The Dickinson press., 1913-03-29
Railroad In
Dunn County
Risht-of-Way Purchased on Spring
Greek 10 MeIby. Manning
Will 60 10 the
Road.

The question of the extension of the
Northern Pacific railroad from Stanton
west into Dunn county the coming sea-
son seems to be definitely settled. The
company has not only secured options
but actually purchased the right of way
for the greater part of the proposed line
from Golden Valley in Mercer county to
Melby in Dunn county, and it is likely
that contracts for the grading of the last
extension will be let within short
time and work actually commenced.
During the winter there was great
deal of talk about the Northern Pacific
building across Dunn county into the
Mary country, but this was all specn-
lation. 1t seems to be we'll settled now
that the company does not contemplate
extending its line further than Melby
on the east edge of range ga. However.
officials of the Northern Pacific have in
mind visit to Dickinson in the near
future, at which time an auto trip will
be made into Dunn county. 1t is pre-
sumed that one object of their visit will
be to see if Melby is feasible point
for a terminal division of the branch
line out from Mandan, the total dis
tance being about us miles.
The 36 miles west from Stanton which
was mostly graded last year has not
been ironed but it is probable that
steel crew will commence work early
in the summer and if crop conditions
are favorable and the necessary help
can be Sc cured it may reasonably
be expected that the road will be ironed
into Dunn county in time to take out
the crop in the fall. If conditions are
the way they were in 1912 1t might be
that the company would only get the
road ready for rolling stock as far as
Golden Valley about IS mics southeast
of Halliday.
Melby is quite central in Dunn
county, about midway east and west.
If the railroad stops at Melby. the
distance to Dickinson by air line meas
urements, would be about 80 miles and
by road IS or more.
If the road was pushed up Spring
creek 10 or IL miles further the distance
to Dickinson would still remain about
the same. The distance from Manning
to Melby is 9 or 10 miles and if the line
was extended up the creek far enough
to make another town. the distance
would still be practically the same.
Oakdale is about IS miles from Melby
and the people around the Kildeer
mountains would be glad to see the
road up Spring creek little further.
This, however, is business proposition
with the Northern Pacific. 1t costs
money to build railroads and the COM
pany may not feel like making any ad-
ditional expenditure for line west OF
Melby.
There is no reason to believe that
there will be any railroad building
south of the Missouri river this yeat
, other than what the Northern Pa cific
does in the extension of it's line west
from Stanton as already indicated.
The Northern Pacific has the most OF
the right-of-way purchased for its ex:
tension west from Mott via route south
of New England. crossing the Little
Missouri river at Marmarth and into
Montana. but there is no assurance that
any thing will be done this year on the
line. If the Northern Pacific does moi
build west of Mott this year it is moi
believed that the Milwaukee will ex
tend west of New England, and the
wise people of the Cannon Ball metrop.
oils are hoping that they can have the
trade of the territory just as it is fo]
another year or two.