The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-25
The Northern Pacific Railroad.


A WASHINGTON despatch states that Quar-
MASTER r-General MEIes has written letter
urging the immediate construction of the
Northern Pacific Railroad, and showing
that the vast saving in expense to the Gov
ernmsnt in the transportation of troops and
supplies will amply compensate the Govern
ment for the aid asked for by the company of
Congress. 1t is also stated that General
GRANT has given the following endorsement
of the project
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U S 4
WASHINGTON, April 81, 1866
The construction of a railroad by the propo cd
route would be OF very great advantage TO the Gov
eminent pecuniRriy, by saving in the cost OF trans
portaton 10 supply troops. whose presence in the
country through which it is prOpo'ed to pass, IS
to the gold bearing regions Of the Rocky Mountains.
In my opinion too, the United States would receive
dtional benefit by the construction OF this road
by the settlement 1t would induce ong the line of
the rohU and consequently the less number of troOps
necessary TO secure order and SAFETY dow far these
beneitG should be compensa ed by the General Gov
erDment beyond the grant of and already awarded
by Congress would not pretend TO say. / would
merely give it as my opinion that the enterprise or
constructing the Northern Pacific Railroad one
well worth fostering by the General Government
and that such aid could well be afforded as would
(signed) b. GRANT, Lieut.. General
This road is one (which has been long pro-
jected, the lamented General tthen Governor)
STEVENS, having surveyed onelof its proposed
outes many years ago, when Pacific Railrotd d
projects were in their infancy. Lieutenant
MULLAN made partial survey of another
route via the Yellowstone Valley, but was
stopped in his work by JEFF. DAVIS, the
then Secretary OF War. Tnis route has lately
attracted much attention, on account of the
wonderful gold discoveries in Montana, along
the headwaters of the Missouri. Its genera
direction is from st. Paul west, by way of the
Yellowstone Valley to Gallatin, at the forks of
the Missouri river, and at the head of navi-
cation on that stream. This is in the imme-
diate vicinity of some of the richest gold de-
posits in Montana.
From this point the route takes through tn 3
mountains by the Big Aole Pass, and strikes
the headwaters of the Columbia. The Pacific
may be reached either by Puget's Sound or
at the mouth of the Columbia. Il is a singu-
lar fact that the distance from the navigable
waters of the Missouri to those OF the Colum-
bia is less than 300 miles.
The reasons offered by General GRANT in
1aVor OF the construction OF tnls foad are
such as commend themselves for their prac.
tical common sense. But, aside from mere
questions Of economy, there are considerations
oil sound craftsmanship which urge the pro-
secution OF all these great enterprises. They
are SO many links to bind this great nation
together. Our domain is imperial, and its
development is something wonderful A
wise prudence will dictate that every influ-
ence which tends to unity and consolidate
such vast and diversified interests shall be
carefully cultivated. Railroads are mighty
power, and these Pacific railroads when once
completed, will be as important as political
agencies for preserving the unity of the
nation, as they will be in their direct inlu-
ence upon the commerce of the world.