The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-06-08
The Union Pacific Railroad
FROM OMAHA, NEBRASKA.
VIVA hds been DONE and rhea il wW be finished,

No great enterprise was ever begun about which so
little has been said and so much has been DONE
The public have vague idea that railroad Is being
built from somewhere in the East to somewhere In a
farther West than rail-track has ever before heen
laid but where begins, or what rout ii follows OIL
where II is to end venture to assert one in a
thousand can tell.
Fora dozen years we have heard that grea, Pacific
Railroad tgns TO be butt, and dozen names, and u
dozen companies, and dozen routes-from the
southern boundary of Texas to the northern bound
ary OF Lake Superior--haye been urged upon Con
gross the gseatest and best means for uniting the
Atlantic and Pacific shores. Bubble after bubble was
blown and each burst in turn when touched by the
sharp 2ont Of practical experience.
The absolute necessity for u Pacific Railroad to
retain ard bind more closely together the eastern
and western extremes Of the continent in one great
United and Pacific country, the immense cost OF gov
srnmrst trans portation TO It's frontier and Rocky
Mountain posts and the even greater cost ot Indian
wars in region that nothing but II railroad could
civilize, and nothing but civilization could pacy,-
the great Importance of opening road To the rich
gold and silver mines OF the Rocky and Sierra Ne
yada Mountains, that the way 10 the resumption
nj specie payments might be made shorter and cas-
ier-all these prudential reasons finally pressed with
the roSa should be made There were, indeed many
others two thousand miles OF add itonal territory
would be opened for settlement vast bodies of land
now va!ueless would be made productive; the tide
al business and travel that now winds tedious and
dangerous way along the borders of two oceans,
would be increased ten-iold and how would the
fathers in tile East strike hands with their and
daughters II the Golden Gaze, il they could only be
uorne Oh the wings OF the locomotive
The imperative need of the work was admitted,
but IL was too vast for individual enterprise to at
tempt. No combination Of private capitalists was
willing 10 risk Il hundred million dollars IN the con
sruction OF 1000 miles Of railroad through wilder.
ness. A. the undertaking was strictly nnt:onal, 80
no power less than thaL OF the nation was Sufficient
accomplish it; and large az the cost necessarily
would be- the expenditure would save much greater
to the country But the Government did not
wish enter upon any new system OF internal I'M
proyenehts on its own account; aud it, only alter
native grant its aid in the most careful man
ner to such responsible individuals of suitable char
acter and energy might he willing 10 risk por-
lion of their private means in the construction OF
the road
THE COMPANY'S CHARTER AND ROUTE.
This ciaart.r was granted and perfected b. various
acts OF Congress, and the Company comprises men
business experience. Among the officers are Gen.
John A. Dix, President Thomas c. Dursnt, Vice
President, and Hon. John J. Cisco. late Assistant
Treasurer OF the U. $. Treasurer
The capital authorized by the Charter is One Hun
cred Million Dollars, of which it is estimated that
exceeding Twenty-Five Millions will be required,
and of which Five Millions have already been paid
i'll
surveying parties were at once pushed out in va
rious directions across the continent 10 find and To-
cate the best available line between 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 "est-:,
distance Of nearly 1900 miles. The Chicago and
North Western Railroad is now completed from Chi
.cago TO Omaha, distance of 492 miles; and several
other roads rapidly building TO unite with the
Union Pacific at the same point; so that its eastern
connections will be numerous and complete.
The general line of the road from Omaha is west
oi the Valley OF the Great Platte, and thence across
the plains distance Of SIT miles, ,he Black Hills.
or easterly spur Of the Rocky Mountains Col Sey-
mour, the Consulting Engineer reports tina, the
grad. il much more favorable than SAG anticipated
the maxnnum to the Rocky Mounlailis NOT exceed
Ing % joet 10 the mile and from that point 10 me
suntE.it or divide of the continent, it viii rA-
Ians the best practical route will be a.en TO Great
81. Lake City, and thence by the Valley OF the
M ~utDldt River 10 the eastern base Of the Sierra
sva,i. Mountains. The Central Pacific Railroad is
nav h,iuo r 'n,oiy built east from Sacramento Cal.
and is oI,sody col uieled about loo miles, and will
connect with the Union 'a''"''
WHAT tf,s BEEN pos'E. AND IT'S COST,
Aswe remarked before, there has '''eeh very lille
talk and great deal o. work. Almost be ."se 'he
public were ,w are, it had been Begin. On the fhst
OF January, ls6. the Union Pacific Railroad mas
flashed for ;0j miles west from Omaha, and fully
equipped with Locomotives, Rolling stock, Repair
Shops, Depots stations, sc.-ani the Company have
on hand Iron, Ties, and other materials sufficient to
finish the road TO the Rock lountains or 5l7 miles
from Omaha, by the irst OF september, 1861 II is
expected tina, the whole line Through 10 california
viii be completed in 1870.
The first Jos miles were graded, bridged and iron
ed, with heavy Trail, and supplied with suitable
Dcpo,s, Repair shops, stations Locomotives, Cars,
End all the necessary applrenances OF iirsclaes
road sodooo per mile and it is believed that the
remaining horizon will MOI increase the average
"a more ifan GdUaa per mile, exclusive OF equip
Iu"ns.
MEANS FOR CONSTRUCTION
When the Government determined shat the road
,n,- be built it also determined 10 make the most
ample provision to render it, speedy construction
beyond doubt
I,t-Tur GRANT OF MosEY.--The g Government isslle>
10 the Company its SIX Per CENT. THnry-iEAR HoND,
at the rate Of $4,000 per mie Tor the whoe road and
in addition for $50 miles across the Rocky Noun.
rairs this grant is tSb,ed making $4,000 per mile
and from the termination OF this section To the Cali
toruia line labout 1913 miles, the grant is dopbisd