The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-27
RAIL FACILITIES
BEST IN The NV.
Minnesota Has 9,100 Miles OF
Track Within Her
Borders.

Possessing the general headquarters
Of six railroad systems, Minnesota,
with 9,100 miles of track within her
borders exclusive of second, third and
fourth tracks and big terminals. is
the greatest railroad center in the
Northwest and one of the most impor-
tant in America The Interstate Com.
merce Commission recently placed
valuation of $21S,000,000 upon the
physical properties of the railroads in
Minnesota.
Minnesota's strategic natural loca-
ton at the head of navigation on the
American Great Lakes and OF the
Mississippi river, early attracted the
interest of pioneer railroad builders,
whose compelling dream was to con-
meet these great water highways with
the Pacific Ocean. This resulted in
the construction of the several great
northern transcontinental railroad
lines which, in little more than half
century, peopled an Empire and
brought under cultivation millions of
acres of land which for centuries had
been in the sole possession of the In
dian and the buffalo.
Twin Cities Rail centers
st. Paul contains the general head
quarters and operating offices of the
Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis and
Omaha Railway, with 1850 miles of
line reaching Iowa and Nebraska
points; the Great Northern Railway,
with its $500 miles of line traversing
Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana,
Idaho, Washington and Oregon and
with Glacier National Park as a stel.
lar attraction, and the Northern Pa
cific Railway. possessing 1888 miles
or line extending from st. Paul to
Yellowstone Park, Spokane, Portland,
Tacoma and Seattle.
Minneapolis has the general head.
quarters and operating Offices of the
Minneapolis, st. Paul and Sault Sainte
Marie Railway, with 4,45O miles of
line extending from Chicago through
Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Da-
kota into the Western Canadian prov
1nces and forming, with the Canadian
Pacific Railway, one of the great con-
t1nental lines, and also the headquar-
tiers OF the Minneapolis and St. Louis
Railroad, with 1850 miles of line
covering Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri
points.
At Duluth are the general head
quarters of the Duluth and Iron Range
Railroad, the Duluth, South Shore and
Atlantic Railway and the Duluth,
Missabe and Northern Railway.
The Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific
Railway is an important rail carrier
in northeastern Minnesota, and the
Green Bay and Western Railroad is
one of the prominent lines in the bust.
ness of southeastern Minnesota.
AT Brainerd is the general head
quarters OF the Minnesota and Inter-
national Railroad, reaching the On
tario border at International Falls.
Location of the general headquar.
tiers OF these big railroad systems in
Minnesota has had large effect upon
the excellent transportation facilities
enjoyed by the people of the state.
Fine Passenger Trains
NO inner passenger trains are oper-
ated anywhere in the United States
than those which make the four hun
dred mile run between Chicago and
Minnesota terminals over the Chicago.
burlington and Quincy Railroad, the
Chicago and Great Western Railway,
the Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul
Railway, the Chicago and Northwest.
ern Railway, and the Minneapolis, st.
Paul and Sault Sainte Marie Railway.
The Chicago and Great Western
Railway, the Chicago, Rock Island and
Pacific Railway, and the Chicago, st.
Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Rail-
way have excellent trains operating
between Minnesota points and Kan.
sas City, Missouri. The Chicago, Bur.
Ington and Quincy Railway and the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Rail.
way trains from st. Louis carry trav.
elers into Minnesota from the South
Coast and the Southwest.
Albert Lea, Minnesota, possesses the
most, northern terminal of the great
Illinois Central Railroad System, with
its 4,S45 miles of line extending to
New Orleans, Louisiana.
The North Coast Limited" of the
Northern Pacific Railway, the "Orien-
tai Limited" Of the Great Northern
Railway and the "Olympian" of the
Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul Rail.
way, operated daily from Chicago
through st. Paul and Minneapolis on
the long run of $500 miles to Pacific
Coast points, are justly listed among
the crack" trans-continental trains
In the United States. In cooperation
with the Canadian Pacific Railway.
the Minneapolis, st. Paul and Sault
Salnte Marie Railway also offers a
splendid service between Chicago and
Canadian Pacific Coast points.
Passenger trains operating to and
IN Minnesota are particularly famous
Tor good meals served in their dining
cars. Here the big Baked Potato"
filled with Minnesota melted butter
and cream, first was introduced. The
nnest products obtainable in Mime
sofa and the Northwest are featured
on dining car menus every day.
This splendid railway service, both
passenger and freight, has been and ia
a tremendous factor in the building of
Minnesota.
In return, the state of Minnesota
annually develops an, operating reve.
nue. for the railroads of between $3.50.
100000 and s170,000,O0C which ia paid
by the people of Minnesota for freight.
passenger, express and mail service
within the borders of Minnesota.
From this vast operating revenue,
the railroads in Minnesota have re-
ported net revenue of between SAG.
100000 and $53.000.000 per year.
The railroad companies each year
pay into the state treasury a gross
earnings tax of between 1880, 600
and $8,500,000.
But in addition to these taxes, the
railroads expend vast sum in the
state each year for operating and
maintenance ovnonoao Thfo c,.~. q.