Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-06-07
The Union Pacific Railroad
from Omaha, Nebraska.
1Vhat has been done, and phen ii ritt be
finished

iiea that railroad is being built from
somewhere in the East to somewhere Ill
a farther West than Il rail-track has ev-
cr before been laid; but where 1t begins or
VIVA. route il follows, or where 1t is to end,
we venture to assert not one i'll Il thousand
can tell.
For dozen years we have heard that a
rreat Pacific Railroad tcds to DC built. and
;, dozen NAMES aud dozen companies. and
dozen routes-from the southern bounds
ry of Texas to the northern boundary OF
Lake Superior-have been urged upon
Congress us the greatest and best means tor
uniting the Atlantic and Pacific shores.
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 tegett'-
er the eastern and western extremes of the
continent in one great United aud PtcsHc
country. the immcuse cost of government
transportation 20 its frontier and Rocky
Mountain posts, and the even greater cost
of Indian wars, in 4 region that nothing
but railroad could ciyiiZc, and nothing
but civilization could paoiy, the great inl-
portancc of opening road to the rich gold
and silver mlnes 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 pruden-
tialreasons finally pressed with such we glt
upon Congress. that it determined that the
road should be made. There were. indeed.
many others: two thousand miles OF addi-
tional territory would be opened for settle
ment: vast bodies of land now valuclesS
would be made productive; the tide of bust
ness and travel that now winds a tedious
and dangerous way along the borders OF
two oceans. would be increased ten-fold
and how would the fathers i'll the East
strike hands with their sons and daughters
at the Golden Gate. if they could be borne
on the wings of the locomotive!
The imperative need of the work was all
mitted. but it was too vast tor individual
enterprise to attempt. No combination o.
private capitalists was willing to risk a hun
dred million dollars in the construction OF
1000 mile. ofrailroad through wilderness
As the undertaking was strictly national
so no power less than that of the nation
was sufficient to accomplish it; and large
as the cost necessarily would be, the eNpen-
diture would save much greater cost to
the countrv.+ But the Government did not
wish to enter upon any new system of ill.,
ternal improvements on its own account
and its only alternative was to grant its aid
in the most careful manner to such rcspon-
sible individuals of suitable character ano
energy as might be willing to risk 4 por'
ton of their private means i'll the construc-
ton of the new road.
THE COMPANI'S CHARTER AND
ROUTE.
This charter was granted and perfected
Nv various acts of Congress. and the Com
pany comprises men of the highest rcputa-
ton for integrity, wealth. and business en-
nerienee. Among the officers are Gener-
al John A. Dix. President, Thomas {. Du'
rant, Vice-Pre sident, and Hon, John j.
Cisco. late Assistant Treasures ofthe l. 5.
Treasurer.
The Capital authorized by the Charter is
One Hundred Million Dollars. of which 1t
is estimated that not exceeding Twenty
Five Millions will be required, and Of which
Five Millions have already been paid i'll.
Surveying parties were at once pushed
ont in various directions across the CONT
ncnt to find and locate the best available
line between the Missouri River and the Pa
citic Ocean. This was established at Oma-
ha. in Nebraska, OIL the east, and will final
~ be at San Francisco, in California. on
the west-a distance of nearly 900 miles.
The Chicago and Nc nth Western Railroad
is now completed from Chicago to Omaha.
Il distance of 492 MILES; and several other
roads are rapidly building TO unite with the
Union Pacific ut the same point; SO that Its
eastern connections will DC 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 distance OF
5l7 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 30 feet to
the mile, and from that point to the sum-
nit, or divide of the continent, it will not
exceed eighty feet to the mile. From the
Rocky Mountains, the best practicable
route will be taken TO Great Salt Lake City.
and thence by the Valley oftAe Humboldt
River to the eastern base of the Sierra Ne
yada Mountains. The Central Pacific Rail
road is ROW being rapidly built east from
Sacramento. Cal. and is already complet-
ed about 100 miles, and will connect with
the Union Pacific.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AND IT'S
COST.
As we remarked before, there has been
very little talk. and great deal of work.
Almost before the public were aware, it
had been begun. On the First ofJanuary,
1867. the Union Pacific Railroad was faiSh
ed for 3O5 miles west from Omaha.and .nlly
equipped with Locomotives, Rolling Stock,
Repair Shops, Depots, Stations. &c.-and
the Company have OH hand Iron, Ties, and
other materials. sufficient to finish the road
10 the Rocky Mountains, or 5l1 miles from
Omaha, by the first Of September. 1867.
It is expected that the whole line through
20 C,,isnruia will be completed in 1870.