The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-14
the Illinois Legislature.
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD
BY SCHUYLER CoLFAX.
vIcE-PREsIDENT OF THE UNITED STAT

VICk-PRES1DENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Midway across the continental the head OF
twelve hundred miles os Lake navigation-a thou
sand miles from Buffalo, the western terminus Of
the Erie Canal and as near to it by water Chicago
"a hundred miles west OF the longitude OF st. Louis
or Gaena-is the young city OF Duluth, the initial
point Of the Northern Pacific Railroad. That
great work, so magnifcently endowed by the Gov
ernment, is already being pushed rapidly westward,
under its energetic controllers; and before the snow
flies next fall, it will be completed to the western
line OF NJ nnesota, where it crosses the Red
River OF the North-which runs northward to Lake
Winnipeg-and one-eighth of its distance to the
Pacific Ocean will have been accomplished. Com
mencng, too, this season on its western line, the
work will be prosecuted from both directions, and
long before the nation celebrates its Centennial An
niversary Of Independence the Lakes will be united
by iron bands with that Mediterranean OF North
west-Puget Sound.
or the auspicious influence Of this enterprise
which but few years ago would have been cons-
dered so daring, the most sanguine OF its friends
have scarcely yet full realization. Even taking
Chicago as the starting point, it will be (via st.
Paul, where an arm OF the Northern Pacific Rail-
road is reached) two hundred miles less distance to
Puget Sound than to San Francisco Besides this,
vessels from the Golden Gate to China sail On what
is called the grand circle, instead OF in straight
line and any one testing this by string on
globe will be surprised at the result If they have
not previously studied the effect Of the roundity OF
the earth, and It's diminished protuberance as you
go northward towards the Pole. Hence, when they
have sailed eight hundred miles from San Francisco,
they are only cne hundred miles from the entrance
to Puget Sound; and this striking fact shows the
advantages this route will have in commanding the
through tralc of Asia with our Atlantic States or
that portion OF which will pass over the soil of this
nation on its road to Europe.
Nor is this ALL Development is the great duty OF
the republic, after all its recent trials. Resources
are the gift of the Creator. Developing them de-
fha afr lnun fha lima 0f fha
Northern Pacific Railroad, as it follows up the
water-courses, the Missouri and the Yellowstone on
this side, and descends by the valley OF the Colum
bia the otner, vast body OF agricultural land is
waiting for the plough, with climate almost ex-
acty the same as that OF New York, except that,
with less snow, cattle, in the larger portion OF it,
can subsst on the open range in winter. Here
II climate and fertility OF soil produce
their natural result when railroad facilities open
this now isolated region to settlement will soon be
seen waving grain-helds and happy homes, and
growing towns; while ultimately Gordon OF pros
perous States teeming with population, and rich In
industry and consequent wealth, will occupy that
now undeveloped and almost inaccessible portion OF
our continental area.
But this Road is fortunate also in its pathway
across the two ranges OF mountains which tested so
severely the Pacific Railroads built on the central
line, and the overcoming Of which reflected such
well-deserved honor their energetic builders. At
the Deer Lodge Pass, in Montana, where 1t crosses
the Rocky Mountains, Its altitude above the sea Is
$500 feet less than the Union Pacific Railroad at
sherman, which is said to be the highest point at
which a locomotive can be found in the
world. And on the Pacific SIDE
of the Continent it is even more
fortunate From Arizona up to the Arctic Circle the
Columbia is the only river which has torn its way
through that mighty range, the Andes OF NOrtf
America which in California is known as the
Sierras, but which in oregon changes its name tt
the Cascades. Nature has thus provided
pathway for the Northern Pacific
Road through these mountains, th'
scaling OF which, on the Other line, at an elevation
of over seven thousand feet "a most wonderful
triumph OF engineeriDg). cost the Central Pacin
Company millions OF dollars, and compelled them
for seventy miles, TO maintaln a grade OF over on
hundred feet to the mile-twice the maximum Q
, the Northern Pacific at the most difficult point q
its entire route.
1t is fortunate also, in its terminus on the Pacid
coast No one who has not been there can reaz
the beauty OF Puget Sound and It's surrounding
One hundred miles long, but so full Of inlets an
straits that its navgable shore line measures
teen hr ndred and sixty miles, dotted with lovel
tslets, with gigantic trees almost TO the water
edge with safe anchorage every where, and stretc
ing southward, without shoals or bars, from q
Straits OF Fuca to the capital and centre OF Was
inRton Territory, It Will be magnificent entTep
for the commerce Of that grandest ocean OF q
world, the Pacific.
The Land Grant OF the United States, e.
casd,n0 Fifty Millions OF acres IN the wintt
region Of our nation (ten times as large a. the ar
of Massachusetts), is doubtless SUFFICIENT for q
competion OF the Road but, besides this, millio
OF private means are already invested In IT. y