The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-06-12

Surveying parties we're st once pushed
out in various directions across the con :
tinent to find and locate the best availa.
Bile line between the Missouri River and
the Pacific Ocean. This was established
at Omaha, in Nebrask, on the east, and
will finally be at San Francisco, in Cali
fOrnia, on the west distance Of nearly
1000 miles. The Chicago and North
Western Railroad is now completed from
Chicago to Omaha, a distance of 492
miles ! and several other roads are rapid.
ly building to unite with the Union Pa
cifc at the same point; so that its east.
ern connections will be numerous and
complete. &, n . 5Ha
Ths general line Of the road from
Omaha is west up the Valley Of the
Great Platte, and thence across The
plains distance of SIT miles, to the
Black Hills, or easterly spur Of the
Rocky Mountains. Col. Seymour, the
Consulting Engineer, reports that the
grade muci more favorable than was
Gnticipated-t he maximum to til Q
Rocky Mountains not exceeding 80 feet
to the mile, and frem that point to the
summit, or divide Of the continent, it will
exceed 80 to tho mile. From the Rocky
Mountains, the best practical route will
be taken to Great Salt Lake City, and
thence by the Valley Of the Humbolt
River to the eastern base of the Sierra
Nevada Mountains. The Central Pacific
Railroad is now being rapidly built east
from Sacramento City, Cal, and is al.
ready completed about 100 miles, and
will connect with the Union Pacific.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AND IT'S
! COST.
AS we remarked before, there has
been very little talk, and great deal of
work. Almost before the public were
aware, it had been begun. On the First
of January, 1867, the Union Pacific
Railroad was finished FOR 305 miles west
from Omaha, and fully equipped with
Locomotives, Rolling Stock, Repair
Shops, Depots, Stations, &c.-and the
Company have on hand Iron, Ties, and
other materials, sufficient to finish the
road to the Rocky Mountains, or SIT
miles from Omaha, by the first of Sept
1867. 1t is expected that the whole
line through to California will be com
pleted in 1870.
The first 3O5 miles was graded, bridged
and ironed, with heavy Trail, and sup.
piled with suitable DepOts, Repsir Shops,
Stations, Locomotives, Cars, and all thu
necessary appurtenances' of frst-clasl
road, for $4,000 per mile, and it is be
lieved that the remaining portion viii
not increase the average cost to NOR,
than $4,000 per mile, exclusive of equip
ments.
MEANS FOR CONSTRUCTION.
When the Government determined
that the road must be built, it also dc
termined to make the most ample pro
vision to render its speedy construction
beyond a doubt. ..
!, 1st.--THE GRANT OF MoNEY.-Th,
Government issues to the Company it
Six per cent. Thirty,yoar Bonds at tn
rate Of $4,000 per mile for the Who'll
road, aud, in addition, for $50 mile
across the Rocky Mountains this grant
trebled, making it s4S,oOO per mile an
from the termination of this section
& the California line (about S9S miles, } th
= grant is doubled, making $4,000 pt
!. mile,-the whole amount being s44,2OS
eco. These bonds are issued by th
n Government only on the completion {
twenty miles, and after the Commissions
d appointed by the President of the Uni
;. ted States have certified that il is tho
|. oughly built and supplied with all Il
machinery, &C., of q first class rail.roa
D The interest on these bonds is paid
U. s. Treasury, and the Government r
}. tains, as a sinking fund to be applied
/. repayment of principal and interest, OF
!, half the regular charges made for tran
; pOrtatiOn by the Company against it,
:. These bonds, which are second mor
: gage, are not due for thirty years, and
is not improbable that the value Of Il
:. services to.be rendered to the Cover
:. ment during that period will constitu
Fl q sinking fund sufficient for their !
y demption at maturity 70
y 2,-THE FIRST MoRToAaE Bonds
= ! The Government permits the Compar
: 70 issue its own Mortgage Bonds at Il
y same time, and on the same terms, al
for the same amount, and and BY sepci
10 Act of Congress these bonds cfthe Co,
in paRy are made a First Mortgage on Il
III entire line and prOPetty Of the road, i
y y Government bonds being subordinate
h h The amount Of these Bonds to be issu