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1 I - THE MIlsnm&POLIS JOUBNAW 'FRIDAY. E"^BMNG, AJTGUST 29 *1902. TS. ONE OF THE SOO LINE'S NE W LIMITED PASSENGER TRAINS. *? INNBAPOLIS' fwvwite railway, the Soo Line, 1B sharing In the prosperity -which has made Min neapolis one of the great cities of the continent and the north *reot one of the most noted regions of the Hrogtern hemisphere. The Soo Line's gradual development Into a big and pow erful system, able to fight Its battles un Kded In the fierce modern day struggle t trafflo Is a matter of congratulation tor every citizen of Minneapolis and of Sententire le northwest. It Is an indepen facto In northwestern traffic which lias will continue t be a potent ln- rthandInrnorthwesternodevelopmena'stild noe t an e building of Minneapolis Into l greater market and financial oenter. With its Canadian Pacific connections, the 0oo gives Minneapolis perfect all rail frervice both ways to each coast. With fts docks at Gladstone, Mich., and boat connections at that and other lake ports, it furnishes this market with a perfect lake and rail service during open naviga tion. The faot that it has kept free from ntangling alliances In the railway world, and worked out Its own salvation from an Independent standpoint has resulted prof itably to the road, saved Minneapolis mer chants and manufacturers big money on rates, 'and finally enabled Minneapolis to take a powerful position as a northwest ern distributing oenter. All of this Is. appreciated by the shipping Interests of which repudiated the theory of a radical division of peoples in the temperate sone of North America. To-day the railway has usurped the river's plaoe in the world's travel. The Soo-Paclflc trains roll from Minneapolis into the domains of England's sovereign to the north heedless of boundary lines. These bands of steel and the communication they afford be tween two peoples are doing a mighty work In the Americanization of the prov inces to the north. That commercial an nexation of Canada West which legisla tors have neglected to accomplish Is being worked out ,by the -captains of industry and the Soo line is a great factor. A Self-Supporting Territory. If out off entirely from the rest of the world Soo line territory would be thor oughly self-supporting. Jts lines traverse the world's granary. Its mills furnish a large percentage of the world's flour and other grain products. Its ranges supply meat for an immense population. Its lum ber is contributing to the upbuilding of the western plains. Its butter and cheese are famous in the markets of the world. It has wool and flax fiber for the clothing maker. It is almost within reach of the Iron mines. It manufactures paper, much of its agricultural machinery, and raises that commodity so necessary to many Americans, tobacco. The prairie regions can be supplied for centuries with fuel from the lignite ooal mines In North Da- the ascendant^. As a progressive Ameri can he is out to do the right thing for, himself and that means the best thing for the* country and the railroad which hauls its products. The creamery Is forcing Its way to the international boundary. That portion of Wisconsin and Michigan through which the Soo runs is Just begin ning to wake up. Therein lays the big opportunity for the homeseeker. Its lands are low In price and their productivity great. Prophets are many who say that this region is to beoome the great dairy country of the United States and the prophecy is good. North Wisconsin has already started on Its road to fame as a land of milk, cheese, butter, fine poultry and high grade cattle, hogs and sheep. There Is timber for every use from the railroad tie and telegraph pole to the raw material for the paper mills and the cord wood for winter fuel.* Mighty Industries Springing Up. At the eastern terminus of the Soo the smoke of mighty industries curls prophe cies of future greatness in the skies. But a few weeks ago water began to flow for the first time In the great water power canal of the Michigan-Lake Superior Pow er company at Sault Ste. Marie. This canal just finished after four year's of con struction Is regarded by engineers as the most magnificent work of the kind in the world. The industries at Sault Ste. Marie now Farm Property on the Soo in Wisconsin. ethe meapolis, most of whom stand loyally Soo. A Minneapolis Institution. Its construction begun by Minneapolis Slnneapolis oney and the plans laid and pushed by men, the Soo line has from the start been a distinctly Minneapolis institution. To-day the shipping interests Of Minneapolis are represented well on the Boo board. The officials are men who have Seo Identified with the progress of the ity for years. It is natural that Minneap olis people should take great pride In the ^prosperity of the Soo and the fine show Ins the road is making financially. Prophecies That Came True, v No part of the west will contribute a greater Increase to the volume of general business in coming years than the ter jrltory along the Soo. The vast resources of Its country are just being realized on t the producer. An aggressive