Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-07-28
Overland by Rnil.

The last Eastern dispatches stated that
another section Of twenty miles Of the
Union Pacific Railroad had been com-
pleted, making las miles in operation.
The Union Pacific Railroad is the main
stem of the great Continental Railway.
Its initial point is Omaha, in Nebraska,
and it is completed lao miles west of tina,
point. This length Of track has been laid
since last October, and the road is pro-
crossing at the rate Of a mile a day. Gen.
Dix, the President Of the company, stated
in q communication which was read to the
United States Senate about the middle Of
June, that the company will reach Fort
Kearny, nearly 100 miles further, by the
LIST of October, and the Tooth meridian OF
longitude-which is at least go miles
further in q direct line-by the first oil
January next. It has 100 miles of road
graded ahead. and enough iron purchased
and being delivered to keep men busy
laying track. Gen. Dix assured Congress
| that the company sis prepared to exceed
in the future what it has done in the past"
but il it will only keep up its present
rate Of progress-as it may readily do over
the level and easily graded Piains-it will
| complete and equip about $50 miles oil
railroad per annum.
There is already a through track from
New York to a point about $50 miles west
of Omaha. From that point to the east
ern terminus of the Central Pacific Rail-
road in California, connecting with steam
boat navigation to San Francisco, the dis
lance, by the route that the iron track
will follow, can scarcely exceed l,400 OF
1900 miles. The total distance on the
somewhat meandering Overland Mai
route from Achison to Placeryille is about
1900 miles. II we deduct from this fig
ure the amount Of railroad constructed
either way towards the Plains from Oma-
ha, which corresponds to Achison at the
east, and from Auburn, corresponding to
| Placerville at the west. and make a rea-
sonable allowance for the straighter line o.
railway construction, the estimate we have
made Of the distance to be rallied over will
seem within the mark. On this distance
two wealthy companies are now at work
with q force Of many thousands Of labor
ers, laying track at the rate conformity Of
more than 800 miles per annum, which
continued would give us 1000 miles Of
railroad in Less than five years. The
Union Pacific Railroad Company alone, il
it constructs each year as much as 1t will
have completed in the year ending OIL the
LIST of October next-say 245 miles-can
build in five years 1905 miles, leaving for
the Central Pacific Railroad Company less
than 800 miles to construct to make a
connection. II we assume that the total
distance to be rallied over is 1000 miles.
Experienced railroad men have express
sed a confident opinion that the compile
ton of the Pacific Railroad within Ave
years is thoroughly practicable. With
the private capital at their command with
Government bonds for every complete
section of twenty miles at the rate of
$780, 900 to $4,000 per mile, with enor-
nous grants Of public land. and with the
extra inducement and assistance of a con-
siderable local traffic falling to them as
fast as they progress, there is no good
reason why the two principal companies
having the work in charge should not be
able to meet on the Plains and join their
tracks at the end Of the period named.
Why, private companies in the single
State Of Illinois, during the ten years end
ing in 1860. built about 1000 miles Of
railroad with no aid from Government
except a grant of lands which was not
pecuniarily available till the roads were
under ways. F, Bulletin. 1