The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-11-22


region which a railroad will afford.
this production will be at least doubled.
The public lands in Nebraska, and in
the Territories west of that State. have
been comparatively worthless, because
they wereinaccessible, and, consequent
ly, unproductive; the Union Pacific
Railroad opens all the great valley of
the River Platte and vast regions be-
yond to the occupancy of thrifty emf
grants, and has already established
such a succession of thriving towns as
will bring all land in the vicinity of
the Railroad into active demand. In
case of foreign war Or domestic revOlu-
ton, the existence of a railway line, by
which troops could be conveyed from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, or cice rerS0,
in a week, would be Of incalculable val
ue; while under any circumstances of
internal trouble, necessitating repeti-
ton in kind of the Utah expedition,
the saving to the Government by
means of this road, would be enough to
construct the entire line. Gen. Sher-
man has said that "The Government
could afford to build the whole road
rather than Be without it," and there
are abundant reasons for pronOuncing
this opinion d sound one.
SO great are the manifest national adj
vantages to be derived from Il Pacific
Railroad, that the two powerful COM
panies authorized to build it received
very extraordinary grants from Con-
gress. Donations of land were made to
the companies TO the amount Of 1880
acres per mile; and then United States
bonds, to an average amount OF about
$30, ,0G0 per mile, were advanced to the
Companies, which have the privilege
Of paying a large part, if not all, Of this
Indebtedness to the Government, by
the transportation of mails and war
and other national material. No other
industrial enterprise ever received so
liberal aid from the Government as
this.
Having made such special grants as
indicated its entire confidence in the
full success of the undertaking, the
Government took unusual care that
those who joined with it in assisting
the Union Pacific Railroad Company
should be amply secured against any
probability Of loss or failure. The com
pany was authorized to issue its own
bonds to an amount equal to the ad-
vances OF the Government, and these
bonds constitute the first mortgage up
on the road, the claim Of the Govern
ment being made second lien. The
Government appoints five Directors,
who shall look carefully after the man
agement of the road, and also three
commissioners, whose duty it is to
thoroughly inspect each section of
twenty miles, before the bonds can be
issued upon that section. Thus the
bonds represent, not projected enter
prise, which may be completed, but a
finished and equipped railroad, earn
ing very largely in excess of its eX-
penses, and with future which can
not fail of being eminently profitable.
The future business of the only rail
road connecting the Atlantic and Pa
cific states must be something marvel
Gus, and We venture the prediction
that no single track will long accom-
modate the eendless succession of trains
that will crowd its entire line. WeS-
tern Europe is waiting for it, as the
shortest route to Eastern Asia; and
how many anxious hearts in the old
home states are longing for it, to join
hands with friends aad relatives, with
out the cost and risk of long, dreary
and dangerous voyage in crowded
steamers across two oceans.
But if the business of the completed
line is to be something marvellous, the
business on the sections already finish
ed is not less satisfactory. The earnings
on three hundred and twenty-five
miles for single quarter this season
are officially reported at one million
dollars, and as the road goes further
towards the great mining regions, this
sum must be increased.
Every yreader of this sheet is interest
ed in the rapid prosecution ofthis work.
Every new agricultural Or manufactur-
ing community established by the
opening of this road, will add to the
national wealth and aid in paying the
public debt. Every acre OF land hither-