The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1869-08-20

THE NORTHERN ROAD.


Inc V:sIt OF tlc n. i. Railroad Ex.
ploration party-tlIe first practical cvidcnc.
In our midst that the Northern Pacific Com.
pany mean business INVESTS this subject
with new interest aud significance. It maj
lie we'll therefore to state briefly the history
and present situation OF its affairs.
The chsrtcr COVERS . dCtcrminablc line
extending from the western end of
Lake Superior 10 Pr. Jet Sound, 1875 miles.
From the eastern terminus 10 the western
boundary Of Minnesota, the Company il
subsidized with land grants Of alternate
sections for twenty miles on each sidcof tho
road; from there to Puget Sound, alternate
sections Of forty miles on each side, making
equivalent TO solid belt of land forty miles
wide. The charter was originally granted
II New England man. But little was
known Of the route, and he ns President
was unsble to interest in 1t capitalists or
prominent railroad men with sufficient mon.
~ Or Influence to vitalize his project. The
Directors. appointed ccmplimcn,arily lack.
I'd tho enterprise and force Of this decade.
The plan was on tho trestic. boa.d of Fate.
but there were none to carry it into excu.
ton. The Union Pacific was began; tho
Northern was buried under ignorance, pref.
udice And inability. At this juncture the char
ter President of the Company, received
proposal from the President Of the Grand
Trunk Road of Canada. offering him $50.
900 for his charter. Reduced to poverty
by unfruitful attempts to interest capital
lists and Congressman in the enterprise, he
conditionaliy accepted the pro!fcr. The
Grand Trunk man sailed for England 10
perfect tho negotiations, aid the N. p. man
communicated the state of affairs TO Ameri.
can railroad friends. Tic result was, it was
snatchcd from the grasp of tho Lion, new
company WAS organized; Ex-Governor
Smith, OF Vermont, Was made President:
Edwin E. Johson, Engineer ia. Chief; Thos.
T. Garfield. Of Burlington, General Agent.
The old Directors wire crowded out, and
energetic, venturous incn supplied; tho
country cdu a'cd as to the character and
advantages Of the route; an extension of the
land subsidy secured tho day before it cx-
p:rcd, and worthy effort made last year to
secure Government subsidy. which failed
nndcr the .alluring c!an,or of "cconomy"
and tho multitude Of Briarra, handed, =, less
important roads that fastened upon and
clupg to It like the Old Man of the Sea
The hope Of money subsidy Was dispelled.
Tho next move WAS to repeal the clause of
tho charter prohibiting mortgage of the
lands, and TO convince capital the project
was . paying ono, on the land subsidies
alone, and fortunately culmirstcd Ia inter.
esting Jay Cooke & Co., 10 give the subject
consideration. The report Of the exploring
expeditions now in the Geld will determine
whether the great finn that populari:ed tho
national bonds and 10 st the very head of
the private lAnkcrs of America. will risk iss
millions and reputation in the Northern Px.
cite Road. There IL no qucation of tho
character of that report. II will far exceed
she representations that Induced the explo.
ration. There II little doubt but that Jay
Cooke & Co. will accept that report and tho
mortgage Of lands ~ sufficient guarantee 70
put the lords ON the market Of the world
under their name. II that Is done. . system
of cmign.ion, perfect 10 oil it, details, viii
be inauguratcd. which has never had Its
equal; tue Coz. 600 square miles tributary 10
tho great route will begin to receive it, nail.
lions, and the % > lmsallsl OF America such
citIes ~ belt Il In Europe sad ..sis -"