The Portland daily press., 1866-04-07
The Northern Pacific Railroad.

We took occasion several days since to refer
to bill reported by committee of the House
of Representatives, to promote the speedy con-
struction of the Northern Pacific Railroad,
which is to connect the lakes and rivers of the
St. Lawrence system with the Pacific ocean
at Pugets sound, and at the mouth of the
Columbia. We propose now to allude more
particularly, to the route which is thus to be
encouraged. n.o ft-..-y 81, f,s.s,4-s III
The Congressional charter of the Northern
Pacific company, authorizes the eastern termi-
nus of the line to be at some point ON Lake
Superior within the States of Minnesota or
Wisconsin. Whether from this point east
wardly, the company proposes to connect with
roads to be built by other parties, or whether
it will seek such change in its charter as will
allow it to come to Sault st. Marie, we are not
informed. 1t is very certain, however, that if
the company does not build to this point, some
Z body will build from it to connect with them.
Proceeding westwardly, the Northern line will
probably pass through Fond du Lac to Fort
Ripley on the, Mississippi, seventy. miles above
st. Paul, with which city there will be direct
communication by rail. From Mississippi it
will passrby a straight course to the Red Riv-
er OF the North, crossingi it near Fort Amber
-crombie. From this point, the surveys of the.
celebrated explorer, Tue esS..s..
contemplated northwesterly course, keeping
r. altogether to the north of the great bend of
the Missouri river. Recent examinations, how
ever, lead to the opinion that the better route
, will be due west to the, Missouri, and thence
to the Yellow Stone, the valley ofiwhich will
be followed to the vicinity of the town of Gal
latin, at the junction of the Mississippi Forks,
and in the midst of the gold region. There
are FIVE passes in the Rocky Mountains, any
one OF which may be made available for rail-
Q road purposes without tunnelhng, and the
highest of them does not exceed six thousand
feet above the level of the sea. They are call
ed Mullan's, Hell Gate, Deer Lodge, Big Hole,
and one recently discovered which is withou4
name There are wagon roads through
the first four. The, Deer Lodge may be APP
preached on either side by grade not exceed
ing sixty feet to the mile, with very little rock
excavation. 4. Capt Mullan speaks of it as an
elevated prairie. 1t is passable through the
winter without obstruction from snow. All
these passes lead to the valley of the ST. Mary's
or Bitter Root Fork; through this the project
ed line will be carried west of north to and
around Fond dOree Lake., From this lake,
the distance is short to the navigable waters of
the Columbia, along which the road will pass
to the great ocean. $500, ..r ~
This rough outline viii convey some idea
to our readers of the project now before Con-
gress for assistance. The estimated distance
is between seventeen and eighteen hundred
miles, but no final surveys have been made,
and the, precise route is not determined. The
Importance OF the line will appear from the
characteristics of the States and Territories.
which it is to traverse,-Minnesota and Daco-
tab, rich in agricultural capabilities; Monta-
ma and Idaho, the extent of whose golden
wealth reminds US of Eastern fable; and |
washington and Oregon, which will control |
tie future commerce of the Pacific ocean. The |
connection, also, of all the great rivers be-
tween the Oath and 10th merdians with the |
navigable waters on the east common to Bri- |
fish America and the United States, will be of
o NoAAA0S' l'"AeAS ~ oui iASSindi comueTce.
The road will bind together the northern tier
OF States in bonds of closest intercourse, not
now to speak ofits bearings upon the trade of
the Canadas; and it will furnish a highway, |
across which our products may be transported |
In the freest interchange. For every reason,
commercial, financial and political, the coun-
Try Is interested in its construction; and we
nope mat Congress will afford to il the very
moderate help which is necessary, to give
s",lapie yalue to its securities, and to strength
en the hearts and hands of those who have
devoted their time and skill to il.