Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-11-08
Nalthcrn Pacific Railroad.

L is wei known TO most of our readers.
ttatLatrocn the Rocky Mountains aud the
Pacific Ocean, there is another range Of
mountains quite as high in many places as
the Rocky Mountains themselves, commonly
called IS the Coaz; Range" extending from
the Isthmus Of Darien through tie British
possessions.
These mountains are known in Mexico as
the Cordilleras ; IN Nevada and California
as the Sierra, Nevada, and in Oregon and
Washington Territories as the Cascades.
Very little attention had been given to ez-
aiming the Passes Of these mountains,
until the question Of a Pacific Railroad was
agitated, when the advocates Of the differ
ent routes commenced explorations TO az-
certain the most practicable points for cross
ing.
Less was known Of the mountains d.
Washington Territory than Of those in Cal,
until the Northern Pacific Railroad C0mpa-
ny IN July last, sent out two or three par
ties Of Engineers to make a thorough exam
nation Of the whole Cascade range north Of
the Columbia River.
The result Of these surveys has dem9ns-ra-
ted, the passage of this range to be more
practicable and OF much less altitude .han at
any other point. We quote from the OrTg2-
man. printed at Portland, Oregon, the iol-
loving, under date Of Oct. 8.
=. General james Tlton. Chief Engineer Of
the Western Division 0i the North Pacific Rail
road Is now in this city, having nearly compile
ted his examination Of the northern passes Cfthc
Cascade mountains. one party s stil! explor-
ing north Of Mount Rainier; but 3, is the present.
expectation Of Gen. Tiiion, that they Will finish
by the 10Th inst SIX different passes have
been examined, and the altitude, as ascer,a.lei
by careful observations, j. from :, 400 TO 1000
faet.-the lowest being that Of the Snoqullmie
The object 10 he attained by this years opera
tons was TO establish the fact Of the accessibility
Of Puget Sound by a railway crossing the Cas-
caG1 range The Iricticabil.ty OF TINS work has
teel .gateI IS many ~ the East, and 1t has
teen asserted There that any route through the
Cascades would De more difficult than the route
Of the Central Pa-ihc over tie Sierra Nevada
mountains. No sccu1ate Observations hal ever
been taken 20 determine the altitude Jfthe psVs-
es through the Cascade range, and they were
believed d; the hast 90 be much cher and
more llti ult than they really are Gen. Til
tons measurements show that the 'asca les are
10 barrier compared WIKI TIE Sierra Nevada
range. The altitude reached ly tie Central
Pacific Is o. feet, while actual measurements
show tlaa the northern passes ot the Cascades
are les than half that height For forty mi.es
fle Central Pacific has very great elevation,
suffice, 90 sgJvs which reach an average depth
Of mJre than twenty feet; ani II l. the opinion
q. many engineers th4t the road cannot be Cper
a-ei during the winter season. The altitude %
the passe, through The Cascade range being So
much les, Sow dos uOJ resch depth that vii
imuede the operation Of q railroad
ANY comparison be, Seen the Central Pacific
aud Nor,Lern routes il therefore largely in IA
vor Of the latter. Tue feasibility Of the project
for building the Northern road through tie /
Cascade noun taius Is fully established, .ud the
c mqauy uay = before Congress at tie CON
iua session sskiuz l5- q subsidy % build a road I
I, : vet 10 be determined whether t Is not the |
easies, aud best way 10 pass TIE cascade noun I
taius 90 follow the cgurse Ui ine Columbia river
whether II will nct De q saving Of time AID |
money 20 20 around the mountain range IN
stt.i of over it THIS E.li be considered and |
s.itel,I in due time The object q General /
Trltou's surveys vas simply 20 obtain data /
70 be laid before Congress, showing that the .
read could Dee built and thai the Company are I
il earnest about the Work.-s0 that the aid ask 4
Ell from Government might be secured.