The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-11

Upon the Sierras. where snow some
times, fall to the depth of 30 feet, %
miles Of snow-sheds protect the track.
once or twice portions have been swept
away by avalanches, causing a few
hours detention, but in general they
answer their purpose SO we'll that Is
miles more are to be added. OF the
]. 500 miles between Omaha and Sacra-
mento, not one-third is really noun
famous, but more than two thirds were
so counted, and received the higher
Government endowment-S32, 900, or
GAS. 900 per mile. Much oil the Central
Pacific traverses Hat country, yet not
one mile received less than 49,, 600. The
Union Pacific obtained the highest
mileage-S46, O00-for $50 miles, west of
Cheyenne, heavy mountain work,
though the region Is really one long,
inclined plane-''as fine a country to
build railway through as lies on the
ping the entire line probably cost on an
average $50, 600 per mile. The Govern
ment bonds issued averaged $4,000 per
mile, and the cOmpRnies' first mort
gage bonds sold for $50, 900 more, leav-
ing a net cash profit OF seventeen mill
lions of dollars upon the construction
alone, in addition to the ownership of
the road and it's magnificent land grant.
Carver was right: the builders, "exclu-
sive of the national advantages" have
indeed reaped emOluments beyond
their most sauguine expectations. And
they have finished the road year ear
lier than its most enthusiastic friends
expected. One OF its early results will
be 10 secure US two additional lines-a
Northern and Southern. We need
them to develop vast mining and farm
Ing regions now lying idle; to end,once
for all the Indian troubles; and to enable
US TO command that vast commerce OF
the East for which all the nations are
striving. A French company, after
working ten years and expanding
hundred millions of dollars, has COM
of Suez. Shortening by thousands of
miles the old sea routes 10 Asia; the
Emperor of Russia is building rall~
way across Siberia to the borders of
China; and English capitalists are be~
ginning one from the Mediterranean, via
the Valley of the Euphrates, the Per-
sian coast, Upper India, and Southern
China, to the Pacific. The foreign com.
merce of China amounts to $500, OO0, 600
per annum. Hitherto, it has been
chiefly in British hands. The resident
English merchants still outnumber the
Americans, but the latter are gaining
steadily, and are much the more popu-
lar with the natives. China offers us a
limitless field for the introduction OF
railways, steamers, telegraph lines,
machinery, Yankee notions, and man
ufactured goods, in addition to the
enormous shipments of wheat we are
already sending to her. India and
Japan, too, invite American enter
Drise.
The Atlantic is nearer to the Pacific
than New York was to Boston so years
ago. Going to California by our luxu'
rious eating, sleeping and drawing
room cars, is a wonder and a delight as
contrasted with the old tediousness of
plains aud mountain, or ocean and
islhmus travel. At noon in New York
is Q u. IN. in San Francisco. The line
across the continent is 80 long that
trains upon it are run by eight or ten
different times. Ultimately we shall
have double set of hands upon all
watches-one for local time, and one
for general time-unitorm all over the
world.
ACROSS TIE CONTINENT.
New York TO Omaha ,.,,,...,,.....l Az miles.