The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-10-21
Railroad News
RAILROADS OF
NORTH DAKOTA
BRANCHING OUT

There is probably no other industry
which indicates the progress and
growth of q state, as does railroad
building,
In 1912 North Dakota has an in.
creased railroad mileage over 1911
OF 5S7 miles. In 1906 it had an i'm
crease over 1905 of 612 miles (the
greatest year of railroad building in
n history of this state), and the
1903 increase over 1907 was no less
h a 371 miles, sc, in 1912 the state
of North Dakota is "b~eribboned" with
no less than 1924 miles Of main and
branch lines and sidetracks.
This mileage in 1912 is assessed for
q total sum of $42, 9S2, 500 and is 141k
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 fol-
lows:
Great Northern. sos miles.
500, $50 miles.
Midland Continental. twenty eight
miles.
Northern Pacific, 121 miles.
The Great Northern has completed
what is known as the Fargo-Surrey
CUTOFF. This line is a direct line from
Fargo to Minot, with sidetracks, locat-
ed in the counties of Cass, Barnes,
Griggs, Foster, Eddy, Wells, Pierce,
McHenry and Ward. Tt opens d 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 Wildrose,
a distance of some fifty-one 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
liams.
The 500 has built 100 miles known
as the Drake FordvIlle branch, run
ming from Drake on the main line of
the 500 through the counties Of Nc
Henry, Pierce, Benson, Ramsey, Nell
son, 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 terri
tory. This line Is about ifty-two miles
in length, some of which was complet-
ed and in operation last year.
The Northern Pacific has also com
pleted about ninety-two miles of line
known as the Pingree-Wilton branch
This is a line operating from Wilton
where the large coal mines are, tc
Pingree, which is but a short distance
from jamestown on the main line
This line runs through the counties
of Burleigh, Kidder and Stutsman anC
will furnish a fine outlet for the Goa
mined at Wilton.
This year we have in operation
about twenty eight miles of the "nortl
and south" railway, known as thu
Midland Continental. the mileage be
ing located in the counties of Stuts
man and LaMoure. This is the rail
way that intends to have for it's term
inal the city of Pembina, in the ex
/ treme northeastern corner of Mort
i Dakota, and which will run In
s~outherly direction to the gulf. !
great deal has been heard of this rail
way for the past five years but n
showing of mileage has been made un
til this year, when the completion o
twenty-eight miles seems to indicat
that it is yet likely that North Dakot;
win have within it's boundaries q rail
way whose main line course is almos
directly crosswise to every other trans
!, continental line running through it.
. When one considers the tremen
!, dous outlay of honey that has beel
! necessary to build and equip this neV
mileage and the large territory open
ed UP by ii, together with the thou
sands Of people directly benefited, h
. may possibly be able to grasp som
/. idea of the tremendous progress Nortl
4. Dakota is making.
Following is given a statemen
showing the total miles Of ~railroa'
. for each year since 1897. This mile
: age is to cover all railway, such a
main and branch lines, double trac
and sidingH: