Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-06-07


many others: two thousand miles OF
additional territory would be opened
for settlement; vast bodies OF land |
now valueless would be made produc-
tive; the tide of business and travel
that now winds tedious and danger
GUS way along the borders OF two
oceans, would be increased ten-told
and how would the fathers In the
East strike hands with their sons and
daughters at the Golden Gate, if they
could only be borne on the wings OF
the locomotive
The imperative need of the work,
was admitted, but it was too vast for
individual enterprise to attempt
No combination of private capitalists
was willing to risk hundred million
dollars in the construction OF 2,OOO
miles of railroad through wilder
ness. As the undertaking was strict
ly national, so no power less than
that of the nation was sufficient to
accomplish it; and large as the cost
necessarily would be, the expenditure
would save much greater cost to
the country But the Government
did not wish to enter upon any new
system of internal improvements on
Its own account; and its only alter
native was to grant its aid in the
most careful manner to such respon-
sible individuals of suitable character
) and energy as might be willing to risk
a portion of their private means in
the construction of the road.
r The Compamy's Charter and Route
This charter was granted and per-
= fected by various acts of Congress,
and the Company comprises men OF
the highest reputation for integrity.
wealth, and business experience
Among the officers are Gen. John A.
t Dix, President, Thomas G. Durant
4. Vice. president, and Hon. John j
y Cisco, late Assistant Treasurer o.
+ the Z. s., Treasurer.
The Capital authorized by the
Charter is One Hundred Million Dol
: lars, of which it is estimated that no.
exceeding Twenty-Five Millions vii
e be required, and of which Five Mil
lions have already been paid in.
:; Surveying parties were at once
: pushed out in various direction!
e across the continent to find and locat,
t. the best available line between Ih'
% Missouri River and the Pacific Ocean
=. This was established at Omaha, il
Nebraska, on the east, and will final
" ly be at San Francisco, in California
t. on the west-a distance of nearl,
+ 1900 miles. The Chicago and Mort
c. Western Railroad is now completed
n from Chicago to Omaha, distanc
!; of 1872 miles and several other road
are rapidly building to unite with tn
1t Union Pacific at the same point; :
Up that its eastern connection will b
he numerous and complete.
tn The general line of the road fror
M Omaha is west up the Valley of tn
Great Platte, and thence across tn
'0 plains a distance of SIT miles. to til
&c Black Hills, or easterly spur of til
of Rocky Mountains. Col. Seymour, til
Sc Consulting Engineer, reports that til
,q grade is much more favorable tina
3 was anticipated-the maximum to II
=" Rocky Mountains not exceeding 3
81 feet to the mile, and from that poiI
ut. to the summit, or divide of the col
Vi tinent, it will not exceed so feet {
We the mile. From the Rocky Mou
40 talns, the best practicable route wi
be taken to Great Salt Lake City, an
3D. thence by the Valley of the Hun
we boldt River to the eastern base Of tt
es Sierra Nevada Mountains The Ce
nd trail Pacific Railroad is now beir
~ rapidly built east from Sacrament
Cal, and is already completed abo
Gu 100 miles, and will connect with Il
hg Union Pacific.
We What has been done and its cost
.'O As we remarked before, there h;
De been very little talk, and great de
We of work. Almost before the publ
The were aware, it had been begun.
not the First of January, 1867, the UniC
,oo Pacific Railroad was finished for &c
miles west from Omaha, and full
ei- equipped with Locomotives, Rollil
ow Stock, Repair Shops, Depots, st
er- tons, &c.-and the Company ha'
his on hand Iron, Ties, and other mat
os+ rails, sufficient to finish the road
- the Becky Mountains, or SIT mil
'Hu from Omaha, by the first of Septel
mo Der, 1867. 1t is expected that Il
we whole line through to California W
"a. be completed in 1870
The first 305 miles were grade
bridged and ironed, with a heavy
om rail, and supplied with suitable D
pots, Repair Shops, Stations, Loo
motives, Cars, and all the necessa
'"' appurtenances of a irst-class roa
for $4,000 per mile, and it is belle
RIM ed that the remaining portion will n
,iJ increase the as erage cost to more tn;
Va $4,000 per mile, exclusive of equi
~ mentS.
ere Means for Construction.
ner When the Government determin,
be- that the road must be built, it al
ms, determined to make the most amp
1t provision to render its speedy co
not struction beyond a doubt.
=, lst.-THE GRANT OF MONEY
" The Government issues to the CO
pany its SIX PER CENT. THIRTY YE.
TO- BONDS at the rate of $4,000 D
va - mile for the whole road, and, in a
" dition, for $50 miles across the Roe