The evening Argus., 1867-05-30
From the N. Y. Observer.
From the N. Y. Observer.
The Union Pacific Railroad
from Omaha, Nebraska.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, AND
WHEN IT WILL BE FIN
p, ISHED.

No great enterprise was ever begun about |
which so little has been said and so much |
has been done. The. public have a vague |
idea that a railroad is being built from some |
where in the East to somewhere In q farther |
West than a rail-track has ever before been
laid; but where it begins, or what route it
follows, or where it is to end, we venture to
assert, not one in thousand can tell.
For dozen years we have heard that a
great Pacific Railroad scds to be built, and a
dozen names and a dozen companies, and a
dozen routes-from the southern boundaries
of Texas to the northern boundary of Lake
Superior-have been urged upon Congress
as the greatest and best means for uniting
the Atlantic and Pacific shores. Bubble af
ter bubble was blown, and each burst in turn
when touched by the sharp point of practical
experience.
The absolute necessity for Pacific Rail
road to retain and bind more closely together
the eastern and western extremes of the con-
tinent in one great United and Pacific coun-
try, the immense cost of government trans
portation to its frontier and Rocky Mountain
posts, and the even greater cost OF Indian
wars, in a region that nothing but railroad
could civilize, and nothing but civilization
could pacify,-the great Importance of open
ing a road to the rich gold and silver mines
of the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains,
so that the way to the resumption of specie
payments might be made shorter and easier,
all these prudential reasons finally pressed
with such weight upon Congress, that it de-
termined that the road should be made
There were, indeed, many others tive thous
and miles of additional territory would be
opened for settlement; vast bodies of land
now valueless would be made productive
the tide Of business and travel that now
winds a tedious and dangerous way along
the borders of two oceans, would be increas-
ed ten-fold; and how would the fathers in
the East strike hands with their sons and
daughters at the Golden Gate, if they could
only be borne on the wings of the locomo-
tive.
The imperative need of the work was ad-
mitted, but it was too vast for individual en-
terprise to attempt. No combination of pri-
vate capitalists was willing to risk hundred
million dollars in the construction of 1000
miles of railroad through wilderness. As
the undertaking was strictly national, so no
power less than that of the nation was suffi-
cient to accomplish it and large as the cost
| necessarily would be, the expenditure would
save a much greater cost to the country.
| Ut has been proved, already, that the entire
interest on the fifty millions in bonds ad-
| vanced by the Government will be saved
more than twice over III the consequent dim
mutton of Government expenses IN the re-
| gions through which the road passes.) But
| the Government did not wish to enter upon
| any new system of internal improvements on
| its own account; and its only alternative
was to grant its aid in the most careful man.
ner to such responsible individuals of suta-
BILE character and energy as might be willing
| to risk a portion of their private means in
| the construction of the road.
THE CoMPANY's CHARTER AND ROUTE.
| This charter was granted and perfected by
various acts of Congress, and the Company
| comprises men of the highest reputation for
| integrity, wealth, and business experience.
| Among the officers are General John A. Dix,
| President; Thomas c. Durant Vice Presi-
dent, and Hon. John j. Cisco, late Assistant
Treasurer of the q. S., Treasurer.
The Capital authorized by the Charter is
| One Hundred Million Dollars, of which it is
estimated that not exceeding Twenty-Five
Millions will be required, and of which Five
Millions have already been paid in.
Surveying parties were at once pushed out
| in various directions across the continent to
find and locate the most available line be-
tween the Missouri River and the Pacific
| Ocean. This was established at Omaha, in
Nebraska, on the east, and will finally be at
San Francisco, in California, on the west
a distance of nearly 1000 miles. The Chi
cago and Northwestern Railroad is now COM
pleted from Chicago to Omaha, distance
| of 492 miles and several other roads are
| rapidly building to unite with the Union Pa
cific at the same point SO that its eastern
connections will be numerous and complete.
The general line of the road from Omaha
is west up the Valley of the Great Platte,
and thence across the plains a distance Of
SIT miles, to the Black Hills, or easterly
spur of the Rocky Mountains. Col. Sey.
mour, the Consulting Engineer, reports that
the grade is much more favorable than was
anticipated-the maximum to the Rocky
Mountains not exceeding 80 feet to the mile
and from that point to the summit, or divide
of the continent. it will not exceed so feet to
the mile. From the Rocky Mountains, the
best practicable route will be taken to Grea
Salt Lake City, and thence by the Valley O
the Humboldt River to the eastern base O.
the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Centra
Pacific Railroad is now being rapidly bull
east from Sacramento, Cal, and is ALREADY
completed about 100 miles, and will connec
with the Union Pacific.
AS we remarked before, there has beer
very little talk, and a great deal of work.
Almost before the public were aware, it hae
been begun. On the First of January, i sc !
the Uuion Pacific Railroad was finished 30.
miles west from Omaha, and fully equipped
with Locomotives, Rolling Stock, Repai
Shops, Stations. &c.,-and the Company hay,
on hand Iron, Ties, and other materials, sui
Gcient to finish the road to the Rocky Noun
! tains, or 5l7 miles crom Omaha, bv the frs
of September, 1867. 1t is expected that tn
whole line through to California will be com
pleted in 1870.
The first 305 miles were graded, bridge,
and ironed, with heavy Trail, and supplies
with suitable Depots, Repair Shops, Stations
' Locomotives, Cars, and all the necessary az
, purtenanees of frst-class road, for $4,000
Y per mile, and it is believed that the remain
ing portion will not increase the average cos
to more than $66, 900 per mile, exclusive c
equipments.
MEANS FOR CONSTRUCTION
: When the Government determined tina
the road must be built, it also determined t
5 make the most ample provisions to render il
, speedy construction beyond doubt.
lst.-THE GRANT OF MoNEY.-The Go,
2 ernment issues 10 the Company its Six pc
Cent. Thirty Year Bonds at the rate of sic
: 600 per mile for the whole road, and, in ad
dition, for $50 miles across the Rocky Mour
tains this grant is trebled, making $4s, 90