Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-10-19
RAILROADS. Of
Ne9Ia DAKOTA
BRANCHING OUT
f 49, ~ 4
Extension Il Railroads Good
/, lbdie,iIaas of Prosperity
\. IN The State
a. 49, Z S'
Rapit Progress Been Made
n Pest Seven Toafs Of
/, Construction Work
Thousands Of Pssp|e il New
Territory Have Greatly
Benefited

iAcIc 10 pIOUdDly HO OpucT lnuuS-
try which indicates the progress and
growth of u state, us does railroad
building.
In 1919 North Dakota has an in
creased railroad mileage OF over 1871
OF 5S7 miles. In 1906 it had an in
crease over 1905 OF 612 miles (the
greatest year Of railroad building in
the history of this state), and the
1905 increase V 81 1907 was no less
than 81 miles, so, in 1912 the state
OF North Dakota Is "berlbbOned" with
no less than 1924 miles of main anod
branch lines and sidetracks. ..,e
This mileage in 1912 Is assessed for
Ia total sum Of 4 1892, $4,000 and is
IA LIZ per cent, or o%ne-seventh Of the
total assessed value of all property
in the state.
The new mileage in 1912 is distrib-
uted to the separate companies as
follows:
Great Northern, 3OS miles.
500, $50 miles.
Midland Continental, IS miles.
Northern PACIFIC. 121 miles. ..
The Great Northern has completed
what is known as the Fargo-Surrey
cutof. This line is a direct line from
Fargo to Minot, with sidetracks, 10.
|cated in the counties OF Cass, Barnes,
Griggs. Foster, Eddy Wells Pierce,
McHenry and Ward. 1t opens a rich
country and does away with the ne.
cessity of taking the old and longer
route In the transportation Of freight,
mail and passengers.
The other Great Northern branch
built this year Is the Stanley.North-
west branch, from Stanley to Wild.
rose, q distance Of some ii miles, not
including sidings. This branch opens
territory in the extreme northwestern
corner Of the state, in the counties OF
Mountrail, Burke, Divide and Will.
ianls. !
The 500 has built $50 miles known
as the Drakc.Fordyille branch, run.
ming from Drake Oh the main line or
the 500, through the counties Of Nc.
Henry, Pierce, Benson, Ramsey, Mel.
son, Grand Forks and Walsh. This
line was started liz the summer and
Is now hauling freight. This terri.
tory liz some OF. the best and had not
up to this time been equipped with
adequate transportation facilities.
The Northern Pacific has cOmplet-
ca Its Missouri river branch, running
nom Mandan, along the river through
the counties of Morton, Oliver and
Mercer, to Stanton, all very fine ter.
ritory. This line is about 50 miles
III length, some OF which was complet.
cd and 10 operation last year. /.
The Northern Pacific has also com.
pleted about 81 miles Of line known
as the Pingree.W Wilton branch. This
is q line operating from Wilton,
Where the large, coal r1ines are, to
EPingree, which is but q short distance
from jamestown on the main line.
This line operates through the coun.
ties OF Burleigh, Kidder and Stuts.
man and will furnish a fine outlet
for the coal mined at Wilton.
This year W. have in operation
about % miles Of the north and
south" railway, known as tine Mid.
land Continental, the mileage being
located in the counties OF Stutsman
and. LaMoure. This is the railway
that. intends to have for its terminal
the city of Pembina, in the extreme
northeastern corner Of North Dako-
ia, and which will run in 4 so,ltlerly
directions to the Gulf. ATaxea4 deal
has been heard. OF this railway for the
past five years but no showing OF,
mileage has been made until. this
yea, when the completion of %
miles seems to Indicate that it is
yet likely that North Dakota will
have within its boundaries railway
whose main line course. Is almost III.
:crosswise to- every other trans.
line! running through lit.
When one conAiders the tremend.
Gus outlay Of money that has been
necessary to build and equip this new
1tileage, and the large territory open.
ed nVaby II, together with the thou.
sands Of people directly beReAtted
he may sp0ssibly be able to. grasp
some, idea Of the tremendous progress
NortA Dakota 4is, making \,
Following iss. Siyen statement
showing the total fmiles, Of rAalroal
for each year since 1897. This rnile.
ago iss II cover all railway, such as
main and branch lines, double track
- a e.lSi...,. NfE EF..rA HtafI &At7f' RStt 1aS:7