immigra tion and industrial policy on the part of J he road is populating Its country with ndustrious people. Opportunity's torch is flaming bright along the entire systeni from Portal on the prairie where the union jack salutes the stars and stripes |to Sault Ste. Marie where new nterprlses fostered by American capital and brains jare gradually building what is to be one -Of the greatest collections of industries In the world. Nature was generous to the " oountry along the Soo. The men who laid ut the line may have realized this in part. Some prophetic genius may have seen the results of to-day and the near - future In the railroad plans which pri marily were meant to defend the posi tion Of the city by St. Anthony falls in its fight for industrial greatness, But no one believed that it would come as quick and with the rushing force that it has. ,The Soo is coming into its own. It runs ino longer through a barren country in the west nor through a wilderness of for est in the east. All is becoming produc tive and the Soo is taking the place des tined for it from the start among the first class railway properties of tho coun try. Minneapolis reaps a big profit from these results. Michigan, Wisconsin, Min nesota (and ,North and South Dakota - steadily contribute products to this mar ket and in turn are steady buyers here. The money of these sections finds It way for deposit to Minneapolis banks and Minneapolis as a commercial and finan cial center is increasing In Importance and power. - Helping to Americanize Canada. The Soo line is contributing an import ant part in the Americanization of this continent. It follows the same sensible plan as those means of communication nearer to nature's scheme, the rivers of the north. In bringing^ lhto closer relation the people of two great countries. A bar rier artificial In the form of a tariff with ' custom houses as the guard towers has stood for years on the northern prairie iwhere the only other means of identify ing the domain of two separate flags were * the sombre Iron posts and an occasional scarlet coated policeman. The rivers ' singing and splashing their' way to the north have paid no heed. Tariffs and cus tom houses were insignificant in'the grand scheme of which they were a part and kota, and for many years to come with wood from the forests of Wisconsin. Just on the Threshold. This oountry Is just on the threshold of Its greatest achievements. The lands In western North Dakota which are growing flax now, are simply serving time In the primary class of the great school of devel opment. It will not be many years before flax and other single crops will begin to give way to others. - The scientific, or rather the more intelligent farmer, is-in a city of 560,000 will result in rapid growth and development on the American side This means a new supply point for the central northwest and in the entire scheme the Soo road stands to benefit. The Bismarck Extension. The completion of the Soo road to Bis marck and the inauguration of through service to that point last week marks an other milestone in the Soo's progress. The extension to the Missouri river last yeaf brought new traffic in stock, grain and merchandise. The Bismarck extension adds another to the- Soo's list of good towns and places it in a position, to profit from the development of that part of North Dakota which isgoing steadily for ward. Westward the Soo-Paciflc furnishes the traveler fast service to the north Pacific coast and by steamship to the orient. The route of the Pacific Express, a perfectly appointed vestibuled train lies through the park region of Minnesota, the vast grain and stock country of North Dakota and western Canada, and through the moun tain region where for 700 miles the scen ery is the most picturesque on the Ameri can continent. From the time the train enters "The Gap" until the salt waters of the Pacific are reached the scenery con tributes an additional volume to the won ders of the world. Magnificently furnished steamers carry Sop passengers to and from the orient. Everything that experi ence can suggest for the comfort, safety, and convenience of passengers has been .provided. Perfect Service East and West. The Soo has' a perfect service to all points in eastern Canada and the eastern states. Its Canadian! Pacific connections carry its through cars'to the important points. Its trans-Atlantic service is the best. Down the Great Lakes the Soo's connections furnish the traveler with a speedy and enjoyable trip. Connection with some of the best boat'lines on the Great Lakes has given it a leading posi tion in summer travel. Through superior connections at Mackinaw arid .Detroit, the traveler leaving jMujneapolis on Friday night is landed In Buffalo "on the follow ing Monday morning. This Is a new record in lake and rail travel from the northwest, and Is thoroughly appreciated by the traveling public. Its numerous lakes, hunting grounds and recreation spots nave made the Soo popular with the sportsman. Along its Wisconsin and Michigan lines there are numerous small" bodies^pf water teeming with fish, and hunting grounds in which