Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains/ICC valuations/Minneapolis Western Railway

Interstate Commerce Commission, Valuation Reports, Volume 133

Minneapolis Western Railway

Location and General Description of Property

The railroad of the Minneapolis Western Railway Company, herein called the Minneapolis Western, is a single-track, standard-gauge, steam railroad, used exclusively for switching purposes, located in Minneapolis, Minn. The company owns 1.847 miles of main track and 4.859 miles of other tracks, or 6.706 miles of all tracks. The main line extends from a point on an iron trestle over the canal of the Minneapolis Mill Company at Sixth Avenue South, thence southeasterly on the Minneapolis Western's bridge over the Mississippi River to a connection with about 0.34 mile of track owned by the Great Northern and jointly used by the latter and the Minneapolis Western.

Corporate History and Development of Fixed Physical Property

On October 29, 1884, the Minneapolis Western was incorporated under the laws of Minnesota for a period of 100 years. The principal office designated by the charter was Minneapolis, but by amended by-laws adopted October 14, 1897, it was moved to St. Paul. Its declared purpose was to conduct, maintain, own, and operate a railway to or from various mills, elevators, and manufactories then or thereafter constructed in Minneapolis, and necessary tracks and connections with other railroads in that city. It was incorporated in the interests of certain milling firms and individuals whose industries were located on the west side of the Mississippi River at Minneapolis. Since about 1890 the company has been controlled by the Great Northern.

The Minneapolis Western's property was acquired through construction, part of which was done by contractors. No construction records are obtainable for the period prior to January 1, 1890, and for that reason the dates of beginning and completion of construction are not known. Until November 16, 1891, the Minneapolis Western had no locomotives or cars and no tracks except those on the iron trestle which connected with the tracks of The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad Company. Until that date the only service the Minneapolis Western performed was that of moving cars, by means of a cable, to and from the tracks of The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad Company and the mills adjacent to the trestle. The Minneapolis Mill Company and the Minneapolis Western jointly paid for constructing the iron trestle over the canal at Sixth Avenue South, and, under an agreement with the mill company, the Minneapolis Western uses no locomotives thereon, moving cars upon the trestle by means of a cable, the power necessary being purchased from the mill company. The bridge across the Mississippi River was constructed between January, 1891, and January 1, 1892, and it, with practically all the tracks, was placed in operation on the latter date.

Leased Railway Property

On date of valuation the Minneapolis Western uses under lease or contract the following property of others: Joint use of 0.34 mile of the main line of the Great Northern and a certain strip of land owned by that carrier, located in Minneapolis, the payment for which is $150 per month. Use of the iron trestle across the water power canal of the Minneapolis Mill Company at Sixth Avenue south, and use of a small strip of that company's land near the east end of the iron trestle, the payment for which is $1,500 per annum.