The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-03-11
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.

This second highway across the CONT
nent is now IN fall process Of construction
Last July contracts were let for the building
of the Eastern division, reaching across the
State of Minnesota from the head of Lake
Superior, 24U miles to the crossing Of the
Red river OF the North. With several
thousand men employed, the grading on
this section is fast approaching completion,
and the iron is being iai1 at the rate Of
one to two miles a day In the meantime
engineers are locating tho line westward
through central Dakota; preparations are
completed for the commencement OF work
at the Pacific end next sprIng, and there
after the work OF conslruc ION will be pros
ecutpd from botn eXtrenitIeS toward the
centre.
In addition to this, the Northern Pacific
Company have recently purchased and
practically consolidated with their own line
the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, emDra-
cling some 800 miles of finished road IN
Minnesota on which prosperou, business
is already doing This purchase removes
all rivalry between conflicting interests,
and practically makes St Paul one termin-
us Of the great Northern road. The
Northern Pacihc Railroad system is GER
t4inly assuming busIness-nke form, and
comprehensive proportions. Obviously Its
projectors do not intend to build Il single
trunk road from East TO West and then
wait tor profitable traffic to come to 1t.
On the contrary, they are at the outset Sc
curing such connections and alliances with
the chief lines OF water communication, and
with the railroad system of the Atlanuc and
Pacific States, as cannot fail to bring 10
it, in addition TO its local business, a large
and increasing share of the carrying trade
betw cen ocean and ocean AT the head OF
Lake Superior one arm meets the commerce
of the Lakes and tie st. Lawrence; at 81.
Lawrence; at St. Paul the other eastern
arm connects with the commerce of the
Mississippi river and its tributaries, and
with th, aIlroads of the central and east
ern States, concentratingat Chicago. These
two arms will unite in Western Minnesota.
From the point of junction third branch
will extend to Pembna on the British bor-
der, and the trunk line will traverse central
Dakota, and follow the now famous Vel
lowstone valley through Montana Near
the boundary of Idaho the road will again
branch -one branch following down the
valley of the Columbia to tide water at
Portland, Oregon; the other striking di-
rectly across the Cascade range to the nam
terminus on Puget Sound. \ north and
south branch will also connect the Puget
Sound terminus with that at Portland. At
the after 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 viii
tap the coaStwise and foreign trade of the
Pacific Ocean.
The chief advantages peculiar to the
Northern Pacific route are believed to be
these: /. 1t reduces the distance between
the lakes and the Pacific Ocean some 500
miles. ,. 1t lessons the distance between
New York and the Pacific by water and
fail to the same extent. 3. 1t lessons the
distance between London and Chinese
ports by the traus-continental route at least
], 400 miles. 4. 1t traverses belt of States
and Territories admirably adapted by ter-
tility OF soil, mtldneSs of temperature, and
| equal distribution of moisture, to prof able
agriculture. 3. It's elevation in the noun
tain region is 5000 feet less than that OF
other lines, resulting in diminished snow
tai, mild climate, and far easier gradients.
6. At convenient intervals il inter~ects nu-
merous nayIgable streamS-Such IL the Co
! lumbia, The Cowltz, the Y clio W. one, the
| Missouri, the Red, and the Mississippi