The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-29

haps before the snow flies. This aocompiisb.
ment OF half a thousand miles in distance and
the completion of the first grand division of
the enterprise-from the Missouri to the base
Oh the ROCKY Mountains-tOrms fitting point
from which to review the work ACCOMPLISHED
and note the importance of the great under
taking
This can best be done by glancne at the
condition of the region through which the
road passes, as it was before the beginning of
the work, two years ago. Through the FIVE
hundred miles which interviewed between the
Missouri and the nearest mining districts, all
the machinery and supplies for the miners had
to be hauled by teams-a process so slow and
expensive that it could only be undertaken by
mining companies who were confident of a
sufficient return for the outlay. Individual
enterprise on the part of the great mass of
miners was so blocked by the freight charges
of $500 per ton for machinery, that vast
number of promising mines, which would
otherwise have added largely to the aggregate
production, were forced to remain unopened
And yet, spite of these enormous charges, no
less than 1000 teams, with freight aud pas
sengers, left two points only on the Missouri
in single season. The public lands through
all this region were comparatively worth
less, through the difficulties and dangers
of communication with 'the States. and the
hostility of the Indians. The Governments
only tenants were the Indian and the buffalo.
But, besides its loss of revenue from these
lands, the Government incurred enormous
actual expense in its military operations upon
the Plains. The expedition to Utah cost
prodigious sum, while for Indian campaigns,
il was estimated that the annual cost Of each
regiment of cavalry was counted by millions.
In addition to these extraordinary expendi-
lures, there was the great cost of transporting
| materials for maintaining the military posts
| throughout the Territories. Considering these
facts, and the urgent need Gas especially made
manifest during the late war; of more speedy
communication with the Pacific coast, Con-
gress wisely made liberal grants of credit
and land to insure the rapid construction of
the line.
With this encouragement, the Companies to
whom was given the construction of the
| through line went vigorously to work, making
| large personal advances, and giving every
proof of perfect confidence in their success.
| A contract involving over sixty millions of
dollars was made by the Union Pacific Com
pany, under which responsible parties were to
| build 9l4 miles west from Omaha, for SOS, ,05S
| per mile, including all necessary buildings,
| repair shops, and other appurtenances, and
| supply rolling stock to the amount of So, ,000,-
| 600. Under this contract five hundred miles
| have been completed, some of the distance
under very special difficulties. The Indians
| have looked with suspicion upon this
1
fighting grounds. The mystery Of the
| iron horse was too great for the In
dams comprehension, but he shrewdly
| OWNED that the locomotive was the herald OF
| an army of pale-faces, and its whistle the knell
of his supremacy. The energy of the con-
| tracing parties has, however, overcome all
obstacles, the most palpable result thus far
| being the fact that a passenger can now pursue
1 an uninterrupted railway journey from the
| Atlantic at New York to the Rocky Mountains,
| 500 miles west of Omaha. The financial ac-
| counts of the, road to this point show re-
| markable fact. No one has doubted that
| when the whole grand line to the Pacific shall
| be finished, in 1870 Gas the Companies pro-
nise), it will be very highly profitable, but
the actual net earnings of the way business,
during the past season, are officially reported
to be more than sufficient to pay the Interest
upon the whole cost.
The building of this railroad is a work O
public necessity. The Government has already
gained from it more than it has paid for it. Al
immense tract of land in the valley of the
river Platte has been brought into market, and
made desirable for the emigrant Upon thi:
territory new towns are springing up, which
will become manufacturing communities
adding to the productive wealth of the coun-
try, and helping to pay the public debt. Goa
mines have been discovered in the Black Hills
which, in that region of scarce fuel will be
hardly less valuable than the deposits of the
precious metals. Every acre of land improved
or sold by the company increases the demand
for the Governments lands alongside, and
every additional ton of gold or silver mined
because of the increased facilities offered by
the railroad puts money into the national
treasury. The saving to the Government il
freights, and the increase in its revenues, will
confirm the opinion that this is mo-
only the most enduring buts the mos
profitable of all the internal improve
ments which have received Congressional aid
In short, the advances of the Government
bonds is but loan of the public credit, which
costs the Government nothing, but pays i
handsome dividends.
The road must be finished as rapidly a:
possible. The Pacific coast has room an6
work for ten millions of people, instead of the
half million who now inhabit a world 10y
themselves. The 800, 600, 600 yearly pro
duced in the mining regions can and should
be doubled, and all along the line of thi
worlds thoTOughtare should be such indus
trial enterprises as will promote the pros
perity of the nation and of the several States
and constitute the best evidences of our ma
tional greatness.
The Movement In Italy land the Position
| OF Victor Em anusl.
From the ". y. Herald.
The movement in Italy for the liberation Q
Rome and the union of the Papal territor
with the kingdom advances with such rapiC
strides, that the ink which records one striking
event is hardly dry before news of others i