Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-02-01

This second highway across the continent
is now in full process Of construction. Last
July contracts were let for the building of
the Eastern division, reaching across the
State Of Minnesota from Duluth at the
head Of Lake Superior, 2i0 miles to the cross
ing Of the Red River Of the North With
several thousand men employed, the grading
on this section is fast approaching compile
ton, and the iron is being laid az the rate Of
one to two miles a day, In the meantime
engineers are locating the line westward
through central Dakota preparations are
completed for the commencement of work at
Il b Pacific end next spring and thereafter
the work Of construction will be prosecuted
from both cxtrcmitios toward the centre
In addition to this, the Northern Pacific
Company have recently purchased and practi-
cally consolidated with their own line the St
Paul and Pacific Railroad, embracing some
800 miles Of finished road in Minnesota on
which prosperous business is already doing
This purchase removes all rivalry between
conflicting interests, and practically makes
ST. Paul one terminus Of the great Northern
road. The Northern Pacific Railroad system
is certainly assuming busiuess.like form,
and comprehensive proportions. Obviously
its projectors do not intend to build simple
trunk road from East to West and then wait
for profitable traffic to come to IT, On the
contrary, they are at the outset securing
such connections and alliances with the
chief lines of water communication, and with
the railro d system Of the Atlantic and Pacific
States as cannot fail to bring to il, in addi-
ton to its local business large and increas-
ing share of the carrying trade between ocean
aud ocean. At Duluth one arm meets the COM
morce Of the Lakes and the st. Lawrence at
st Paul the other eastern arm connects with
the commerce of the Mississippi river and its
tributaries, and with the railroads Of the
central and eastern States, concentrating at
Chicago. These two arms will unite in West.
ern Minnesota From the point Of junction "a
third branch will extend to Pembina on the
British border, and the trunk line will traverse
central Dakota, and follow the now famous
Yellowstone valley through Montana. Near
the boundary Of Idaho the road will again
brauch-one arm following down the valley
OF the Columbia TO tdo-water at Portland
Oregan; the other striking directly acros.
the Cascade range to the main terminus on
Puget Sound. A North and South branch
will also connect the Puget Sound terminus
with that at Portland At the latter point
connection is made with the cost lines Of road
now building southwark through Oregon and
California. Both at Portland and Puget
Sound the road will tap the coastwise and
ioeigu trade OF the Pacific Ocean.
The chief advantages peculiar to the North.
ern Pacific route are believed to be these |
1t reduces the distance between the Lakes and
the Pacific Ocean some COO miles. .. Il
lessons the distance between New York and
the Pacific by water and rail to the same ex
tent. B. 1t lessons the distance between Lon
don ana the Chinese ports by the trans. cont.
mental route at least 400 miles 4. II
traverses belt Of States and Territories
admirably adapted by fertility Of soil, mild
ness of temperature, and equal distribution o.
moisture, to profitable agriculture. 3. IT.
elevation in the mountain region is 5000 feet
less than that of other lines resulting in Q
diminished snowfall, mild climate, and ia,
easier gradients. 6. At convenient intervals
it intersects numerous nayigable streams
such as the Columbia the C0wlitz. the Vel