The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-11-14
The RgighaUGy OF NN9so2tS

Men are too apt to pry into the hid
den mysteries Of the future, or to go
back and excavate the ruins Of the dead
past, while they overlook what is going
on around them 10 that immediate pre-
sent, which is destined to mould the
trade and commerce, while it to some
extent controls the destinies of the
world. For that reason, probably we
have heard little of the grand enterprise
of laying track of iron from the cas-
tern sea-board to the Golden Horn,
where the City of San Francisco looks
out upon the broad Pacific. And yet
the managers of the Union Pacific Rail
road announce that more thar one third
of that stupendous work has been al
ready accomplished and confidently
prognosticate its final completion early
in the year 1870. This has been effec.
ted within two years, and is the bost
guarantee that can be asked for or Civ.
Ell that the original programme will be
speedily and successfully carried out.
The road of this company starts from
Omaha, which is 983 feet above tide
level, and traverses the valley OF the
Platte to Fort Mcpherson thence into
South Wyoming, passing over its entire
width to the southwestern point, from
which it extends to Salt Lake City.-
Experience has demonstrated that there
are no difficulties in the way which can
not be surmounted but, on the contra,
ry, new advantages open up as the road
progresses. The ascent from Omaha to
the base of the Rocky Mountains is but
5,O79 feet in distance of51Sa miles
an Insignificant trife and the summit,
2,2O6 feet higher, is reached within SO
miles, grade Of less than 70 feet to the
mile, which compares favorably with
those on the Pennsylvania Central, and
is not SO steep as many on the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. This section of the
road ends at Salt Lake City, and the
Central Pacific Railroad already opera.
ting in western Nevada via Sacramento
City, is pushing rapidly on towards the
junction. AS they advance, it is prov.
en- by experiments that the lands pene-
trated are fertile and we'll adapted to ag-
ricultural pursuits, while the mines of
Nevada, Montana, Colorado, and Cali
fornia, rich in precious metals, are
brought into closer connection with the
home and foreign markets. These in
ducemeuts will foster emigration, and
the new settlers will create rich States
like Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, which
will become the customers of the road,
shipping their products eastward and
westward, and in return receiving their
supplies By this route. Thus far, the
Union is the only avenue opened up as
through line, and, therefore, the major
portion of both the way and through
freight must be transported over it.
But while the Union Pacific Railroad
shall continue to be the only road across
the Continent, it is destined to monopo-
lize not only our own ira ffic and travel,
but likewise that between Europe and
China, in conjunction with the Pacific
Steamship line. The advantages it
holds out are not only American, out
cosmopolitan, Europe aud China will
be brought within forty days travel of
each other. The traveller who leaves
London will cross the Atlantic in eight
days the Continent in six, and the Pa
cifc, from San Francisco to China, in
twenty six days. This rapidly of move
ment bids defiance to all foreign compe-
rition. BY this route, also, the approach |
to the South American States will be
greatly facilitated.
But the success of the enterprise is |