Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-05-13
The Union Pacific Railroad.


the great trans-continental highway has
been laid. and to-day there is one CON
tinuous road from Omaha To Sacramcn-
to. a feat in railroad enterprise which is
truly marvellous. and which To some
Rip Van Wrinkle. would he esteemed
miracle. We already see il announced
in New York papers that the passage
has been made from Sacramento 10
Washington in eight days. and passen-
gers say that the road j. in better condi-
ton than was Ia have been expected.
But we must not expect that a new road.
built with such rapidity. and 50 far from
the base off supple, will be in the best
possible condition for the first months
of it, operation. for within the brief pc
Rod of three wears and fraction the
Union Pacific Railroad Company have
crossed the prarics Of Nebraska. scaled
the Rocky Mountains. pushed over the
great mountains plateau. passed the
rugged range of the Wasatch, pierced
and tunneled the cliffs they could not
climb. wormed their way through and
across the most terrific Canyons. passed
northward Of the Great Salt Lake. until
they have met the Central Pacific at
miles west Of their initial point at Oma-
ha.
This great highway is valuable not
only a. the means of transit for the peo-
pie of two continents. but il will be the
means deepening 10 settlement vast terri
tories of land that otherwise would re-
main inhabited by the buffalo and the
indians. But the great labor cntailed by
the enterprise and the difficulties which
had 10 be- encountered. are best stated bv
another we quote -
All the requisite materials for the
work. save timber. were procured in
the Atlantic States. transported bv any
and every available means to Omaha.
and thence over the road as il progress
ed 10 the point of employment. A hum
drcd and ten thousand tons of iron rails,
a million iish-platcs. two million bolts.
and fifteen million spikes. are among
the items thus brought from the East
and consumed upon the road. The great
engines that move the Company's works
al Omaha. together with the varied and
vast amounts Of machinery. implements
aud tools used in stocking and fitting up
their manufactures. were also brought
from the East. and wagoned over the
country a hundred and fifty miles to
Omaha.
Some three and half million cross
tics. and timber in unnumbcred millions
of feet. have been consumed in the con-
struciion of the road. its culverts and
bridges. Much OF this material was
found at Chicago. and it, transpora-
ton therefore was comparatively mex
pensive, after railroad communication
with that city was established. All the
except brick. required for
building Founderies, Machine Shops.
Construction shops Of all grades, Sta
tion-IIouses. Round Houses, Store
Houses, Telegraph line and Offices.
Water Stations, supply Stations, and
the thousand minor things that enter in
to the outfit of so great q W ork. being
likewise obtained at q distance, add
largely to the cumulative account Of
-
for an army OF five to twenty thousand
skilled and unskiIled workmen, and for
age for six to eight thousand teams Of
mules and horses, are items quite too
large TO be left out of account A large
amount ofthe rolling stock on the road.
including locomotives. was at first. and
j. Vet procured a; the East. because the
Company's works have not the capacity
10 build as fast as il is required.
An attempt has been made to damage
the Company in the estimation Of its
friends and its creditors. which the pub
lie are panied 10 see, for as before re-
marked. this road must pay. and the
projectors and those who have 30 sue
cessfully carried forward this great en-
terprise of the age 10 completion. are
entitled TO the gratitude of the nation.
Let, therefore. the Great Peace Con-
gress which is 10 be holden in Boston
In June, in which chorus of twenty
thousand voices. and an orchestra of
one thousand musicians are to be
engaged sing Jubilee To the completed
Pacific Railroad, which will be- one Of
the great instruments of perpetuaiiny
PEACE.