The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-11-13
The Belt Across the Continent.
The Great Pacific RaiIroad-hn Interesting
History.
The Gre

|
History.
A correspondent OF tho Chicago Republican, who
accompanied the recent excursion party over tho
Union Pacific Railroad TO tho one hundredth
parallel Of longitude, has written full account Of
| the road which is of such interest that VIC copy
the material parts. It should be promised that
another Pacific Railroad is in rapid progress due
| west from Kansas City, two hundred miles south
of the Plato Valley route, described below This
lower route is the one in which st. Louis has the
most interest, it is extension Of the Pacific
Railroad Of Missouri. The directors Of each Of
these roads are striving vigorously to reach the
mountains with their tracks before the other. Tho
Republicans correspondent says:
ROUTE OF THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The Union Pacific Railroad, commencing at
Omaha, follows the valley Of the Platte river for
five hundred and fifty miles, to tho base of the
river, is nine hundred and sxty-eight (barometer)
feet above the level Of the sea. One mouth of the
Platte is fifteen miles below Omaha, and to reach
miles southwest, and then follows the natural val
ley formed by this river. Partaling of the nature
Of prairie, tho valley, as it extended westward,
has been for many years considered an arid plain.
1t covers an area Of about five thousand square
miles, and varies in width from three to twenty
miles. North Of tho valley the country is rolling
prairie, gradually decreasing in fertility as it
tends northwosterly to the British provinces,
where the intense rigor and length Of the winter,
and the sandy SOIL have almost entirely destroyed
Tho railroad follows tho north bank of tho
Platte for three hundred miles, and then crosses
South Fork to its headwaters at tho foot of the
Rocky Mountains. There are but five bridges of
any sizo until the Rocky Mountains are reached.
The first is over tho Elkhorn, ono hundred miles
east of Omaha, and is a truss bridge Of the most
approved pattern, built upon stone piers, that will
hnIlf Hhpll nraa fha Ton, Eorl
tho Wood River Ad the North Fork.
No streams Of any size flow into the Platte from
Of this valley being to run southward. No attempt
has ever been made to navigate the Platte, or to
improve it for navigation. It is rapid stream,
shallow, and yet SO full Of quicksund as to render
it unfordable. It's banks arc continually changing
from side to sde owing to the washing Of the sand
Unlike the latter, however, it never has freshcts,
and never mandates it's banks It's rise and fall is
limited to six inches: The water is never clear,
washing of its banks.
For practical illustration it may be said that the
Platte rising in tho West. runs west to it's mouth,
nSrth northwest, and, running southeast empty
into the Platte. It's southern tributaries, Skull
ana salt creeks reel E. have clear water and 5 rocky bot
whole Platte valley into little Valleys bisected
lined the river banks with the richest bottoms or
valleys, covered with alluvial SOIL and varying
In width from one to six miles. Timber Of various
kinds is found upon oil the small streams. The
cottonwood however, prevails to the greatest ex-
| tent. There is no doubt, were it not for the an
nual burning Of the prairies and the grass upon
| would be covered with timber as it is where the
fire could not reach that we now find the oak,
locust, cedar and cottonwood and it has been fully
where the fire has been kept off particular tract
for three years strong growth Of timber starts
out, and in ten or twelve it is large enough for
posts, rails or general building purposes.
POPULATION OF NEBRASKA.
| Over two-thirds of tho population of Nebraska
lies south of the Platte valley and the largest por-
ton along the Missouri river; out Of fifty members
the territorial legislature over thirty are elected
The line Of travel opened by the emigrants start
mines OF Colorado, the Mormon harems Of Utah,
and to the Pacific coast, have induced many farm
ers or ranchmen to settle along the wagon trail of
sna
later, in the mining regions Of Colorado, which
raised nothing to feed themselves. The Indians
preme on the route, and it was necessary for emf
grants to travel in large bodies for selfprotection
and for ranchmen TO fortify themselves and build
but few were willing to meet, and consequently we
now find settlers so rare upon these millions of
fertile acres.
i LAND GRANTS.
The land grants of the Pacific road are the fin
est ever given to railroad. One-half the land for
twenty miles upon both sides, with the right to
locate at any point the amount they do not get on
the last end, when the tito is not now in the gov
ernment
This will make them the owners of the entire
valley after they get out beyond the surveyed and
located lands which, probably, do not extend over
ono hundred miles, for oil lands the then sur.
yeyed line are withdrawn from tho market until
, they get what they desire.
So far, thcy have no lands taken I'D except at
whatever stations they needed for immediate use
and in locating these ut random they are safe fol
they will get tho title whonever they desire it, and
the cities, towns villages and farms are theirs tc
locate, to sell, and to build up. Durent can literal
y say, as he rides out with his iron horse into the
bowling wilderness and startles tho Indian from
his lair, II am monarch Of all survey; my rights
there are mono to dispute"
TIMBER FOR RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.
Whom DR.. Durant announced, ono year ago, tha
he wanted one million Of CROSS ties for immediate
use and three millions in two years, everybody
} laughed at the idea. '"They must be had he re-
ped. 81 will have them." Every source was ap
Piled to. Soon one party agreed to furnish large
lot, and another lot, but thoy were bringing II
cottonwood, species Of timber like unto
pumpkin or a cucumber, which looked wei
enough, but had reputation for not being reliable
less as his desires are boundless. "Bring on you
8 cottonwood" said Durant, and up the Missouri
. and down tho Missouri, out Of a thousand ravine
and gulches rang the sound Of the invaders axe
and soon perfect torrent Of tes ties of oals
Y of cedar, and Of cottonwood.
THE 'tBURNETIzINa PRoCKss."
To mako the latter available, an iron boiler
hundred feet long and five feet in diameter wal
brought into requisition. It was filled with ties