New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-04-27
THE ROAD.

The route of the Northern Pacific Railroad
is as follows: see map) Starting from Duluth, Minnesota,
at head OF Lake Superior and from St. Paul and MIN
neapolis on the Mississippi River the two eastern arms
unite in central Minnesota; from the point OF Junction
the trunk line extends westward through central Dakota
and central Montana At convenient point In MONTANA
the road will again branch ee map, one arm passing
through central Washington TO the main Ocean Terminus
on Puget Sound other following down the valley OF
the Columbia through Southern Washington and North
ern Oregon Portland at tide water on the Columbia
River A shore line now building will unite the two
western termin Stl another branch will leave the
main line in Western Minnesota, and extend north
through Red River Valley to Pembina on the border
of British America Nature has leveled pathway Tor
the Northern Pacific Railroad from the lakes to the
ocean, All through the Rocky Mountain region the eeya-
ton is some $500 feet less the Northern line than on
the Central route The Cascade Sierra range which,
Oh the Central is scaled at hight OF 7o2 feet is crossed
by tie Northern Pa9lne heary az ine seh 6 tb Nortb
Pacific line no tunnels will be needed ana probably
the construction OF the Northern Pacific Road hortens
the distance by rail between the lakes and the Pacific
Ocean nearly COO miles and that II shorens the distance
by water and rail between New-ioTk or Liverpool ana
the ports of Asia some 400 miles ,,,,,- a..
CoNNFCTIoNs.-At ST. Paul and Minneapolis the
Northern Pacific Railroad system connects with the nayi-
CATION Of the Mississippi River ana the various 1hes G
Coast at Duluth with the commerce OF the Great Lakes
and the st. Lawrence at Pembna with thousand miles
of River and Lake navigation In British America AT
Puget Sound when completed with the commerce OF the
Pacific Ocean and the trade OF ASA ~ POItan oregon
with coast lines Of road the traffic OF the Columbia,
and the coastwise trade OF the sea.
At short intervals the continent the Road inter
scots many navigable streams such the Mississippi
the Red the Missouri, the Yellowstone, the Clark, the
Snake the Columbia, and the Cowtz-all OF which Will
serve as feeders branch lines for the Road bringing
the trade Of vast and fertile country on both sides
OF tie line.
RAPID PROGRESS OF CoSsTRUcTIoS.-Ground was
broken In july 1870. Several thousand men have
constantly employed the line At this time
April ls71 the grading nearly finished for 26j miles
from Lake Superior 60 the eastern border OF Dakotn
trains running 125 miles OF completed track the
Mississippi River IL brdged at Brainerd and once more
Joined to the Lakes by rail, and raekayng Ia rapidly
progressing westward BY September next trains will
the Red River and the grading will probably be
far advanced toward the Great Bend " the Missouri
River in Central Dakota.
In the mean time work has been commenced the pres
ent the Pacific Coast; force OF men is already
employed in the valley of the Columbia River, and here
after the work OF construction will be pushed both east
ward and westward toward the center with such rapid
iy as the best interests OF the road may justify.
Including its purchase Of the St. Paul and Pacific Road
the Northern Pacific Railroad Company has 43 miles OF
road in operation and before the close OF the pres