Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-11-15
TmE UNION PACIFIC. aAILRoAD-
wha,t,r sad what Ii viii BE.

The iron way has been cut through the
-tonv heart of the Sierra Nevadas on the
West. For two or three years more along
a line stretching across the Rocky Noun
tsins and through the Humboldt Valleys,
there will be the hustle and rush Of great
army, with its long trains and busy camps,
and there viii be smell Of burning powder,
and shocks and echoes like great battle.
But this army is not to destroy, but to ere
ate. Its trains are not loaded with bristling
weapons, but with picks and shoyels, and
It's artillery sweeps away nothing bat the
defiant rocks that have stood for long ages
in the way of advancing civilization. In
two or three years, the builders Of the West
coming East, and the builders of the East
going West, will meet somewhere about
Salt Lake, and then We shall have the gran
dest civic celebration Of modern times.
The two great divisions Of continent viii
be united amidst national rejoicings, and all
the great officers and host Of the great
people VIII be present to witness the august
ceremony. We can now imagine, that we
see the President of the United States driy-
ing the last spike Co the rail which Is 10 bind
the Atlantic and Pacific States together in
national unity and prosperity such as we
have never known before. Thousands who
have been waiting some better means Of
reaching California than crowded steamer
and near month s passage offered, viii
seek homes among the gold mines and gar
dens BIZ this new and speedy means Of tran
sit Vine growers from Germany viii
swarm upon her hills, than which none are
more productive Of wine; and far up the
vast regions through Oregon, and Washing
ton Territory, to our new Russian Posses
sions, the tide of an increasing population
will ebb and flow over this Pacific Railroad.
The idea of the work was a grand one.
1t had become indispensable to the develop
ment and safety of the nation, and nothing
less than the nations power could execute
it. We are practically, to day, almost twice
as far from San Francisco as fromSt. Peters
burg, and in case Of war, one side of our
country would be almost severed from the
other The nation needed this Pacific Rail
road to develop its vast territories which
are 50 rich in lands, mines, and treasure. and
TO overcome barbarism with the institutions
OF religion, science and art
These, as well as other reasons, induced
Congress to grant the most substantial aid
to the two great companies that are nog
constructing the Pacific Railroad and tele-
graph line, and that have already spent over
forty million dollars upon it. The land grant
Of 1880 acres to the mile is certainly
munihccnt, but it increases the value Of
every other acre in that vicinity tenfold,
The grant Of fifty million dollars in Govern
meut bonds on which the t. s Treasury
pays the interest, and for which it takes
second lien upon the road as security, is
large but the Union Pacific Railroad carries
troops, freights, and mails for tie govern
meaJ 10 ali amount winch pays this iHoeIes,
several times over. No other public work
ever gave such promise Of future usefulness
or profit.
The Union Pacific, unlike other railroad
companies, is a thoroughly national Com
pauy. It derives its charter directly from
Congress, and five Government Directors
and three Government Commissioners as
sist in the control and inspection of its
affairs. 1t win be the great central railroad
of the country, and Of course, will be the
artery Of an immense commerce. And this
answers the natural inquiry, "Will the road
pay We don't see how it can help it.
The traffic that is waiting for it and that
viii be developed by it is beyond contingency
and as there viii be no rival line, it is very
likely that the Company will not forget to
charge remuneratiye prices. The way, or
/ local busines- on but 32j miles, yielded over
a million dollars in single quarter Of the
present year, and shows that every section
Is a productive property in itself as soon as
completed.
Under such circumstances, the Union
Pacific Company has every reason to antici-
| pate the most brilliant success, and we do
not wonder that it is inspired to make the
greatest efforts to secure the completion of
the line at the earliest possible moment
Its stockholders have already paid in over
five million dollars in money upon the work
already done, and are able to supply ample
means for construction. But if a company
which has already shown SO much energy
could tail in finishing their work (which no
one believes possible), it would not cease.
The Government that holds the second lien
upon the road would be compelled to come
in and complete it to protect its own inter
ests, and the security of the First Mortgage
Bondholders would remain unimpaired.
Hon John j. Cisco, for many years Assis-
tant Treasurer of the United States in New
York, is one of the Directors, and also the
Treasurer of this Company He is well
known to be a gentleman of most eonserva-
tive opinions and careful Judgment in all
financial matters, and we notice that be
recommends these bonds as among the sajcst
securities.
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FIVE THOUSAND persons have recommen-