The roundup record. [volume] (Roundup, Mont.) 1908-1929, 1913-01-31
500 ROAD TO BUILD
ACROSS STATE
SEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF RAIL-
ROAD TO De BUILT IN
SPRING.
Announcement 10 Made In Minneapolis
BY President Pennington Of 500
Road-at Least Four Counties to be
Tapped by New Railway.

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 24.-The Min
neapolis, st. Paul & Sault Ste Marie
railroad (Soo Line), in the biggest
constructive plan Of any kind that has
developed so far this year in the
western part Of the United States. will
put $25, 100000 into the building of 725
miles of new road, win cross the state
Of Montana, open up an enormous ter
Twin Cities and strike the Canadian
Pacific somewhere near the extreme
edge of Montana where the state Of
Washington begins, it was announced
by President Edmund Pennington to-
day after his return from Montreal
Late in December the 500 line was
known to have plans for an extension
Of the Ambrose line 80 miles into Mon
tana and for the Plaza, N. D., line
80 miles to the Missouri river and
these extension plans although con-
|templating the construction of only a
short mileage were considered in the
railroad world at large as develop
ments of the first Importance, marking
as they would, the initial appearance
Of 500 rails in one of the greatest
states Of the Union in area, product
ivity. and rapidity of development.
These former plans today fall into q
position Of comparative minor import
ance, for the 500 is not only going to
build the 30 miles to the Missouri river
from Plaza. but, crossing the river
at sansit, will strike west and go over
the Montana boundary, follow the Vel
lowstone river for approximately $50
! 60 over the Musselshell river into Fer
gus county, which is geographically
the central county of Montana; cross
1.-THE southwestern portion of Choteau
county, enter Teton county in the
western end of Montana and strike
|northerly and westerly, going over the
canadian boundary either in Teton or
Flathead counties.
A third transcontinental route, with
Minneapolis as its principal basis
|point, will have been created Two
years ago the 500 line began work on
an extension from Drake to Fordville.
IN. D. the full purpose of which was
believed at the time to be entrance
into a part of North Dakota where
population had increased grain produc-
tion to an extent making it profitable.
This purpose was realized. Today's
Drake Fordville plan of that time to
hn eventual extension for the 725 miles
|pf new road, with connection at Plaza
will make possible the operation of
Grains on almost a straight line to the
|Drake-Fordville cutoff to either Mime
|hpolis or Duluth.
President Pennington confirmed the
btatement that that road has had six
coating crews in the leld all summer
hnd that they have been working far
vest in Montana.
In the territory that will be crossed
bout 70 per cent. Is agricultural land
Ind 30 per cent. grazing, much OF
which Is land that can be irrigated.
That part Of the new line through
Dawson county will open country that
entirely new, in which there is as
ret but little settlement and where
owns Of size are few and far be-
ween. The Fergus county territory
, similar, but Fergus county has Lew
ptown as its center and several other