Building a Class LessonBuilding a Class LessonUsing documents and photos to tell a focused story

The railroad comes to the The railroad comes to the northlandnorthland

The Northern Pacific Railroad (NPR) discussed its plans for building a line into Dakota Territory, in its 1864 Company Charter.

Pre-1870, reliance on waterPre-1870, reliance on water

The RR worker’s lifeThe RR worker’s life

Cutting edge technologyCutting edge technology

The NPR routeThe NPR route

Land received Land received

NPR obtained 1,626,178 & 48/100th acres of land from 1871-72, in Minnesota-Dakota Territory

Year-round civilizationYear-round civilization

Regulating farms and townsRegulating farms and towns

The rails and the landThe rails and the land

In its report on the value of lands that the Northern Pacific received from the Federal government, the company estimated the value per acre of land, based on distance from a rail station. The report commented that actual prices would be determined “entirely by the Land Committee” of the NPR.

An empire based on grainAn empire based on grain

Shipping costsShipping costs

An 1894 lawsuit filed by a rural bank against the Northern Pacific yielded some accurate information regarding shipping costs that were charged by the railroad.

By the 1890s farmers wanted railroads regulated by government action.

The RR and small town cultureThe RR and small town culture

Rail technologyRail technology

The Northern Pacific’s property, The Northern Pacific’s property, 19001900

Reaction to criticism, 1900Reaction to criticism, 1900

Profits from shippingProfits from shipping

In 1912, the NPR’s president told an audience in St. Paul that its profits from shipping rates and passenger tickets were far less than critics charged, saying the company’s $3.5 million earnings in 1911 was “less than 1.5% return to the stockholders.”

As historyAs history