New-York tribune., 1867-05-25
R1LLROAD 10 TILE P1CIEYC.

Several recent occurrences nave tended 10
give additional Importance TO the subject OF
Railroad communication with the Pacihc
Coast such. for instance, as the late acqrlisi-
ton of Russian America, the beginning OF
an important trade with Japan and China !;
the extraordinary shipment of brcadStuils from
Pacific ports to supplement our own scahty
harvests the prospect OF an Indian war anu
finally, the maintenance of that steady outflow
of a hundred millions year OF precious metals
All these call for better means of transit
between the opposite shores of this country.
All that keeps the half or three quarters of
million of people on the Pacific slope from
rapid increase of strength and wealth is the
want of frccr and cheaper means Of access.
At present they are more completely shut oil
from their Eastern homes than are persons living
in the center of Europe. A tedious ocean
voyage through the tropics, transhpment across
a foreign isthmus, and a costly and crowded
soiourn on board steamship, combine to keep
back population and capital from this promising
region and thus repress its natural growth.
These drawbacks are soon to be mftignted,
or altogether banshed, by the completion ct
the Pacific Railroad, now building from both
directions under the management of two pow
erful companies. The agricultural, pastoral,
and horticultural capabilities of California are
uniformly described as so remarkable that
vigorous population and srade must inevitably
spring mp between those States and the adj
iacent Territories, as well as the ports on the
Pacific and Indian oceans. The production OF
minerals will also be considerably stimulated
rs well as chcapened by the same agency.
IN NNa are of
shipment of large quantities of breadstuffs
from San Francisco for this port, and flour of
Oregon production is being consumed among
our own wheat-felds, which must have twice
crossed the equator in a sea voyage OF nearly
$1,000 miles. OF the wheat crop of 1866, the
following has been shipped from California
the greater portion of it to Great Britain:
Wheat, in 100 10 sacks D-..-....... 2s3;Sst saSst
Flour. bbls........ ---.....-.---. &92s6
Nor is this all the wool, hides, and wines of
Pacific growth are found here in large Quanti
ties but these figures will give some idea of
what may be expected when railroad inter
course shall have put those States more nearly
upon an equal footing with older States.
Even with the liberality of Congress in ex-
tending TO the two powerful corporations who
have undertaken it's construction, the line will
be built not one day too soon. Already, the
Government interest-postal, military, and
mining-demand the aid of the steam horse
and the iron road On the eastern end OF the
line the Union Pacific Company is careering
along finely putting down ten miles of track
per week over the fiat prairie. BY Autumn it
is thought the outlying hills of the Rocky
Mountain Range will be reached, when the
same pace can hardly he kept up; but this
year will find us with continuous COM
pleted line of 800 miles westward Of the Mis-
souri, or about two-thirds the distance between
NewYOrk and San Francisco. Lying as it does
in the path of the westward movement Of
population, q chain of great cities must spring
up in its course, and an active settlement
spread out from its line.
The progress of this stupendOus enterprise at
both ends is gratifying. Although the advance
is greater on the Eastern portion, when meas
ured in miles, the amount OF resistance over
come by the Company in California ia rela-
lively the greatest. The only considerable
obstacle in the path Of the Western Company
was the Sierra Nevada range, which had to be
crossed at an altitude of about 1000 feet above
the sea level. This has been SO far overcome
as to leave no doubt about its entire compile
ton within the present Summer. In November
last, "a miles bad been laid, overcoming nearly
5000 of the 1000 feet of aseent; that is, TO
within eleven miles of the summit; and at this
time the rails are laid nearly all the way across
the mountain, the passage of the locomotive
being temporarily deferred until the completion
of balf-mile tunnel under the summit, which
is two-thirds cut out. This will further open
up the important trade between San Francisco
and Nevada, and Idaho, which has hitherto
struggled hardly by wagon-teams over the
mountains, at an immense cost to the miners.
1t will at the same time render the conveniepces