Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-09
The Northern Pacific Railroad.

Ibis second h1gnWay across the Contl-
nent is now in full process of construo-
tion. Last July contracts were let for the
building of the Eastern division, reach
ing across the State of Minnesota from
Duluth, at the head of Lake Superior,
24O miles to the crossing of the Red
River of the North With several thou.
sand men employed, the grading on this
section is fast approaching completion, and
the iron is being laid at the rate of one or
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 the Pacific end next spring, and there
after the work of construction will be
prosecuted from both extremities toward
the centre.
In addition to this, the Northern Paci-
fc Company have recently purchased and
practically consolidated with their own
line the st. Paul and Pacific Railroad,
embracing some 300 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 a business.like form,
and comprehensive proportions Obvious
ly its projectors do not intend to build a
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 al
liances with the chief lines of water COM
munication, and with the railroad system
of the Atlantic and Pacific States, as can
not fail to bring to it, in addition to its
local business, large and increasing
share of the carrying trade between ocean
Gnd ocean.
At Duluth one arm meets the COM
merce of the !. I a and th+ s. Ilwrence;
at St Paul the other eastern arm con-
meets with the commerce of the Missis-
sippi River and it's tributaries, and with
the railroads of the central and eastern
States, concentrating at Chicago. These
two arms will unite in Western Mime
sofa. 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
Montana. Near the boundary of Idaho
the road will again branoh-one arm
following down the valley of the Colum-
bia to tide-water at Portland, Oregon
the other striking directly across the Cas-
cade 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 ia -~~a~ with tiio e"~~.
lines of the 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 believed to be
these:
l. 1t reduces the distance between the
Lakes and the Pacific Ocean some cool
miles.
2. It lessons the distance between New
York and the Pacific by water and rail to
the same extent.
3. 1t lessons the distance between Lon |
don and Chinese ports by the trans.con
tinental route at least 400 miles.
4. 1t traversos belt of States and Ter
ritories admirably adapted by fertility of
soil, mildness of temperature, and equal
distribution of moisture, to profitable
agriculture.
5. Its elevation in the mountain region |
is 5000 feet less than that of other lines,
resulting in diminished snowfall, mild |
climate, and far easier gradients.
6. AT convenient intervals it intersects
numerous navigable streams-suoh rs the
Columbia, the Cowlitz, the Yellowstone,
the Missouri, the Red, and the Missis-
drain a vast region, and
will serve as feeders to the road.
T. It will partake of the character of
an international route, permanently con-
trolling the carrying trade of British
America, and rendering the important
colonies north of the boundary, and west
of Laka Superior, commercially tributary |
to our Northwestern States.
Already it is stated that settlers are
rapidly crowding to the line of the North
ern Pacific Road in the New Northwest, |
and judging from what is known of the
plans adopted for promoting the settle |
ment and development, through emigra-
tion 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 trust, is deter
mined to make the enterprise not only |
financially sound, but greatly and perma-
nently beneficial to the whole country.
With it's munifcent endowment of fertile
lands, with the natural advantages this
route undoubtedly enjoys, and with the
far-sighted policy already inaugurated, a
great commercial project could hardly |
start under better auspices or with greater |
assurance of success.
LATE DAIRY MARKETs.-The butter |
market here still continues dull, and |
there is no change in quotations from last