The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1865-11-11
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAIL.
Io lalu 'gar ROAD AGAIN. rsI s4f u1 ei IN.

.."HF 'tIG' IAOAD A0AkNs 81 s.N 'N s..
Last week we published an article from the Buffalo
Express setting forth the advantages to be secured
by the early completion of the Northern Pacific
Railroad. In that article many commanding facts
were pointed out; but some, of no small moment,
were omitted wherefore we refer to the subject
again. Of the superiority Of this route from short
ness of distance and cheapness of construction
the Central route, there can be no question. Gov
ernment surveys have amply demonstrated this The
reports of Mcclellan, Donelson and Mullsn-each
being at the head of separate expedition-concu
in pronouncing this Northern route the most feast
BILE ever explored. ... ..
Although the local business by either route would
be immense, the enormous expenditure necessary to
this gigantic enterprise demands that it shall first be
considered with reference to the Asiatic trade Thus
considered it presents itself enterprise in which
all commercial nations have an interest in common
the great highway between the Orient and the Occ-
dent, over which must pass the trahcing wealth OF
both hemispheres. The commercial revolution which
took place in the Eizabethan age-when all Europe
was dazzled by the prospective wealth of the New
World and when the tardy, perilous route to the
ages around Cape Horn-could not have been as
marked as that which will follow the consummation
of this great work. The thousands of ships which
are now passing around Capes Horn and Good Hope,
will have made their last voyage through those
waters but, under the more rapid and less costly
facilities of transportation afforded by this railway,
commerce would be so stimulated that necessity
would call for increase, rather than decrease, of
their number. Then would the Pacific between Puget
Sound and the japanese Islands and Hong Kong, and
the Atlantic between New York and Liverpool
and Havre de Grace, be thronged with mer-
chantmen to such extent that one would
scarcely ever be out of sight of another. Chi
nese and japanese selfshness could no longer even
partially Withstand the pressure of progressive civil
lization; their walls of excluslyeness would be
totally razed and their boarded wealth of centuries,
their teas their Spices the products of their handi
work-all which they now know or possess as pecu-
liarly their own-would be brought forth, without
happiness of mankind at large. a.r.. Eu I-r 90
The mere local trade along the line of the road
would be the veriest trife in comparison with this
prime object-that of developing and rendering easily
available to the civilized world the mighty resource:
If the Asiatic nations. Expedition in this era OF
high interest rates, is leading consideration IL
commercial transactions and, the shorter the dis
tance of course, the less the cost and the time con
sumed in making the trip. 1t follows, then, ina
this road should be constructed with view, partlc
,lar,v To making the most advantageous ocean con
noctions. By the shortest and quickest route, tn
two-fold advantage is gained of lessened cost
freight and increased time for the active use OF cal
ital. Let US now compare the Northern and tn
Central route as to distance. New York City Is o
tho 41st parallel; San Francisco is on the 3Sth-
three degrees south of New York. The terminus {
the Northern route on Puget Sound, Is on tne 4o'
uarallel of lattudel0 deg. north Of San Francisco
INIT is on the same longitude, the numoer OF degre
of lonaitude between the two points and New Yo
beine the same. But degrees of longitude decrea
as latitude increases and, though San francisco al
puret Sound are on the same longitude, the latter
over three hundred miles nearer New York than I
former. The reader can extend the calculation,
this basis. ar his leisure, between Liverpool a
Yeddo, in Japan, (which two points are really
termini of this worlds highway; he will find tn
the distance saved by the Northern route amounts
s. more than thousand miles. --... ...5. ...
IN But supposing this difference in distance did l
o,ist other considerations being the same; still
- cumstances would declare in favor Of the North
ts as against the Central route The Northern rout
: on the line of the Great Lakes, which offer wa
carriage of several hundred miles that could not
" taken advantage Of on the Central route Ag'
!, as we have been told by experienced Pacific nayl
- tors. ships leaving San Francisco Bay for Hong
or Yeddo, find it to their advantage, by the u'
course of the winds on that voyage, to come ul
the latitude of Puget Sound, and then bear nj
81 rather than south of that line, the greater part
their way ...t -...l.. rst1 VS. ea6. si'af
So far as the natural advantages of the respec
routes are concerned, we think the balance OF la
on our side. An examination OF the latest met
o,ogical charts will satisfy the investigator that
+ c,;matical objection to the Northern route
=. founded !; or at least that it has no more we
against it than the Central route The noun
- ranges of New Mexico-far south OF the Ce
route-are set down in the same winter temper'
as the ranges of Montana and Idaho; and the Il
sra, lines involve them alike. The altitude OF
- Rockv Mountains where the Northern line "
md cross is somewhat less than that Of the South
The wahsatch, the Humboldt and the Sierra M
Mountains, each, oppose greater dlihculties =
nm Central route than would be encountered BY al
- elevations of the Northern route. The perfect
ticability of the Northern route has been scier
ally demonstrated three several times. Its cou
not beset by long arid wastes as is that Of the
posed trail; but it passes through Wen wa'e h;ch ~
D., tmbered regions, the adaptability OF whlcn - 20
{ culture, the greater part of the distance, has
~ practically proved. Discoveries already made
- these regions to be unsurpassed in mineral reso
and eyery day s developments add TO their
ton in this particular. Settlements now
.s'J nearly the entire distance to Puget Sound, a
population is being rapidly increased: THIS
pods. is the nobIest that indents any continent;
Ia, Il nayiss in the world could float together
- amDle depths without danger or lnconyenlenc
y, From every view, the superior advantages
y. Northern route present themselves; ana w
above cotemporsres, East and West who are eqnail,
mined ested On this subject of such vital
dispose take i under DISCUSSION and not cease It's az
He has uptil the world Acknowledges the pre-emne