Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-05-09
The Northern Pacific Railroad.

construction. Last July contracts
were let for the building of the East
ern division, reaching across the State
OF Minnesota from Duluth, at the
head of Lake Superior, 240 miles to
the crossing of the Red River of the
North. With several thousand men
employed, the grading on this section
Is last approaching completion, and the
IRON Is being laid at the rate of one
to two miles a day. In the mean
time engineers are locating the line
westward through central Dakota;
preparations are completed for the
commencement of work at the Pacific
end this spring, and hereafter the
work of reconstruction will be prosecut-
ed from both extremities toward the
| center.
In addition to this, the Northern
Pacific Company have recently pur-
chased and practically consolidated
with their own line the st. Paul and
Pacific Railroad, embracing some
800 miles of finished road in Mime
sofa on which prosperous business
is already doing. This purchase re-
moves all rivalry between conflict
ing interests, and practically makes
81. Paul one terminus of the great
| Northern road. The Northern Pa
cltic Railroad system is certainly as
Stunning business-like form, and
comprehensive proportions. Obvious
ly 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 contra
ry, they are at the outset securing
such connections ard alliances with
the chief lines Of water communica-
ION, and with the railroad system
OF the Atlantic and Pacific States, as
cannot fail to bring TO it, in addition
10 It's local business, q large and in
creaslng share of the carrying trade
between ocean and ocean. tDuluth
one arm meets the commerce 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 east
ern States, concentrating at Chicago.
These two arms will unite in West
ern Minnesota. From the point of
Junction third branch will extend
TO Pembina on the British border.
and the trunk line will traverse CEN
trail Dakota, aud follow the now ia
nous Yellowstone valley through
through Montana Near the bound
airy of Idaho the road will again
hranch-oue arm following down the
valley of the Columbia TO tide-wa-
ter 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 southwark through Oregon
and California. Both at Portland
and Puget Sound the road will tap
the coastwise and foreign trade OF
the Pacific Ocean.
The chief advantages peculiar to
the Northern Pacific route are beIiev.
ed TO be these; l. 1t reduces the
distance between the Lakes and the
Pacific Ocean some 600 miles. 9 1t
lessons the distance between New
York and the Pacific by water and
rail to the same exnent. 3. 1t lessons
the distance between London and
Chinese ports by the trans,continent-
al route at least 400 miles 1. 1t
traverses belt of states and Terri
tories admirably adapted by fertility
OF soil, mlldness of temperature, and
equal distribution of moisture. to
| profitable agriculture 5. It's eleva-
ton in the mountain region is 5000
feet less than that Of other lines. re-
sulting in diminished snowfall, a
mild climate, and far easier gradients.
o. At convenient intervals it inter-
scots numerous navigable streams
such as the Columbia. the Cowhtz.
the Yellowstone, the Missouri, the
Red, and tho Mssissippi-which
drain a vast region, and will serve as
feeders to the road T. 1t will par
take OF the character of an interna-
tlonal route, permanently controlling
the carrying trade of British Amerl-
ca, and rendering the important COL
lonies north of the boundary, and
west of Lake Superior, commercially
tributary to our Northwestern States.
Already it is stated that settlers
are rapidly crowding TO the line of
the Northern Pacific Road in the
New Northwest, and judging from
what Is known of the plans adopted
tor promoting the settlement and dc
velopment, through emigration and
colonization, of the belt of States
and territories tributary to the line
there would seem to be no doubt
that the corporation upon which the
| Government has conferred this great
trHst, is determined TO mako the
enterprise not only financially sound,
but greatly and permanently benefi
cial to the whole country. With its
munlficent endowment of fertile
lands, with the natural advantages
this route undoubtedly enjoys, and
with the far-sighted policy already
lnaugurated, great commercial pro-
Ject could hardly start under better
auspices or with greater assurance
of success.
CLEAN Orr THE CELLAR Tba a.