Innovation

To overcome the challenge of transporting railroad equipment over the watery landscape in Minnesota 's north woods, George Good, bookkeeper for the Swallow and Hopkins Lumber Company, had workers build scows on which to ferry railroad cars and engines across the waterways.  Once loaded, the scows were pulled by steamships and floated across the water to the far shore.  This innovative technique was used in the late 1800's and into the 1900's.