Great Northern RailRoad Background

• went from: Lake Superior to Minneapolis, through North Dakota, Montana and Northern Idaho to Everett & Seattle

• strove to develop the resources and regions where his railway was

Did not receive or take government land grants

worked to get settlers in and then helped them in their farming (set up Minnesota's first threshing machine)

​Great Northern R.R. Background cont.

*Purchased bankrupt companies

*Strategy to avoid debt…  
  → Build in stages
→ Sell homesteads to immigrants      
→ Use this $$$ to fund expansion and improvements 

​Great Northern RailRoad vs. Rivals