The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-06-08
fnfornlation.
The Union Pacific Railroad from Omaha,
Nebraska.
what Has been Done, and When IL Will be
Finished. gi rt e.


No great enterprise was ever hegun aoout
which so little mas been said and 80 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 been laid; but where 1t be-
gins or what route it follows, or where it is to
end, we venture to assert not one In thousand
can tell.
For dozen years we have heard that great
Pacific Railroad was to DO built, and dozen
names and dozen companies, and dozen routes
from the southern boundary OF Texas to the
northern boundary of Lake Superior-have been
urged npon Congress as the greatest 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 point OF practlcai
experience, p.;,.,.a
TO retain and bind more closely together the
eastern and western extremes OF the continent
in one great United and Pacific country, the
immense cost of government transportation TO
its frontier and Rocky Mountain posts, and the
even greater cost OF Indian wars, In region that
nothing but railroad could civilize, and nothing
but civilization could pacify,-the great impor.
lance Of opening a road to the rich gold and
silver mines of the Rocky and Sierra Nevada
Mountains so that the way to the resumption OF
specie payments might be made shorter and
easer-all these prudential reasons finally press
ed with such weight upon Congress, that it de-
termined that the road should be made There
were, indeed, many others: two thousand miles
of additional territory would be opened tor set
Element; vast bodies Of land now valueless would
be made productive; the tide of business and
travel that now winds a tedious and dangerous
way along the borders of two oceans, would be
increased ten-fold and how would the fathers
in the East strike hands with their sons and
daughters a. the Golen 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 a hundred million dollars in
the construction of 1000 miles of railroad through
6 wilderness. AS the undertaking was strictly
national so no power less than that OF the nation
was sufficient to accomplish it, and large as the
cost necessarily T;oiid be, the expenditure would
save a 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 alternative 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 portion Of their pri-
vate means i'll the construction of the road.
THE coMPANYs CHARTER AND ROUTE.
This charter was granted ard perfected by
various acts of Congress, and the company COM
prses of the highest reputation for integrity,
wealth. and business experience Among the
officers are General John A. Dix, President,
Thomas G. Durant, Vice-President, and Hon.
John j. Cisco, late Assistant Treasurer of the U.
S., Treasurer
The capital authorized by the charter is one
hundred million dollars, of which it is estimated
that not exceeding twenty-five million will be
required. and Of which five millions have already
been paid in
Surveying parties were at cnce pushed out in
various directions across the continent to find
and locate the best available line between the
Missouri River and the Pacific Ocean. This was
established at Omaha, i'll Nebraska, on the east,
and will finally be at San Francisco, in Califor-
MA, the west-a distance of nearly 1900
miles. The Chicago and North Western Rail-
road is now completed from Chicago to Omaha,
distance Of 492 miles and several other roads
are rapidly building to unite with the Union
Pacific ut the same point; SO that its eastern
connections will be numerous and complete.
The general line of the road from Omaha is
west up the Valley of the Great Platte, and
thence across tie plains a distance of SIT miles,
to the Black Hills, or eastery spur Of the Rocky
Mountains. Col. Seymour, the Consulting
Engineer, reports that the grade is much more
favorable than was anticipated--the maximum to
the Rocky Mountains not exceeding 30 feet to
the mile, and from that point to the summit, or
divide of the continent, it will not exceed so feet
to the mile From the Rocky Mountains, the
best practicable route will be taken to Great Salt
Lake City, and thence by the Valley Of the Hum
boldt River to the eastern base of the Sierra Ne
vada Mountains The Central Pacific Railroad
is now being rapidly built east from Sacramento,
Cal, and is already completed about 100 miles,
and will connect with the Union Pacific.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AND IT'S COST.
As remarked before, there has been very little
talk, and great deal Of work. Almost before
the public were aware it had begun. On the
First Of January. 1867. tho Union Pacific Rail-
road was finished for 305 miles west Of 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 517 miles from Omaha, by
the first of September 1867. 1t is expected that
the whole line through to California will be com.
pleted in 1867.
The first 305 miles were graded, bridged and
ironed with heavy Trail, and supplied with
suitable Depots. Repair Shops, Stations, Loco.
motives, Cars, and all the necessary appurtenan.
of first-class road, for $4,000 per mile, and
it is believed that the remaining portion will not
increase the average cost to more than $66,O00
per mile, exclusive of equipments.
MEANS FOR CONSTRUCTION. ...
When the Government determined that the
road must be built, it also determined to make
the most ample provision to render its speedy
construction beyond doubt
l@-- TIE Gram u Money--The Government
issues to the Company its Six per Cent. Thirty
Year Bonds at the rate of $4,000 per mile for
tho whole road, and, in addition, for $50 miles
across the Rocky Mountains this grant is teJled,
making it $4,000 per mile; and from the ter.
mination of this section to the California line