Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-11-15
The Union Pacific Railroad.

Our readers have heard Of it lately, and they
will hear more of it at very brief intervals.
Five hundred miles Of track have been laid
from the East, and an artery for the iron way
has been cut through the stony heart Of the
Sierra Nevadss on the West. For two or three
years more along a line stretching across the
Rocky Mountains, and through the HUMBOLDT
Valleys, there will be the hustle and rush of
great army, with its long trains and busy
camps, and there will be smell Of burning
powder. and shocks and echoes ike q great bat
tie. But this army is not to destroy, but TO
create Its trains are not loaded with bristling
weapons. but with picks and shovels, and its AZ
tillery sweeps away nothing but the defiant
rocks that have stood for long ages in the way
ofadyancing civilization. In two or three years,
the builders Of the West coming East, and the
builders Of the East going West, will meet some
where about Salt Lake, and then We shall have
the grsndest civic celebration Of modern times.
The two great divisions of continent will
be united amidst national rejoicings, and all the
great officers and host Of the great people
will be present to witness the august ceremony.
We can now imagine that We see the President
Of the United States driving the last spike to
the rail which is to bind the Atlantic and Plci-
ic States together in a national unity and pros
Thousands who have been waiting some better
means of reaching California than . crowded
steamer and near a months passage offered,
will seek homes among the gold mines and gar
deus by this new and speedy means Of transit.
Vine growers from Germany will swarm upon
her hills, than which none are more productive
Of wine; and far up the vast regions through
Oregon, and Washington Territory, to our new
Russian Possessions, the tide Of an increasing
population will ebb aud aoE over this Pacific
Railroad
The IDEA Of the work was a grand one. It
had become indispensable to the Development
and safety Of the nation, and nothing less than
the nations power could execute it. We are
practically, to- day, almost twice as far frsm
San Francisco IS from ST Petersburg, and in
case Of war, one side Of our country would be
almost severed from the other. The nation
needed this Pacific Railroad to develop its vast
territories, which are 50 rich in lanil, mines,
and treasure, and to overcome barbarlsm with
the institutions Of religion. science and art
These. as well SIS other reasons, induced Con-
gress to grant the most substantial aid to the
two great companies that are now constructing
the Pacific Railroad and telegraph line. and that
have already spent over forty million dollars
upon it. The land grant Of 1880 acre to the
mile is certainly munifcent, but it increases the
value Of every other acre in that vicinity ten
foli. The grant Of fifty million dollars in Gov
eminent bonds on which the u S Treasury
pays the interest, and for which it takes 4 sec
and lien upon the road as security, is large. but
the Union Paeife Railroad carries troops,
freights, and mails for the government to an
amount which pays this interest several times
over. No other public work ever gave such
promise Of future usefulness or profit.
The Union Pacific, unlike other railroad COM
panes, is thoroughly national Company 1t |
derives its charter directly from Congress, and /
five Government; Directors aud three Govern /
meut Commissioners assist in the control and I
inspection of its affairs. 1t will be the great
eeatral railroad Of the country, and, OfcOurse,
viii be the artery Of an immense commerce
And this answers thenstural inquiry, " viii .
the road pay - We don't see how it can help
it. The traffic that is waiting for it and that
will be developed by it is beyond contingency,
and as there will be no rival line, it is very like
ly that the Company will not forget to charge
remunerstive prices. The way, or local bust.
ness on but S25 milsf, yielded over million
dollars in a single quarter of the present year,
and shows that every section Is q productive
property in itself as soon as completed.
Under such circumstances. the Union Pacific
Company has every reason to anticipate the
most brilliant success, and we do not wonder
that is inspired to make the greatest efforts to
ecure the completion OF the line at the earliest
possible moment Its stockholders have already
,sid IN over Eve millions in money upon the
WORK already done, and are able to supply