The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-04
The Northern Pacific Railroad.

Ten years ago single line of railroad
across the continent from the Mississippi to
the Pacific.coast was regarded as dream Of
the visionary. Now we witness not only the
realization of that dream but are on the eve
Of the completion Of a second road across the
continent this latter road not, indeed, to
cross great desert, but to traverse region
no less fertile than it is picturesque and
beautiful. There is no doubt but the Northern
Pacific Railroad, on its completion. will be-
come the favorite route across the continent.
1t is shorter by 500 miles from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, and, though further north, ira
verses much milder climate. We find in
one Of our city exchanges the following able
article in reference to this road
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
This second highway across the continent il
now in full process of construction. Last July
contracts we're let for the building Of the East.
ern division, reaching across the State of Min.
nesota from Duluth, at the head of Lake Sups.
rior, 240 miles TO the crossing of the Red River
of the North. With several thousand mon en-
poyed, the grading on this section is fast ap.
preaching completion, and the iron Is being laid
At the rate Of enc 10 two miles a day. In the
meantime engineers are locating the line west.
ward through Ccutrl Dakota; preparations are
completed Tor the commencement Of work 1T the
Pacific end next spriss, ~sd thereafter the work
of construction will be prosecuted from both ex-
tremi,ies toward the center.
In addition to this the Northern Pacific Com.
pany have recently purchased and partially con-
solidatsd with their own line tho st. Paul and
Pacific Railroad, embracing sons 800 miles Of
finished road in Minnesota, on which prosper.
Gus business Is already doing. This purchase
removes all rivalry between conflicting inter.
ests, and practically makes st. Paul one tsrmi.
nus of the great Northern road The Northern
Pacific Railroad system is certainly assuming a
bGsiuess-like form and comprehensive proper.
tons. Obviously its projectors do not intend to
build simple trunk road from East to West,
and then wait for profitable traffic 80 come to
It. On the contrary, they are ut the outset Sc.
curing such connections and alliances with the
chief lines OF water communication, and with the
railroad systems of the A.lsntic and Pacific
States, as cannot fail to bring to it, in addition
TO its local business large and increasing share
OF the carrying trade between ocean and ocean,
At Duluth one arm meets the commerce of the
lakes and the st. Lawrence; at st. Paul the 9th
err eastern arIa connects with the commerce Of
the Mississippi river and its tributaries, and
with the railroads OF tho central and eastern
States, concentrating at Chicago These two
arms will unite in Western Minnesota From
the point of junction 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 Monta.
na Near the boundary OF Idaho the road will
again branch-one arm following down the val.
ley OF the Columbia to tide water at Portland,
Oregon the other striking directly across 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 coast lines of road now building
south ward through Oregon and California
Both at Portland and Puget Sound the road will
tap the coastwse and foreign trade of the Pacific
Ocean.
The chiof advantages peculiar to the Northern
Pacific route are believed to DO these: |. 1t RI.
duces the distance between the lakes and the
Pacific Ocean some six hundred miles. 2. 1t
lessons the distance between New York and the
Pacific by water and rail to the same extent.
3. 1t lessons the distance between London and
Chinese ports by the trans.continental route 1T
least one thousand four hundred miles. 4. 1t
traverses belt of States and Territories adnra.
bly, adapted by fertility of soil, mldness of tenn.
pera.ure and equal distribution Of moisture, to
profitable agriculture. ). Its elevation in the
mountain region is 5000 feet less than that of
other lines, resulting in a diminished snowfall,
u mild climate, and far easier gradients. 6. At
convenient intervals it intcrsects numerous nav.
igable streams-such ~ the Columbia, the Cow.
li2, the Yellowstone, the Missouri, the Red and
the Mississippi--which drain vast region, and
will servo as feeders to tho road. z. 1t will par.
take OF the character of an international route,
permanently controlling the carrying trade Of
British America, and rendering the important
colonies north Of tho boundary, aud west Of
Lake Superior commercially tributary to our
Northwestern States