The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-01-06
The Northern Pacifc-G Great R0iipdy
EnfCrDrisr

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1t is understood that this great high
way will be pushed forward speedily to
completion. Abiding to it, Appleton's
Ra'l'oay Guide says: -
The Northern Pacific railway is one
of the most magnificent enterprises of
the age. The obstacles, whether real or
imaginary, in the way of its early con-
struction, are destined soon to disappear
before the energy and the capital which
are enlisted in the undertaking -
Among the imaginary obstacles in the
path of this railway; it lies far to the
north, that it would during many months
of the year, be DISTRACTED by SHOWS, and
that the extreme cold Of winter, and the
shortness of the summer, would prevent
density of population. That this sup
position is groundlcss, is shown by the
fact that the route of the Northern
Pacific railway is on lower latitude
thar that Of many of the great cities Of
the Old World. 1t follows the outline
of the isothermal temperate zone of the
northern hemisphere. From st. Paul
to tle Rocky Mountains the total annual
fall of snow averages only about 20
inches, while in New England it varies
from 20 to 100 inches. So mild is the
winter, and so light the snowfall over
the western portion of the proposed rail
way route, that herds subsist and -four.
ish the year round upon natural pastur-
age. The mountain portions of the
Northern railway, having a lower atti-
tude, and being nearer the Pacific than
those of the Central are much less liable
to be obstructed by SHOWS.
The construction of the Northern
Pacific railway will promote the speedy
development of one of the finest and
most extensive regions of the continent.
1t will open to settlement and cultiva-
ton 100000 square miles of fertile ter
ritory it will bring within reach Of
market hundreds of millions of acres OF
land, much of which is capable of pro-
ducing 40 bushels of wheat to the acre
it will facilitate the development of the
immense mineral resources Of certain
sections which it will traverse. The
completion of this road will give inesti
mable value to an immense extent Of
the public domain which is now practi
cally worthless, Wheat is worth moth
ing as commodity if it must be trans
ported more than 800 miles over Wagon
roads, and corn is worthless at greater
distance than 100 miles from market
Hence, without a railway, lands more
than 800 miles from market are worth
nothing for agricultural purposes. A
railway travcrsing such region is al
actual creator of value beyond compu
tation The wealth which such an en-
terprise gives to the nation is absolutely
incalculable when it opens to agricul
ture and commerce region as vast al
five states like New York. The regior
to be traversed and opened by the
Northern railway is the most attractive
to the intelligent and enterprising people
of the north of Europe, who arc wait
Ing to emigrate to our shores. As soor
as a railway is completed, giving then
access to region in America with lati
tude anu climate nearly like their own
the scandinavian nations will send
swarms of population thither. They
will come, not as their ancestors went
once to overthrow the Roman empire
but they will come to build up and
strengthen the American republic
Every such emigrant will not only bring
with him money, but will contribute his
own intelligence, morals, and enterprise,
to the aggregate wealth of the nation.
AS means of promoting the peace
of the country, this great railway enter.