Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-01-04
For the Waterman Journal.
Engineering in The Northwest
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MoNrrFtiEB, Dec %, 1870.
WORD INTRODUCTORY.
Last May the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany resolved 10 push its work. During the pre-
yious season, reconnaissance across the continent
had been completed surveys through Minnesota
had also been made The preliminary work was
encouraging the outlook was favorable. It was
proposed to prosecute the surveys in Dakota ana
on the Pacific coast during the summer and iall'
was offered a position in the engineer service
with the option Of work in Oregon orin Dakota
The first was too remote for ancxpcrimental trip, |
and had done no " civil engineering mine /
had been political engineering, in which "curyes
are as abrupt and cuts as frequent as in sur
yeying. But the last is not good preparatory
school for the other twould be out-ol.door work
every one said there was health in it for that
reason liked it, Shrcwd men ail the railroad .
was to be ca big thing % that was attractive
for we all like to be engaged in the "big things
So said, would go to the romantic land Of
the Dakotabs' In August, after some waiting,
| was informed that | was desired to be 10 Min
ncap3lis on The 18th of August, ready to start
for the field
GETTING a START.
Away ! WENT nearly two thousand miles, to
satisfy the desires of the gentlemen who put their
imperative wishes IA such agreeable form. On
Monday morning, Aug 18th, | reported at the
Office in Minneapolis 80 one there desired to
see me no one would sec me- There was an
underlined impression that party WAS going to
Dakota but how, when, and under whom
could not learn Ny letter stated that Yves " to
be provided for till | joined my party" But
could not get the provision, nor join the party.
| went TO engineering on my own hook. made
rcconnos ances at Minneapolis and St. Anthony.
| went down to St. Paul and surveyed il. The
first is fifty named. It's Beautiful city" lt
is the handsomest town, Of IL, age, ever saw.
Its site is a plain on the Ms,iss gpi, and safely
above the river. Its streets are at right angles
and wide. The residence aud public buildings
are new and we-built and Of good size. In the
summer it is delightful town. St. Anthony is
opposite on the river, and on a sandy plain
Both towns have most magnificent water-powors
| am not strong in prophecy, but venture the
| opinion that the falls will be the sure means OF
making great manufacturing places OF these
1 places by-aud-by. St. Paul Is founded on a rocky
/ mng higb md drv oboyo fine river Iia. mo
watcr-power. but the foundation for large COM
mercal business is already laid. " All roads lead
to Rome, it was said All railroads n the re-
mote Northwest center at St. Paul. Chicago and
Milwaukee now vic with each other for It's trade. /
1t cannot manufacture but it Is destined to be- /
come great trading emporium when The new
Northwest becomes settled up.
As soon as nay own engineering was done
returned to headquarters o. find out 81 some one
desired to see me. lie had como was informed
that our party would star. for Dakota, three
hundred miles further away, ON tae next day !
began to ansack boot aud shoe stores at once
Tor there Is nothing SO important 20 the engineer
as his sh0eng, except subsistence. II man *
to travel ie" hundred miles On nus iee'' u he Us
TO 90 holl H. as l'ey p"' l' oh inc "ou'e'- ne
must be wen sh'd' blA-'oe, a'i s'eei slanS'
are oil no account g'' army 'noes' s'Ae no. lu'
which are the highest triumph oil Nrl'pin sNhl
for tramping For the prairie the Soles must be
well filed with nails 50 that you will not play /
the feat of the arithmetical frog in the welI-gei
along two feet and slip back one. Constant walk |
ing on grass p1lishes one soes like glass unless
they be studded with nails
MOVING OUT TO THE LINE.
On Friday. Ancust 10 ycl,r, AIinneapoli. for
GEORGETOWN. Minnesota. which is on the Red
River. To St. Cloud the trip was by rail, 10
miles.-tbence by stage o3j miles At St. Cloud
the entire party was assembled,-we were four
teen in number. We had no previous acquaint-
ance, with an exception or two. The engineer
corps embraced nine persons, they were all from
the Eastern and Middle States, and were young
men. with one exception We made out to feel
very well when we could, and it was very seldom
that we were beaten. But that coach ride was q
fearful one We, with other uuiortunatcs, were
packed together. heads and points we were
dove tailed as to knees .ad legs and feet
A special artist might have represented us like
s,rdincs in a bpg, b,v--,ye had some " ,ardine,"
in tbs marty we were hacked with supreme
re,,,rI r,r cc,nou, of snace and the profit of the
stare co,nnany Horse flesh is precious in Min
nesoto and the drivers exhibited the most touch
inc tenderness towards their teams. It would
have qladdened the heart of the humane Bergh
hut in our inpatient and suffering party. damned
together in promiscuous discomfort, few benedic-
tons were spoken for the stage company its tend
er drivers or valuable animals. We were as joly
as could be under difficulties; misery was relieved
by story, song and Joke we became intimately
acquainted before we got through we rode day
and night
On Sunday morning we reached Fort Aber
crombie. on the Red River Here were " the YES
tiges of civilization, " the last We saw for long
time. Now, hotels were things of memory or oil
hope. 1t was rainy morning when we started
do,on-towards the North-the Red River at tn,
furious rate, for Minnesota stage, Of three mile
an hour. How that driver resisted all appeal
to hurry up to a four mile gait. We could no
seduce him the road was heavy 50 were we
as we were dragged on. For dinner we stoppe