game is abundant. From the plains in the west, where the prairie chicken and other wild fowl are plentiful, to the for ests on the east end, where the bigger game still abounds, the Soo can offer every attraction to the sportsman or the recreation seeker. It carries the re sorter to some of the best recreation spots along the Great Lakes and furnishes par ticularly good service to Mackinac Island and neighboring resorts, which are favor ites with northwestern people. The Soo's New Equipment. With the Soo line's prosperity have come added comfort and convenience for its patrons. Its freight service has been brought to a high standard and Its new passenger equipment makes in the Pacific Express and the Eastern Limited two of the finest vestibuled trains in the coun try. In this new equipment the car builders have presented many new features. The roofs of the sleeping cars are dome shaped. At each end of the sleeper sec- tion of the new canal which will furnish tion there is an interior vestibule semi- power sufficient to run the industries of circular in plan. The bulkhead posts are widely separated, giving the car a roomier appearance. The roof of each interior vestibule is a dome of leaded cathedral glass. This glass is also used In the deck sash and oval windows in the hallways. The general plan has avoided angles wherever possible. Symmetry is every where evident. The interior vestibules contain an entirely new feature In the shape of seats large enough for two, ex pressly provided for persons coming Into the sleeper late at night and forced to wait until their berths are ready. The cars are finished in St. Jago mahogany, the designs being inlaid with tropical woods. The color scheme carried out in the deck, upholstering, curtains, and car pets Is in green. Harmony of color and design is preserved throughout the entire car. Simplicity and elegance have been the motto of the builders, who had a care ful eye out to the best possible sanitary arrangement. The smoking rooms are large and nicely furnished. The drawing rooms are models of elegance and are finished in white ma hogany with inlaid decorations of tropical woods. The entrance to the drawing room is from the side instead of at the end thus insuring privacy which is not possible under the old style. The decorations of the roof of the drawing room are in old rose. There are two ladies' toilets ln- hauled by new heavy passenger engines capable 'of making fast time. All cars are mounted on six wheel trucks with f or ty-inch wheels insuring safetyxand com - fort. - * Fine Tourist Sleepers. Special attention has been given to the construction of the tourist sleepers. The wide vestibules, double standard lamps, and the latest car range are among the improvements. The car is designed to se cure uniform warmth combined with per fect ventilation which makes comfort cer tain in all seasons of the year. With per big travel westward along the Soo some of which particularly favors the tourist sleepers, the reason, for the care given by the Soo management in the plans of the tourist is plain. There are fourteen com modious sections, each comprising an up per and lower berth. The toilet rooms are fitted with all conveniences. The interior of the car is finished in mahogany and a competent porter is in charge. Ample fa cilities are afforded the passenger for pre paring meals and nothing left undone to make travel on the Soo tourist pleasant. Improvements In Permanent Way. The Soo has. the advantage of good management, as its financial statement shows. While the improvement in equip ment is important, the improvement in outs are few and snow blockades are in frequent. Under these conditions the company has been able to make every improvement in its roadbed tell. The road was well built is noimprovementscondidgooniw tio!1 even^wherand e fe w hav e been made. But the management wants the best possible metal way for the haul ing of its fast freights and the speed and safety of its passenger trains. Between Minneapolis and Sault Ste. Marie the re laying with eighty-pound steel rails has been completed with the exception of eighteen miles. Next year tho relaying with eighty-pound steel will be completed to Valley City, N. D., and the ballasting of the entire line from Minneapolis to Portal will begin. One big point to the credit of the Soo is that it has never had an accident from rail spreading. It lays a larger number of ties to the mile than is the practice on most railroads. On ali curves oak ties are used The theory that with the larger number of ties and the better grip of tha oak tie on the spike the danger of rail spreading is decreased has had a suc cessful demonstration on the Soo. An other item of the Soo's progress Is the conversion of thirteen miles of wooden bridges in the last four years into iron structures. In that time $1,700,000 has been paid out for equipment. This has1 Include the largest ground wood pulp mill In the world, other plants for developing the mining and timber industry of that district, factories for the manufacture of bleaching powder and caustic soda from common salt, and a big