New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-21
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY.

Railroad Companies are pushing on their roads,
both from the eastern and western points of
departure, with amazing energy and success,
the Northern Company has as yet done little
more than enlghten the country on the COM
paratve advantages of its route over any other.
The reason is plain. The former has large
Government subsidy, a loan of United States
credit, while the latter has only simple land
grant These roads lie at all points nearly six
hundred miles apart, !and, for local trade, could
never be rivals. If there be any jealousy be-
tween them, it is because the Northern road,
on account of its shorter distances and easier
grades, must eventually be the great highway
of international commerce between Europe and
Asia, and between Asia and our Atlantic sea-
board. But we do not propose to discuss the
relative prospects of the roads from any point
of view. The vast importance of either to the
solid and permanent growth OF the Union, to
its commercial prosperity and its defensive
strength, is beyond any possible estimate. In
the midst of the general satisfaction which halls
the rapid construction of the one, we simply
desire to call attention TO the grand resources
which the other is likely to command-to the
stupendous empire in extent and IN natural
wealth which it is destined to develop. in the
success of the latter enterprise, New-IO rk and
New England have a deep interest, worthy OF
their most practical consideration. The COM
mercial supremacy of the City of New York
can never. of course, be disturbed, but it may
be enhanced and it seems perfectly evident
that, should the trade of Asia and the great
North West be poured into the lakes which
wash the northern boundary of the State, what
ever Is broken in bulk, or distributed to the
Atlantic States, will be drawn off to the adj
vantage of this metropolis.
The Company is authorized to build road
from the head of Lake Superior, on line
north of the forty-fifth degree of north latitude,
TO Pugets Sound, throwing of a branch down
the Columbia Valley, to Portland, Oregon, from
a point on the main line less than 200 miles
from its western terminus. This is not only
the shortest route across the continent, con
Meeting lines 81 water COMMUNICATION, but its
! termini are nearer, the one to Europe, and
the other to Asia. than those of any other
Seattle, at the head Of Puget's Sound, is one
of the finest and safest harbors on the globe,
| with a broad and deep channel to the ocean
| In the distances to Amoor, Shanghai, Canton,
! and Calcutta, Seattle has an average adyan-
| tace of POO miles Beside, the prevailing winds
of the Pacific compel all sailing vessels to enter
! the Straits of Fuca and thus, for them, Seattle
! has practically an advantage Of 200 miles.
/ Seattle is three hundred miles nearer to Chi
/ cago by the Northern route than San Francisco
/ 10y the Central OF, If we compare distances to
! the commencement of lake navigation, at the
| heads OF Lakes Michigan and Superior respect
| iyely the difference IL snore ttfuu 100 mics III
favor OF the Northern route.
But is this route between termini much
nearer 10 each other, and SO much better stu
ated with regard to the great commercial
! points cfl both hemsphTes than those of any
! other, entirely pacticable9 We no longer
PROFOUND the question in doubt, nor attempt to
solve IL upon imperfect data. United States
surveyors explorers. travellers. and scientific
men, unite 50 far As we are able to eam in
declaring il not only practicable, but compare
lively easy and desirable. Leaving the shores
of Lake Superior, it will pass for 1,Ol0 miles,
TO the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains,
through fertile and beautiful country, every
square mile of which viii sustain dense pop
ulation, producing wheat, rye, com, barley, p0-
tatoes, and grass, of superior quality, and III
great abundance Here the mountains are
crossed at an elevation $500 feet less than on
the Central Even on this mountainous section,
there is much fine timber and excellent wheat
lands, while the grades are not more difficult
than some Of those on the Baltimore ana ONO.
Here the mountains are so low that the miners
have actually conducted the waters OF the MIS-
souri acros, the divide in little bitches,
through the Cascade Range, just east of the
Sound. which it was feared might prove q
serious obstacle. The recent accurate surveys
have developed three passes either OF which Is
entirely feasible, and the summit of the middle
or Snoauame Pass is but 5000 feet above the sea
The SHOWS on these uplands, unlike those on the
same range few hundred miles further south,
are never more than two-and-a-halt feet deep.
They do not fall soft and pack hard, but dry
and light, presenting no difficulty to tho snow
plow. Grand lines of railroad are now in OPP
Grafton in various Iparts of the world whore
the SHOWS are heavier and the climate far more
severe than upon this From point ON line
with Fort Laramie, 10 the Pacific nature mas
provided the tepid winds OF tile ocean, ana
numberless boiling springs, which make the
atmosphere mildcr and warmer than 1t is eight
or ten degrees further south. This road passes
through no vast sage-pains or sandy DESERTS
but through a country everywhere lToptioua'
everywhere inviting 10 either the gram pro-
ducer OF the stock raiser, whose most unsefia'
portions sustain animals in Winter upon g'aSs
alone. IL Is int,rsccted by four great naVl-
gable rivers II mounds in beautiful lakes ana
streams of pure wafer, teenling with fish ana
wild fowl When wo add to tho landscape
grandeur OF these bOundess and lnxurianG
plains, agreeably diversified with water wood
and hill fine prodical Weld OF food for man