Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-01-18

MS second highway cross the CONT
nent is now in full process Of ~eonstruc-
ton. Last July contracts ware let for
the building OF the Eastern division.
reaching across the State oC Minnesota
from Duluth, at the head OF lake Supe-
rior, 30 miles to the crossing of the Red
River Of the North. With several thous-
and men employed, the grading on this
section is fast approaching completion,
and the iron is being laid at the rate Of
one to two miles a day. In the mean
time engineers are locating the Inns west
ward through central Dakota; prepare
tions are completed for the commence
ment Of work at the Pacific end next
spring, and thereafter the work Of cont
struction will be prosecuted from both
extremities toward the centre.
In addition to this, the Northsrn1Pa-
cifc Company have recently purchased
and practically consolidated with their
own line the ST. Paul and Pacific Rail
road, embracing some 800 miles OF I'm
ishod road in Minnesota on which a
prOspqrSe1s business il already doing
TN purchase remove all rivalry be-
tween confsicting interests, and practi-
cally makes st. Paul one terminus Of The
great NorthAn road. The Northern Pa
cine halro@S system is certainly ASSUME
ing a Ouslhe-lke form, and cOmpro-
henslFe proporeSS. Obviously its pro-
Jectors DO not M End to build a simple
trunk road rom Vast to West and then
On the contrary, they are at the outset
securing such ~conbections and alliances
with the chief lines Of water commune
cation, and with the railroad svgtems Of
the Atlantic and Pacific States. rs cannot
fail to bring to it, in addition 10 its local
business, : large and incrsasing share Of
the carrying trade - ocesG and
ocean. At DulRsn one ann meets he
! commerce OF the Lakes anti the ST. Law
renee at St. Paul the other eastern arm
| connects with the commerce OF the Mis-
sisSippi river and its tributaries, and
with the railroads OF the central and
eastern States, cOncentral.hB at Chicago.
These two arms Will unlge n Western
Minnesota. From theR Olnt Of junction
a third branch viii extend TO Psmbina
on the British border, and the trunk line
will traverse central Dakota, and follow
the now famous Yellowstone valley
through Montana. Near the boundary
OfIdaho the road will again ~branch-one
arm following down the valley Of the
Columbia to Underwater at Portland,
Oregon; the other striking directly
across the Cascade range 70 the main
terminus on Puget Sound. A North
and South branch will also connect the
Puget Sound terminus with that at Port
land. At the latter point connection is
made with h coast lines Of a road now
building southwark through Oregon and
California. Both at Portland and Puget
Sound tho road will tap the coastWise
and foreign trade OF the Pacific Ocean.
The chief advantages peculiar to the
Northern Pacific route are believed to be
these 1. 1t reduces the distance be-
tween the Lakes and the Pacific ocesn
some 600 miles. .. 1t lessons the dis
lance between New York and the Pacific
by water and rail 70 the same extent. 8.
Il lessons the distance between London
and Chinese ports by the trans-cOnti-
mental route at least 400 miles. 4. i:
traverses q belt of States and Territories
admirably adapted by fertility OF soil,
mildness OF temperature, and equal dis
tributiOn Of moisture, to profitable agri-
| culture. 3. Its elevation in the moun
tain region il 5000 feet less than that of
/ cher lines, resulting in a diminished
snowfall, a mild climate, and far easier
I gradients. 6. At convenient intervals IL
i~rtersects numerous navigable streams
such as the Columbia, the CoWlitz, the
Yellowstone, the Missouri, the Red and
the Mississippi-Which drain a vast
region, and will serve as feeders to the
road. Z. twill partake OF the character
OF an international route, permanently
I controlling the carrying trade of British
America, and rendering the important
colonies north Ofthe boundary, and west
OF lake Superior, commercially tributa-
~ TO orr Northwestern States.
Already il is stated that settlers are
rapidly cuowding TO the line Of the
Northern Pacific Road in the New
Northwest, and judging from what is
known Of the plans adopted for prOmOt-
ing the settlement and development,
through emigration and colonization, of
the belt Of States and Territories tributa-
~ to the line-there would seem to be
no doubt that the corporation upon
which the Government has conferred
this great trust, is determined to make
the ENTERPRISE not only financially sound,
Duu greatly n permanently beneficial
to the whole country. With its munid-
cent endowment of fertile lands, with
the natural advantages this route I'M
doubleday enjoys, and with the far
sighted policy already i~naugurated, a
great commercial project could hardly
start under better auspices or with great
er assurance of success.