Northern Pacific Railway Waybill from New Salem, North Dakota

Chas. F. Peterson

SEP  22 1899

New Salem, N. Dak.

Northern Pacific's lines through North Dakota ran south of the Great Northern Railway's main line.  Towns like New Salem were founded by settlers establishing themselves along the railway lines.  As with yesterday's post where Minot, North Dakota got its start through the presence of the Great Northern, New Salem exists because of the Northern Pacific. 

The heavy red line represents the NoPac's mainline.  Minot, a town on the Great Northern mainline, is due north of New Salem, North Dakota.  This map is from 1900.