steel plant with a capacity of 600 tons of steel rails daily. Up to the present time the industrial devel opment at the Sault has taken place most ly on the Canadian side but the comple Harvest Along the Soo in North Dakota stead of one, a feature which Is growing rapidly In favor. The same color scheme Is followed in the decorations of the diners and the day coaches. The diner is exceptionally well equipped. The silver service was espe cially designed for these cars. Wide win dows give the passenger a fine view. Roomy toilets for the ladies are a feature of the day coaches. All of the cars have wide vestibules and modern anti-telescop ing devices. - The new limited trains are track and roadbed is more so. During the past year the management has expended large sums In making the roadbed and track one of the fastest and safest for traffic in the west. The Soo is favored through its location in a country uniform for climate and lacking in steep grades. When it is winter along the Soo it is win ter from Portal to Sault Ste. Marie. The management is not forced to deal with a variety of weather at different points along its line at the same time. Wash- THROUQH[w P A S T S1XV1CK O F J S O O V P A C I F IC k TO WESTERNLPROVINCES^ANP COAST *n& - - V, v \ ^ 7 RESOURCES. OFsTHE is LINE COUNTRYn f , ^ - \/'%i' f \ Between Bowbells and Mlnot lignite coal is found- in big quantities Thi region als making a big record i flax production.' By Its extensio n to Bismarck the Soo taps more country containing big veins of high grade lignite. - . Along the'southern North Dakota branch, and including'the Missouri rlver^exten sion into South Dakota live stock is the -big industry/ although grain is paramount, on the last end. The dairy Industry is making good'progress in this .country.'n^Gpain, stock and dairy products, alternate, in, favor ,on the main line from Minot to Mlnne-? ftpolis. From Minot to Valley City the Soo pierces the big flax belt of Nor^h Dakota. made for better and faster service in freight traffic, and speed, comfort and safety to the traveler. In the Soo yards at Shoreham is an in teresting illustration of the manner in which the Soo line has kept abreast of the times since it was first built. Two loco motives of the light weight type in use fifteen years ago occupy tracks in one part of the yards. Not far away In the big round house stalls are the new lo comotives reoently purchased to haul tha Soo's fast freight between Minneapolis and Gladstone. For the housing of these new Iron horses of tremendous hauling capacity It has been necessary to build an addition to some of the round house stalls. When the Soo began to build up its traffic it had little use* for the light weight engines now on the retired list awaiting a purchaser. They were sold to one of tho small railways In the northwest and afterward returned because the small railway could not meet expenses. They will do time probably on some of the smaller independent lines which still ex ist in the northwest. The Soo is pro viding itself with the latest equipment In order to reduce to the lowest minimum the cost of transportation. There is another element in connection with the administration of Soo affairs which is important That is the direct way in which the Soo interests itself in the affairs of its country. The industrial de partment has been an important factor in populating the northwest with industrious people by attracting immigrants from the southwestern states. Although without a land grant and owning no lands the Soo has ^persistently worked to make the unoc cupied territory along its lines productive. In encouraging the location of industries in its towns the Soo has been active. This policy has already built up a good local traffic which is an important factor in the earnings of the road. With the de velopment of the country and this kind of a policy it is easy to see that Soo territory will be noted for the number and prosperity of its industries. Each year the road issues a volume containing lists of Industries wanted at different points along the Soo. This is given wide circulation and has produced good results. Last year nearly all of the towns adver tising for industries and new business in stitutions obtained them. By its campaign of education the Soo is making the northwest better acquainted with its resources and opportunities. It has taught Minnesota the opportunities open in the Dakotas. It has even taught the people of Wisconsin that there is wealth in the future development of the northern half of their state now progress ing at such a lively rate. Soo Immigra tion agents have gone into southern Wis consin counties and by advertising the ad vantages of north Wisconsin started a steady tide of immigration in that direc tion. These works are more potent in demonstrating the argument that there is an identity of interest between the rail road and the country It serves that miles of theory dressed in big words. The ad ministration of Soo affairs is on a healthy basis in every department, working to wards the building of a still greater prop erty and the gradual increases in wealth