The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-02-01
The Railroad Towards the Pacific.

Under the above heading tie D0ily IIjs-
cousin says the completion of the Chicago
and Northwestern Railway to Council
Bluffs, opposite Omaha on the Missouri
river, is certainly notable event, for the
Union Pacific Road west Of Council Bluffs,
beginning at Omaha, is finished for 305
miles. Council Bluffs is five hundred
miles from Chicago. A bridge is to span
the Missouri In the summer of 1867, and
then there will be an unbroken line Of Rail
way communication eight hundred miles
west of Lake Michigan. By means Of the
Lake Shore Railroad, Milwaukee has con
nection with this western line Of commuui-
cation.
In the course of another year, the Pacific
Road will be extended to Salt Lake City,
and then a passenger will he able to take
the cars at Milwaukee in the morning and
be at Salt Lake City On the fourth day
thereafter. 1t is marvellous when we reflect
that not FIVE years since it required jour
ncy Of five weeks to reach Salt Lake City.
1t seems all bat miraculous when we call to
mind that the Union Pacific Railway is tie
ing carried through, when labor and iron
rails demand so high IA price, as to almost
put a stop to the building Of railways else
where
The enterprise Of the American character
IN the rapid construclion Of railway tow
ards the Pacific is calculated to impress
upon other nations as exalted an idea Of the
lnexhaustible power of our people as our
victories during the civil war.
This road is to run 80 miles to the north
of Denver City, the capital OF Colorado II
vas first proposed to construct the main
line through that town, bat there are so
many difficulties in the route beyond it that
it was deemed the wisest tn trace the line to
the northward. \ branch is to be con
structed to Denver City, but even When
the road comes within 100 miles of that
place, the increase Of enumeration to Col
orado must be large--because cheaper tran
sportation only is needed to render the
mines Of Colorado very profitable.
The immense cost Of supplies of every
kind to the miners in consequence Of the
land carriage Of SIX hundred milea, has Of
late rendered mining Improbable, but the
railway will change this for the better, and
the laying down Of every mile Of track upon
the Pacific Railway will give an additional
momentum to the future prosperity of Col
orado When the Pixies Peak diegngs
were first discovered they were deemed Ct
so little value that the men who rushed
there were considered scarcely safe, because
the expense Of obtaining their supplies
would be so enormous thqt even the prUiita
bic diggings of California and Australia
would hardly compensate them. Colorado
has had a grinding time for the past four
years, for tie cost Of supplies has eaten. up
all their profits, but In the SUMMER Of 1866,
for the first tune, the people managed to
raise enough Of wheat, corn and potatoes
for home consumption This was the first
point gained for future strength and indie
rcndcnce. And now in the year 1867 they
will have the Union Pacific Railway so
near, that the cost Of transportation for
their merchandise and other articles required
in the mines, will be so diminished that
even the most gloomy can see the daylight
of future thrift and pro. rcrity.
People who live on navigable lakes ard
water courses, cannot appreciate the bound
less blessings which railway can confer
uron far inland and isolated communities
like that Of Colorado. 1t Is the jacob 5
ladder to their commercial heaven.