Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-06-13
Mstellanp.
From the New York Independent
The Northern Pacific Railroad.
BY SCHUYLER CoLFAN.

u.
Duluth. the initial point of the Northern
Pacific Railroad. That great work, 50
magnifcently endowed by the Govern
meut. is already being pushed rapidly
westward, underits energetic controllers;
and before the snow flies next Fall. il
will be completed to the western line of
Minnesota. where it crosses the Red
River of the North-which runs north
ward TO Lake Winnipeg-and one eighth
Of its distance TO the Pacific Ocean will
have been accomplished. Commencing,
too, this season on its western line. the
work will be prosecuted from both diree'
tons, and long before the nation eele-
brates its Centennial Anniversary OF In
dependence, the Lakes will be united
by iron bands with that MediicI ranean of
our Northwest. Puget Sound.
OF the suspicious influence of this
enterprise. which but a few years ago
would have been considered so daring,
the most sanguine of its friends have
scarcely yet a full realization. Even
taking Chicago as the starting point, it
will be (riG St. Paul. where an arm of
the Northern Pacific Railroad is reached)
TWO hundred miles less distance 10 Pa.
ret Sound than 10 san Francisco. Be-
sides this, vessels from the Golden Gate
10 China sail on what is called the grand
circle, instead of in straight line; aud
any one testing this by string on =
globe viii be surprised at the result, it
they have not previously studied the ef-
feet OF the rotundity ct the earth, and
its diminished protuberance rs YOU 60
northward towards the Pole. Hence.
when they have sailed eight hundred
miles from san Francisco. they are only
one hundred miles from the entrance 10
Puget Sound; and this striking fact
shows the advantages this route will
have in commanding the through traffic
OF Asia with our Atlantic States, or that
portion Of it which will pass over the
soil of this nation on its road to Europe.
Nor is this ALL Development is the
great duty OF the Republic, after all its
recent trials. Resources are the gift Of
the Creator. Developing them depends
on the work of man. Along the line OF
the Northern Pacific Railroad. n it fol-
lows up the water courses, the Missouri
and the Yellowstone. on this side. and
descends by the valley OF the Columbia
on the other. q vast body OF agricultural
land is waiting for the pillow, with eli
mate almost exactly the same as that oil
New York, except that, with less snow,
cattle. in the larger portion of it. can
subsist on the open range in winter.
Here. if climate and fertility OF soil
produce their natural result. when rail-
road facilities open this now isolated re-
gion to settlement. win soon be seen
waving grain-fislds. and happy homes,
and growing towns; while ultimately a
Gordon OF prosperous States. teeming
with population, and rich in industry
and consequent wealth, will occupy that
now undeyelOped and almost inaccessible
portion OF our continental area.
But this Road is fortunate also in its
pathway across the two ranges oi noun
tains which tested so severely the Pacific
Roads built on the central line. and the
overcoming Of which reelected such well
deserved honor on their energetic build
crS. Al the DeeI Lodge Pass. in Mon.
tana. where il crosses the Rocky Noun.
lains, its altitude above the sea il $500
feet less than the Union Pacific Railroad
at Sherman. which is said to be the
highest point at which a locomotive can
be found in the world And on the Pa
cifie side Of the Continent il is even more
fortunate. From Arizona up TO the
Arctic Circle the Columbia is the only
river which has torn its way through
that mighty range, the Andes OF North
America, which in California, is Known
as the SierraS, but which ii Oregon
changes its name to the Cascades.
Nature has thus provided pathway Tor
the Northern Pacific Road through these
mountains. the scaling OF which. on the
other line, 1T an elevation OF over seven
thousand feet Ca most wonderful triumph
of engineering cost the Central Pacific
company millions OF dollars. and COM
PEELED them. for seventy miles. to main
tain q grade OF over one hundred feet
10 the mile-twice the maximum OF the
Northern Pacific at the most difficult
point on its entire route.
1t is Fortunate. also, in its terminus on
the Pacific coast. No one who has not
been there can realize the beauty OF
Puget Sound and its surroundings. One
hundred miles long, but 50 iull OF inlets
and straits that its navigsble shore-line
measures seventeen hundred and sixty
miles. dotted with lovely inlets. with
gigantic trees almost 10 the waters edge.
with safe anchorage everywhere, and
stretching southwark. without shoals OF
bars, from the straits OF Fuca TO the
capital aud centre OF Washington
Territory, il will lie Il magnificent
e-asport iOr the commerce OF thai grand,
esl ocean of the world. The Pacific
The Land Grant OF the
Uuited States. exceeding Fifty Millions
OF acres in the winters wheat region of
our nation (ten times is large as the