. In 1897 a
more direct line from the head of the
lakes to the west. was created by our
chase and construction that complet-
ed a o across Northern Minnesota
10 a connection with the main line.
n taking over of the Seattle &.
Montana. which. like the Montana
tentral: had been built by us to as
sure adequate terminals on the Pa
citic coast and to enable construction
TO go forward from both ends of the
lne at once. extended the system
from Seattle to Vancouver, British
Columbia. In 1889 it had entered the
ore-producing regions Of northern
Minnesota that was to give 1t a large
~addltlon to its traffic.
Just as in the building of the Mon
tana Central and the Seattle & Mon
tana it was necessary 10 know thor
ouehly the country in advance of rail-
road construction and to act upon
mat knowledge. so these ore lands in
Northern Minnesota had to BIZ exam
lned: n some of them it seemed de
sirable to acquire. with a view to the
effect upon the future of the com
pany's business. In January, 1899.
purchased the Wright & Davis prop
erty. consisting of a line of railroad,
some logging road and a large quaint
ity of ore lands.
Bought the Lands.
the purchase for s%4,o5o,ooo was
made by me individually. MY pur-
pose was to secure the shipments of
ore from these properties for the
Great N%orthern; and the profits from
the mines, if there We're any profits.
for the stockholders Of the nv
The railroad was turned over to the
Great Northern at cost. The ore
property was transferred at cost to
the Lake Superior company. limited,
organized October 20, 1900, to hold in
trust. together with other ore inter
ests acquired later. A trust to admin
lister the Great Northern ore proper-
ties was formed December Z. 1905,
under resolutions adopted by the
Great Northern company. This trust
took over the ore interests acquired
by me. additional ore lands subse-
quently secured and other properties.
1T issued against them 1900, 900
shares OF certificates of beneficial in
%terest. which were distributed. share
for share. to holders of Great North
srn stock at the time. The stock